Experience with Standard Horizon/SiTex radar

[SailBobSquarePants]

It looks to be time to upgrade my GPS chartplotter (an aging Navman 5600). I have an investment in CMAP electronic charts, so CMAP MAX compatibility would be nice. As I have a small chart table, I really don't want larger than a 5" or 7" display on a pedestal mount. I would like AIS overlay capability (pretty standard these days), but I would also like the possibility of upgrading to radar at some time.

All of these taken together have led me to look at Standard Horizon's 5" and 7" GPS units, which have the option of AIS/depth/radar and take CMAP MAX. The radar is SiTex, and there seems to be a couple of different models in the 2kw range - 12" and 20" radomes.

Does anyone have any experience or know of published reviews (I tried Google, got shopping sites only) of SH's CP1080 GPS and/or the SiTex radomes? Would love to get some feedback on their customer service, reliability, and real-world use. And if anyone has an informed opinion on the 12" vs. 20" radome (I assume bigger is better?) I would be all ears.

Any help, or further suggestions to consider, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dnickj]

SiTex

I have the 20in radome badged as Interphase connected to Interphase CP

Now in the 4 year and have not had any problems with it

 

[JONDAVIS]

standard horizon/sitex radar

I have a stadard Horizon cp 300 chart plotter but when I enquired about adding a Sitex radar to it I was politely told this is only available to the USA consumer.Is this another consumer rip off for U.K residents in that we are only sold half a system or does the radar not comply to UK . EU standards.Would be very interested to Know

 

[Leighb]

I have a stadard Horizon cp 300 chart plotter but when I enquired about adding a Sitex radar to it I was politely told this is only available to the USA consumer.Is this another consumer rip off for U.K residents in that we are only sold half a system or does the radar not comply to UK . EU standards.Would be very interested to Know

I have a CP 500 plotter at the chart table and a CP300 on deck. Last year I added a Sitex radar to the system before we went to Holland and it proved invaluable when we encountered fog on the return trip.

The radar can be switched to work with either screen, but hardly suprisingly is clearer on the bigger screen. I bought all the stuff from Marine Electronics Systems Ltd and they were very helpful, but Standard Horizon support staff have also been helpful in my experience.

I have no idea why you were told that the radar is only available in the USA

 

[Algey]

Hi
I installed a CP300 with the SiTex 20" radar dome and AIS transponder approx 2 years ago and it has been a great bit of kit. The facility to over lay the radar image on the chart along with the AIS image is excellent for identifying ships in bad vis. Its also quite nice to have the bare radar image along side the chart image. This was good for getting used to how the radar image responds to differing coast line contours.
The radar was fairly easy to connect to the CP300 and I had good support from MES.
Don't buy the smaller CP180 though if you want to connect the radar as the screen is to small.

Hope this is helpful

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

Hi

Don't buy the smaller CP180 though if you want to connect the radar as the screen is to small.

Hope this is helpful

Could not have been more helpful, especially the last bit about the CP180, which I was considering.

Many thanks!

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

I have a stadard Horizon cp 300 chart plotter but when I enquired about adding a Sitex radar to it I was politely told this is only available to the USA consumer.Is this another consumer rip off for U.K residents in that we are only sold half a system or does the radar not comply to UK . EU standards.Would be very interested to Know

I know for a fact that Cactus Marine in the UK sells all of the SiTex radomes, and lists them as compatible with the SH CPs, as that is how I found them! I have also seen Marine Electronics Systems as mentioned above when I Googled for reviews of the SH units.

Having said that, the MANUAL for the SiTex units specifically states that they are for the US market! La di da di da...

I figure it thusly - marine radar is used by ships that traverse the world. Gotta be compatible and legal pretty much everywhere, except North Korea - who will probably torpedo you if they see radar...

Thank you ALL for your help...I am a man on a mission at the Southport Boat Show in a couple of weeks.

 

[pvb]

I know for a fact that Cactus Marine in the UK sells all of the SiTex radomes, and lists them as compatible with the SH CPs, as that is how I found them! I have also seen Marine Electronics Systems as mentioned above when I Googled for reviews of the SH units.

Cactus and MES are the same company. But if you're looking for the best price, also check out JG Technologies, who list SiTex radomes around 10% cheaper than Cactus/MES.

 

[mcframe]

Could not have been more helpful, especially the last bit about the CP180, which I was considering.

Data Point: SH CP180 works well with ANT200 for AIS, so would presumably also work well with bigger plotters.

(No using AIS antennae for emergency use, but single unit & power/data cord and ease of installation might outweigh that.)

 

[ps02210]

Hi
Don't buy the smaller CP180 though if you want to connect the radar as the screen is to small.

Hmmm... I myself just got a 180i this season with the intention of adding the SiTex radar next season.

Do you have personal experience with that combination? That the 180 screen is too small? Why do you conclude that? (I do note, though, that the 180 only supports either full screen radar only, or full screen overlay when the 300 supports more side-by-side options).

 

[puddock]

Sorry to bump an old thread .... but I was wondering if anyone has any input on the Sitex radar/ Standard Horizon CP300 chartplotter?

 

[Leighb]

You may have missed my reply to the original thread, I have a Sitex radar connected to both a CP 500 and a CP 300, switchable between the two. It works fine on either, but naturally it is better on the bigger screen. The functionality is the same.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Hi
I have installed a SH 300i chartplotter running through a SH Matrix GX 2100E ais radio and very impressed with the results.

One BIG advantage is the GX2100E uses you boats standard VHF aerial and because of this it is usually mounted ontop of the mast the reception is brillient.

Thought about adding radar (which you can to the above system) but with the facilities of the 300i why bother!

Also have to say SH backup so far has been excellant.

Mike