Gertrude Gets GPS

[GrandpaDenny]

Got a Garmin Nuvi 3590 for $15.00. Spent $3.00 for a Garmin dashboard adhesive disc, glued the mount to the windshield. I haven't taken any pictures yet. I'm not quite sure what I think of the GPS yet. It's right up at the top of the dash, so the visibility is better than the phone on the handlebar. I like being able to answer or make phone calls, and the "go home" button is cool. But... while it has traffic reception, it's on a separate screen, and the GPS only goes by its built-in maps, unlike Google Maps that will suggest alternate routes. The GPS "Recaaaaalculating" is annoying. Even though I've got the latest maps, it doesn't do well in the city, suggesting all kinds of off-the-wall routes. Now I understand mo' better how my truck driving friend keeps getting lost because he follows the GPS lol. It doesn't make any allowances for traffic conditions in its time of arrival estimates, or routes. So, I will use it as a backup. It is cool how it can store routes and you can call destinations, and it stores personal maps. So overall I think it's a good addition, but not suitable for primary navigation - I will continue to use Google Maps for that.

[Chris Cochran]

What power source did you tap into to power your NUVI?

[GrandpaDenny]

Well, I'm now running a Nuvi 2589, it interfaces with my phone and has all kinds of good geegaws like weather radar and alerts. I opened up the 12v lighter plug off a combo power/traffic cable from the earlier Nuvi and soldered new leads onto the PC board. I used the plug body to enclose the electronics with the new leads coming out of the nose. It's all liberally taped up to keep water out (although I've never seen any sign of water anywhere inside the fairing) and tucked it all in above the headlight, with the traffic cable tie wrapped to the fairing frame. I'm running it off the accessory plug behind the headlight. As a matter of fact, I spent this afternoon re-writing all of my electronics to run off that same power (and ground) in hopes of reducing ground-loop noise. I had been running the SR10 off the same power I used for the heated grips, the CB off the turn signal power supply, and the USB and 12v hubs off the accessory plugs behind the headlight. So now I know what it means to have ground-loop noise and why, and how to correct it. Hopefully. I didn't feel like bringing a helmet downstairs to test it; I'll find out on the way to work in the morning. This was precipitated not only by the noise (that I've had since I first hard-wired the SR10), but by the turn signal fuse blowing yesterday. All of my lights are LED so I figured it had to have been because of the CB. Interesting that it didn't blow its own inline fuse first, though. I had been running the emergency flashers while on an escort from the airport to NE Philly. After hanging around the destination for a while (104th Cavalry, PA National Guard - just came home from 3 years in Egypt), when I fired the bike up I noticed no turn signals. All is well now.

BTW guys I saw a factory CB on eBay last night for $45.00 buy it now price.

[Van Voyager]

BTW guys I saw a factory CB on eBay last night for $45.00 buy it now price.

Does anyone use CB these days? The CB was optional on the ZN and I have all the bits but have never installed it as I figured it wasn't of much use (I'm thinking in terms of the 'cell phone' age) ??? Would be novel is there was a Bluetooth connection to the CB, but implementing that on the OEM CB would be challenging and operation of it could be a can of worms.

[GrandpaDenny]

My club, the Retreads, use CBs. There is a cable to connect the SR10 to the bike's intercom system as well, but I think it only works to receive audio. The Harley Firewire or whatever the overpriced thing is called (I think there's a version for Honda too) allows for two-way IIRC. Check Dennis Kirk.

[the2knights]

Still nice having a CB when riding with the AVA or the Indiana Voyagers. There is an option to have bluetooth with the Sena Freewire. Have considered going that route but have not pulled the trigger on that one yet.