DIY: GPS Antenna
GPS systems are a useful tool for individuals with an on-the-go lifestyle. They help get us where we need to be and can even make suggestions for places we might want to see. These systems typically come fully assembled, but most have an antenna that must be installed before you can use them, and while you can get a professional at a local electronics store to install this equipment,you can definitely save some money by doing the installation on your GPS antenna yourself.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Soft cloth
- GPS system and antenna
- DC power adapter and splitter
- Heavy-duty tape
Instructions
-
-
1
Using your soft cloth, wipe away all dust and dirt from the dashboard area. Excess dust on the surface can cause your adhesive to be less effective. You will be attaching your GPS antenna to the dash, as this is where it will receive the best signal while you are driving.
-
2
Position your antenna toward the center of your dash as close as possible to the point where the dash meets the windshield, because this is the area that most instruction manuals recommend for this project. Where you place your antenna on your dash is a key factor that will determine the quality of your reception.
-
-
3
Secure your hardware to your dashboard. This will prevent the antenna from moving, sliding and falling. Using your favorite variety of heavy-duty tape, adhere the external GPS antenna to your dash. You can do this by placing the tape underneath the antenna or by taping it down along the sides.
-
4
Connect your hardware. Connect your splitter into your DC adapter and plug it into a power source, such as your car lighter. Connect your GPS system to one side of the splitter and your antenna to the other side.
-
5
Once you've installed your antenna, get on the road and put your GPS to work. Turn on all of your equipment and test it to see if everything is working correctly.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you are not happy with the idea of sticking tape to your dash, look for a GPS kit that offers a suction cup as an adhesive method.
References
- Photo Credit handheld gps image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com yellow car, a honda japanese sport car model image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
