I would like to have a power jack on top instead

[jonasolof]

The problems with the fragile pin of the coaxial (aka barrel) power jack of the iQue are well known. So people try to make a UC connector hold instead. This is clumsy when using the iQue for hiking. Robertp366 and Holgado have described how they have a case ayttached to their backpack straps. The external antenna wire of course goes to the top of the iQue (Robert has a Gilsson which holds on to a small steel plate inside the backpack cover.

It would be much more convenient if the auxiliary power jack was placed on top of the unit. This is the case with all ICom UHF and marine VHF tranceivers I have. Then the ant cable and the power cable could run together and it would be easier to handle the iQue, putting in in and out of the case.

Now, Garmin never intended the iQue to be a hiker's GPS., so I don't think they'll change it. But knowing that the external earphone jack and the barrel power connector both have chassis ground on the "ring" side" I thought that it could be neat to use the ear phone jack for power instead.

If you don't care about using the Ique for MP3

If you wait until warranty is out

If you are aware that ear phone connectors can be shorted in the jack on insertion/removal
- then the actual wiring shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Jonas

[Moose Man]

Ok by me but I want a built in MCX antenna connector in place of the one on top so that I can mount the external antenna to the Nav Kit and take it in and out without having to connect the antenna.

I know you want them both on top for case reasons - makes perfect sense. I want yet another one on the bottom.....it's kinda like our American saying, "I want my cake and bea able to eat it too". :)

[wa4phy]

I'd just like to have an antenna connector built into the cradle, be it fixed or mobile, and keep the top of the Que clean. Can do away with the audio jack AFIC, as I'm so deaf music files from most things sound like mush to me anyhow. The really one thing I'd like to have or see done is fabricate the back of the case out of metal -- aluminum or better yet, SS, and then attach a metal spring type belt clip to that. I'd even go along with a metal case all over. I'm not so weak I can't pick up somethign that weighs no more than a full beer can :-)

Sam

[Moose Man]

Originally posted by wa4phy
I'm not so weak I can't pick up somethign that weighs no more than a full beer can :-)

Sam

With that spelling of "somethign", I think you've had enough beer already. :D

Last call for you. :D

But I do agree with you even if you are under the influence. :)

[jonasolof]

Originally posted by Moose Man
Ok by me but I want a built in MCX antenna connector in place of the one on top so that I can mount the external antenna to the Nav Kit and take it in and out without having to connect the antenna.

I

Wouldn't work. As you insert/eject the iQue to/from the Nav cradle there is a slight front to back movement also. The coaxial connector needs to be inserted axially only. Since it wouldn't work, you could just as well side with me:)

Jonas

[Moose Man]

Originally posted by jonasolof
Wouldn't work. As you insert/eject the iQue to/from the Nav cradle there is a slight front to back movement also. The coaxial connector needs to be inserted axially only. Since it wouldn't work, you could just as well side with me:)

Jonas

How about a "swivel" that returns to a default position once the Que is removed? I'm certain the engineers could figure it out. :)

[apersson850]

There are sometimes design considerations, where you don't want an external antenna connector to be too far from the internal antenna. It may cause inferior performance, due to the required wiring of low-level signals inside the unit.

[jonasolof]

Good, so let's get all the connectors except the UC on top:D

:pHELLOGARMIN:p