GPS and external antenna

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

I’m thinking about getting the Garmin Tread and mounting it to the Owl accessory rail (picture attached). HOWEVER, since it wouldn’t be on the dash, I’m wondering if this would weaken either the GPS or InReach performance, and whether I need to get external signal boosters (also picture attached). Owl tech support says they don’t need the external antennae, but would be curious to hear from you guys. And if you did add it, where did/would you run the cables? If I use that accessory rail, the Tread is right in the middle of the control panel, so I would need a clean routing solution to run the lines out.

TheDocAUS · Aug 14, 2024

Can you MacGyver the Garmin into the location with some tape and do a quick test, before committing?

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

I haven’t purchased it, yet. I THINK I’ll just take it in steps - get the Tread, see how it works, add the rail (can always use it for other stuff, like my iPhone), and then deal with it if necessary. Kind of a “mañana” sequence. The fact that you just said “MacGyver it” increases your cool factor by 3, if that’s even humanly possible.

TheDocAUS · Aug 14, 2024

CrazyOldMan said:
I haven’t purchased it, yet. I THINK I’ll just take it in steps - get the Tread, see how it works, add the rail (can always use it for other stuff, like my iPhone), and then deal with it if necessary. Kind of a “mañana” sequence. The fact that you just said “MacGyver it” increases your cool factor by 3, if that’s even humanly possible.

I have had to MacGyver it a few times when remote, nothing huge like broken shocks.

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

View: https://youtu.be/KOO5S4vxi0o?si=AREutfgnLmk3sV9k

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

Totally that cool.

Pat-Ard · Aug 14, 2024

I already have a Garmin Treag 8“ and it is mounted in the same position you plan and the performance of the signals are good.

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

Pat-Ard said:
I already have a Garmin Treag 8“ and it is mounted in the same position you plan and the performance of the signals are good.

That’s good to know - that’s what Owl told me. But now I’m realizing it has to be connected to a 12v power supply with a round “cigarette” adapter. Where did you wire your unit? I’m away on business so am not able to get in and look - the only one I can think of is in the cargo area. I think the console only has USB 2.0 and USB-C, but I can’t remember.

anand · Aug 14, 2024

CrazyOldMan said:
That’s good to know - that’s what Owl told me. But now I’m realizing it has to be connected to a 12v power supply with a round “cigarette” adapter. Where did you wire your unit? I’m away on business so am not able to get in and look - the only one I can think of is in the cargo area. I think the console only has USB 2.0 and USB-C, but I can’t remember.

Cut the cig adapter off and go straight to any 12v sources like either of the INT switches

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

anand said:
Cut the cig adapter off and go straight to any 12v sources like either of the INT switches

The lines under the door trim, and just have it hard-wired in? That’s one area I wished they would have thought through a little better - not sure why they were Scrooges on power ports inside when they gave us all the goodies out on the roof.

anand · Aug 14, 2024

CrazyOldMan said:
The lines under the door trim, and just have it hard-wired in? That’s one area I wished they would have thought through a little better - not sure why they were Scrooges on power ports inside when they gave us all the goodies out on the roof.

Yep, or anywhere else that you can pull about 25W from

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

anand said:
Yep, or anywhere else that you can pull about 25W from

great - I will have to do this later. I can tell I have hit my wife’s absolute limit messing around with the Grenadier - she is starting to give me that steely glare when I say “I’m just going out to the garage to do blah with the Grenadier.” I’ll build the emotional reservoir back up and then sneak out to mess around with it.

DenisM · Aug 14, 2024

CrazyOldMan said:
great - I will have to do this later. I can tell I have hit my wife’s absolute limit messing around with the Grenadier - she is starting to give me that steely glare when I say “I’m just going out to the garage to do blah with the Grenadier.” I’ll build the emotional reservoir back up and then sneak out to mess around with it.

.... a man has to have a purpose in his life!

Pat-Ard · Aug 14, 2024

DO NOT CUT the cigarette adapter off. There‘s a circuit in to adapt the voltage to the reqiured 5V of the Tread. I talked to the guys from Garmin at the Abenteuer & Allrad in Bad Kissiung and the said I should use the Garmin high voltage adaptor. https://www.garmin.com/de-DE/p/738590/pn/010-13087-01
This one you can connect to the power outlet in the footwell.

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

DenisM said:
.... a man has to have a purpose in his life!

Yeah, my purpose in life is to not piss off my wife and prematurely hasten my own death. Hell hath no fury, indeed.

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

Pat-Ard said:
DO NOT CUT the cigarette adapter off. There‘s a circuit in to adapt the voltage to the reqiured 5V of the Tread. I talked to the guys from Garmin at the Abenteuer & Allrad in Bad Kissiung and the said I should use the Garmin high voltage adaptor. https://www.garmin.com/de-DE/p/738590/pn/010-13087-01
This one you can connect to the power outlet in the footwell.

Wait - which power adapter in the footwell? I’m away from home on business - can you send a picture? I don’t think I recall ever seeing that. But, I’m definitely not the sharpest pencil in the box, as most those who know me will attest.

Pat-Ard · Aug 14, 2024

Do you have the extended switches in the roof panel named INT and EXT? If so, there are poweroutlets in bothe front footwells, which are powered via the switches in the roof. You just need to connect the high current adaptor to one of those cabels and voila…

Take a look here: https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/deutsch-dtp-plugs.12411784/
or here: https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/where-is-the-front-auxiliary-power-point.12412953/

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

Pat-Ard said:
Do you have the extended switches in the roof panel named INT and EXT? If so, there are poweroutlets in bothe front footwells, which are powered via the switches in the roof. You just need to connect the high current adaptor to one of those cabels and voila…

Take a look here: https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/deutsch-dtp-plugs.12411784/
or here: https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/where-is-the-front-auxiliary-power-point.12412953/

Yeah I do - I’ll have to get in there with a flashlight and see where those outlets are located. I can’t recall seeing them before. I’ll get back to Chicago on Thursday- actually left my Grenadier with the dealer to see if they can fix the back door handle, so I’ll ask them to point out where these are. Thanks for the tip!

CrazyOldMan · Aug 14, 2024

Pat-Ard said:
Do you have the extended switches in the roof panel named INT and EXT? If so, there are poweroutlets in bothe front footwells, which are powered via the switches in the roof. You just need to connect the high current adaptor to one of those cabels and voila…

Take a look here: https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/deutsch-dtp-plugs.12411784/
or here: https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/where-is-the-front-auxiliary-power-point.12412953/

Sorry - just looked at the link video - Anand had pointed out the same video to me. I thought you meant there were actual outlets in the footwell, rather than just the wire access points behind the trim. I see what you mean now.

anand · Aug 14, 2024

Pat-Ard said:
DO NOT CUT the cigarette adapter off. There‘s a circuit in to adapt the voltage to the reqiured 5V of the Tread. I talked to the guys from Garmin at the Abenteuer & Allrad in Bad Kissiung and the said I should use the Garmin high voltage adaptor. https://www.garmin.com/de-DE/p/738590/pn/010-13087-01
This one you can connect to the power outlet in the footwell.

The adapter you have referenced outputs 12v, not 5v according to this image of it

While the Tread has a USB port for charging on the side, when docked in the magnetic mount, it accepts 12v @ 3A

It's been almost 2 years since I last installed a Tread, I'll confirm later today, but if I recall correctly, I felt it was absurd to buy a $50 cable when it just needed 12v in. I'm vaguely remembering that it's sold because they use a loose/wrapped negative wire around a sheathed positive (similar to how the WeBoost is, who also sells an adapter cable for hard wiring, but accepts 12v in), which worries some people when it comes to electrical connections

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