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Author Topic: GPS antenna  (Read 3397 times)

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Lampynoiseboy

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GPS antenna
« on: 22 February 2011, 10:09:13 »
Is a GPS antenna a GPS antenna?

Sorry, feeling cryptic this morning......

I use a Tomtom, as the NCDC2013 satnav is soooo laborious to program, but as with most the signal gets a bit lost when amongst hi-rise office blocks. Have a Tomtom external twig which works very well, but it's a pain to put on every time.

Any reason I can't use the factory fitted GPS/GSM combi & re-route the cable from the head unit to my Tomtom?

As ever, grateful for the help  ;)
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Dave DND

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #1 on: 22 February 2011, 11:11:29 »
No, most of them are quite different and require different voltages to power them up.

Never tried a Tom Tom on a Car GPS aerial, but my gut feeling is that it may not work - worst still, something could be overloaded / burnt out in the attempt.

 :-/
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mkirky

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #2 on: 22 February 2011, 11:22:46 »
Dont do it you will damage your GPS and the antenna
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Lampynoiseboy

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #3 on: 22 February 2011, 11:25:12 »
Quote
No, most of them are quite different and require different voltages to power them up.

Never tried a Tom Tom on a Car GPS aerial, but my gut feeling is that it may not work - worst still, something could be overloaded / burnt out in the attempt.

 :-/

Sounds like time to get the volt meter out & play, I should be able to measure the voltage on both when connected?

Good shout tho, I thought they were passive.....
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Dave DND

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #4 on: 22 February 2011, 11:27:28 »
Quote
Quote
No, most of them are quite different and require different voltages to power them up.

Never tried a Tom Tom on a Car GPS aerial, but my gut feeling is that it may not work - worst still, something could be overloaded / burnt out in the attempt.

 :-/

Sounds like time to get the volt meter out & play, I should be able to measure the voltage on both when connected?

Good shout tho, I thought they were passive.....

No, wouldn`t do that either as voltage and signal are multiplexed together, connecting a meter would "spike" the sender / receiver and probably damage them.
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Lampynoiseboy

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #5 on: 22 February 2011, 11:29:16 »
Quote
Quote
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No, most of them are quite different and require different voltages to power them up.

Never tried a Tom Tom on a Car GPS aerial, but my gut feeling is that it may not work - worst still, something could be overloaded / burnt out in the attempt.

 :-/

Sounds like time to get the volt meter out & play, I should be able to measure the voltage on both when connected?

Good shout tho, I thought they were passive.....

No, wouldn`t do that either as voltage and signal are multiplexed together, connecting a meter would "spike" the sender / receiver and probably damage them.

dagnammit, I just can't catch a break  :'(

oh well, worth a go. Cheers Dave
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mkirky

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #6 on: 22 February 2011, 11:31:24 »
Leave well alone and think of something else to play with theres plenty on an omega
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Lampynoiseboy

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #7 on: 22 February 2011, 11:34:54 »
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Leave well alone and think of something else to play with theres plenty on an omega

Most of the rest of it works!
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mkirky

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #8 on: 22 February 2011, 11:37:47 »
Never mind give it a wash
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #9 on: 22 February 2011, 11:40:23 »
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Quote
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No, most of them are quite different and require different voltages to power them up.

Never tried a Tom Tom on a Car GPS aerial, but my gut feeling is that it may not work - worst still, something could be overloaded / burnt out in the attempt.

 :-/

Sounds like time to get the volt meter out & play, I should be able to measure the voltage on both when connected?

Good shout tho, I thought they were passive.....

No, wouldn`t do that either as voltage and signal are multiplexed together, connecting a meter would "spike" the sender / receiver and probably damage them.

I suspect it would be fine, the key is not to 'slip' with the leads.

If the circuitry cant withstand the small capactive load of a volt meter then it sticks no chance of withstanding the static and noise around a car electrical system  :y
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Lampynoiseboy

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #10 on: 22 February 2011, 11:48:04 »
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Never mind give it a wash

Er, that's what LNG is for......


Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
No, most of them are quite different and require different voltages to power them up.

Never tried a Tom Tom on a Car GPS aerial, but my gut feeling is that it may not work - worst still, something could be overloaded / burnt out in the attempt.

 :-/

Sounds like time to get the volt meter out & play, I should be able to measure the voltage on both when connected?

Good shout tho, I thought they were passive.....

No, wouldn`t do that either as voltage and signal are multiplexed together, connecting a meter would "spike" the sender / receiver and probably damage them.

I suspect it would be fine, the key is not to 'slip' with the leads.

If the circuitry cant withstand the small capactive load of a volt meter then it sticks no chance of withstanding the static and noise around a car electrical system  :y

That's a fair point, Dave?

we have a debate ftw!
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aaronjb

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #11 on: 22 February 2011, 11:59:39 »
Interesting, I didn't realise they were powered and all different..

I bought a cheap (£15) generic "GPS Antenna" from Maplin, stripped the wire back to conductor & shielding and then rammed it into the back of the NCDC2013 directly (conductor down the hole, shielding onto the outside, naturally).. Lo and behold - it found satellites (which is more than it does with the stock antenna wiring where it sees precisely zip)..

Maybe I was just lucky in buying a 'compatible' one?
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Lampynoiseboy

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #12 on: 22 February 2011, 12:04:33 »
Quote
Interesting, I didn't realise they were powered and all different..

I bought a cheap (£15) generic "GPS Antenna" from Maplin, stripped the wire back to conductor & shielding and then rammed it into the back of the NCDC2013 directly (conductor down the hole, shielding onto the outside, naturally).. Lo and behold - it found satellites (which is more than it does with the stock antenna wiring where it sees precisely zip)..

Maybe I was just lucky in buying a 'compatible' one?

Nobody can be that lucky, surely if it's generic it can't be luck?
« Last Edit: 22 February 2011, 12:05:19 by Lampynoiseboy »
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Dave DND

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #13 on: 22 February 2011, 12:42:17 »
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If the circuitry cant withstand the small capactive load of a volt meter then it sticks no chance of withstanding the static and noise around a car electrical system   

Whilst I agree with what you are saying, don`t forget that the (poor quality mass produced p.o.s.) hand held TomTom was designed primarily for Hikers and Bikers, not for in car !! And is not as bulletproof as in car products

 :'(
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Lampynoiseboy

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Re: GPS antenna
« Reply #14 on: 22 February 2011, 12:53:45 »
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If the circuitry cant withstand the small capactive load of a volt meter then it sticks no chance of withstanding the static and noise around a car electrical system   

Whilst I agree with what you are saying, don`t forget that the (poor quality mass produced p.o.s.) hand held TomTom was designed primarily for Hikers and Bikers, not for in car !! And is not as bulletproof as in car products

 :'(

Whilst I agree the early ones were, the later generation ones are designed for car- hence the waterproof version for bikes.
As for poor quality, I've never had a problem with the one I have, as oppose to the epic failure of the in-car one to get me even close to where I want to go- even after the 3mins it takes to program it. I've tried virtually every external satnav on the market, and nothing comes close to the accuracy or speed-of-use of tomtom iiho, and the 3 different makes of in-car I've used have been utter tripe in comparison.

that said, I don't use it to get to the end of my road as a lot of people do, I can find most major towns & cities in the UK without even a map (been around a bit.....), I find it's biggest use is city centres.... hence the OP
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