Help with GPS antenna location

[Northcountry]

I have purchased a Lowrance LMS-480 fishfinder and mapping GPS combo. I will be using this on my 18' Lund Tyee (walk through windshield). Can anyone give me advice on where to locate the GPS antenna? I have been using Garmin GPS handhelds for about 6-years and know the negative effects that "obstructions" have on accuracy and getting a rapid fix.

For convenience, good looks and to keep the antenna out of harms way, I'd like to mount it right on the gunwale surface just in front of the windshield/console. On the other hand, for best performance, I know that I should mount it on a pole (mfr includes mounting for this) and elevate it above the Bimini top so it gets a 360-degree view of the horizon. But mounting it like this seems hazardous (for the antenna) and maybe overkill for the accuracy I need navigating and fishing.

Any suggestions on locating the antenna would be appreciated.

-Northcountry

[steelslam]

i wouldnt mount it on the gunwals. its just one more thing to watch out pulling in an out from a dock. your going to be out on the water using this an its not a huge boat so i dont think the placement would matter a lot. go out on the water an play around with the antenna in different places an see if it makes a diff in the recieve signal. i bet it wouldnt matter a whole lot. good luck.

[Northcountry]

Steelslam,

Thanks for the comments. The gunwales actually are about 8" wide where I am thinking about mounting it, and theres no way it would contact the dock during mooring. Nestled up near the windshield, I think it would be fairly well protected from peoples feet, etc.. The real drawback is that it will only have a 180-degree view of the horizon since its up tight against a "wall".

As much as I would like to mount the antenna now, youre probably right that I should just "tape it down" for now and experiment on the water before I start drilling holes.

Thanks again.

-NC

[dogjaw]

Rig a removable pole, or one that swings down when hauling the boat. Simply swing it up, or stick it in place when putting boat in water.

[FishTales]

Go ahead and mount your antenna on the gunnel just as you said, mine is right alongside the windshield on the port side and I have no problems at all with mine, Lowrance 350A.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/2972Dsc00072.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/550/2972GPS.JPG

[flinch]

And yet another way. I have the same unit and mounted the antenna next to the windshield on a post. I ran the cable through the middle of the post to hide it. So far I haven't had any problems finding or maintaining contact with the satellites. I just noticed the original post is from May, so this is all probably too late.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/550/6503gpslocation.JPG

[Northcountry]

Flinch,

Youre right, the antenna has been mounted for a long time, but thanks for the info and pic. I mounted mine flat on the gunwale without the pole, and I am extremely pleased with the performance. The "positional accuracy" tells me +/- 15' and that is plenty good. By the way, I love this Lowrance LMS 480. This is the 6th GPS and/or Sonar unit I've owned...and it is by far the best. Sonar is great, mapping is great and tons of features.

-NC