Customer Reviews

Gilsson Amplified External MCX GPS Antenna with Windshield Mount for Garmin Nuvi 660 765 855 885 TomTom Go 720 OneXL

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I needed an external antenna because the best place to mount my Garmin C330 is in the ash-tray space under the radio in the center console. I never got great reception with the GPS largely shielded by the dash. This antenna immediately and dramatically improved the strength of my GPS signal - from 1 bar in my driveway to 5. I no longer loose a signal in heavy woods or in cities. Best of all, this product came with the suction-cup mounting bracket, though the strong magnetic base on the Gilsson sticks to parts of my dash without the bracket. Best of all, I can now keep the GPS out of sight, and the antenna removes in 1 second when parked and can also be kept out of view.

I have no experience with the similar Garmin antenna, but this one provides me with a full 5-bar signal strength everywhere I've tried it.

Using the Garmin Nuvi in een Prius in Washington DC is frustrating due to the amount of time lost "acquiring satellites". This antenna is easy to install (I put it on the front window shield right above the dash board) and the time needed to acquire satellites is much less.

I have a Garmin Nuvi 885T that worked fine but after relocating it to a lower position inside the car sometimes it would kind of skip as if there was a signal problem. This antenna solved the problem and can be used inside or outside the car. It has a magnetic mount and very small and flat and I put it on my trunk lid. I purchased and use a 6 foot extension cable just so I could put the antenna on the top middle of the car in an emergency.

The 885T has a hidden function: lightly press and hold for 10 seconds the signal strength bars in the upper left corner and a satellite screen will appear showing signal strength. Plugging and unplugging showed the very big difference in satellite strength as well as picking up a few extra. Even if you feel you don't need this amplified in/out antenna it's nice to have one handy in the glove box.

I use mine every day. The cable is very thin and goes through the trunk lid weather gasket with no problems.

I feel this is one of the smarter purchases for me.

I own a Garmen Nuvi 660, that I have owned since 02/2007. Just this year it would no longer aquire satellites. In looking through the GPS blogs, I found that hooking up an external antenna was a cheaper fix than sending the unit back to Garmen to get repaired for $110! I opted for the external antenna option. I love this antenna and the fact that it comes with the small plate that allows you to stick it to the inside of your windshield. It is also magnetic for external installations as well. This unit also gives me stronger reception of the satellites. The Nuvi 660 has a feature that allows you to see the satellites and where and how strong the signal is. Often times there pegged out to max! I did buy this based on the reviews over the Garmin antenna. I can't speak for the Garmin antenna, but the Gilsson does a great job. Oh and thumbs up to Amazon. They have always come through with great prices and quick turn around. Thanks

When I ordered my Garmin Nuvi 855, I suspected I'd need an external antenna based on my chosen mounting location for the GPS. I planned to mount it below the radio so it isn't in plain sight should I forget to remove it from the truck. (Lots of Smash-N-Grab around here). Although the Nuvi isn't in sight of the sky, it acquires satellites quickly & hangs on to them well. So, I thought the antenna was not at all necessary.

On my first GPS equipped trip to downtown (Detroit), the satellites kept dropping out. I plugged in the antenna, which is unceremoniously stuffed into a corner of the dashboard where the windshield pillar ends. (Not exactly the optimum location) The 855 locked into the satellites quickly & they held on strong. I suppose this is because the buildings are fairly tall & quite close to one another. A satellite would have needed a straight shot to hit the GPS. (For the record, the GPS finds satellites inside my house, no where near windows. Why? I dunno.)

Now the fun part: I experimented with the Satellite Strength & Position Screen, keeping the Nuvi below the radio. (On my Nuvi, I press the satellite bars in the upper left corner for about 8 seconds and this cool page appears a few seconds after I remove my finger from the screen.)

Experiment #1: I blocked the internal antenna with the Gilson unhooked & the truck not moving. The satellite strength bars quickly dropped to almost nothing. Keeping the internal antenna blocked, I plugged in the Gilson & the bars reappeared. I did this a bunch of times in various locations. How bored was I that day? At least that proved the antenna worked.

Experiment #2: I frequently drive through a, perhaps, 1500 foot tunnel below a multi-story building. I tired it with the Gilson & without. Only when the Gilson was connected did the GPS retain satellite connection. In A Tunnel? Again, I dunno why it still sees the satellites.

Experiment #3: As far as acquiring sooner, the antenna helps in my driveway, if I stay put. (Old neighborhood where the houses are stacked close) Sitting still, in the drive, the acquisition time is usually 2 minutes or so without the antenna. With the antenna, it is just a few seconds. About the same duration as when I hold the GPS near the windshield without the antenna or when the truck is parked on the street. (I really need a hobby!)

I did notice the satellite bars go up & down a lot more without the Gilson antenna than when it is connected, under any conditions. Also, the accuracy report is usually 10 feet without it & 9 feet with it. But, nearly all the experiment results & my observations are void if I put the GPS on the windshield, where it can see the sky. It functions just like when the Gilson is attached. But, it still doesn't work in the tunnel. By all rights, it shouldn't work in that tunnel with or without the external antenna, nor should it work in my house or basement.

A couple of suggestions, if I may: If you put the antenna on a non-metallic surface, as is my dashboard, be sure to put an electrically conductive plate under it. (One is included, complete with suction cups) Antennas like to have a "Ground Plane" to act as a 'director'- or reflector- for the signal. Also, if you put it outside on your roof or trunk (the cable is about 9 feet long, so it may reach) please put something non-scratch under it & take it off once in a while so the metal below it can dry. I had a similar antenna for satellite radio on the truck roof. When I ditched the radio & removed the antenna, the roof was ugly where the magnet was. Also, remove it for automatic car washes. A person I know had one launched by a brush. It flipped down by the wire and good bye windshield, hello sudsy flood! This antenna may not be a problem. It is low profile and sleek in design with a very strong magnet.

Summary: Assuming my antenna disappeared tomorrow- With my particular GPS, if mounted where it can see the sky, I probably wouldn't get another. But, since I keep the GPS mount way low & not in view of the sky, the antenna certainly helps in certain situations. I don't always plug it in, but it is nice to have when I want it. Hope this information helps you decide.

I was having trouble acquiring satellites while trying to setup my GPS prior to leaving the house and sometimes it would take 5 minutes or more in the car. After setting up this antenna i can now get almost instant reception wherever i am. Good well built product works great.

OMG - after months of frustration that my Garmin Nuvi 660 could not locate a satellite, I installed this antennae and it is back working better than new. It acquires satellites quickly and efficiently and is back working perfectly. I purchased my Garmin Nuvi 660 in summer of 2007. It has traveled extensively with me around the US, even on airplanes and worked beautifully for the first 18 months, then I had to reset it each time I changed locations and then nothing would make it acquire and hold atellites. After many conversation with Garmin and researching on internet, decided to try the external antennae and this one worked fabulously! Much cheaper than the $110 Garmin wanted to recondition my GPS unit. I highly recommend it.

My Garmin nuvi 350 received satellite signals fine at first, then later (months after) started have trouble acquiring satellites and sometimes lost them for long periods of time. I did a little research and it seems possible that there is a problem that can occur where the GPS thinks an external antenna is attached when it isn't (due to a defective or failed part). Plugging this antenna into my Garmin has so far completely resolved the reception problem. This antenna seems well built and designed and the reception seems excellent too.

I wanted to love this unit as the reception is fantastic, but in just two days of light usage the 90 degree connector failed apparently due to poor design or manufacturing precision. The male hollow connector which connects into the GPS antenna receptacle is made of two pieces of brass. The connector is very tight fitting to ensure good reception. However, even with very delicate hands a lot of pulling power is required to disconnect the antenna. This places a lot of stress on the union of the male connector and the brass block which secures it. The two pieces pulled apart after just 6-7 connect/disconnects. I was always careful to pull the connector straight out of the GPS, never torquing it at an angle. There is a very slight lip on the brass male insert, but far from adequate to hold the two pieces together. In my opinion, most of these units with this 90 degree connector are destined to fail eventually. Very surprise nobody else seems to have experienced this. I talked to tech support and they admitted the connector is very delicate and essentially pressure fitted together. I high strength bonding adhesive made to conduct electricity could fix this problem at least temporarily (completely if done right at the factory).

Pros:
- Great reception
- Great price

Cons:
- Terrible connection fitting design

My wife is "roadblind", her Tom Tom GPS would lose signal because it is mounted near the shifter. After installing the antenna, now she has no problems whatsoever and GPS never loses signal.