GPS Speedometer

[85_Ranger4x4]

Has anyone on here used one?

Do they really need the antenna outside the vehicle? (preferably on the roof)

I really don't want the antenna on the roof... and if I have to have one I think my slide in camper will block it anyway. I really don't want it on the dash either...

I had a thought last night, my Garmin GPS doesn't need an antenna to read the vehicle speed, and even with the handheld under the dash on the transmission hump (for testing) still reads the trucks speed accurately.

 

[Curious Hound]

I've been wondering the same things. My phone and tablet seem to do fine inside the cab.

I think it may be a case of deciding what you believe is "acceptable error. On a big flat roof with unobscured line of sight to the sky, logically seems best. But if it is "accurate enough" when sitting on the center console inside or on the transmission hump, then, why bother with a fancier mounting location?

I'm going to have the OEM VSS signal going to my digital dash. So I have a good speed signal. But I will probably connect the gps antenna and display that speed also, for comparison. I'm considering mounting the antenna on a small steel plate on the dash, or directly on the flat strip of cowling right in front of the windshield outside. The nice thing is that with magnetic mounting, it is relatively easy to experiment with different locations.

 

[Ranger850]

I got one of these. It plugs into a USB and projects on the windshield HUD style. I use it in my Nissan because the speedo needle has fallen off too many times to count. It's dead on accurate with my phones GPS, as far as MPH goes. It's real simple to use. Plug it in and go. It does take longer to "connect" sometimes, but we're talking 10 seconds, not minutes or anything.

Smart In-Car HUD Co-Pilot GPS Speedometer, Heads Up Display with Large MPH Digits - Walmart.com

Buy Smart In-Car HUD Co-Pilot GPS Speedometer, Heads Up Display with Large MPH Digits at Walmart.com

www.google.com

 

[JoshT]

I have something similar to Ranger850 in the F-100 because I can't trust the speedometer in it to work consistently. It sits on the dash, no external antenna, and it has been accurate with everything I have checked it against. Other vehicles, standalone GPS, phone, and those roadside speed camera signs.

Convinced enough that when I eventually install a Dakota digital dash, it'll use GPS for speed. Same for anything I put aftermarket gauges in.