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[Kevin Wood]

Interesting, I didn't realise they were powered and all different..

They are all powered, generally speaking. The GPS signal levels are so low you really need gain at the antenna to make the system work. Hence most GPS receivers supply phantom DC power up the antenna cable to power an LNA on the antenna patch itself.

On all devices I've come across this has been +5v, although I would imagine most "universal" GPS antennas probably work over a reasonable range of voltages. I guess it might be lower for handheld devices which have lower supply voltages.

I can't see a problem with measuring it with a mutimeter, as long as you're careful not to short the inner conductor to the outer.

I must say my TomTom has been great. Bog standard base model that I bought years ago. It's been bounced around in the Westfield in the rain, has lunged off the windscreen numerous times yet the hardware is perfectly fine. If I do have a gripe with it it's with certain features in the software but that's true with every system I've used.

It's certainly a lot less tedious to enter a destination than an NCDC system and the only time I have problems with satellite reception is in tunnels, so I haven't found the need to worry about an external antenna.

Kevin

[Lampynoiseboy]

Interesting, I didn't realise they were powered and all different..

They are all powered, generally speaking. The GPS signal levels are so low you really need gain at the antenna to make the system work. Hence most GPS receivers supply phantom DC power up the antenna cable to power an LNA on the antenna patch itself.

On all devices I've come across this has been +5v, although I would imagine most "universal" GPS antennas probably work over a reasonable range of voltages. I guess it might be lower for handheld devices which have lower supply voltages.

But as the Tom charges through a USB, which is 5v, surely that would be the same?

I can't see a problem with measuring it with a mutimeter, as long as you're careful not to short the inner conductor to the outer.

I must say my TomTom has been great. Bog standard base model that I bought years ago. It's been bounced around in the Westfield in the rain, has lunged off the windscreen numerous times yet the hardware is perfectly fine. If I do have a gripe with it it's with certain features in the software but that's true with every system I've used.

It would be nice to turn off the voice, but still get camera alerts..... not that I speed or anything 

It's certainly a lot less tedious to enter a destination than an NCDC system and the only time I have problems with satellite reception is in tunnels, so I haven't found the need to worry about an external antenna.

Kevin

Surely you just keep going til the other end in a tunnel 

[Kevin Wood]

Surely you just keep going til the other end in a tunnel 

Precisely, although I did come across one in Italy where there was a junction in the tunnel.

Kevin

[aaronjb]

Surely you just keep going til the other end in a tunnel 

Precisely, although I did come across one in Italy where there was a junction in the tunnel.

There's some like that in Munich, too, IIRC, and Oslo.. and there's always Westferry Circus in London to really confuse your satnav 

[Lampynoiseboy]

Surely you just keep going til the other end in a tunnel 

Precisely, although I did come across one in Italy where there was a junction in the tunnel.

Kevin

beware the limehouse link too...... you wouldn't wanna end up on the isle of dogs

Don'tget excited & go looking for it, there's no dogging there!

[Dave DND]

Don'tget excited & go looking for it, there's no dogging there!

That saved a trip - Bloody long way from Paignton

 

[Andy B]

..... Bloody long way from Paignton

 

Everywhere is a long way from Paignton! 

[Lampynoiseboy]

..... Bloody long way from Paignton

 

Everywhere worth going is a long way from Paignton! 

[Andy B]

..... Bloody long way from Paignton

 

Everywhere worth going is a long way from Paignton! 

I've spent a good few week ends in Paignton in my youth. 

[Lampynoiseboy]

..... Bloody long way from Paignton

 

Everywhere worth going is a long way from Paignton! 

I've spent a good few week ends in Paignton in my youth. 

And we're back to dogging 

[Dave DND]