3G Broadband Radar

[jackho]

I have (almost) decided to replace my JRC 1000 MK11 stand alone radar with an integrated system at the helm.
I am (almost) ready to purchase the Lowrance 3G broadband system and would like any feedback on the advantages/disadvantage from a user perspective.
Also open to any other users combination opinions.
I also wonder why the costs are very similar to a conventional pulse radar - am I missing something here?
Got some answers at the LBS but what are the "real world sailors " opinions?
.

 

[lustyd]

I have (almost) decided to replace my JRC 1000 MK11 stand alone radar with an integrated system at the helm.
I am (almost) ready to purchase the Lowrance 3G broadband system and would like any feedback on the advantages/disadvantage from a user perspective.
Also open to any other users combination opinions.
I also wonder why the costs are very similar to a conventional pulse radar - am I missing something here?
Got some answers at the LBS but what are the "real world sailors " opinions?
.

The costs are similar because I think the hardware is almost identical albeit with more modern gubbins for processing. I believe they start up faster though which is a definite advantage. The picture is also arguably easier to read, although I've also heard the opposite said by experienced operators.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I have (almost) decided to replace my JRC 1000 MK11 stand alone radar with an integrated system at the helm.
I am (almost) ready to purchase the Lowrance 3G broadband system and would like any feedback on the advantages/disadvantage from a user perspective.
Also open to any other users combination opinions.
I also wonder why the costs are very similar to a conventional pulse radar - am I missing something here?
Got some answers at the LBS but what are the "real world sailors " opinions?
.

FMCW (Broadband in Navico speak) does away with some bits compared to pulse but then needs others. The much lower power means you avoid things like magnetrons but then the processing is slightly more complex in some ways and the receiver has to be more sensitive due to the weaker returns. I'd expect the price to be roughly similar so I don't think either type are wrongly priced.

The huge advantage of Broadband compared to pulse is the instant on which cuts power drastically. If you have a radar arch at the transom over the cockpt then you also have the advantage of not microwaving your brains for hours while helming but that's not relevant if the scanner is up the mast.

In practice the range on the 3G is slightly reduced compared to pulse but still well over 6 miles in the real world but that's good enough for me. The close-ine resolution on the 3G is slightly better than even the latest pulse, especially at very low range (below a couple of hundred feet) but again it's very close and haven't really used radar beyond 6 miles or below a few hundred feet.

Personally I'd pick the system based on price and the charting and plotting features, etc. and then, only if I ended up picking a Navico system such as Lowrance, I'd go for 3G or 4G - even I would go for Navico pulse if it was significantly cheaper. If I preferred Garmin or Raymarine I'd happily take their radar systems but, whilst Standard Horizon plotters are excellent, I can't speak for their radar as I've not really used it.

 

[wotayottie]

Isnt Lowrance French? If so will it match Garmin or Raymarine or Simrad for reliability? Standard Howizon is the jap electronics firm Yaesu and they are big. Quality very good.

 

[Skylark]

I had a Lowrance 3G fitted to my last boat and my new boat has 4G Simrad.

The big advantage as I see it is low power draw.

As a recreational sailor, I don't use the "traditional radar screen" anywhere near enough to claim any competence. Chart overlay, on the other hand is very informative. MARPA is a great benefit, too.

As has already been noted, BB gives good discrimination from near targets, not so good at greater distances. The only objective assessment that I've made was of a tanker about 10m distant in flat calm sea conditions. I could see it by eye, I had it on AIS but my radar didn't see it. My transmitter is on the mast, just above the steaming light.

I don't know if BB radar triggers racon beacons

 

[maxi77]

Isnt Lowrance French? If so will it match Garmin or Raymarine or Simrad for reliability? Standard Howizon is the jap electronics firm Yaesu and they are big. Quality very good.

"Lowrance is a manufacturer of consumer sonar and GPS receivers, as well as digital mapping systems. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lowrance employs approximately 1,000 people."

Doesn't sound that French

 

[jerrytug]

Broadband* wins, apart from no RACON or SART. ( unless that's changed, hopefully)
*I would call it FM, which seems to be the major advance, thanks to computers which are beginning to catch up with bat-nav...

 

[Dave99]

I would get Furuno, and display it on a computer running maxsea, but that's overkill if you are just cruising a few miles.

 

[Robin B]

I replaced my whole system last year with Simrad. 12" NSS touchscreen plotter, 4G radar, digital compass, depth, AIS etc etc. Also creates wifi zone as a repeater on your iPad or iPhone.

I am an electronics virgin, so I do not have much to compare it to in anger, but I like what I see with Simrad. It was dead easy to fit and it works, even despite my ham-fisted installation.

Gets my vote every time. I can see the sides of the river in the dark, rain or fog very clearly. It's superb. Not cheap, but really, really good.

Was really chuffed at sea, as the radar overlay fitted exactly on the AIS info. The Navionics Platinum Plus is excellent.