I'd say why not? It's pretty standard powered GPS aerial. Connected directly to the back of the RNS via along cable.

On my old (PF) S8 the aerial failed fairly early in my ownership, long before A8parts existed or at least before I was aware of them.

I acquired a fairly standard "hockey-puck" powered GPS aerial and fixed it externally at the base of the rear window, directly in front of the standard boot-lid location.
I ran the cable along the boot-edge trim then up the boot struts into the space behind the liner. There I spliced it into the existing wiring with some adapters and soldering - disconnecting the OEM aerial in such a way that I could reinstate it if I ever found a cheap working replacement (Audi wanted well over £200 :eek2: )
It ran perfectly for years. +++

So if your unit uses a standard powered aerial it will just be a matter of disconnecting the lead at the back of the RNS and connecting (via extensions/adapters as required) to your unit. :cool:

The Nextbase 402g only has an in built GPS and no external port. I find the 402g locks on to satellites pretty quick and even works inside the house. The 402g is re-badged DOD LS430W. DOD also sell the LS360W which has an external GPS port.

I appreciate that there's no external port but was thinking of whether the signal could be reradiated by, for instance, just running a coax from the GPS feed cable near to the dashcam with a few inches of bare wire at the end (a leaky feeder arrangement). or would this degrade the signal to the car satnav?

It may work. The GPS is within the top bracket.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...chmentid=12376

Interesting picture - thanks for that. As I will have the Satnav/climate unit out in tthe next few days for the solar roof fit, I'll look at the satnav feed issue and see if anything can be done.

I used to use a GPS repeater in my '99. That had an external antenna to pick up the signal, a box of tricks inside the car, and then an internal antenna to re-broadcast the signal to gadgets. Don't know if they're still available though.

Thats exactly what I need but didnt think that one would exist. I'll look right now!

I think they're generally not available as they are illegal broadcasting devices.

There are repeaters available in UK but they are for indoor use only and, indeed, the OFCOM licencing regulations allows for their use only in "defined, fixed locations only (mobile use will not be authorised". So, if you try to buy one legally the seller will probably require view of the licence. Besides the kit is too large and cumbersome for vehicle use. i'll look at splitters and a jury rig aerial.

Not sure what you're thinking of David, but satellite receivers are a 2-part active unit with one part in the aerial and another (most) in the main unit with a tuned direct connection between them.
TV satellite receivers are somewhat different to GPS (the aerial unit called an LNB can switch channels on command from the main unit) but I really see no way that you could break into and share the signals between those 2 parts of the system.

Similarly (well a bit), you can't have two modems on one end of a broadband (or dial-up) data connection.

Aerial length for full wavelength dipole is between 177mm and 235mm for the GPS L1 and L2 signals which would be easy to fit behind the dash. Next job then is to see what the aerial feeder cable and connections are and look for a splitter.

Just seen your latest post Andrew. mmmmmm

I know that TV satellite receivers retransmit down the coax with the signal modulated on a totally different frequency to that received to enable the use of coax. Presumably a powered GPS aerial, again on a thin coax, will be engineered similarly though I can find no reference.

(The satellite frequencies would require a microwave waveguide to propagate properly.)

I guess an "all-in-one" unit can bypass that step so hooking in a remote powered aerial is quite probably impossible.

Thanks for that Ainars. I was/am a bit sceptical as it still relies on picking up the signal INSIDE the car which seems to be the issue with the metallised coating on the heated front screen. But I then noted in the product reviews that someone states that in their car with a "metal oxide coated screen" which previously inhibited signal reception, this device solved the issue. Not cheap at nearly £40 but worth investigating.

EDit: Just seen that although some people mounted the receiver aerial inside on the dash others did mount it as I now think it should be receiver aerial on the outside of the car.

I think, if I read it correctly, that unit could also take a feed from the OEM antenna if you want to access its wiring at a convenient place.

You might be right there Andrew. Heres a link to another site (ebid) selling it at £34.95. The actual seller is Kee Automotive in Chelmsford.

http://www.ebid.net/za/for-sale/ipho...0-74545517.htm

I thought this one looked more interesting, also cheaper and more flexible for use indoors as well.
Depending on power requirements you might be able to totally hide it in a car and use the OEM external aerial. http://www.amazon.co.uk/GPS-Antenna-.../dp/B00LM2GLQM

These devices do suggest that the satellite signal is transmitted (albeit amplified) down the coax without remodulation, unlike a satellite TV broadcast.

Apologies David for not getting back to you, but haven't been in the car since last Saturday. Had a few chores to do today, so took the opportunity of repositioning the dashcam.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1454000986

The red box indicates where it was originally located, and worked fine from. The only issue is the tint making night time footage quite dark.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1454001095

The above image is from GPS viewer software, with a few other windows open as well. What they show are as follows:

1. Folder view of GPS data. Files are created
2. One of the log files opened, which shows zero contents
3. The speed trace which is empty
4. A popup window when you hover over a spot on the timeline
5. Google map of the area

As you can see from numbers 2 to 4, there is no GPS data recorded at all, with the dashcam in the new lower position.

I also let the car run for a minute or so before initially setting off, so that it could get a GPS lock, but no luck. That definitely confirms that the heater matrix in the windscreen does not go up to the tinted area.

If you do opt for one of these additional GPS pucks, it looks like positioning it in the tinted area should give you a GPS lock.

Do you know if Jim even got his dashcam fitted, as it was the same model as mine, although can't remember if he went for the GPS one or not.

This is what I meant: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GPS-Antenn...YAAOSwvUlWqhyC

I guess that might contravene the Wireless Telegraphy Act, but since you're re-transmitting in to a faraday cage who is ever going to notice? The signals can't get in from the satellite, so they're not going to get out again either :)

Thanks for that Sean. It would seem logical that the heated area doesnt go right to the top and with my camera sited (due to the sucker and arm arrangement) about the same height as you have got yours in the picture both you and I now seem to get poor/nil reception. I think that you are right that siting the receiver aerial of the type in MikkiJaynes link (thanks Micki) in the highest possible area would probably get a good signal. Only trouble now is that withe solar cable/connectors and dashcam leads in the space behind the sunroof /light cover its getting a bit crowded in there!

Would it be logical, what's the pattern? :tuttut:
My Ford Focus has a heated windscreen and the heating elements run vertically, top to bottom. That way they are equal length avoiding mismatching resistance issues.
It means that a triangular section each side is unheated; very obvious on frosty mornings.

Someone with a heated windscreen must know for sure. :cool:

My assumption (which are the mother of all **** ups!) was that the heating element wouldnt run right up to the edge based on the "normal" visible element type which are side fed and then weave they way up and down without going all the way to the edge. I know this is not an element type - but I was using it as a working assumption until something better (like knowledge) came up.

Since mine looks a bit untidy now with the cable hanging down, I might try and position it half way between the two spots to see if I get a GPS lock.

On the few instances where I've had the windscreen covered in frost, I tend to start the car, turn up the heat, switch on both demisters and then go inside for about 10-15 minutes, so have never seen how it works. Don't have heated seats, so not that keen to see it in action!

I've not deliberately sat and observed it - even having heated seats +++ - but on the occasions when the heated screen has been used it seems to clear it all very quickly and I dont recall any uncleared patches.

Just to add that in my Focus I have the GPS aerial tucked away at the bottom left of the windscreen (tax disc area) which is clear of the heated elements by about six inches. Works fine. +++

Sounds like the starting point is to acquire/swap a system that can use an external aerial. ;)

I think it's not the heated bit that blocks GPS signals but heat reflecting/athermic/insulated or whatever you want to call it. My S8 had heat reflecting non heated windscreen from factory and there was no GPS reception for TomTom in the car. I later changed it for regular windscreen and it gets good GPS signal now. I think all heated versions were heat reflecting on D2.

As always Ainar, I think you are right. I was considering the the metallic coating (in confused way) as just the heating element whereas it is more complicated than that when taking into account the IR heat refective capability of the windscreen. That coating would, I would have thought (another assumption, Andrew+++) be over the whole window.

Looks like a repeater is the answer.

I have a Roadhawk dash cam, mounted alongside the sensor unit on the windscreen, behind the rear view mirror. I have fitted an "Event" push button on the centre consul (the one on the camera is not easily reachable from the driving seat). From the drive position I cannot see the camera but SWMBO in the commanders position is able to see it and adjust it as she thinks fit. It works correctly with a 128 GB SD card and connects very quickly with GPS, within seconds of ignition on. OK it is one of the more expensive ones but at that time I wanted to spoil myself and my so lovely motor. It has been very useful in resolving two rather serious near misses that management had, I was able to prove to her that neither were her fault.
Today I had an email from Roadhawk advertising the "Car Crash Britain" programme that is starting tonight at 21:00 on ITV. Apparently they are involved to some extent with the sponsorship. As part of this they are offering £50 cashback. If you purchase one of their cameras over the next two weeks and you send them your old camera (any make, any model, working or not) and proof of purchase (shop receipt) they will return your £50.

Here is their web page:-
https://www.roadhawk.co.uk/

David, just wondering if you got your dashcam issue sorted? Was out for a short drive yesterday after repositioning my dashcam further up the screen (from the picture in post #59, I now have mine about halfway between the original position marked in red and the position in the photo). I'm now getting a GPS lock on mine. Note: The GPS receiver on mine is located on the base attached to the windscreen. Not sure where it is on yours.

I am afraid i cant get it to achieve lock which is a pain. I was going to go down the route of getting a re-transmitter as previously discussed but have got rather pre-occupied lately and its slipped down the priority list. (I had to fix the drivers side internal door pull which had been giving me trouble and then stopped working altogether. That was a detached cable but there is a bit of work in removing the doorcard and door subframe to get at it.)