When installing GPS antennas to your car, there are a few simple rules to keep in mind. This one’s specially useful to those vehicles that come with a navigation receiver, the in-dash type. Before anything else, what rule of thumb that you need to follow here? Never make any attempt to make any kind of physical alteration to the antenna itself, including cutting any of its parts.
A GPS type of antenna will work at their best and will deliver your expected functions the most if you will keep them in constant reach with GPS satellites. They are qualified man-made satellites, and are designed to orbit the globe from outer space. These installations in the great beyond will provide the data being required by these antennas.
Or else, the information, whatever that may be that you want to obtain will have a questionable integrity. It may not be highly accurate at all, and thus it can’t be relied on even if you have it right at your fingertips. This is the underlying reason why you need to have them mounted in such a way that its signal will not be compromised due to some kind of interference.
A GPS external type of antenna is ideally mounted on the dash, near the top of it, particularly on the underside. Satellite signals nowadays are very strong, which implies that we have sufficient amounts and thus should be able to maintain a reliable reception. Besides, it is also one of the several reasons why the antenna can be kept out of the line of sight.
Wire Connections
Check out your receivers and determine if they come with a video screen. If that is the case, chances are high that you need to have extra wire connections which may not be as necessary in a non-touchscreen stereo. We need to take a closer look at this, as follows.
Reverse Signal Wire Connections
There are also several navigation systems that will let you connect to your vehicle’s reverse signal wire or the backup light.This connection acts as an indicator of your car’s navigation system during a travel or movement in an opposite direction. If you fail to hook up this wire, there is a meager chance that your vehicle direction can be tracked properly and accurately. This is where an external gps antenna would come into picture, to help it deliver its designated functions.
In some occasions, you will find the reverse wire situated either under the dash or under the hood. If you have this kind of scenario, we encourage you to refer to the dedicated wiring diagram that your vehicle came with so you can easily and correctly identify it. It will be a lot more convenient and easier to tap at the taillight.
Parking Brake Wire Connections
For safety reasons, vehicles that come with a front video screen should also remain connected to the parking brake wire. This also applies to systems of gps antennas as well. The more technologically advanced a navigation functionality is, the more unusable they become since they’re disabled while the vehicle would remain in motion.
For example, you want to look for a friend and his phone number. Or that if you want to tweak your phone settings, you won’t be able to carry it out unless you pull over first. Only then that you will gain access to it one more time. In some cases, a foot brake connection is needed here.