gps antenna placement
Moderator: Jim Walsh
- SurryMark
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Nov 18th, '08, 10:04
- Location: Formerly CD27Y, Tula. Now Luders Sea Sprite 34
- Contact:
gps antenna placement
I'd appreciate some feedback on mounting an external antenna for a chart plotter. I've seen one at the top of a mast. At Hamilton Marine they said don't do that - put it on the cabin top. In either case, how have people run the cable through the bulkhead or cabin top? I've asked Garmin support, but haven't heard back. I think I'm going to buy a Garmin 4208, with a swing arm for viewing through the companionway.
thx
mark
thx
mark
- Ray Garcia
- Posts: 258
- Joined: Apr 27th, '05, 22:08
- Location: 1981 CD27 #212 "Spirit" Huntington, NY
- Contact:
Why not mount the anntena on the stern rail? You could run the cable through a small hole near the rail using a waterproof plug. You could place it on the port or starboard side depending what side you place the plotter.
![Image](http://www.defender.com/images/252315.jpg)
Getting the cable into the cabin from the stern area is easy.
Nice choice on the the plotter, impressive.
rg
![Image](http://www.defender.com/images/252315.jpg)
Getting the cable into the cabin from the stern area is easy.
Nice choice on the the plotter, impressive.
rg
- Joe CD MS 300
- Posts: 995
- Joined: Jul 5th, '05, 16:18
- Location: Cape Dory Motor Sailor 300 / "Quest" / Linekin Bay - Boothbay Harbor
Mark,
The antennas are pretty sensitive so I don't think receiption at any particular location on the outside if the boat would be an issue. I get just about the same reception inside the pilot house with a portable GPS as with the fixed chartplotter antenna on the top of the pilothouse. There is no need for the antenna to be at the mast. The length of the run may actually degrade the signal. Keeping it away from stray lines that could rip it off is much more critical.
Joe
The antennas are pretty sensitive so I don't think receiption at any particular location on the outside if the boat would be an issue. I get just about the same reception inside the pilot house with a portable GPS as with the fixed chartplotter antenna on the top of the pilothouse. There is no need for the antenna to be at the mast. The length of the run may actually degrade the signal. Keeping it away from stray lines that could rip it off is much more critical.
Joe
Better to find humility before humility finds you.
- Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
gps antenna placement
I have a Garmin 172, mounted at the helm. I bought an anetnna adapter from Garmin so that the antenna is now built in to the unit. Very compact and no wires to run.
-
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Jan 10th, '06, 18:10
- Location: CD31, 1985, #85, CARINA
GPS Ant
Out chart plotter has a built-in, internal antenna. It is mounted on a swing out arm in the companion way. Works fine, even with the hatch slid closed. Check your unit for internal antenna. Don't mount external antenna unless you need to.
JM
JM
John & Nancy Martin
Sailing on Lake Lanier just NE of Atlanta
CD31 #85 "Carina" 1985
Sailing on Lake Lanier just NE of Atlanta
CD31 #85 "Carina" 1985
-
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Jul 31st, '07, 16:06
- Location: 1980 CD27 #158
"Altariel", Juneau, Alaska
GPS antenna
We've mounted ours (older Lawrence) on the stern rail. It's not in the way, works great, and was easy to run wires forward through locker. I've heard that some of these external antenna could really work fine from inside a locker and I've thought about experimenting with that.
- SurryMark
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Nov 18th, '08, 10:04
- Location: Formerly CD27Y, Tula. Now Luders Sea Sprite 34
- Contact:
very helpful
Thank you, people. No bad advice here.
Steve, the idea of a cockpit locker is intriguing. If that doesn't work I could just continue on the the stern rail.
Again, this is an A-1 site.
Mark
Steve, the idea of a cockpit locker is intriguing. If that doesn't work I could just continue on the the stern rail.
Again, this is an A-1 site.
Mark
Ideal mounting position
I put mine on the top of the stbd stern dorade box. I ran the wire down the hole and trough the hose that leads into the engine compartment. From there it is an easy feed up the pedistal guard to the Raymarine C70.
Mounting on top of the dorade box is a pretty good guarantee that it wont get stepped on. I considered the cabin top but was afraid of it getting stepped on.
BTW several manufacturers say no to a mast top location. Maybe there is too much motion up there.
Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Mounting on top of the dorade box is a pretty good guarantee that it wont get stepped on. I considered the cabin top but was afraid of it getting stepped on.
BTW several manufacturers say no to a mast top location. Maybe there is too much motion up there.
Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
FWIW
I have two Garmins on board. One antenna mounted aft and outside, the other is below in the cabin. The one with the above deck antenna does well. The other will loose signal occasionally when I'm under tree canopy (Dismal Swamp Canal). Some day I will be relocating the antenna.
Jim Davis
S/V Isa Lei
S/V Isa Lei
- bottomscraper
- Posts: 1400
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 11:08
- Location: Previous Owner of CD36 Mahalo #163 1990
- Contact:
Stern Rail
Ours is on the stern rail, works great. They need a clear view of the sky but height doesn't make much difference.
Rich Abato
Nordic Tug 34 Tanuki
Previous Owner Of CD36 Mahalo #163
Southern Maine
http://www.sailmahalo.com
Nordic Tug 34 Tanuki
Previous Owner Of CD36 Mahalo #163
Southern Maine
http://www.sailmahalo.com
I repeat that last point that the issue here is a clear view of the sky not height. I attest to that though our years of use of satellite phones. It is simply clear view of sky and then whether there is a satellite in range or not. I would go stern rail. Even though we are putting more and more there squatting our boats down like Bayliners, that would be my choice. It is out of the way yet easy to reach, has a short run and is simple to mount.
Good luck,
Paul
Good luck,
Paul
- Parfait's Provider
- Posts: 764
- Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 13:06
- Location: CD/36 #84, Parfait, Raleigh, NC
berthed Whortonsville, NC
Stern Rail Vote
Parfait's is on the stern rail, not far from the RADAR pole and I have never noticed a problem. I ran the wires inside the rail and through the deck, but drilling stainless is a pain.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/36 #84
Parfait
Raleigh, NC
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/36 #84
Parfait
Raleigh, NC
- Warren Kaplan
- Posts: 1147
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 11:44
- Location: Former owner of Sine Qua Non CD27 #166 1980 Oyster Bay Harbor, NY Member # 317
I put mine on the stern rail in a position just above where an engine ventilation cowl sits.
I ran the wire down from the antenna down a stanchion, made fast and neat looking to the stanchion with wire ties, and then routed the wire into the cowl, just a couple of inches from the stanchion base.
I then made an itsy bitsy hole in the top side of the ventilation hose below decks and pulled the wire through. Then I routed the wire from there along the inside of the boat to my gps, which is on a swing arm at the companionway hatch.
I put a couple of turns of duct tape around the vent hose where the wire comes through and that was it.
The beauty of this is that I had to drill zero holes anywhere on my boat. Not having to drill a new hole in the deck is always something I will opt for if it is at all feasible.![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I ran the wire down from the antenna down a stanchion, made fast and neat looking to the stanchion with wire ties, and then routed the wire into the cowl, just a couple of inches from the stanchion base.
I then made an itsy bitsy hole in the top side of the ventilation hose below decks and pulled the wire through. Then I routed the wire from there along the inside of the boat to my gps, which is on a swing arm at the companionway hatch.
I put a couple of turns of duct tape around the vent hose where the wire comes through and that was it.
The beauty of this is that I had to drill zero holes anywhere on my boat. Not having to drill a new hole in the deck is always something I will opt for if it is at all feasible.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
"I desire no more delight, than to be under sail and gone tonight."
(W. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice)
(W. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice)
- winthrop fisher
- Posts: 837
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cd 22 "Easy Rider Sr" 84