Looking at installing my double din, and not quiet sure where to mount the GPS antenna. I would ideally want to mount it near the front windshield defrosters but im not sure if i can get the wire there from the back of the HU looks like a very tight area.

any ideas? anyone have pics to where they mounted the GPS antenna on their 5.5 gens?

 

You can put it just about anywhere with a line of sight to the sky. Dashboard by the windshield is where i put it in my 6.5 gen.

 

tahts exactly where i want to mount mine but dont know how to get the cable back there from the deck.

 

The 6.5 gen was easy, just pop out the fake suede molding between the dash and defrost duct, feed the wire through from behind the radio and come out in the center of the dash, then put the molding back on.

If you don't have a way to come through the dash then go around it. Like run the wire underneath the dash and come out by the door opening then start tucking the wire between the door opening and the windshield and dash until you get it where you want it. Use a plastic putty knife to push the wire into the crevices.

 

WTF?

On every double din I install in a Maxima, I stick it right to the top of the double din unit itself. Don't bother running the cable all over the place, just tuck the wire in the dash and the antenna magnetized to the top of the HU. Your reception will be fine.

 

As long as there is no metal above the head unit. I think i might try that the next time i take my dash apart.

 

All I know is that whether there is or isn't, it still works.

 

yep, ive installed hundreds of nav units the same way -

right above the vents, or any plastic as long as there is no metal above it essentially, try to get 1 layer between the ant and beneath the windsheild. I get full signal like this from my 6620 in my dash as we speak.

 

Nilesh, I used to always do this and always get descent/good reception but on my last maxima, I tested it near the windshield and ran the wiring through the black weather strip on the side of the door and under the carpet on passenger side to the back of the console area and it was perfectly hidden. More importantly, the reception seemed to work a little better. I dont think its a big difference but I think there may be one. For anyone worried about going through all that, sticking it on top of the head unit is a super easy way that works well.

I'm not the biggest guru but its a small honest observation I've seen through my experience with my last real double din HU (Eclipse AVN 5435)

 

Thanks Mecca, good info. I completely agree that actually putting the GPS antenna in direct sky view WILL yield better results. But I guess the question is...how much better? If it's only marginal, then why go through the hassle of running the wire or having the eyesore of it being exposed.

To each their own

 

thanks nilesh, ill use the double sided tape they provided and stick it on the deck itself.
ps what did you mean by keeping it magnatized?

 

You kind of answered your own question - based on you about to used double sided tape on your current GPS antenna

Some if not all antennas (Eclipse comes to mind) have a magnet on the bottom of them that just sticks to the metal casing of the HU. It doesn't actually seem as such, but try it - yours might too.

 

Haha I figured as much but wanted to confirm it with you I'll stick it on with the tape it comes and see how good the reception is