Furuno 1623 mono radar

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davehu

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I am thinking of fitting this unit it seems simple but reliable, gives the basic radar information and is affordable ie sub £1000 pounds and the power consumption is modest. Has anyone on the forum got one or used one, any opinions would be helpful. I intend to fit the dome on the mast, the cable ends seem too big to go inside the mast so how do you fit them on a metal mast, tack them on the outside or cut off the plug and remake it. What do the professional installers do.
 
Re the cable on the mast you can buy plastic ducting from the chandlery or internet. That needs riveting to the mast, run the cable up it, and clip on the ducting cover.

Its a good way of doing it, and enables the cable and radome to be dismounted easily, and the mast taken down if required.

Also enables the cable to be in one run, and avoid connectors on the radar cable.
 
They simply cut the wires and put a connecting block in between :-(. It works but that's about it. Biggest problem is that there are no really suitable connectors you can buy that can be used for this as the hole in the deck/cabinroof can't be too big.
I have a 1622, and it works great. You can hook it up to your GPS and use it as repeater as well.
You might want to try to get your hands on a 1622 as this has a more extensive keypad, avoiding the excessive use of menu-driven operations. This is the only drawback of the 1623. For the rest is very good value for money. The radar is not much used anyway (sailing time with and without radar). So the basic functionality is there and that is really all you need it for.

Arno
 
I've had one for the last 2 years.

No complaints. Basic functionality but does what it says on the tin. User interface is a bit fiddly and as others have said playing around with range and bearing is a bit of a pain and would wind me up if I used it every day, but I don't.

GPS interface cable is an optional and was remarkably expensive, looked long and hard for a source of the connectors to make up my own but couldn't source them.
 
I played around with all the radars in that pricerange at LIBS, I definately would say that it is the best by a fair margin. So much so that I walked out with one on my shoulder for £700. Bargain.
 
Is there anything else in that price bracket apart from the JRC ?

Just curious, been a couple of years since I looked at Radars.
 
I have been using a 1622 for 4 years, and a 1623 for the last year:
efficient and easy to use. I just lament Furuno's niggardliness concerning the new keypad (fewer keys, too more menus)...
 
I bought mine from Cactus last year, very good value I thought. Does everything I want and dont see the point in spending more money on something that isnt used that much but is very reassuring to know is there. It works fine. I had it fitted, so cant help you on the DIY
 
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