I decided to sell my Navman GPS3000 sleeve, which then left me like many with where is the best position to mount my Compaq iPAQ 3970 and how to power it and my new Emtac/Socket BT GPS.
I looked at many vent mount solutions, and none were really for me. I wanted to avoid a permanent bracket over a vent. most of the universal type holders were also too clumsy for my tastes. Either they had great big side-clamps which protruded higher than the front of the iPaq, or ones designed specifically for the iPAQ seemed to come only in versions that would accept an iPAQ with expansion sleeve (again too bulky for my liking).
I took a look at some of the Brodit and other mounts which would accept the naked iPAQ however, it struck me that the perfect solution would be something along the lines of the iPAQ cover pack. For example, something the iPAQ slipped into rather than clampled, and then mounted in some way, perhaps to the end of a windscreen suction mount. almost in essence like my now-sold Navman mount.
I found the solution, in a universal gadget mount from Global Positioning Systems. It is a basic windscreen suction mount/flexible arm affair, terminating in a flat felt covered plate, behind which sits a powerful magnet. the usual square patch of metal backed with a powerful 3M adhesive pad and it's associate part. The best thing was, it all came in at only £15. I figured if it wasn't suitable, I hadn't lost much really.
So, it arrived, and I rushed straight out to the car, after bending the flexible arm roughly to the shape I remember the Navman's was. I then stuck it to the windscreen, again, pretty much where my Navman mount had been - not cleaning the inside of the windscreen for a week meant I still had the muck outline as a guide. By offering up my iPAQ in it's coverpak to the mount, I was able to pencil roughly where to stick the metal plate onto the back of the coverpak.
I went back to the house, and cleaned the back of the coverpak with an alcohol wipe, then stuck the plate on where it would bond permanently. I had been planning to use my coverpak solely for this purpose.
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