GPS puck warning

[Dahitman44]

I bought the adapter plate to fit behind the unit and it does not work. It mounts, but can't shoot therough the alum. edge on the windshield. Nice idea ... but I need my GPS to work all of the time.

Anyone else try this?

[RK]

Hiya -

Wierd - my puck is mounted on the dash behind my unit, under the windshield and it works fine. I know guys that mount them UNDER the console (fiberglass consoles) and they work fine.

Sure that's the issue, or could it be something else?

Rob Kimm

[ChuckN]

My GPS locks on to satellites from inside my sheetrocked and insulated garage. I mounted the puck far from obstruction on the gunnel.

I have heard some strange things from people who own that plate. The puck should read thru the windshield...

Does the puck get a reading if you take it off the plate and move it elsewhere? I assume so from your post?

[Dahitman44]

yeah --

If you move it -- the puck picks it connects right away.

Anyone else know anything???

[minneman]

Quote:

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If you move the puck it connects right away.

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Then move it...

Ive got steel on the roof of my shop and can get mine to work on occasion in there. try rotating the puck 180 deg see what happens.

did you RAM mount it so you could adjust it a bit?

[tlbigstump]

I'm assuming it's a Lowrance or Eagle unit, and the company does not suggest mounting the puck on these Cabela's style mounts, they want the puck at least 3 feet away from the graph itself. They have a problem with interference on some units. Sometimes they work sometimes they don't.

[fisherdog19]

Mine didn't work either, and I run a tiller. Took it of and laid it about 1 foot away from the graph and it picked up the signal immediately. I will be returning it.

[Dahitman44]

F-Dog --

Just did the same thing as you. It is hard to believe that it did not work. It was a cool idea, but so was the USFL.

[Dahitman44]

Inside the garage, eh? You sure it is not a hockey puck you are connecting?

[Fishin' Addict]

What is this "product" that gives you so much trouble?

The key to GPS signal is LACK OF OBSTRUCTION. Typically if you get signal in a garage then I'd assume the door is open and maybe you live on a hill or in a flat largely treeless area. Most GPS units will not pick up signal in a house or even a thick summer canopy of trees the signal is just too weak if you do get signal I bet a dollar to a dime that it's intermitant at best. This is the reason that you buy a little extra cable and mount the puck on the Gunwale of the boat or use the Poly adapter that's sold with the unit.

Just remember when you mount a GPS antennae or puck to put it somewhere lacking obstruction (i.e. greatest view to the sky) and also away from any high amperage/voltage cables and I guarantee that you won't have any problems with your GPS.

[Dahitman44]

Addict --

Nope, not in a garage. Just out in the open. Not in a valley or around trees. The puck mounter just does not work.

[Fishin' Addict]

What is this "puck mounter," why didn't you just use what came with the unit to mount it on the boat?

[minneman]

FA, This Puck mounter is a metal plate that you mount the gps unit on with an area that the puck will sit on directly behind the unit. IMO, they are made to set the puck too close to the unit to give enough room for reception.

I made one out of alluminum that is 3" longer than the ones that you can buy and it seems to work fine. I use it on my snowmobile and think its the cats meow.

[Dahitman44]

Minnow-Man

I forgot about that. You told me about that and I forgot. I should have had you make one for me -- Nuts.

[Fishin' Addict]

Okay, Not like this is ever a real problem for you most of the time but I have some serious problems with such a "mount" since it stands in the way of at least one half to one third of the satellites in view of the reciever at any given moment as your Mapping unit sits to one side or another of such a mount - Your still better off mounting the antennae to the rear of the boat on the Gunwale.

Also FYI - Remember fellas that for every mapping unit you buy for your boat, you only need one antennae for up to 7 receivers (this is directly from lowrance). So if you buy a new unit and you get an additional antennae you can use it as a portable mount on your truck, 4 wheeler, or snowmobile . . . what ever. That's what we've done with my rig. Multiple GPS units with one antennae We run two GPS units and a VHF Radio off of the antennae for emergency Coast Guard positioning.

You guys catching any crappies now? Lucky SOB's to be out catching crappies - all I get are some Wiper's and have to look forward to the DL Eagles Tourney in June for my next trip back.

[Dahitman44]

FA --

Good info.

Hitman

[fisherdog19]

Who you fishing the tourney with, I'll be fishing it again this year. Last year was my first year and we actually finished in the money, I ended up making $100 to fish for the weekend.

[livintofish]

Hey Hit,

Good info to put out that the mount you got doesn't get good reception! I know I thought about buying one of those for my lowrance and ended up just mounting it to the gunnel with the quick detach mount that they provide, works really good and you just twist and unplug it to take it off. otherwise the best bet would be to mount it on that antenna cone that is provided and get it up in the air like FA was saying I believe. Once your getting signal you will love it, if your lowrance has split screen with sonar and gps map!!! Good Fishin'

[Dahitman44]

Live --

Yep I love it. I am on my second gps combo by Lowrance and it is a lot of fun. No reason to toss out marker bobbers and put up the international sign of -- "Come here and fish -- I got a couple"

Not that it matters a lot to me but it can get al little trying.

Yeah -- it works great on the "gunrail" -- I would not suggest getting the puck adapter mount.