Mounting Garmin eTrex GPS in payload bay?

Several people have wrapped their Garmin eTrex GPS unit in bubble wrap and shoved it into the payload bay. I've got a Vista

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which augments the GPS derived altitude with a barometric sensor, so I'd like to avoid completely bagging the unit.

I've got the soft carrying case for it and was considering duct tape to hold that to the plywood altimeter mount.

Any other suggestions for a rugged mounting in a 4" diameter payload bay for a J350 launch?

The various accessories for attaching the unit to bicycle handlebars and such use a replacement for the battery cover and the single "T pin" to restrain the device. Seems kind of flimsy...

Reply to
Will Marchant
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Wrap it in rags or paper towels instead of bubble wrap. Same padding effect, wont stop air.

Reply to
Greg Deputy

I have the Vista also, and I wrapped mine in bubble-wrap lengthwise, leaving the ends hanging out but not folded over and sealed. Worked fine.

Reply to
David

The Garmin GPS units that include a pressure sensor are of two minds when it comes to reporting altitude. The value displayed and recorded in internal track logs is based completely on the pressure sensor. The unit magically calibrates this pressure sensor using the GPS solution but it doesn't use the GPS solution in the altitude reported. Or at least that is my conclusion after flying a Garmin Summit three times.

If you want the actual GPS altitude, it appears that the serial NMEA data reports this.

I mounted the GPS by gluing down some foam (typically used to cushion R/C electronics) and then holding the altimeter in place with zip ties.

Will Marchant wrote: > Several people have wrapped their Garmin eTrex GPS unit in bubble wrap > and shoved it into the payload bay. I've got a Vista >

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which augments the > GPS derived altitude with a barometric sensor, so I'd like to avoid > completely bagging the unit. >

Reply to
David Schultz

That is exactly the behavior I've observed with my Summit. I've seen sudden variations while driving from cracking open a window, or closing one. And it's really wacky while flying on commercial airlines. Forcing altimter recalibration gives a correct GPS altitude for a few moments, then reverts to the wacked baro altitude.

The annoying thing is that to get the magnetic compass SiteNGo feature, you get the #!%@ baro and there is NO WAY to turn off the baro. You can turn off the compass...

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

Reply to
Bob Kaplow

Does your GPS unit require the aiflow for cooling?

Alan

Reply to
Alan Jones

There are no cooling requirements for GPSFlight units, and i'm not aware of any for any GPS system.

Reply to
Greg Deputy

Reply to
Will Marchant

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