I could google this and I might get a wodge of conflicting answers, or I could pull off bits of my dash and have a look, or I could ask on here and get prompt, informative, intelligent and correct answers.  No contest!!!!

 

It's a Yeti 1.8TSi 60 reg SE with the earlier Columbus sat/nav.  Questions:

 

1) Is the dumpy back-of-the-roof aerial a combined GSM, GPS, FM aerial?

2) Is it powered in any way - as in a phantom powered mic maybe?

3) Is the aerial feed to the Columbus in three separate cables so each has it's own shielding?

3) When they get to the Columbus do they plug in individually?

4) Is it a pain to get at them?

5) Will this idea work ....

 

My Columbus has the "phone" button but I don't have the cradle etc so it's redundant.  But I do have a little Huawai mobile mifi (E586) which will take an external aerial.  So I was wondering if it is possible to get at the GSM aerial lead which feeds the Columbus - presuming that's how a phone installation works.  If that went to the mifi instead I could have in-car wifi for all!  I spend quite a lot of time sitting in Welsh forests waiting for WRC cars to come by and have quite a few days doing that coming up - useful to have an internet connection for a laptop.  I'm sure the car's aerial would be infinitely better than either the mifi's diddy magnetic external aerial, or using a telephone as a hotspot.  The Huawai has an unusual CRC9 connector but I can make up an adaptor as needed to whatever the Columbus uses to save chopping things about.  All I need is the Yeti's GSM feed from its aerial if I can get at it.

 

I'll await the fount of all knowledge!

 

 

If you have a Columbus then Bluetooth is not a part of the unit. If you have Bluetooth then there'll be a module under the drivers seat for Bluetooth. If you don't have Bluetooth then your roof antenna is very unlikely to be GSM enabled. Even if it IS GSM enabled it won't go to the Columbus anyway, it would go to under the drivers seat.

 

Does that make it all simple enough.

Edited 3 August, 20187 yr by Rustynuts

23 minutes ago, Rustynuts said:

If you have a Columbus then Bluetooth is not a part of the unit. If you have Bluetooth then there'll be a module under the drivers seat for Bluetooth. If you don't have Bluetooth then your roof antenna is very unlikely to be GSM enabled. Even if it IS GSM enabled it won't go to the Columbus anyway, it would go to under the drivers seat.

 

Does that make it all simple enough.

 

Brilliant answer, thanks.  But not really what I wanted.  Only cables under the seat are for the heating and the seat belt contact.  I can see where a Bluetooth module would fit too.

 

Ah well, it was a nice idea while it lasted.   Thanks for putting me straight!