Garmin Autopilot control head to garmin a/p remote range - how can it be improved?

[vas]

I'm afraid that very much a first world problem but still would be happy to solve it

My Garmin setup includes an Autopilot that is controlled by a single GHC10 on the lower helm.
Being a cheapskate and mainly for design related issues I didn't add a control head on the f/b helm where I only have a GPSMAP4008 and a GMI10.
Now I do have a remote and a month ago also got a Quatix watch which can control the a/p (nice piece of kit btw!).

They both work fine on the lower helm area, but once I get up on the f/b signal is weak and 6/10 it cannot connect. Mind it's a 43 ft mobo effectively distance in straight line from GHC10 to my hand in f/b is circa 2m although there's lots of cabling and wiring in between on the lower helm ceiling.

so was wondering if anyone came across a similar issue and if they managed to solve it. I'm about to open up the GHC10 and try to find it's antenna. Not knowing what Hz/MHz/GHz they communicate I've no idea if adding a length of wire and hanging it behind a side upholstery panel will help or not (no harm trying though..)

ideas?

cheers

V.

 

[Mr Googler]

ANT (network) - Wikipedia

Quick google shows the watch works on ANT.

and there ends the extent of my knowledge ?

There are range extenders but they seem designed for usb

 

[vas]

thanks for the starter kick!

studying the manual, it is indeed ANT+ which is a 2.4GHz protocol. Now all the ANT+ "antenna"/whatever devices I can find are simple USB sticks (tiny!) that enable PCs to receive ANT+ signals and pass them on to garmin s/w running on the PC mainly for recording training progress, etc.

Seems that what I need is a ANT+ repeater which will be able to pass the signal around and amplify it.
For the time being I've not managed to find anything yet. Hoping for the best

V.

 

[Mr Googler]

USB to N2K? Defo your area of expertise ?

 

[Mr Googler]

WASP / ANT to WiFi Bridge - THIS IS ANT

WASP-POE - THIS IS ANT