MountGuys Blog

August 8, 2010

Motorola Droid and Other SmartPhone Charger Mounts

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , , , , , — mountguys @ 1:47 pm

It’s a mount, no it’s a charger.  Actually it’s both.  Car lighters seem to be a logical place to double up as a mounting point.  Integrating a micro-USB cable into a mount isn’t as easy as you might think.  Don’t worry though, we figured it out!  These mounts make an excellent resting place and in some cars, it’s at an excellent viewing angle.  You will need roughly 5 inches of clearance from the lighter to the end of the cradle to use these.  The integrated mico-USB will charge your phone while mounted.  Another genius mount from the mount labs!

These work extremely well for the Motorola Droid, Droid X, Cliq.  Also for the HTC Droid Incredible, EVO, Aria.  The Samsung Galaxy S, Epic 4G, Fascinate, Vibrant, Captivate and Intercept will also work well with these mounts.

Micro Mega Cradle Lighter Mount

Micro Mega Cradle Lighter Mount

Micro Mini Cradle Lighter Mount

Micro Mini Cradle Lighter Mount

August 2, 2010

Samsung Android Smartphones, GPS App and a Car Mount Perfect Together

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , , — mountguys @ 10:36 pm

Samsung is really going after the smartphone market.  Their recent killer entries include the Galaxy S Epic 4G, Vibrant, Captivate, Intercept and Fascinate phones.  All running the Android O/S and several giving the Droid X a real run for the money.  Notice that nobody talks about the iPhone any longer?  It’s because of these phones.  Superior in technology and cheaper to own.  Think about how much money you have spent in proprietary iPhone apps and we have all read mixed reviews on the AT&T service.  These phones from Samsung are priced lower and give you the freedom to select other carriers.

Now on to the topic of the article.  One of the best features of these phones is to use the GPS app.  Garmin, TomTom, Magellan are all in some serious hurt thanks to these phones.  Magellan and TomTom have come out with apps of their own that run on iPhone and Android, but for some reason Garmin decided to co-brand their own phone.  WWe’ll see how that works for them.

If you would like to use your Samsung phone as a GPS in your car, it isn’t going to work well sitting on your lap.  Mount time.  For the car, the most popular places to put a GPS are your windshield and vent.

Samsung Bendy Mount

Samsung Bendy Mount

Samsung Air Vent Mount

Samsung Air Vent Mount

Many motorcycle people like to use these on their bikes.  There are options for that too.

Samsung Motorcycle Mount

Samsung Motorcycle Mount

Samsung Waterproof Mount

Samsung Waterproof Mount

July 11, 2010

Mounting a Radar Detector Anywhere BUT the Windshield

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , — mountguys @ 11:21 am

Did you know that in some states it is illegal to have anything stuck on your windshield?  It you are in California or Minnesota and we hear it is starting in Florida, you will receive a ticket for having it attached to your windshield.  They don’t mind you having the detector, it’s where you put it.

It does not matter matter what brand detector you have.  This advice is the same for Escort, Beltronics, Whistler, Valentine 1.  They all work the same.

Now some may be concerned that if the radar detector is not on the windshield, it will be less effective.  Not so.  Radar is a microwave signal. At 1000 feet, a radar beam is roughly 85 feet wide. These radar signals penetrate glass, plastic, cardboard. Radar has a problem penetrating metals, including some window tints which have metal layers.  So even if there appears to be some blockage, it is still effective.

So what are some options?  Though you would never ask….

Popular dash mount for radar detectors

Popular dash mount for radar detectors

Heavyweight radar detector dash mount

Heavyweight radar detector dash mount


Using EZ Pass M-Tag IPASS or Smart-Tag on a Motorcycle

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , — mountguys @ 10:43 am

Not every state has toll roads, but for those that do, the EZ-Pass, M-Tag, IPASS or Smart-Tag is a huge time saver.  For those unfamiliar with this technology, it’s a small box that allows you to drive through the toll versus sitting in long lines waiting to drop quarters into a bucket or hand dollars to a collector.  The box emits a signal that is picked up as you drive through.

In a car, there are holders that stick to your windshield via small suction cups.  But that isn’t going to work on a motorcycle.  You need something that will attach to your handlebar.  There are a few options on the market, and if you have some spare handlebar space, a good product exists to hep you out.

EZ-Pass motorcycle mount

EZ-Pass motorcycle mount

June 20, 2010

iPhone 4 Car and Motorcycle Mount Options

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , — mountguys @ 1:58 pm

Here comes the new iPhone 4!  And here comes all the iPhone 4 mounting questions!  We figured it was a good time for a new blog posting on the iPhone 4.  When it comes to the iPhone 4, Apple describes it best so check this link out for technical specs.  When it comes to mounting options, there are a lot of options.  Most people will be using the iPhone 4 with a skin or case (Otterbox makes great cases).  If it’s like the iPhone 3G, you will see the cases a few weeks after the availability dates.

There are excellent options to mount the iPhone 4 almost anyplace you want.

First we start with a motorcycle.  There are two types of options.  The first involves an expandable cradle, and they fit the iPhone 4 with or with a case / skin.  The second is a waterproof type.  We find that a lot of people might ride in the rain once in a while, and these are great to keep your device dry and secure.

iPhone 4 Handlebar Mount

iPhone 4 Handlebar Mount

Motorcycle Weatherproof Mount for iPhone 4

Motorcycle Weatherproof Mount for iPhone 4

Within your car, the mounting options are endless.  We fine that a lot of people buy car mounts for two reasons.  First, nobody like their iPhone floating around on their passenger seat.  Second, you can use the iPhone 4 as a GPS.  We find the cup holder and vent mounts make excellent choices.  We like the vent mount best for GPS users.

iPhone 4 Car Vent Mount

iPhone 4 Car Vent Mount

iPhone 4 Cup Holder Mount

iPhone 4 Cup Holder Mount

Need some power for your iPhone 4.  There are a few unique options.  First is a hardwire that a lot of people will use on motorcycles.  It uses any car iPhone charger.  There is also an adapter that permits you to use your charger at home.

Home car charger adapter

Home car charger adapter

iPhone Hardwire Cable

iPhone Hardwire Cable

May 31, 2010

Garmin TomTom & Magellan GPS Charger and Power Cable Options

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , — mountguys @ 10:39 am

We get a lot of questions regarding this topic so figured it was time for a MountGuys Blog posting on the topic.

First, the easy ones.  TomTom and Magellan.  All of their GPS units made in the past few years use a USB charger.

TomTom Car Charger

TomTom Charger

TomTom Hardwire Cable

TomTom Hardwire Cable

Now, the difficult one.  Garmin.  It all depends upon which on you guys.  The Garmin Nuvi 600, 700 and 800 series all use a proprietary ending that plugs into their cradle.  Can you use the USB type directly into the GPS?  Garmin does not recommend it but we have found no material effects with doing that.  It’s always good to pay attention to the manufacturer though.  So we suggest that if you can do it, use the flat charger with the cradle.  A few pictures are presented for the Garmin Nuvi 600 700 and 800 series.  By the way, the same charging end is used for the Zumo using the car cradle.

Note the flat ending on this Nuvi car charger

Note the flat ending on this Nuvi car charger

Hardwire option for your Nuvi

Hardwire option for your Nuvi

What about the rest of the Garmin Nuvi family?  They use cables that are USB as well but with proprietary pin settings.  Be sure that the cable you purchase is made for a GPS otherwise you risk going into the dreaded PC mode.  Another important tip:  many of the cables made for GPS units with traffic can integrate the traffic receiver with the cable itself, so be sure that the cable you buy is rated for traffic if you choose to retain that feature.

Nuvi USB Car Charger

Nuvi USB Car Charger

Nuvi USB Hardwire

Nuvi USB Hardwire

Last one.  Magellan.  They use USB cables with proprietary pin settings too.  Ask us any questions you might have about powering up your GPS at customerservice@mountguys.com.

Motorola and HTC Droid Car & Motorcycle Mount Options

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , — mountguys @ 10:13 am

The Droid is here to stay.  And it’s giving the iPhone some serious competition.  Excellent feature, lots of apps, and you don’t need to be tied to AT&T.  It will be interesting to see what happens when / if Verizon and others start carrying the iPhone.

Well, we aren’t cell phone experts, but we are mount and accessory experts.  So today, we present Droid mounting options.  The HTC Droid Incredible and the Motorola Droid have similar dimensions so most mounts will fit both models.

Most mounts will feature a mini cradle with gripmatic jaws that expand from 1.5 to 2.5 inches.  Many rotate and pivot to bring your phone into landscape mode if desired.  We’re especially excited with a newest addition which integrates the charger with the mount.  It will use your lighter socket as the mounting point for your phone.

Droid Charger Mount

Droid Charger Mount

Droid Vent Mount

Droid Vent Mount

What about a Droid on a motorcycle or bike?  We have you covered there too.  The Droid is not waterproof, so remember to take it off your bike if it is raining.  Can’t take it off?  No problem!  Take a look at a water resistant motorcycle mount.

Waterproof Motorcycle Droid Mount

Waterproof Motorcycle Droid Mount

Droid Handlebar Mount

Droid Handlebar Mount

Blackberry Car and Motorcycle Mounts

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , , , — mountguys @ 1:07 am

We decided to write an article on Blackberry car and motorcycle mounts.  Not sure why we didn’t write one before.  We sell a large number of Blackberry mounts on our MountGuys site.  Blackberry mounts feature universal and custom cradles.  The difference is that a custom cradle will have better allowances for unique features such as a camera or buttons.  Not every Blackberry is made the same.  So when offered, always go with a custom cradle.

The most popular models are the Bold series, Tour, Curve and Storm.  Yes, there are custom cradles available for all of these models.

There are mounts for almost anywhere you need them.  In the car:  floor, sun visor, windshield, vent, cup holder and dash.  On the motorcycle:  handlebar, clutch, reservoir cover, mirror.  Want to put your Blackberry on a boat?  Yup, got you covered!

Here are some great pictures to get you thinking.  Write us with any questions on mounting your Blackberry.

Blackberry windshield mount

Blackberry windshield mount

Blackberry Storm Custom Mount

Blackberry Storm Custom Mount

Blackberry Curve Custom Motorcycle Mount

Blackberry Curve Custom Motorcycle Mount

We also have been rolling out a series of powered mounts that have been very popular.  The mounts consolidate the charger and mount all in one.  This uses your lighter as the base for the mount.  Not only does it serve two purposes, but when you think about it, it’s at an excellent location and easy to reach.  As to bad guys looking to steal your Blackberry, it’s out of sight, so makes it easy to conceal.

Blackberry Storm Custom Charger Mount

Blackberry Storm Custom Charger Mount

Blackberry Tour Custom Lighter Mount

Blackberry Tour Custom Lighter Mount

April 25, 2010

Apple iPad Car Mounts

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , — mountguys @ 12:48 am

Why would you want to use your Apple iPad in the car?  There are a lot of reasons.  Best one is that it makes a great GPS.  Many of the GPS apps from your iPhone will also work on the iPad.  We like the MotionX GPS Drive app.  Low cost and full features.  When used on your iPad, you have one of the largest and crisp GPS displays made!

We also like it for back seat passengers.  Movies are great on the iPad.  Coupled with the Netflix streaming feature, watch movies or TV shows.  You can also read the paper, do a book, and soon, live TV.

Air Vent Mount for Apple iPad

Air Vent Mount for Apple iPad

Apple iPad Cup Holder Mount

Apple iPad Cup Holder Mount

It’s hard to use your GPS app with the iPad on your lap.  So for all of you who would prefer to not use it on your lap we have suggested some great iPad car mounts.

Heavy Duty Car SUction Mount for iPad

Heavy Duty Car Suction Mount for iPad

Car floor mount for the iPad
Car floor mount for the iPad

February 28, 2010

Car Performance Meter Mounting Options for ScanGauge & Others

Filed under: Other Mounts & Accessories — Tags: , , , — mountguys @ 8:46 pm

When we started our mounting business, we did not know these things even existed.  Over the past few years, we were asked how to mount these in some more optimal places than bolting it to the dashboard.  Well, it was off to the car mount labs we went.  We were able to create some excellent options.  A lot of people like to mount these in all kinds of places but most popular are the windshield mounts.

We show the most popular models from ScanGauge, DashDAQ and DashDyno.  We might have a mount for just about anything….

ScanGauge Car Mount

DashDAQ Suction Mount

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