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Dustysworld Occasional Visitor
Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Southampton (England)
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:26 am Post subject: |
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I have the garmin connection too . and the mag mount. Signal has not dropped once with this combination _________________ www.dustysworld.net |
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roked Occasional Visitor
Joined: Nov 13, 2006 Posts: 1
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:27 am Post subject: |
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I was just about to buy this when luckily I saw this post. Unfortunatly I tend to switch between a number of cars with work and wanted to use the traffic module with my N40i. Anyone know is there a decent more portable alternative to be had that would be as good as the magmount solution on here?
Edit :- Actually I think I might have misunderstood the solution on here, can I just quickly attach and detach the mag mount and presumably just run the cable out the seal in the car door? |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:08 am Post subject: |
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You can simply run the mini-scan wire out through a door seal and it provides an effective quick release aerial that can move between vehicles. Its frequency band is not ideal as Classic FM transmit using a frequency around 101 MHz, this is right at the bottom of the mini-scans band, a normal car aerial would be better but they don't come with a mag mount. Worth a try to be honest as the quick release aspect is what you need. - Mike |
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GPS_fan Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:45 am Post subject: |
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Does this mag mount need a 12V supply?
Having looked at the Maplin part number suggested (QT30H), I don't think so, but could somebody please confirm. |
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GPS_fan Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:16 am Post subject: |
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mikealder wrote: | Its frequency band is not ideal as Classic FM transmit using a frequency around 101 MHz, this is right at the bottom of the mini-scans band, a normal car aerial would be better but they don't come with a mag mount. |
If Classic FM reception is a problem with the miniscan, Maplin do another mag mount antenna (QT33L) for a few pounds more (£19.99 instead of £14.99) and this has a fequency range of 25-2000MHz (rather than 100-1300MHz) - would/could this solve the problem? |
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Tim Buxton Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 14/09/2002 20:56:18 Posts: 5231 Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:56 am Post subject: |
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GPS_fan wrote: | Does this mag mount need a 12V supply?
Having looked at the Maplin part number suggested (QT30H), I don't think so, but could somebody please confirm. |
No, no supply required. _________________ Tim |
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GPS_fan Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:16 am Post subject: |
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There are a few mag mount aerials listed in Maplin -
QT30H 100-1300MHz £14.99
QT33L 25-2000MHz £19.99
A00GC 70-1000MHz £23.99
Any recommendations gratefully received |
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Tim Buxton Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 14/09/2002 20:56:18 Posts: 5231 Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:32 am Post subject: |
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GPS_fan wrote: | There are a few mag mount aerials listed in Maplin -
QT30H 100-1300MHz £14.99
QT33L 25-2000MHz £19.99
A00GC 70-1000MHz £23.99
Any recommendations gratefully received |
I have the QT30H. Considering that Classic FM broadcasts between 99.9 and 101.9 MHz, I think this is enough. They actually show 100-102MHz on their website; has this changed, I wonder?
Mind you, my son would love it if I got the QT33L! _________________ Tim |
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GPS_fan Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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Tim,
Thanks for your input.
I'll give it a try - I've previously tried a glass mount 'amplified' aerial, but reception with that was worse than the shoestring aerial.
I guess that I could possibly even get the best of both worlds by connecting the feed from a mag mount into the amplifier if the glass mount aerial and get an amplified feed from the mag mount |
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philpugh Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 28, 2005 Posts: 2003 Location: Antrobus, Cheshire
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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GPS_fan wrote: | Tim,
Thanks for your input.
I'll give it a try - I've previously tried a glass mount 'amplified' aerial, but reception with that was worse than the shoestring aerial.
I guess that I could possibly even get the best of both worlds by connecting the feed from a mag mount into the amplifier if the glass mount aerial and get an amplified feed from the mag mount |
Not really suprised there. Glassmount aerials are designed for much higher frequencies than FM (eg mobile phones, GPS re-radiating aerials and the like) _________________ Phil |
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GPS_fan Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Well, not really Phil, this is supposed to be for use with car radios and pick up the usual frequencies - not a glass mount mobile phone aerial |
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philpugh Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 28, 2005 Posts: 2003 Location: Antrobus, Cheshire
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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But they (glass mount aerials) do work much more efficiently at higher frequencies. It's down to physical size - for lower frequencies they need to be bigger.
The best solution is to have a correctly designed FM aerial (about 1.5 metres in length) external to the car and connected to the TMC unit directly by wire. _________________ Phil |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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I will try the strange looking aerial out, as it should offer slightly better performance than the mini-scan which does work, its a question as to how much more performance the sky scan offers.
As for a decent aerial for TMC I use a Hirschmann unit, amplified internally and it provides GPS, Mobile phone and AM/ FM the downside is drilling holes in the car (not a problem for me) and the high cost. Why try the Sky Scan? - well I drive a lot of hire cars where the Hirschmann is of no use sat on the Ovlov in the car park at work.
Local Maplins have one in stock as well as a solar powered charger for GPS/ phones and PDA's that I want to try - watch this space for an update - Mike |
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GPS_fan Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the update Mike.
Your poor car must look like a pincushion by now with all those holes drilled in it.
Did you have to drill a big hole in the footwell to let the water out??
Maybe I'll hold fire on buying a mag mount aerial until you've had a little play and let us know how you get on. |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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I just need the connector addaptors now to try it out, yes the car does have a number of holes in the roof, four GPS receivers, and a couple of FM aerials as well as the Hirschmann (23 holes in total to be exact), no water leaks though - I make sure I fit them correctly - wait and see what happens once I plug it in, then we will know if the Sky Scan or Mini Scan performs best (signal strength meter might help here) - Mike |
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