Mounting GPS Receiver Puck

[iffwalleyes]

Where do most of you have your receiver mounted. I have seen then right next to the console (Like I do now) and then also on the back corner of the boat. I suppose when putting on the back corner and running chip you have the most accurate results for current depth with current location. Has anyone notice a lost or weak signal when mounting it next to the console. I have mine mounted on a ram mount next to the console so it is about 6-8" off the gunwale. I never notice a weak signal but with it raised up it will receive better. I am going to be rigging a buddies boat in a couple weeks. The boat has a full windshield so I am thinking it might be better to mount his receiver at the back of the boat so there isn't any interferance with the windshield and console. We are going the mount the receiver flat and permanent on the boat not on a ram mount like I use. So where do you all mount yours?

I know both ways will work but I am curious which is more popular with most of you guys and gals.

[Hookmaster]

My buddy's 18 foot trophy was rigged by the dealer and it is near the back corner.

[Dahitman44]

I tried the mounting bracket from Cabelas -- don't do it. It does not work.

I mounted mine on "gunrail" near the windshield on my trophy. Works great.

I went against mounting it on the back because it could get caught with fishing line. I have heard of that. Just a thought to consider.

Hitman

[nitroant]

A friend on mine also tried the Cabela's mount that has a spot for the puck right on the unit mount and it didn't work for him either. He thinks there might also have been an issue in the mornings when his windshield was fogged up with getting a signal.I see them most often in the back corner.

[Dahitman44]

Nitro --

Right on -- that Cabelas thing was a good idea just did not work.

I have seen the pucks mounted in the back most of the time, but I talked with a guy that got a line caught in it and lost his fish -- that was enough for me.

Works great in the front.

[LMITOUT]

My boat came with a LCX-28cHD and the puck was a few feet to the left of it and the accuracy was great. WAAS locked everytime out and the EPE was under 20 and typically closer to 15', but that all changed when I added a LMS-520c which was mounted inbetween the X-28 and the GPS puck. The EPE would bounce all over the place and the satellite signal strength was lower than it previously had been. I had to move the puck to the other side of the boat and now everything is spot-on again.

When I was testing this to figure out what was going on, I would move the puck around and you could see the satellite strength go up and down depending on where I was holding the puck in relation to the unit. If I turned the 520c off (the unit closest to the puck) the signal was perfect once again. The puck induced interference into the 520c when it was on and degraded the GPS signal to the entire network.

Before drilling any holes I would wire everything up and move the puck around by hand in different possible mounting locations to see how it effects the GPS signal (EPE). I know that it definitely made a difference to my accuracy because of where the puck/unit were positioned.

[iffwalleyes]

Quote:

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Before drilling any holes I would wire everything up and move the puck around by hand in different possible mounting locations to see how it effects the GPS signal (EPE). I know that it definitely made a difference to my accuracy because of where the puck/unit were positioned.

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Right kind of why I was thinking of putting it on the back there are no obstructions there. As far as getting line caught on that I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor for this project. There is the cleats of the boat already sticking up back there as well as the rod holders that we are going to mount. But I am thinking that if you mount it too close to the windshield you might have it affect the signal depending how the boat is positioned in reguards to the satillittes it is receiving.

[PerchJerker]

Mounting on the bow plate near the trolling motor and the bow light can be a good location too. Mine is under the windshield and close to one of my head units - not my preferred location, but works great.

There's a 't-mount' from RigRite that works great for mounting gps pucks - much easier to use than trying to line up holes with the paper template.

[Valv]

I have a "cone" shape mount that screws onto a standard VHF radio antenna base. I can use same puck on all my boats, it works more or less like a RAM mount.

I have mine on 3 locations, on gunwale near transom, in front of driver's side windshield, and on top of cuddy on my big Lund. All 3 have great reception, I have a LCX 27c and it blows my mind I turn the unit on and as soon as I clear the Warning screen I get locked on, my previous LCX15 took at leas 15/20 seconds.