Thread: Solder cable of external antenna inside mouse GPS ??

Originally Posted by swissRv

I do not want a "big" mouse GPS on my dashboard, but rather the tiny external antenna that I already have (about 2" x 2").

Does anybody know if I can open a normal mouse GPS (like many on eBay, eg. BU-303) and solder the cable to my external antenna in place of the internal patch ?

If not, what non-bluetooth gps has a connector for external antenna ? I read about the two models from Deluo, but I am not sure with their chipset and WAAS functions.

Thanks

Is the external antenna a proper GPS one? And also, the BU-303 is only about 2" x 2" anyway, so why would you benefit from adding another device. I haven't opened up my BU-303 but given it's existing size and easy of hiding I won't be looking to do so.

Also what specific chipset functions are you looking for from a GPS device that makes you wonder about the Deluo? I'm in the UK and therefore cannot use WAAS however I get a good enough lock with the standard BU-303 to tell which side of the road I am on, even down to a 5 sat lock. NMEA/SIRF and the ability to expose thereself as a COM port is usually sufficient for most user's uses; which incidentally most GPS devices will do.

I just opened my BU-303 and succesfully soldered a gps antenna in the place of the internal active antenna. My reception is much better, I get a lock everywhere and because the wire of the new external antenna is 10m I can place it anywhere in- or outside my car.

I did it in less than 5 minutes. It is not a difficult job.

Originally Posted by drib

I just opened my BU-303 and succesfully soldered a gps antenna in the place of the internal active antenna. My reception is much better, I get a lock everywhere and because the wire of the new external antenna is 10m I can place it anywhere in- or outside my car.

I did it in less than 5 minutes. It is not a difficult job.

How about some pics? You took the internal antenna off? Which type of external antenna and where from?

I wish I made some pictures. I dont want to open it again now but it is not that hard to find out yourself (I made it waterproof).
If you open the housing, you will find the antenna on top, connected with a black wire to the receiver. Just desolder the black cable, and solder the wire from the external antenna at the exact same spot (2 tiny spots in total, cable looks like coax, so 1 wire around the other one with shielding in between).

I bought the antenna on eBay (32€), it was meant for my Volkswagen GPS unit but I cancelled it (price =3500€ ) and build a carputer instead. The antenna accepts 3-12V so that was no problem (I think for the USB receiver you need 3,3V), that is the only think you should look at.

Today I tested it at home, and got 7 locks for the first time. But when I made a test drive, I only got 3-4 locks (the max I had before). So it makes me think the bu-303 unit is not such a good quality receiver. I used to have a bluethooth receiver which had a lock on at least 5 sattelites all the time.

Anyway, I hope this will help you further. If you have some questions, it might be easier to sent me some pics and I will show where and what to solder.

Hmmm, well I have to say that 5 - 7 locks is not fantastic, especially with an external antenna! I be pretty ****ed off if my usb mouse didn't regularly get that many...

Do you have the BU-303?

Like I said; I used to have a BT receiver with my iPaq, which always had 5 locks (most of the time 8-9). And this was the same before I soldered the antenna on it.

So I really think the bu-303 is very poor quality. I am looking for another one right now.

Originally Posted by drib

Do you have the BU-303?

Like I said; I used to have a BT receiver with my iPaq, which always had 5 locks (most of the time 8-9). And this was the same before I soldered the antenna on it.

So I really think the bu-303 is very poor quality. I am looking for another one right now.

Purchase the GPS whit Haicom company ( my Haicom GPS ,whit active antenna internal,work whit 9-10 satellites, outside for the car), the BU-303 not good secon me,tested but....

Mauri

I tested some other GPS receivers today in Brussels, Belgium. And never I was able to get more than 7 locks (although I see around 10-11 satellites)! I tested the Haicom 204, The Royaltek BlueGPS and mine with the antenna soldered on. They all have the same reception.

So now I am having 7 locks, and navigation goes excellent. I advice everyone to solder an external antenna! It really isn't that hard.

do you have a picture of the external antenna?

Originally Posted by drib

I tested some other GPS receivers today in Brussels, Belgium. And never I was able to get more than 7 locks (although I see around 10-11 satellites)! I tested the Haicom 204, The Royaltek BlueGPS and mine with the antenna soldered on. They all have the same reception.

So now I am having 7 locks, and navigation goes excellent. I advice everyone to solder an external antenna! It really isn't that hard.