Chartplotters

[mick]

I intend to buy a Standard Horizon chartplotter but can't decide whether to go for the internal or external antenna. Internal wouold obviously be easier to install, but would performance suffer? The instrument will be mounted under a sprayhood. Also, does the C-map UK & Ireland chart provide enough detail for effective navigation?

 

[smeaks]

i use a navman internal under a sprayhood. I generally have no problems but on certain headings if close hauled i can lose the signal. it happened about three times last year i suppose it is all to do with the boom position and your position relevant to the sats. on one occasion it was at the sunderland airshow... i think that time the signal may have been blocked. next time i think i may go external and surface mount the display.

 

[fireball]

Internal - not a problem, even works in my sitting room! Less cables to route .... easier to remove (for you to remove to safe stowage when not on board that is!)

The C-Map UK & Ireland chart is excellent for the area I sail in ... and took me into Cherbourg in the dark- my first time into cherbourg on my boat, let alone in the dark and the first time I'd been through the eastern entrance!

 

[kieronriley]

My two chart plotters both have internal antenna no problem and think on tom toms are also internal and work inside the car.Kieron

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have used chartplotters with built in aerial inside the boat with no problem & my current chartplotter has the aerial under the sprayhood on a block of wood & velcro above the hatchway so I can remove the whole lot.I could not find the one I wanted with a built in aerial but the way I did it means no hole cutting.

 

[Cloven]

Another vote for Internal - no setup problems and also you can fire it up at home to load waypoints, plan routes etc.

 

[bobgoode]

Try PRS COMMS in Harwich for your electronic charts...very cheap and fast.

 

[Norman_E]

Other thing to check is how you intend to mount it. If on its own swivelling and tilting base then OK, but if you plan to flush mount it on a bulkhead or in a pod the you need to check that the "internal" antenna (which projects at the back of the plotter) will not get in the way of mounting it.

 

[Malcb]

Definitely go for internal, especially if you will be demounting the chart plotter (for security reasons). My Navman is external, and suffered a complete failure due to the plug at the end of the antenna wire failing due (probably) to the inevitable risk of twisting when connecting and reconnecting. Now been solved with a two pin plug and socket /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[ditchcrawler]

Re mounting have a look at the Ram mountings site on www.ram-mount-uk.com
I used a bracket on the rail at the side of my hatch entrance with a ball pivot

 

[Rabbie]

Mick. The S/H CP180i is my first plotter and it is excellent. Internal aerial and mounted under my sprayhood - no problems.

 

[rwoofer]

I recently installed a SH flushmount which you can only do with the external antenna. However I put the external antenna inside temporarily and will now leave it there as there seems to give no problems with reception.