Are GPS antennae generic?

[Danny Jo]

Freestyle was lifted yesterday to have her keel sandblasted and primed. To cut a long story short, the crane destroyed the cover of the GPS antenna, which is mounted at the stern on the radar pole.

No problem, you might say, just get another one. Well yes, there is a problem - the antenna feeds a Phillips AP Navigator of circa 1985 vintage, a wonderful machine that has for some years been considered obsolete. (Not to me, it isn't, because it is nicely interfaced with an extensive set of B&G instruments, and I don't even want to ask whether a modern GPS or chartplotter will interface with a 21 year old B&G processor - also no-one has shown me a modern machine into which I can enter waypoints as quickly as I can into the AP Navigator - but I'm drifting off the point.)

What I can see of the antenna now that the cover has gone are four wires pointing upwards in short spirals. It still works, but is not of course weather-proof.

Is there such a thing as a generic GPS antenna that I could connect to my AP Navigator? I had imagined that the antenna was just that, an antenna, with all the fancy circuitry located inboard on the AP Navigator. But Googling just gives me loads of things going by the name of a GPS antenna which are actually the whole works, outputting position data in NMEA format.

The technical boffins will by now have realised that I know precious little about GPS. The ideal solution would be to find someone with an old AP Navigator antenna that they no longer use. Failing that, any other ideas?

 

[dukes4monny]

Sorry to hear of your problems. I can't help other than suggesting that you might try giving GPSBitz a call. I've used their services in the past for GPS antenna problems and they have always been very helpful.
I have no connections with them, just a happy customer.

Good luck.

 

[jerryat]

Try this thread in which I asked the same question. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2120095/an/0/page/0#2120095

Cheers

Jerry

 

[matelot]

no they are not generic. some are just aerials (yours sounds like that ) whilst others are really receivers or pre amplifiers. and when they are that, then there is an issue of format for data.

if yours has nothing there but the curly wire bits (ie no other electronics) and it still works then maybe you could fabricate some sort of watertight plastic cover. otherwise - ebay.

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
if yours has nothing there but the curly wire bits (ie no other electronics) and it still works then maybe you could fabricate some sort of watertight plastic cover.

[/ QUOTE ] The nice man at GPSBITZ UK said more or less the same thing. Much as I love Epoxy, this job sounds just a little messy. Methinks it's time to persuade the yard that fabricating a cover for it is their responsibility.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
if yours has nothing there but the curly wire bits (ie no other electronics) and it still works then maybe you could fabricate some sort of watertight plastic cover.

[/ QUOTE ] The nice man at GPSBITZ UK said more or less the same thing. Much as I love Epoxy, this job sounds just a little messy. Methinks it's time to persuade the yard that fabricating a cover for it is their responsibility.

Thanks everyone.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly ... they break - they fix it.... but properly. I would expect a replacement.

 

[Bilgediver]

Your GPS was taken over by Leica and still available quite recently as a very good unit especially the MK 8.

Try Googling or here

 

[simonfraser]

and check e-bay, some one might just be selling parts

 

[kalindi]

I used to have a Phillips AP navigator some years ago and I am pretty sure that I still have the antenna. At the moment I am working abroad but if you can wait until the week before easter I can check. If you posted a photograph I could also check that it is the right one.

 

[Danny Jo]

That's very helpful. It's unlikely I'll be launching before Easter, and I've plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.

It's not been a good day. The windgenerator came crashing down, destroying the AIS antenna as it fell. The words: "don't bother with bolts - Sikaflex will hold it" were ringing in my ears as I cursed myself for not having the courage of my convictions. I should look on the bright side - think of the chaos if that had happened at sea.

The antenna is unrecognizable in its present state, covered in plastic bags. A search through hundreds of pictures of Freestyle with the radar pole carefully hidden, then at last this - I hope it provides enough detail:

I'll PM with my details and a cash offer based on the cost of a bottle of malt plus postage.

In case it's of interest to others, I checked the voltage across the antenna terminals within the Navigator - 5.49 v. The manual confirms that the antenna contains a pre-amp, so it might just be compatible with modern remote antennae operating on the same sort of voltage. Having a replacement, albeit old, original Phillips antenna would be preferable, because it offers the option of simply replacing the cover.

Edit: Just in case anyone starts asking where is it, here are the full frame photograph and its reciprocal:

 

[kalindi]

Good news, it looks familiar. Once back in the uk I will get in touch