W209 GPS Antenna

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi Everyone,

Quick question...

If installing a Comand, where would one install the GPS antenna?

I know it needs to be able to read the satellite signals, but does it need a clear view of the sky?

Ta

 

[pos.k]

Hi,
I put mine on the little plastic shelf/divider above the COMAND which is actually behind the top row of buttons on the dash. It is not a genuine MB one - I got a cheapo from fleabay, but it works great there.

I would ideally like to use the roof mounted aeriel that doubles for the phone and also GPS, but when discussing this with the local parts guy at MB - he was pretty clueless.

Richards mercupgrades site has some info that refers (but not for a 209), I think there is a splitter unit involved, but again the parts guy couldn't help, so I just did the easy thing LOL!

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Thanks Pos.k

I am surprised (yet pleased) that a GPS antenna would work in that location

Now, as I don't have a Comand yet... I have time to research. I too have a W209 and have read of a splitter before so, I shall read up and ask some questions...

Ta!

 

[Alfie]

Hi Everyone,

Quick question...

If installing a Comand, where would one install the GPS antenna?

I know it needs to be able to read the satellite signals, but does it need a clear view of the sky?

Ta

Needs a clear view of some of the sky. The signal will travel through just about anything except metal. A good place is above the instrument cluster under the dashboard.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Metal makes sense.... no good behind those metallised screens on Renaults

Hmmm above the instruments you say... looks like the pulling tools I bought will get a work out after all

Ta!

 

[pos.k]

yes, but hands are waayyy too fat to get up under there!!

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Then I stand absolutely no chance...

 

[saorbust]

Alternatively mount it under the grill in the bonnet vents (on the top). I've had a GPS antenna in that location for years - for the speed camera device (windscreen is solar reflective so doesn't allow a signal through.

Works well - never had a bad signal drop at all. Simply stuck it on with a no-more-nails sticky pad, resting on the windscreen washer feed lines. You can just about see it if you look closely, but given its only an inch square and flat, it's hardly visible. It's also black which helps.

Depends of course on the size of your antenna.....

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Nice bit of lateral thinking there saorbust!

I guess as long as the receiver can see the sky it doesn't matter where the component is fitted.

Signal drop down say, 10 feet of coax is not going to be that great...

 

[Nibbo]

Metal makes sense.... no good behind those metallised screens on Renaults

Hmmm above the instruments you say... looks like the pulling tools I bought will get a work out after all

Ta!

Hi Baron

Mine is located above the instrument cluster and I get 7 or 8 sats all of the time. Just pull ot the cluster out and there is a space above where the GPS receiver will sit nicely.
Obviously make sure it is the right way up as it will not read sats through the metal base!

 

[Alfie]

yes, but hands are waayyy too fat to get up under there!!

The official retrofit document recommends the cluster. Its easy to get the cluster out with the pulling hooks. Even sausage fingers like mine then get in there!

The genuine retrofit antenna has a length of coax about 2ft long thats all. Nice to install as you dont end up with reels of cable to hide.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi Nibbo, Alfie,

Cheers for the info!

So.. presuming the Comand comes with a disc...

And my Cluster is already programmed for phone use

Do I need any re-programming or other parts?

Ta!

 

[Alfie]

If your car is a prefacelift then you will need a loom adapter or some skills with scotchloks/soldering iron. Otherwise its plug and play.

The cluster should be programmed for navigation to complete the job. If your car is a facelifted one then you may well find the comand unit powers off after you turn it on in which case the AGW inside it needs coding. All very straightforward if you have the 'tools'

 

[pos.k]

Yes, you need to tell the car that COMAND is present so that you get the arrows and info in the dash display, although it will work without.

I waited until mine went in for its regular service and asked them to do it while it was hooked up.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Okey dokey gents!

2005 so hopefully post-facelift...

I am going to find a Comand then

And then talk nicely about STAR coding!

 

[Alfie]

Okay, then you need a DVD comand APS, Navigation DVD and antenna.

You should consider adding an ipod interface at the same time if you are ever going to do it as it it saves pulling the comand out again.

Many Comand units come from cars that have fibre in them. If you dont have any fibre (ie no Cd changer, phone pre-wire, linguatronic or HK) then in all probability the comand will just switch off when you first install it. In this case the AGW will need coding to internally terminate the MOST ring. Its worth flashing the comand at the same time. If you have fibre then it should come on and work although the MOST ring should still be coded to reflect the actual devices on the ring otherwise the car will log an error. Its not critical but its nice to do it properly.

Many dealers will be able to enable the navigation display but very few understand how to flash the comand unit and configure the MOST ring properly.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Jebus, this is getting deep.

Right, looking at the rear of a Comand APS

The blue connector is GPS?

The Yellow connector is for?

The Green connector is for?

Hoping this will identify a Fibre equipped Comand APS...

 

[pos.k]

blue is GPS
I think the yellow is the radio Aeriel and the green is video or the other way around.
I believe that not all of the units have the video connector - if that interests you.

BTW thats not where the fibre fits - they fit into the big square main connector, and it's not thge COMAND that needs to be fibre enabled - that is anyway, but your car needs to have the fibre ring enabled - do you have any of the gadgets that Alfie mentioned above? phone, CD Changer, Voice, Harmon Kardon Sound upgrade?

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi pos.k,

Thanks for the well useful information!

Now, my car has the fibre ring as I needed to re-allocate its connectors when fitting my ipod adaptor.

Given the presence of fibre and... the car is phone pre-wired (I use the MB SAP), will a self-installed Comand work without immediate STAR coding?

Ta

 

[pos.k]

Yes it will - if you transferred the double connector with the orange fibre cables into the new adapter for the ipod and that all works so you can see and control it from the speedo display then you are good to go.

You presumably have the phone wiring as that enables the telephone buttons on the wheel, and also provides those fibre cables in the first place. - just re-read your post

When you install the COMAND the connections at the back are the large square connector that you moved to the adapter for the ipod which is a straight swap over.
The radio aeriel which goes to the same colour matched push on FAKRA connector that you mentioned earlier (can't remember the colour) and the blue GPS connector which is attached to your new antenna which you need to mount somewhere as previously discussed.

Do not try and force or mis-match the colour coded FAKRA connectors - they are keyed - different colours have different keyways - and have locking tabs on them. Just look at the connectors and you can see where they need to locate male to female.
At this point the COMAND will work in the main unit and should be ok. You will then need to get the car coded so that it knows COMAND is present. This will then enable another menu in the speedo display which shows your current location and heading, or when navigating shows direction and instructions. V