AlphaOp Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Yeah, this was an interesting place to put a remote antenna. (You can just make out the rectangular shape, that's the antenna. It's kinda dark so it's hard to see.) I was exploring a gorge area in Erie County, PA, and I decided to take a hands-free approach. So I attached, using plastic quick-ties, the Garmin-III antenna to my bicycle helmet. I then ran the extension cable from the antenna to the Garmin, which is sitting inside the carrying pouch on my belt. A few advantages of this system: 1. Better GPS coverage- no signals blocked by the body and antenna is higher. 2. Hands-free operation (logging and tracking location) 3. Additional head protection in rocky areas and areas where one may potentially fall down or slip But the disadvantages: 1. Looks kinda dorky (except it matches my urban camo shorts) 2. Cord can get in the way, espicially when using a backpack. I also thought about making an "extender" that would attach to my large backpack, something that would be six or so feet high with an antenna on the top. CODENAME: ALPHA OPERATOR daedalus://govlink/secure/majestic/12.12.12/ops/throne/AO MAJESTIC-12: THRONE G6 LEVEL AGENT http://www.forumplanet.com/gamespy Quote Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 There's a guy in our local club that has one of those little antennas attached to a baseball cap. No he doesn't carry the laptop on hunts. Lil Devil Quote Link to comment
+SpongeRob Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 I guess in some rainy weather it can be also be used to ground the brain stem from a lightning strike. Just kidding -- SpongeRob rwmech@keenpeople.com www.keenpeople.com WPWU826 Cache'n Retrievers Quote Link to comment
Cache Canucks Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 quote:Originally posted by LilDevil:"...There's a guy in our local club that has one of those little antennas attached to a baseball cap..." We had a guy up here like that... ...but none of us took him seriously and he eventually went away. Quote Link to comment
AlphaOp Posted April 9, 2003 Author Share Posted April 9, 2003 Wow, and I thought I was the only antenna-head! quote:Originally posted by SpongeRob:I guess in some rainy weather it can be also be used to ground the brain stem from a lightning strike. Just kidding Actually, that's not a terrible idea! I'm thinking of covering the top of the helmet, the entire area, with aluminium or stainless steel. Then have to LARGE GAGUE wires running down from the steel "cap" down to the feet, where it connects with two stainles steel, cleated soles. It might just be enough to divert the current to the ground, bypassing the human being... Re: Canuk's Picture ROFL Quote Link to comment
+nincehelser Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Are you in competition for this year's Darwin Award? George Quote Link to comment
+jonboy Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 I've had occasions where I shifted the external antenna from the top of my pack strap to my hat and it just made enough difference to give me a lock. I don't like to look any weirder than I already am, so I just stick the antenna under my hat, it works fine. Now, if I really want to look like I'm trying to contact a UFO, I fasten the antenna on my skipole with a paint can lid duct taped to the snow basket, and stick in the side compression straps of my pack. Quote Link to comment
+Poindexter Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 OK, here's my setup. With the backpack on, the antenna ends up being just about even with the top of my head so it's not blocked but not high enough to get hooked on tree branches. And I use the holster for true hands-free operation. Quote Link to comment
+PDOP's Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Low Tech I've put my GPSr under my toque during winter hikes. Good reception and it keeps the batteries warm too. PDOP's GPS Pages Quote Link to comment
AlphaOp Posted April 9, 2003 Author Share Posted April 9, 2003 What's a "toque?" Quote Link to comment
+putt Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Don't knock technology. I made a Radiating Antenna that I can place my Garmin Legend on and it works like a charm. I was under heavy tree cover looking for a cache and when I turned it on EUREKA it took me right to it. I forgot to mention that I put a piece of metal under my cap and the magnetic antenna base just latches on to it. Quote Link to comment
+nincehelser Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 What these guys are wearing, eh? http://www.geocities.com/mckenziebrothers/action.html George Quote Link to comment
+PDOP's Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 quote:Originally posted by The Alpha Operator:What's a "toque?" Someday I plan to retire somewhere where people don't know what a toque is. PDOP's GPS Pages Quote Link to comment
Cache Canucks Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 quote:Originally posted by PDOP's:"...Someday I plan to retire somewhere where people don't know what a toque is..." ...north-eastern Pennsylvania? Quote Link to comment
AlphaOp Posted April 10, 2003 Author Share Posted April 10, 2003 Actually, the name of my town is "North East" but it's really in Northwestern PA. Quote Link to comment
Cache Canucks Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by The Alpha Operator:"...Actually, the name of my town is 'North East' but it's really in Northwestern PA..." Nothing confusing about that ! That's O.K., we have a 'Wesleyville Road' about 45 minutes drive east of Toronto ...problem is, there isn't a 'Wesleyville' anywhere near it! BTW, *the* best and most scenic part of the drive between Toronto and D.C. is, IMHO, Pennsylvania ...you live in a beautiful State! Quote Link to comment
+wiredcur Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 OK, so now there's photographic proof that there are antenna-heads out there. My wife thought I was crazy for wanting to do this. I've actually given up on the Antenna-on-a-Hat idea for a much more cumbersome Antenna-on-a-Pole idea. I do have a technical question though. I've seen most of the links about re-radiating antennas and most people are doing a loop of copper or steel. My question is more about what shapes won't work. One of the links is the re-radiating antenna for sale and they're using what looks like a little black rod as the transmitter. Anyone have any idea what the actual shape of the wire under the cover looks like? I was going to try just wrapping a 190mm 12ga copper wire with electrical tape and bend it in half. Any thoughts? I'll get some pictures up on my website with I get my lightning rod.. er.. re-radiating antenna completed. FINALLY!!! Something useful I can do with that Geography degree. :-D Quote Link to comment
+Poindexter Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Have you seen this one? Looks like a pretty neat mobile solution. Quote Link to comment
3fros Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Just a thought Why not mount the antenna inside a baseball cap under the top of it so it's more discreet? I don't know if the metal button on the top of some caps will interfere with the signal. It could be held in place with non-metallic velcro, or a pocket for it could be sewn inside the cap. Quote Link to comment
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