GPS speedometeres - are they any good? - Page 2

Zedn · #21 (**permalink**) 10-14-2010, 04:05 AM

Sideshow,

I am guessing, but i would think part of the engineering process would require evidence of speedo calibration? Its not possible to calibrate the speedo on a dyno so that might be a problem.

sideshow · #22 (**permalink**) 10-14-2010, 01:38 PM

when i calibrate speedos i give them a signed paper saying its done with my navman gps
and always calibrate them to be 2 kms faster
but after the chat i had the other day that might not be good enough these days

Merv and Sharon · #23 (**permalink**) 10-14-2010, 01:39 PM

Like many others, I calibrated my speedo with my hand-held GPS. Ensured that it was over reading by about 5kms/hr at 100. Seemed a sensible margin. No one ever tested it for registration. Why use a GPS speedo? I seem to have missed the point.

Pills · #24 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

Like many others, I calibrated my speedo with my hand-held GPS. Ensured that it was over reading by about 5kms/hr at 100. Seemed a sensible margin. No one ever tested it for registration. Why use a GPS speedo? I seem to have missed the point.

Hmmm, if you used your GPS to calibrate the speedo, isn't this really a testament to the accuracy of GPS ?

Hi Merv.Not sure if this was directed at me or just an off the cuff remark, but if you read my earlier post I set out some of the reasons for me personally opting for the GPS speedo, mainly space constraints. In my case its also a case that my car is a pre 90's engine /transmition setup and it would require me to carry out significant conversions to adapt to a modern speedo with cable setup. That is I would have to go with a magnetic pickup or similar. Also with a cable setup, I would have a severe bend in the cable to be able to place the speedo where I want on the dash due to the heater/demister. I know there are 90 degree adapters etc. available but i would probably spend months sourcing it all and hours trying to sort it out and would have a final setup whith lots of areas which could fail. My current speedo is driven by a cog directly from the gearbox to the speedo and I have already replaced the cable once, and it was a pain to have the cable made up as it is no longer available.
In my case this is an excellent option, as it is one less cable in the engine bay going through the firewall, and I am not limited to the positioning of the speedo. I also like the features that a GPS speedo offers. It has a 5 hz calculation rate, it can display time direct from GPS, also has a built in 0-100 time and 1/4 mile time feature, also can give you altitude (for those long hill climb trips) as well as the usual trip meter etc. I also get to choose what colour backlighting and pointer colour for night, as well as a dimmer. Its a simple instillation and calibration, and other than power the only connection is the gps antenna which u can locate under the fibreglass dash easily as it is the size of matchbox. The depth of the gauges behind the dash is just over 1 inch with a spin on ring to hold them in place. In my case after playing around with the smiths gauges, this was an easy decission. Another selling point for me was the fantastic night vission, as with the Smiths, they are very poor at night, even after I changed the globes to SMD led globes.
This is my reasoning, and I guess the features important to me might not be to others, but there is a point for them being available.

Merv and Sharon · #25 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 02:32 AM

No Pills, not directed at any one and I did miss the point. Sorry about that. I wasn't sure why anyone would be using the GPS, when there were other options (e.g., my old T5 has an electrical take off). You have explained that well, however. I used my handheld to establish actual speed (and the iPhone?!) as shown on the speedo dial. Both GPS units were initially slow to register and then were affected by weather up here for some reason. If, as you say the GPS speedo system is faster and more responsive than mine are and they have 'onboard computer' capacity, that is great. Do some modern cars have this feature of GPS speedos? I seem to recall that Mercs have a 'distronic' system but I am not sure if that GPS based? I also had hassles with Smith gauges years ago on my MGA. They were never bright enough. Look forward to seeing the GPS set up in action.

sideshow · #26 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 02:44 AM

nothing is worng with gps speedos
just that i regularly see my instrument guy and he told me bout
problems he has with rta and calibrating speedos

Pills · #27 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 03:16 AM

No worries Merv, didn't think it was. Just got my gauges yesterday and they look great. Will post some pics when they are in, won't be for a few weeks though.
Sideshow hopefully I won't have any issues as mine is on the road already. If I do at some stage then I will have to go down the hard road and replace the one gauge.

sideshow · #28 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 03:27 AM

if its already regostered then u wont have probs
just dont tell anyone
its easy to hide lots of things if u try hard enough hehheheeh

Pills · #29 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 03:59 AM

It's our secret sideshow, if I get a knock on the door I will know who spilled the beans... hehehehe

Rather silly when you think about it. This would have to be more accurate than a 20 year old speedo, hooked up to a car now running different rolling profile tyres to what the original gearbox cog was designed for.

Zedn · #30 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 04:12 AM

Pills,

How do they look? Can you put up a pick uninstalled?

The more i look at the website the more i want some. All the gauges seem to be extremely versatile with the abilty to be programmed to most senders and postage is well priced.

Did you get the CCW speedo? Did you get the 8 guage piggyback harness?

Pills · #31 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 05:26 AM

Zedn,

I think they look great. Will try and post a pic.
I went for the cw speedo, but regret not getting the tacho with shift lights. When you buy the set (you can choose which gauges you want) the 8 way harness is supplied, as well as the dimmer to control all the gauges (a bonus I didn't expect). You are right about all the sensors, and they also include the programing button for the rear connection, even though its listed as an accessory.
Fantastic service. From order to delivery 7 day turnaround, with my selection of black face, white pointer, metric scale and cobalt blue backlight, and all for under $900.(7 gauges in my case)

Pills · #32 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 12:38 AM

Here is a picture of the gauges as they were shipped

Here is also a pic of my car and the dash, so you can see why I want to change it.

and the dash

Zedn · #33 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 04:11 AM

Those look nice thanks for posting the pcis. What font is that you went with?

I bet you cant wait to get them installed. They should spice up the dash nicely.

Pills · #34 (**permalink**) 10-16-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zedn

Those look nice thanks for posting the pcis. What font is that you went with?

I bet you cant wait to get them installed. They should spice up the dash nicely.

Hi Zedn. The font style is century, and you are right about me wanting to get them installed asap. I love my Smiths gauges, but I can't see them in the dark, and on those realy hot days, I like to go for a drive at night. With the cobalt blue it should light up like a christams tree.

Will put up some pics when they are in.

Cheers Chris.

Pills · #35 (**permalink**) 01-01-2011, 04:18 AM

Well it' been a long time comming, but the gauges are finally in, with a new dash and layout. Tell me what you guys think.
Still not quite finished, missing a trim for heater control and mounting screws not yet in, but you get the idea.

Here is one with the cobalt blue backlight. (please excuse my photography skills)

And as a comparison, my original dash.

Zedn · #36 (**permalink**) 01-01-2011, 12:35 PM

Looks good, great improvement.

Did you do the trimming yourself with the blue stitching or have it done professionally?

Excaliber · #37 (**permalink**) 01-01-2011, 04:02 PM

The lag drives me nuts. I use my GPS to check the accuracy of my speedo, which reads faster than my actual speed by about 5 mph. So, when speedo says 60 I'm going 55.

Other than that, I don't use the GPS for speedometer. When your running on the edge of speeding the lag could get you a ticket. Say the posted speed is 70 and I'm running 75-77, with the lag I could be running 80 mph and not know it until I'm busted!

I'll use the speedometer, thanks.

Pills · #38 (**permalink**) 01-01-2011, 05:57 PM

G'day Zedn. The upholstery was done professionaly. The dash pad is great but I am a little dissapointed with the glovebox seam. I will live with it for a while and maybe redo it again later. Next is the door cards, seats and sun visors and lastly I will do the carpets. I wanna cut out an access panel for the jag hand brake through the rear bulkhead before doing the carpet.

Thanks for the heads up Excaliber, I will be mindfull of that.

renovationinnov · #39 (**permalink**) 01-03-2011, 03:09 AM

did any one see state affair tonight they had a comparision between speedo & gps's & gps speedo calabration & one quest which was the most accurate gps speedo then standard gps
so they didn't test for lag just accuricy of speed

sjelby · #40 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 11:58 AM

I am also looking at a set of gauges so i rang Enklemans and was told the gps speedo will not pass the engineering stage as it has to be linked to wheel speed ,ie: connected to the transmission ect.
If your allready registered then i wouldnt hesitate to use a gps speedo, in all my life i have never been pulled over so they can check my speedo.
Stan.