Need help installing GPS...

[Drumster]

I'm the proud new owner of a Pioneer AVIC-U310BT for my '94 S1.
I read somewhere on the Aus site that the factory GPS antenna (for newer vans than mine) is in the binnacle. If that's so, shouldn't I be able to hide my GPS antenna in there too? Oh, btw, does anyone know what that gray thing is with the arrow on it that sits under the compass and do I actually need it? (2nd photo.)





It'll be tight but I think I could fit my antenna in the binnacle somewhere, as long as it's going to function properly all the hassle. Also, there's a small flexible metal plate which is supposed to be used as a base for the magnetic antenna "node". There's what I'm wondering about:

1) Can I dispense with that little plate if I mount directly to metal or is that little thng somehow indispensable?:?

2) Another thing is, I intend to remove the leveling ball in left of binnacle and mount my pyrometer's digital gauge there instead. Would that gauge being in close proximity to antenna node interfere with its functioning?

The binnacle would be my first choice but another alternative might be to mount inside one of the acrylic "crystal roof" sections...

3) Does the GPS antenna node need to be facing "up" or would it also work upside down, stuck to a crystal roof panel?

Thanks!

[Drumster]

Update. This just in: Found out (from Aus) the little gray box is the compass sensor. As GPS will make a compass redundant, I can remove that sensor and position the GPS in its place. Instruction say GPS sensor has to be more or less level, which I should be able to work out. If I put pyro gauge on left as planned and replace compass sensor with GPS sensor, I should still be able to retain the interior thermometer (from bottom of compass pod) as well as have a home for GPS.
I'll lose leveler (which I don't use) and compass (which doesn't seem to work anyway) and maintain a clean appearance... I hope.

[Green1]

GPS antenna doesn't need any metal under it to work, the magnetic mount is strictly to keep it from flying around when you hit bumps, so if you attach it to other metal, or even glue it somewhere it'll be fine.
The antenna needs to see the most sky possible, as such, the further forward it is the better (they see through glass and plastic very well, they don't see through metal roofs as well) In my L300 I actually magnetically attached it to the top of the stereo under the dash, worked quite well (until the magnet fell off... )
pyro gauges and other instruments are unlikely to interfere with the GPS, however the magnetic mount of the GPS would quite likely interfere with the existing compass (however if you plan to remove that anyway it becomes a moot point)

[EnviroImports.com]

I would talk to a stereo shop, i just went in to pick out my stereo and asked about putting my gps in the Exact same spot, but was advised not to as there is ALOT of wires and moulding that will go above the compas location, there is more wires running into that pod than an L300 has going to it ecu... so it was likely that it would not work as well if based in that spot, you have power leads going to the volt meter, out of the alt, the temp sensors the compas, the redundant ball has power for a light in the back.... just my $0.02 but my wires are going to run through the housing, but the little gps will be mounted just behind the pod where it can only be seen if someone is on a stool looking into my windshield, and even then its hardly noticable..

[Drumster]

GPS antenna doesn't need any metal under it to work, the magnetic mount is strictly to keep it from flying around when you hit bumps, so if you attach it to other metal, or even glue it somewhere it'll be fine.
The antenna needs to see the most sky possible, as such, the further forward it is the better (they see through glass and plastic very well, they don't see through metal roofs as well) In my L300 I actually magnetically attached it to the top of the stereo under the dash, worked quite well (until the magnet fell off... )
pyro gauges and other instruments are unlikely to interfere with the GPS, however the magnetic mount of the GPS would quite likely interfere with the existing compass (however if you plan to remove that anyway it becomes a moot point)

Cool. That being the case, the node will fit perfectly in the front part of the binnacle as mentioned; the magnet's really strong and I've tried banging & shaking it around. It doesn't even think about moving. If it doesn't function so well in that spot I can always relocate it later on, further forward as Enviro mentions in his post.

[Drumster]

I would talk to a stereo shop, i just went in to pick out my stereo and asked about putting my gps in the Exact same spot, but was advised not to as there is ALOT of wires and moulding that will go above the compas location, there is more wires running into that pod than an L300 has going to it ecu... so it was likely that it would not work as well if based in that spot, you have power leads going to the volt meter, out of the alt, the temp sensors the compas, the redundant ball has power for a light in the back.... just my $0.02 but my wires are going to run through the housing, but the little gps will be mounted just behind the pod where it can only be seen if someone is on a stool looking into my windshield, and even then its hardly noticable..

This may turn out to be the case. However, as the newer models with factory GPS come with antenna node under the binnacle cowling, (so I've read on the Aus site) I think it's worth a shot as "plan A".

"The proof is in the pudding" as the saying goes. There's nothing to lose by trying it inside first (as in above photo) and if that fails, moving it further forward as you suggest, for my "plan B".

(BTW, Noel, I've worked out a way to install my little rectangular shaped Auber EGT gauge in the binnacle. It's going to look really good so I won't be needing the round gauge I asked you about. I got the impression that was a no-go anyway, as I didn't hear back from you.)

It's all good.

[Drumster]

So far the antenna in binnacle seems to work just fine.

[wetcoast]

LOL @ Binnacle. In Canada we call them Dash Pod or Guage Pod.

[Drumster]

LOL @ Binnacle. In Canada we call them Dash Pod or Guage Pod.

Yeah, it's a pretty goofy sounding word. I wondered why the guys at the Aus site used that word (or "barnacle" for fun), so I looked it up: "A housing for a ship's compass and lamp."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/binnacle

So that's what we have, a real live genuine binnacle. Cool huh!:-D

[FalcoColumbarius]

Having lived on a ketch, I can relate. I don't suppose you have a compass point steering wheel in your L-400, do you Drumster? (Just kidding)

This is a good question. I have a Garmin system and my GPS bug sits on the top of the forward console (dash) so it is in view of the sky. It has two little suction cups that sick to the bottom of the windscreen to keep it in place. They are cheap & nasty ~ they do the job but they don't look that refined. Perhaps. I should consider a better mount. But I believe that the bug (aerial) needs to see the sky.

Falco.

[Green1]

I used double sided tape and attached my GPS antenna to the top of a heater vent under the dash (near the glove box but as far forward as I could reach)
now this GPS isn't hooked up to a screen, it's for a tracking system, but the positions it's been giving so far are perfect, so it seems to be working well.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Yeah, accuracy can be a pain as well as a good thing. I programmed a course that included stopping at a place in Hope called the "Blue Moose". When I got there, there was not parking directly in front of the cafe so I parked across the street. When I left to continue my trip my GPS kept telling me to turn around because I had not yet arrived at the Blue Moose. The van had gotten close but didn't exactly arrive. I get into long drawn out conversations with my GPS, Keeps me awake sometimes. I hate it when she tells me that I have "X amount of kilometres to destination", a straight line appears on my monitor and then she goes all quiet. I hate that silent treatment. One moment she is saying: "In two kilometres - take ramp right - keep left." Next moment, right in my hour of need, she's saying: "Screw you - I'm going for a smoke and I'm not going to talk to you until you apologise." Sometimes I really wonder who is running the ship ~ me, or the silicon b*tch.

Falco.