Safest place for gps ..?

[tt101]

Hi All . I have learned alot from from all of you memebers here ...since this is my first gps ..
For that i thank you all for all the tips ..
I need your opion on where to put the gps "Safest way" ......?
Mine is like this ...:
What do you think ...? please post your pic. so we know exactly what you mean.
Thanks .

 

[mikealder]

High up on the screen doesn't work for me, too much glare when driving in the dark and if the screen suction mount fails its going to fall some considerable distance, you natural reaction is to try and catch the device which ain't too smart at high speed on the highway.

I prefer my units on the dash as they are more secure and it makes it easy to hide the power supply cables through the airvents leading to a much neater install, this 940 install for example has the power cable, and RDS-TMC device and the audio line out cable connected:



A slightly different install was called for for the TomTom iPhone Car Kit, again no cables in sight:



This did involve some extra work but its well worth the effort IMHO, and yes I do know the steering wheel is on the wrong side for all you chaps, but this is a UK based vehicle - Mike

 

[tt101]

Hi Mike. That's very neat bracket ...you did a very good job ..
I see some bracket sale at Marshalls "US" that hook into the air vent but don't know how strong it'll hold ..
I will try it anyway ...let you know how it turn out ..
Thanks Mike.

 

[mikealder]

All the brackets I use in the car are made by Brodit, they make a huge selection of products to cover different cars and devices, well worth looking at and whilst these appear to be vent clips they actually secure to the trim above and below the vent rather than to the vent itself which makes for a much stronger mounting solution. Another major plus point is they attach without the use of screws so they can be removed without damaging the car trim should the need arise - Mike

 

[tt101]

That's impressive Mike. ..i don't think i can make it the way you did ....
So...I went back to Marshall and bought the bracket ...turns out it's vey strong too ..
The only thing is i have to leave the O ring "XL model" intack so it can fit into the slot ...
Well ...I'm OK with it ...and it's only $5.99 ...

 

[mvl]

I need your opion on where to put the gps "Safest way" ......?

My opinion is that the safest location is directly to the left of your rearview mirror (or to the right if you're in the UK). It's close to the road so your eyes don't go too far from the road, it's close to your eyes so the satnav screen "looks" bigger, and it doesn't block you from seeing where you're driving.

 

[tukatz]

To some extent that depends on the vehicle. Our Honda Accord has a dash that is lower and affords better forward vision. Having the GPS on the dash only obscures a view of part of the hood, not of the road. One of the problems is that California (and perhaps some other states) prohibit mounting things to the inside of the windshield.

 

[Arno]

I prefer the place directly below the rearview mirror, lined up with its left edge.
I must point out that I always position the mirror as high as possible while still getting a full view through the rear window. That put my GPS at just about the spot where most others have their mirrors.
Since my view constantly scans between the road, rear view and the dash, glancing at the 930 is less of a distraction than keeping up a conversation.
(No, except for traffic news, the radio is never on if there is a second person in the car. Exception, when we are crossing the prairies, SWMBO may play a CD book from the library but I may kill the sound if t becomes too monotonous.)

 

[mikealder]

Perhaps all you chaps that like the unit high up on the screen would be better off using one of These at least they won't fall off and you shouldn't get in trouble as its not affixed to the windscreen - Mike

 

[paspossible]

Personally, I think putting the GPS close to the top of the windshield is dangerous. If the cup let go, it will fall from higher, bounce around longer and create more general disturbance in the car and, that could lead to an accident.

In case of accident unrelated to the GPS, the high-mount unit become one more projectile who might hit somebody. The lower it sits, the less chance it will hit somebody's head and the more chances it will get stopped or slowed-down by the car interior's first.

Mine is stuck to the windshield, in the center of the dashboard, as low as it can go. It sits on the dashboard basically where the cup only prevents it from moving but doesn't hold any weight.

I tried once to put it besides the rearview mirror, with the power cord around the mirror's mount. One big bump in the road and the cup let go, the GPS dangled for a second on the mirror mount, held by the power cord, just long enough so it could get enough momentum the power cord disconnected and I ended up with the GPS in my face. Not very fun in fast heavy traffic. I had no time to react, I just turned my head and got it on the side. If anything would have happened outside the car at that moment, I would have had an accident. That was the end of the high-mounted GPS.

I think California repelled the law about mounting stuff to windshield, in order to allow GPS. I read this on this forum I think. But if I recall, the law stipulates it must be mounted as low as possible and not obstruct visibility.

 

[Arno]

Perhaps all you chaps that like the unit high up on the screen would be better off using one of These at least they won't fall off and you shouldn't get in trouble as its not affixed to the windscreen - Mike

Not falling off is good, rear view camera input is great (should be remote like cheap stand alone units) but being not portable between cars is bad. Worst to me is that the position of GPS is very bad for the way I explained I am using it.
Right now I can glance at it while going to focus on the mirror.
With the Directus unit I would have to turn my head further in a lateral move after focusing on the mirror.