smartphone mounts
05-16-14, 11:22 AM
#26
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I have a Satechi USB 3.0 hub and it is excellent which bodes well for your purchase.
05-16-14, 12:08 PM
#27
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I made my own smartphone mount using the reflector brackets that came with my bike.
Taking the reflector off, I epoxied/bolted a 2"x3" piece of 1/16" plastic to it, then covered the plastic with hook velcro. I then put matching loop velcro on the back of my phone case.
The modified mount is on my handlebars, and tilts up/down to position the screen just right. The phone sticks to the mount very securely, but I do use a #87 O-ring around the phone/mount as extra security.
Taking the reflector off, I epoxied/bolted a 2"x3" piece of 1/16" plastic to it, then covered the plastic with hook velcro. I then put matching loop velcro on the back of my phone case.
The modified mount is on my handlebars, and tilts up/down to position the screen just right. The phone sticks to the mount very securely, but I do use a #87 O-ring around the phone/mount as extra security.
05-16-14, 01:37 PM
#28
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My solution is lifeproof. I buy a lifeproof anyway with every new phone. I have the iPhone 5S with the nuud case and I love it. I bought the bike mount for $10 (75% off). They run those sales around Thanksgiving/Christmas, which is when I usually find a Black Friday deal on the new phone.
Nuud and Fre is 25% off right now. It may not make sense though if you are getting a new phone in sept...
But it gives a waterproof non bulky case you can use all the time, just pop it in the bike mount in a half a second and ride on...
Nuud and Fre is 25% off right now. It may not make sense though if you are getting a new phone in sept...
But it gives a waterproof non bulky case you can use all the time, just pop it in the bike mount in a half a second and ride on...
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Last edited by willieb; 05-16-14 at 04:57 PM.
05-16-14, 06:46 PM
#29
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I just placed an order for the Satechi Ridemate Bike mount. Once again I'm opting for "function" rather than form. I can't see being on an extended ride and having to figure out what to do with the phone if the mount doesn't protect the phone from the possibility of rain. The reviews are good for the Satechi. If you don't have an iphone or newer Samsung phone, finding a waterproof case designed for bike use is tough going.
@SpiderDad.....I like the look and function of the Rokform. Once again if you are using an iphone or newer Samsung phone the Rokform mount would be one of the coolest looking mounts that I've seen. Lookng at the close-up photo of the case; the case has open ports for accessing the phone side buttons and plugs. This means if you encounter rain you need a strategy for weather-proofing the phone ( or putting the phone away so it doesn't get wet ).
When I get the Satechi next week I'll post up and give my opinion. Ya know, I just got thinking...if you encounter a really driving rain while using your phone for navigation I really doubt that you will be able to hear any prompts unless you are using some sort of bluetooth speaker/head phone device. Even so those might not function well in a really driving rain storm. ( as I write this a really nasty rain storm is passing through my area and making one hell of a noise...lots of wind, lots of rain ) I hope like hell that it all passes so I can take a ride. I'm getting annoyed at all the rain that I've had to deal with over the last couple weeks. So far this spring I've seen at least 4 flash flood warnings. That is not a good sign of things to come.
@SpiderDad.....I like the look and function of the Rokform. Once again if you are using an iphone or newer Samsung phone the Rokform mount would be one of the coolest looking mounts that I've seen. Lookng at the close-up photo of the case; the case has open ports for accessing the phone side buttons and plugs. This means if you encounter rain you need a strategy for weather-proofing the phone ( or putting the phone away so it doesn't get wet ).
When I get the Satechi next week I'll post up and give my opinion. Ya know, I just got thinking...if you encounter a really driving rain while using your phone for navigation I really doubt that you will be able to hear any prompts unless you are using some sort of bluetooth speaker/head phone device. Even so those might not function well in a really driving rain storm. ( as I write this a really nasty rain storm is passing through my area and making one hell of a noise...lots of wind, lots of rain ) I hope like hell that it all passes so I can take a ride. I'm getting annoyed at all the rain that I've had to deal with over the last couple weeks. So far this spring I've seen at least 4 flash flood warnings. That is not a good sign of things to come.
05-16-14, 06:57 PM
#30
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I just placed an order for the Satechi Ridemate Bike mount. Once again I'm opting for "function" rather than form. I can't see being on an extended ride and having to figure out what to do with the phone if the mount doesn't protect the phone from the possibility of rain. The reviews are good for the Satechi. If you don't have an iphone or newer Samsung phone, finding a waterproof case designed for bike use is tough going.
@SpiderDad.....I like the look and function of the Rokform. Once again if you are using an iphone or newer Samsung phone the Rokform mount would be one of the coolest looking mounts that I've seen. Lookng at the close-up photo of the case; the case has open ports for accessing the phone side buttons and plugs. This means if you encounter rain you need a strategy for weather-proofing the phone ( or putting the phone away so it doesn't get wet ).
When I get the Satechi next week I'll post up and give my opinion. Ya know, I just got thinking...if you encounter a really driving rain while using your phone for navigation I really doubt that you will be able to hear any prompts unless you are using some sort of bluetooth speaker/head phone device. Even so those might not function well in a really driving rain storm. ( as I write this a really nasty rain storm is passing through my area and making one hell of a noise...lots of wind, lots of rain ) I hope like hell that it all passes so I can take a ride. I'm getting annoyed at all the rain that I've had to deal with over the last couple weeks. So far this spring I've seen at least 4 flash flood warnings. That is not a good sign of things to come.
@SpiderDad.....I like the look and function of the Rokform. Once again if you are using an iphone or newer Samsung phone the Rokform mount would be one of the coolest looking mounts that I've seen. Lookng at the close-up photo of the case; the case has open ports for accessing the phone side buttons and plugs. This means if you encounter rain you need a strategy for weather-proofing the phone ( or putting the phone away so it doesn't get wet ).
When I get the Satechi next week I'll post up and give my opinion. Ya know, I just got thinking...if you encounter a really driving rain while using your phone for navigation I really doubt that you will be able to hear any prompts unless you are using some sort of bluetooth speaker/head phone device. Even so those might not function well in a really driving rain storm. ( as I write this a really nasty rain storm is passing through my area and making one hell of a noise...lots of wind, lots of rain ) I hope like hell that it all passes so I can take a ride. I'm getting annoyed at all the rain that I've had to deal with over the last couple weeks. So far this spring I've seen at least 4 flash flood warnings. That is not a good sign of things to come.
05-16-14, 07:03 PM
#31
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If you have an iPhone, the quadlock is tough to beat.
I have an Android, and I would say I'm an ardent supporter of the Delta Smartphone Caddy II due to the differing sizes of various Android phones. When it comes to universal mounts, it's without question the best combination of support (it wraps around every edge of the phone) and ease of use/ingress/egress (takes me 1-2 seconds to put in or take out my phone). RAM Mounts are bulletproof mounts, and they're great in automobiles, but I still swear by the Delta.
I have an Android, and I would say I'm an ardent supporter of the Delta Smartphone Caddy II due to the differing sizes of various Android phones. When it comes to universal mounts, it's without question the best combination of support (it wraps around every edge of the phone) and ease of use/ingress/egress (takes me 1-2 seconds to put in or take out my phone). RAM Mounts are bulletproof mounts, and they're great in automobiles, but I still swear by the Delta.
05-17-14, 03:32 AM
#32
Senior Member
I'm also hoping that I will be able to work the power button on my phone while it is in the pouch. If it's flexible enough it shouldn't be a problem. The Satechi is one of the few mounts that allows mounting to the front stem ( as well as the bars) which means it can swivel. As long as it will mount securely, let me work my side buttons and keep the phone dry in a rain storm I will be happy.
And speaking of rain storms while riding; Just the other night I got caught in a sudden downpour. My fault for not pulling out the phone sooner to check the local radar. This was while mountain biking at night. It was absolutely the hardest rain I have ever had to ride in and I had no weather gear with me at all ( which was quite unusual for me ). Having just experienced what it is like to ride in a really hard rain I've come to realize that trying to navigate with a GPS device in a downpour isn't likely to be something anyone can expect to do with a high degree of success. Hard enough just trying to see where you are going without worrying about what a GPS is trying to tell you. Add darkness and the fact that I wear glasses to the equation and I just had to realize that if it's raining really hard I just have to find shelter somewhere until the worst is past. So far I've never had this happen on a road ride but I figure this year it's likely to happen. Hopefully if it does I will have some rain gear with me and be able to find some temporary shelter. Riding a bike in a freaking downpour is not fun. Add some lightning to the mix and it becomes downright scary.
05-17-14, 08:38 AM
#33
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I only have a few concerns concerning the Satechi ( which I have yet to receive ), A couple of the reviews on Amazon stated that there were some problems with trying to remove the phone from the case pouch because the plastic front would stick to the phone screen. That could be an issue if you need to get the phone out while on the road. It depends though on just how hard it really is. If it takes more than a couple minutes THAT would be a major issue.
I'm also hoping that I will be able to work the power button on my phone while it is in the pouch. If it's flexible enough it shouldn't be a problem. The Satechi is one of the few mounts that allows mounting to the front stem ( as well as the bars) which means it can swivel. As long as it will mount securely, let me work my side buttons and keep the phone dry in a rain storm I will be happy.
And speaking of rain storms while riding; Just the other night I got caught in a sudden downpour. My fault for not pulling out the phone sooner to check the local radar. This was while mountain biking at night. It was absolutely the hardest rain I have ever had to ride in and I had no weather gear with me at all ( which was quite unusual for me ). Having just experienced what it is like to ride in a really hard rain I've come to realize that trying to navigate with a GPS device in a downpour isn't likely to be something anyone can expect to do with a high degree of success. Hard enough just trying to see where you are going without worrying about what a GPS is trying to tell you. Add darkness and the fact that I wear glasses to the equation and I just had to realize that if it's raining really hard I just have to find shelter somewhere until the worst is past. So far I've never had this happen on a road ride but I figure this year it's likely to happen. Hopefully if it does I will have some rain gear with me and be able to find some temporary shelter. Riding a bike in a freaking downpour is not fun. Add some lightning to the mix and it becomes downright scary.
I'm also hoping that I will be able to work the power button on my phone while it is in the pouch. If it's flexible enough it shouldn't be a problem. The Satechi is one of the few mounts that allows mounting to the front stem ( as well as the bars) which means it can swivel. As long as it will mount securely, let me work my side buttons and keep the phone dry in a rain storm I will be happy.
And speaking of rain storms while riding; Just the other night I got caught in a sudden downpour. My fault for not pulling out the phone sooner to check the local radar. This was while mountain biking at night. It was absolutely the hardest rain I have ever had to ride in and I had no weather gear with me at all ( which was quite unusual for me ). Having just experienced what it is like to ride in a really hard rain I've come to realize that trying to navigate with a GPS device in a downpour isn't likely to be something anyone can expect to do with a high degree of success. Hard enough just trying to see where you are going without worrying about what a GPS is trying to tell you. Add darkness and the fact that I wear glasses to the equation and I just had to realize that if it's raining really hard I just have to find shelter somewhere until the worst is past. So far I've never had this happen on a road ride but I figure this year it's likely to happen. Hopefully if it does I will have some rain gear with me and be able to find some temporary shelter. Riding a bike in a freaking downpour is not fun. Add some lightning to the mix and it becomes downright scary.
05-19-14, 06:02 PM
#34
Senior Member
Satechi mount is in
The Satechi mount came today. Looks like it's going to work. There were some minor negative things worth mentioning though. The most important is how loose the swivel mount clip is. This is the plastic piece that the phone pouch attaches to. For some reason it has a real lot of play to it. I tried tightening the screw that holds it but that really didn't do anything to change things. I decided to do a quick DIY fix which seems to be working. I took a small strip of medium hard packing foam and wrapped that around the plastic mount. I wrapped a length of electrical tape around that to keep everything in place and that seemed to removed most of the play. After I was finished I took it out for a quick spin to see how it would fair while riding. No problems. As expected it is not as easy to turn the phone on but with practice it shouldn't be a problem.
The mount that attaches to the bars/stem is all metal and works great. The plastic clip that holds the phone is not as impressive but I tried smacking it around and it seems to hold. I'll likely use a safety strap for the initial outing just to be on safe side. If everything stays in place should be able to forgo the strap.
I haven't tried to see how water-proof it is but it looks as though it should shed water pretty good. If water gets in the only way it can happen is at the sides where the plastic folds over the opening for the phone ( about an inch on each side ). I suppose a small bit of water might find it way in but if you carry a couple spring clips along that should pretty much seal things up really well. It should be noted that there is small hole on the lower side designed to provide for a cable or headphone wire. Since water flows downward I doubt water would get in that way but it can easily be closed off with a bit of tape.
Pretty much, I'm pleased. As long as the phone don't go flying if I hit a big bump I'll have a winner.
The mount that attaches to the bars/stem is all metal and works great. The plastic clip that holds the phone is not as impressive but I tried smacking it around and it seems to hold. I'll likely use a safety strap for the initial outing just to be on safe side. If everything stays in place should be able to forgo the strap.
I haven't tried to see how water-proof it is but it looks as though it should shed water pretty good. If water gets in the only way it can happen is at the sides where the plastic folds over the opening for the phone ( about an inch on each side ). I suppose a small bit of water might find it way in but if you carry a couple spring clips along that should pretty much seal things up really well. It should be noted that there is small hole on the lower side designed to provide for a cable or headphone wire. Since water flows downward I doubt water would get in that way but it can easily be closed off with a bit of tape.
Pretty much, I'm pleased. As long as the phone don't go flying if I hit a big bump I'll have a winner.
05-19-14, 08:06 PM
#35
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I got a relatively cheap mount (that held my phone really well at first, but after a while my Galaxy Note 2 started going pretty nuts - lag, hanging, etc.
My friend highlighted it's probably due to the large amount of vibration (even though I was strictly riding on the road) that my phone was subjected to. I tried formatting the phone - something I was planning to do anyways - and it largely went back to normal. My friend helped me pad the clamp area with rubber matting to absorb the vibrations, and it kinda worked - though there was still a small amount of weird lag.
My friend highlighted it's probably due to the large amount of vibration (even though I was strictly riding on the road) that my phone was subjected to. I tried formatting the phone - something I was planning to do anyways - and it largely went back to normal. My friend helped me pad the clamp area with rubber matting to absorb the vibrations, and it kinda worked - though there was still a small amount of weird lag.
05-26-14, 05:00 AM
#36
Senior Member
Continued from my last post; I took the Satechi phone mount out today for it's first long road test. Had no problems at all and the DIY tweaking I did to stabilize the pouch worked perfectly. Turning the phone screen on while inside the pouch takes a bit of getting used to but for the most part is not a problem. At some point I'll test how it works shedding water but I have a feeling it will pass with flying colors. I love the look of the Satechi mounted to the stem and moving it from bike to bike should be a breeze. Should work with almost any S-phone although if you have a smaller Smart phone you may have more room than you need. Would be nice if Satechi offered a smaller pouch for smaller phones.
I found out today that I'm hearing the phone prompts better than with my last set-up. Looks like I won't need the extra BT speaker after all. As long as it doesn't start falling apart or doing something unexpected I think I have a winner.
I found out today that I'm hearing the phone prompts better than with my last set-up. Looks like I won't need the extra BT speaker after all. As long as it doesn't start falling apart or doing something unexpected I think I have a winner.
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