Garmin iQue 3600 Comments and Questions

Bob: You can get a car cig adapter for the IQue. Garmin is just
starting to ship this week or next. Also turn down the backlight as low
as you can. It is a REAL power hog. Myself and others have reported
that with the BL low, you can get 3-4 hours run time without letting it
sleep. BTW if it does sleep, it wakes up and speaks at the next
instruction point.

The BNC to MCX adapter is available. Check with some of the antenna
manufacturers. Check at http://gpsinformation.net/main/gpsantrev1.htm
for some ideas.

For a speaker try a casette adapter in the car radio, if you have one.

ps



BOB wrote:

> I've had my 3600 for a bout 4 days and generally I'm very happy with
> it. It guzzles the battery down very fast, so I don't recommend it for
> anyone who plans to use it without some external power. This is the
> first PDA I've owned, so some of my questions may be very obvious to
> you. To me, it's a mystery!
>
> 1. Does anyone know of a simple car power cord you can buy? The car
> cradle isn't out yet and using it in the car is next to impossible on
> the internal battery. BTW, the external battery connector is really
> very flimsy, so be careful when using it.
>
> 2. I have an external antenna I used on by GPS 3+. It came with three
> adapters, one of which fits the 3600, and works just fine. The
> connector is a bit large, and I can see the 3600's antenna connector
> breaking very easy. Garmin really didb't design this to be to rugged.
> Does anyone know of any light weight antenna cables from the type used
> on the 3600 to a BNC female?
>
> 3. The internal speaker is a joke when using it in a car. I connected
> the Radio Shack amplified speaker intended for scanners and 2 way
> radios. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Garmin should include an amplified speaker
> with the car cradle.
>
> I's appreciate if anyone who responds can also cc me by e mail. I
> don't get the chance to check USENET that often.
>
> Thanks
> NJ

Could I ask a question off the topic? Do you find that this unit will
receive well inside the car when mounted in front of the dash, with
some window directly above it? TIA.



>Bob: You can get a car cig adapter for the IQue. Garmin is just
>starting to ship this week or next. Also turn down the backlight as
low
>as you can. It is a REAL power hog. Myself and others have reported
>that with the BL low, you can get 3-4 hours run time without letting
it
>sleep. BTW if it does sleep, it wakes up and speaks at the next
>instruction point.
>
>The BNC to MCX adapter is available. Check with some of the antenna
>manufacturers. Check at
http://gpsinformation.net/main/gpsantrev1.htm
>for some ideas.
>
>For a speaker try a casette adapter in the car radio, if you have
one.
>
>ps
>
>
>
>BOB wrote:
>
>> I've had my 3600 for a bout 4 days and generally I'm very happy
with
>> it. It guzzles the battery down very fast, so I don't recommend it
for
>> anyone who plans to use it without some external power. This is the
>> first PDA I've owned, so some of my questions may be very obvious
to
>> you. To me, it's a mystery!
>>
>> 1. Does anyone know of a simple car power cord you can buy? The car
>> cradle isn't out yet and using it in the car is next to impossible
on
>> the internal battery. BTW, the external battery connector is really
>> very flimsy, so be careful when using it.
>>
>> 2. I have an external antenna I used on by GPS 3+. It came with
three
>> adapters, one of which fits the 3600, and works just fine. The
>> connector is a bit large, and I can see the 3600's antenna
connector
>> breaking very easy. Garmin really didb't design this to be to
rugged.
>> Does anyone know of any light weight antenna cables from the type
used
>> on the 3600 to a BNC female?
>>
>> 3. The internal speaker is a joke when using it in a car. I
connected
>> the Radio Shack amplified speaker intended for scanners and 2 way
>> radios. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Garmin should include an amplified
speaker
>> with the car cradle.
>>
>> I's appreciate if anyone who responds can also cc me by e mail. I
>> don't get the chance to check USENET that often.
>>
>> Thanks
>> NJ

> Could I ask a question off the topic? Do you find that this unit will
> receive well inside the car when mounted in front of the dash, with
> some window directly above it? TIA.
>

Though I do not own an iQue (and do not intend to buy one), I'd say the
antenna of the iQue is in a very optimal position for that kind of use. I
regularly use an Etrex below the windshield, in an upright (i.e. non
optimal) position, and it works fine.

HOWEVER, some modern cars have metallized windshields to keep the heat of
the sun outside. These are also very effective in blocking the GPS signal,
as I have recently discovered myself. In case you have such a car, you will
need an external antenna, mounted on the roof of the car.

Greetz,

Derob

Sure it works OK, but with an external antenna you will see it
receives mores sats.


On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 03:58:38 GMT, FulanoDeTal <FulanoDeTal@att.net>
wrote:

>Could I ask a question off the topic? Do you find that this unit will
>receive well inside the car when mounted in front of the dash, with
>some window directly above it? TIA.
>
>
>
>>Bob: You can get a car cig adapter for the IQue. Garmin is just
>>starting to ship this week or next. Also turn down the backlight as
>low
>>as you can. It is a REAL power hog. Myself and others have reported
>>that with the BL low, you can get 3-4 hours run time without letting
>it
>>sleep. BTW if it does sleep, it wakes up and speaks at the next
>>instruction point.
>>
>>The BNC to MCX adapter is available. Check with some of the antenna
>>manufacturers. Check at
>http://gpsinformation.net/main/gpsantrev1.htm
>>for some ideas.
>>
>>For a speaker try a casette adapter in the car radio, if you have
>one.
>>
>>ps
>>
>>
>>
>>BOB wrote:
>>
>>> I've had my 3600 for a bout 4 days and generally I'm very happy
>with
>>> it. It guzzles the battery down very fast, so I don't recommend it
>for
>>> anyone who plans to use it without some external power. This is the
>>> first PDA I've owned, so some of my questions may be very obvious
>to
>>> you. To me, it's a mystery!
>>>
>>> 1. Does anyone know of a simple car power cord you can buy? The car
>>> cradle isn't out yet and using it in the car is next to impossible
>on
>>> the internal battery. BTW, the external battery connector is really
>>> very flimsy, so be careful when using it.
>>>
>>> 2. I have an external antenna I used on by GPS 3+. It came with
>three
>>> adapters, one of which fits the 3600, and works just fine. The
>>> connector is a bit large, and I can see the 3600's antenna
>connector
>>> breaking very easy. Garmin really didb't design this to be to
>rugged.
>>> Does anyone know of any light weight antenna cables from the type
>used
>>> on the 3600 to a BNC female?
>>>
>>> 3. The internal speaker is a joke when using it in a car. I
>connected
>>> the Radio Shack amplified speaker intended for scanners and 2 way
>>> radios. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Garmin should include an amplified
>speaker
>>> with the car cradle.
>>>
>>> I's appreciate if anyone who responds can also cc me by e mail. I
>>> don't get the chance to check USENET that often.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> NJ