Pic Request: GPS mounting solutions

[dtlee]

I'm thinking about picking up a Garmin Nuvi 360 to conform with the upcoming CA law for no phones while driving. The unit has a built-in Bluetooth module and speaker/mic.
Where would I mount said unit? I want something that looks cooler than suction cups and a power cord hanging from the middle of my mirror (which is illegal in california anyway).

I was thinking of mounting it near the rearview mirror to reduce its visibility from the outside (for theft reasons).
Or under the stereo system for a more logical location...
Where have y'all powered your units from? Did you tap power from the cigarette lighter?

Pictures/Opinions requested.
Thanks, Donovan

[rmnelson]

ProClip sells a vehicle mount that attaches to the vent just to the right of the steering wheel. They have a device mount for the Nuvi 360 that screws to the vehicle mount. For my Garmin V I ran a remote antenna cable and the power cable straight down a seam between dash panels and then behind the dash. Behind the dash I added a convenience outlet for power and a remote antenna snap tied to one of the structural cross members below the dash (make sure you don't mess with the pax air bag). Get an extra 12V power cable for the Nuvi and connect it to the extra convenience outlet. I wired the extra outlet with a splitter I made up to the one below the radio. The hidden antenna works fine, but isn't really needed for what you want. My original plan was to have a hidden GPS use the antenna and output the GPS data to an APRS radio so my car could be tracked online if needed; sort of a poor man's lojack. I was never able to get the xmitter working properly (due to lots of RF interference from the IMA). The remote antenna is an artifact of that effort. Anyway, here is a picture of the setup with the Garmin V. I know this will work with the Nuvi since I have one of those as well but just haven't taken a picture of it.

http://home.comcast.net/~rmnelson2/GarminV.jpg

[boogetyboogety]

I don't have one of the newer units, mine is an ancient Garmin Streetpilot III (no spoken directions! Horrors!) about the size of small sub sandwich. I have it mounted directly above the cupholders, below the radio. I ran a hidden extension BNC cable and mounted the antenna on a suction cup directly behind my inspection sticker (barely visible from the outside of the car) and reception is outstanding.

Power is provided from an always-on, manually-switched three-outlet cig-lighter power pod that I hid under the glove box, next to the console. One of the outlets is for the GPS, the other for the XM Radio adapter (hidden away in the flip-out cubby left of the steering wheel), I could direct-wire the GPS, but not the XM, it's about 5v and would fry with direct wiring. Out of sight, out of mind, but I can recharge my phone or laptop if needed while still powering my other accessories. Never a blown fuse, never an issue. The original switched-with-ignition power outlet behind the GPS unit on the console remains untouched.

To mount it (and make it removable), I bent a flat aluminum piece into an acute angle and bolted the upright portion to the plastic piece below the radio (oh, stop screaming that I defaced the car, it's a plastic $40 panel that I can always get if I ever decide to sell it on Barrett-Jackson) for stability and to clear the cupholders, which I don't use for cups or beverages (I drive, not drink while driving) but I do keep coins and other small stuff there if I need to.

I will be updating it to a touch-screen model soon, and I have the Bluetooth capability in my aftermarket radio, so I'll post pictures then. But I hope you get the idea...

[bagwell]

I mounted my Magellan 3100 right below my radio....it came with an adhesive disc (that I had to superglue on) that the suction cup attaches to.

works perfect in this location and is not a tacky in the windshield install.

I'll post a pic later

[dtlee]

Any more pics? Thanks!

[Calpod]

Dtelee wrote:

I'm thinking about picking up a Garmin Nuvi 360 to conform with the upcoming CA law for no phones while driving. The unit has a built-in Bluetooth module and speaker/mic.
Where would I mount said unit? I want something that looks cooler than suction cups and a power cord hanging from the middle of my mirror (which is illegal in california anyway).

Have you considered a Bluetooth device such as the Parrot? several people have had one installed (Including me) on their vehicles and it works really good.

I have a Garmin Nuvi 350, and I'm thinking about installing it on one of those Turbo boost gauge pods, so you can take it in and out as needed, but I have not found the time to install it.