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GPS and Navigation AssistanceOEM Car, Aftermarket and handheld navigation discussions.
This is a discussion thread titled "Poratable GPS / MP3", within the GPS and Navigation Assistance forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
I was wondring if anyone here has tried the MIO line of GPS and/or has any thoughts on a semi permanant install. It comes with a mounting stand....I just need to figure out where to put it.
I have a Garmin Nuvi 360 and mounted it in the upper left windshield, near the driver "O Sht" handle. I then installed an auxilliary 12 volt socket off the ignition under the dash and ran the cord behind the pillar, under the weather stripping and in the side of the dash on the driver side. You can barely see any cord, expect an inch or two running into the bracket. Now my Garmin is on all the time and charging with no ugly wires running across the dash. I will take some pictures and post when I get home.
__________________ 2007 Tundra CrewMax, SR5, 4x4, 5.7L, TRD MODS: DVD Headrests, Access Lorado Tonneau, BFG All-Terrain T/A's, Brushed Stainless Running Boards, Zoomers Exhaust, TRD Cold Air Intake, and Backup Camera
I think it's illegal here in CA to mount anything to the windshield other than the rearview mirror. (See California Vehicle Code Section 26708(a)...the land of a million laws!!) I was thinking about just putting some velcro in the bottom of the cupholder closest to the dash and put velcro on the bottom of the GPS stand so I can take it out of the truck or hide it in the console when I am not driving. This seems to be the best spot becuase it is close to the power output jack. The only bummer is that I have to look down to see it. How do I install a spare power output? What parts did you use?
So no one else has a portable GPS in your Tundra? Lets see some pictures!!
Love the state of California, but man does that suck. I will snap some pictures tonight. I paid a local car audio shop $50 to put the auxilliary adapter in. I typically do this type of stuff myself, but as my family grows, I have less and less time to myself. I would much rather pay someone a nominal fee to do this work for me. Leaves more time to do fun things. They just installed a 15 amp fused 12 volt socket off the ignition and ran the Garmin supplied DC power cord to route through the dash and up the A-Pillar. Another option I was thinking orginally was to fabricate some sort of holder for my Nav and have it sit on on a anti-slip mat on the dash. This may be an option for you. I just like nice clean looks. I would think you could make a holder (similar to a desk business card holder) and run the power cord through that speaker grate in the dash. Just a thought. From the outside, the Nav is pretty concealed (another reason for the location) The state might have a hard time spotting it, especially if you put a darker tint on the top of the windshield.
__________________ 2007 Tundra CrewMax, SR5, 4x4, 5.7L, TRD MODS: DVD Headrests, Access Lorado Tonneau, BFG All-Terrain T/A's, Brushed Stainless Running Boards, Zoomers Exhaust, TRD Cold Air Intake, and Backup Camera
Probably every state out there has a law regarding placing anything on the windshield. They do it because of the chance it may block your view. How do you like that GPS. I was thinking of getting Tom Tom but like the mp3 also.
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2007 Tundra Nautical blue 5.7 4x4 TRD with TRD dual exhaust, air cleaner, Brushed SS steps, Cold package, Door Sill protectors, 7'' wireless back-up camera, Hunter Bull Bar, Primium Upgaded Stereo with blue tooth, Towing Package, Auto Dimming Mirror, BAKflip solid fold G2, Line-X Liner, Vent Visors, Viper 5500, etc. etc....more stuff on the way daily!!
The thing about GPS is support. How often do the manufacture update the maps? How much do the updates cost? Things like that. While the MP3 player is nice, that's all it will be good for without updated maps and MP3 players are cheap.
The thing about GPS is support. How often do the manufacture update the maps? How much do the updates cost? Things like that. While the MP3 player is nice, that's all it will be good for without updated maps and MP3 players are cheap.
Thats true but here in Southern California it's all about the freeways. They dont change that much. Mio is in the works of upgrading all there maps right now. It might cost me $100+ down the road to upgrade but that's a drop in the bucket. Or I will just buy a new GPS in a year or so.....this is just a quick fix that will hopefully work well. I really don't even need the GPS that much but I have alway wanted to check one out. I probably will use it more for fishing than driving.
OK...I bought a MIO Digiwalker C310x portable GPS unit yesterday on E-bay for $209.95. It comes with a mounting stand....I just need to figure out where to put it.
Here's where I put my GPS. I know I've driven too far when I hear it say "course recalculation".
I have the same Garmin Nuvi 330(or something). I live in CA. and I suction cup it to the bottom left of the windshield.
Installing an outlet in the dash is a great idea!
But I'm thinking about buying an in-dash GPS/DVD combo. Alpine or Panasonic.
Well I got my Mio Digwalker 310x portable GPS / MP3 today and I have to say it works pretty damn good. I like the fact that I can pop a 4gb SD memory chip in the top of it and then have a few hundred MP3 files to listen to through my JBL system. Even though I have the 6 disc MP3 system and an "Ipod" ripoff this little GPS rocks. The music gets interuppted by the voice navigation whenever its needs to tell you when to turn. It even will warn you of red light cameras, and you can add to the database by enetering new cameras as they add them at more and more intersections. It will also warn you if you are speeding based on the known posted speed limits of each road. You can adjust the alert sensitivity also so it only warns you when you are 10 mph over the speed limit for example. The Points Of Interest option is super cool.
I tried to find a Tundra with the factory Nav and backup cam in an SR5 4x4 but had no luck so I had to find some alternatives. Next purchase it a rear sonar removable trailer hitch thingy.
Here are some pics of the GPS just basically sitting in its stand in the cupholder. It is kind of a drag to look down but I like the voice navigation feature so I really dont need to watch the display the whole time. Still trying to think of the best "permanant" install.
I have a lowrance 250 that I bought from staples. I run it on the lower left driver windshield mount. I too added an underdash cig plug to run it. I am ordering also a hard mount cord for my escort radar detector so I can run it to the rear view mirror. Being in CA, I've ordered a rear view mirror stem mount for my radar so it gets it out of windshield way. Waiting to see the item in person. Hoping to find an alternative for the portable gps unit too. Mine did come with a metal disc with double sided tape to fix it to a dash area the using that area as the suction cup alternative to the windshield. Now to figure how to mount it and where to make it clean.
Poratable GPS / MP3
