Internal Antenna

[stevevo]

I just noticed that my internal antenna is really weak the last couple days. Is there a reason for this. I get a error message about are you outside. If I plug the external one in and then it gets a great signal and if I unplug it then it stays on but the bars are under the 25% mark. I do have it in the WAAS mode so will turn that off and see if that helps. I did get the D's under the bars before with the internal one. Any suggestions? I am out of warranty and they probably won't do anything about it anyway. This would be my 12 RMA if I did.

[nscaler]

My internal antenna was working fine just yesterday. Do not know what to tell you.

[tim adams]

I've also had a main problem with the internal anntena for the past 3-4 days. Just sent an inquiry to Garmin about it. I thought it might be weather related since where I am (New Hampshire) has had basically total overcast skies since last Thursday. Certainly hope it isn't the unit as I need it for the holiday traveling I've got planned.

Quick question for those that have had to RMA their units - how quick/slow is Garmin with the repair.replacement?

[JohnJ]

Sent the unit off and had a new one back a week later - this was in March 2004.

Sounds like your problem may be similar to one I had with the RMA unit. Tech offered to send me an externa antenna (free) instead of a second RMA. I've been using the external antenna ever since - w/o any problem. I don't know if they are still making the same offer, but if that would work for you - it might be worth mentioning.

[stevevo]

Tim Adams the RMA process is really fast. I do live within 400 miles of Garmin but they are fast and very good tech support.

JohnJ the problem with using the external antenna is not bad but these were made to be portable and with external that is not the case. If they make an antenna that afixes to the flap and can be plugged in then I would say yes. The external I have is almost small enough to do that but not quite. Almost all my RMA's were because of the internal antenna. I have always been able to connect an external and make do but it is supposed to be albe to use the internal all the time. I really thought they had the problem solved. I am out of warranty now so don't know if I will call them or not. :mad:

[elevatorman718]

Use the Non vol utility program to clean out the waas almanac and do a hard reset or two and it might clear up your problem, it did mine.

[jonasolof]

Originally posted by stevevo


JohnJ the problem with using the external antenna is not bad but these were made to be portable and with external that is not the case. If they make an antenna that afixes to the flap and can be plugged in then I would say yes. The external I have is almost small enough to do that but not quite.

You could try a www.sanav.com MK-IV or BS 2 antenna, shorten the cable and put it directly on the flap, preferably adding s small reflector. The mentioned model (almost same) is quite small.

[jonasolof]

There will be a number of cases where people will see their internal antennas fail after warranty. Just wanted to present an idea what could be done as an alternative to having it repaired.

AFAIK, there isn't any electronic circuitry in the antenna flap, just the ceramic patch element with a thin coaxial cable going through a hinge (there must be a coaxial rotating connector in the hinge btw). This according to photos we've seen.

It might be possible to open the antenna flap and put in an amplfied antenna without it's plastic dome. The Gilsson/Sanav printed board is too large (wrong - see below), but the Wi-Sys 3910 antenna amplifer is in a shielded enclosure about 28x28x 4 mm -at least the bare amplifiers that I got from Wi-Sys are. There isn't room depthwhise for both the amp and the patch antenna so the antenna would protrude a couple of mm on the flap. The cable from the amp would have to be connected to the external antenna connector since the preamp needs power.

On wwww.wi-sys.com there isn't any image of a bare 3910. To have an idea, have a look at the 3954/64 models. These are rated for only 2 mA but amplifiction is not enough, so I believe that they are one stage amplifiers(18 dB instead of 28 dB)


There wouldn't be any need to activate the GPS receiver by the opening of the antenna flap since that would happen as the antenna is connected to the external antenna connector. So one might just as well do away with the magnet in the flap that activates the hall effect antenna switch transistor.

Advantage: You would have a high quality "internal" antenna on the iQue, as there should have been from the beginning. Disadvantage: There would be a 5 mm bulge for the patch and a short (5 cm?) cable to connect.

The Wi-sys 3910 is as sensitive as the Gilsson but more expensive. It might be possible to buy a bare 3910 without the plastic dome, so one wouldn't have to bother with opening and risking to damage a finished product with the dome. I could ask since they've already been willing to sell me some stuff taken out of the production line before it's finished.

How to seal the patch antenna from water would be a matter of personal choice.

PS. There is an easier and less expensive solution: Open up a Gilsson by cutting the dome lose from the base. There is no risk of damaging the printed circuit board, since it is in a recess further in from the joint, protected by a metal ridge. The printed circuit board measures about 38 mm across at the longest axis but you could easily cut a few mm away to fit in inside the iQue flap. The coax cable might have to be redirected. You'll probably have to provide shielding to the preamp to prevent it from oscillating or picking up noise from the PDA. You'd have to make a square hole in the top of the flap for the patch antenna which mseasures 25x25x4 mm with slightly rounded cornes. I guess one could seal it with some epoxy glue.

At the same time, you'll notice that the Gilsson is an OEM San José Navigation SM76 antenna, marked SM76A. With direct sales from Gilsson at minimum margin prices unfortunately more or less ended, you'll have to look for competitive pricing - and freight costs which is one of Gilsson's strong points.

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by stevevo
Tim Adams the RMA process is really fast. I do live within 400 miles of Garmin but they are fast and very good tech support.

Distance is relative to the rma time. I'm probably about 150 miles from Garmin UK, but that matters not. I'm probably 3500 miles (guesstimate) from Garmin US where rma time must be measured from. My rma took 5 weeks.

If UK distance is used then a round-trip of say 300 miles equates to 60 miles per week. And the only thing that can explain that is if they send it by train. Those who know the UK train system will nod in agreement.;)

[jonasolof]

Maybe it would have been better for the UK railway system had they chosen Ericsson's Novelty instead of Stephenson's Rocket:

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RArainhill.htm