My Stumbling Setup

clearink · 05-31-2002

My Mini-Stumbling Setup is Posted Here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~clearink1/Stumbler_Setup.htm

Tell me what you think.

I mounted at Fab-Corp Omni in the Dash - works pretty good.

Clearink

*** To Manipulate A System - You Must First Understand It.

lincomatic · 05-31-2002

kool

wish my dash had a space like that!

ZipperSeven · 05-31-2002

Very phat ! That's the cleanest car install I've seen, and if anybody asks you can explain it away that it's XM radio or a cell extender or something.

You mention something on the site about a mount for the IPaq with the expansion sleeve, my advice is to try Radio Shack. If you have one close by, a truck stop might have something also. That sounds funny, but I found a lot of cool gear at truck stop a ways down I-10 here.

ARPAN3T · 06-01-2002

Did your 5 dBi Magnetic Mount Omni Antenna come with a pigtail? Did you need to buy it seperately? Was it a standard pigtail?

blackwave · 06-01-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by ARPAN3T
Did your 5 dBi Magnetic Mount Omni Antenna come with a pigtail? Did you need to buy it seperately? Was it a standard pigtail?

FYI:
If you are interested in purchasing an antenna and a pigtail search the board for Fab-Corp, Stumbler Special, Borg Man, or Fungus also sells this gear.

agentgrn · 06-02-2002

That antenna placement is nothing less than phat!

The car wash convenience is a big plus. I usually pop my antenna off and put it inside when it's my time to go through the car wash...then I put it back on it's spot.

Though, I am curious how the internal placement affects the omni's range from the rear and sides of the car past the windshield.

Does the GPS have an external antenna as well, or do you just have that floating around on the seat?

blackwave · 06-02-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by agentgrn
Does the GPS have an external antenna as well, or do you just have that floating around on the seat?

Most medium level gps units do not have external gps antenna jacks... I have only seen a few higher end models that do. I have the Garmin eTrex Legend and I have the Garmin eTrex Window Suction Cup GPS clip holder, also the cable/power bundle so it just sticks on the front of my winshield, next to the FastTrack unit... If it is on the seat, the amount of birds isn't as good... most gps units require direct access to the sky for best efficency.

blackwave · 06-02-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by agentgrn
That antenna placement is nothing less than phat!

The car wash convenience is a big plus. I usually pop my antenna off and put it inside when it's my time to go through the car wash...then I put it back on it's spot.

Also I am not sure if you have checked out:
lincomatic's Compact Stumbling Rig
http://www.geocities.com/lincomatic/rig.html
from this thread:
Come on People Post Your Setups
http://forums.netstumbler.com/showth...0&pagenumber=1

clearink · 06-03-2002

No, the Etrex Legend doesn't have an external antenna. But, when I place it where the clock is, it has a real good view of the sky and gets about 7 or so satellites.

There is a slight difference above and behind with having the antenna where it is. But, for me having it inside totally offsets the slight signal loss. I haven't done any exact measurements and don't really plan to, but from basic observations it seems to effect it very little.

Thanks for the replies, I feel better now after doing a couple semi-permanent changes to my car's dash...

blackwave · 06-03-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by clearink
Thanks for the replies, I feel better now after doing a couple semi-permanent changes to my car's dash...

Please don't say you used any form of adhesive...

clearink · 06-03-2002

The only way I could get it in there nice and snug without rattling was with super glue. Im sure if it came to it, I could pry it off with a screw driver. Even if I broke the platic it wouldnt show because of the dash cover...

However, it is in there real good. It would be a significant effort to remove it...

blackwave · 06-03-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by clearink
The only way I could get it in there nice and snug without rattling was with super glue. Im sure if it came to it, I could pry it off with a screw driver. Even if I broke the platic it wouldnt show because of the dash cover...

However, it is in there real good. It would be a significant effort to remove it...

Ouch... crazy glue? On the dash?... if I was going to stick something to my dash (which I would avoid at all costs in the first place), perhaps velcro would be better...

Luckily I have found windshield suction cups for most of what I want mounted... The only thing that is velcro'd is the FastTrack Unit.. and that is still to the windshield.... Also from my experience with crazy glue is that it had a tendency to snap because it hardens and becomes fragile... if you insist on using a form a glue, perhaps an epoxy of sorts would be better... though lower your windows for a while else you could get booked for driving under the influence of mind altering subtances..

clearink · 06-03-2002

I didn't exactly glue it to the finished part of the dash. The middle dash comes off revealing all the wires etc... I glued it in the recess where the speaker goes.. Then I placed the finished dash cover of it; and the antenna sticks out.

I suppose the inner area could be considered the dash also; but its not visible unless you rip of the dash cover...

blackwave · 06-03-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by clearink
I didn't exactly glue it to the finished part of the dash. The middle dash comes off revealing all the wires etc... I glued it in the recess where the speaker goes.. Then I placed the finished dash cover of it; and the antenna sticks out.

I suppose the inner area could be considered the dash also; but its not visible unless you rip of the dash cover...

I checked the images you posted again, it looks pretty sweet, very stealthy and slick.

Did you remove the magnet?

Have you noticed a difference in gain if you have compared it when you may have mounted it on your roof?

clearink · 06-03-2002

I just left the magnet in there.

I guess there's a slight gain difference from the roof. But, not substantial. I'm sure if the AP is located above and behind (roof blocking) it would make a difference. But, overall hasn't been much of an issue.

05-31-2002	#1 (permalink)
clearink Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: MA Posts: 5	My Stumbling Setup My Mini-Stumbling Setup is Posted Here: http://home.earthlink.net/~clearink1/Stumbler_Setup.htm Tell me what you think. I mounted at Fab-Corp Omni in the Dash - works pretty good. Clearink *** To Manipulate A System - You Must First Understand It.

05-31-2002	#2 (permalink)
lincomatic Squaaawk! WiFi! WiFi! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tinsel Town Posts: 1,682	kool wish my dash had a space like that! __________________ ~lincomatic

06-02-2002	#6 (permalink)
agentgrn KB1JQO - Packin' Heat Join Date: May 2002 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 517	That antenna placement is nothing less than phat! The car wash convenience is a big plus. I usually pop my antenna off and put it inside when it's my time to go through the car wash...then I put it back on it's spot. Though, I am curious how the internal placement affects the omni's range from the rear and sides of the car past the windshield. Does the GPS have an external antenna as well, or do you just have that floating around on the seat? __________________ -A.G.-

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-01-2002	#4 (permalink)
ARPAN3T Hiptop Stumbler Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 59	Did your 5 dBi Magnetic Mount Omni Antenna come with a pigtail? Did you need to buy it seperately? Was it a standard pigtail?

06-03-2002	#9 (permalink)
clearink Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: MA Posts: 5	No, the Etrex Legend doesn't have an external antenna. But, when I place it where the clock is, it has a real good view of the sky and gets about 7 or so satellites. There is a slight difference above and behind with having the antenna where it is. But, for me having it inside totally offsets the slight signal loss. I haven't done any exact measurements and don't really plan to, but from basic observations it seems to effect it very little. Thanks for the replies, I feel better now after doing a couple semi-permanent changes to my car's dash...

06-03-2002	#11 (permalink)
clearink Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: MA Posts: 5	The only way I could get it in there nice and snug without rattling was with super glue. Im sure if it came to it, I could pry it off with a screw driver. Even if I broke the platic it wouldnt show because of the dash cover... However, it is in there real good. It would be a significant effort to remove it...

06-03-2002	#13 (permalink)
clearink Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: MA Posts: 5	I didn't exactly glue it to the finished part of the dash. The middle dash comes off revealing all the wires etc... I glued it in the recess where the speaker goes.. Then I placed the finished dash cover of it; and the antenna sticks out. I suppose the inner area could be considered the dash also; but its not visible unless you rip of the dash cover...

06-03-2002	#15 (permalink)
clearink Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: MA Posts: 5	I just left the magnet in there. I guess there's a slight gain difference from the roof. But, not substantial. I'm sure if the AP is located above and behind (roof blocking) it would make a difference. But, overall hasn't been much of an issue.