GPS antenna - replacement with?

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superboots

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I have a Raymarine RLC plotter with an external antenna ( all 20 years old). Its non digital. Although still working the antenna plastic is crumbling away so needs replacing. I have a spare Garmin antenna for use on a 128 gps - cable is a co-axe. Can I use this as a replacement for the original antenna when it stops working? Would be nice to have a new plotter with built in antenna ......
 
Most of the aerials with co-ax plugs can be interchanged, most of the aerials have a small amplifier built in which runs from about 5V on the co-ax.
The cheap magnetic GPS aerials from ebay work with many receivers, from memory they work better placed on a metal plate at least 6inches across, they are tuned to work on a car roof or similar.
You may need adaptors for the different coax plugs and sockets.
 
with the Garmin antenna - I had to cut the cable and use it to extend another garmin gps , so hopefully, the cable can be fitted with the appropriate plug. I hae not tranced the route of the original antenna cable but assumes it goes to the cockpit display a RL70
 
Generally there are two types of gps antenna. One is just an active antenna and is. Connected to a receiver in the cabin by coax there may be 5v supply sent up the coax to the pre amp. The other type of antenna has the GPS receiver in. The dome on the taffrail. This is connected to the chartplotter with a multi strand cable. Twisted pairs. Each can usually be replaced like for like . Which do you have?
 
It could work via a ST1 to STNG converter (which is also expensive). The RS150 seems to be STNG/NMEA2k based so isn't directly compatible with older kit. The converter works well enough though, I just removed one from my boat and replaced with the iTC5 as I removed all the Raymarine displays. Really easy install, you'd just connect the antenna to the STNG side and the other side would connect to ST1 port (3 terminals) on your MFD or anywhere along that network.

Please double check all of this before diving in, I've not seen enough detail to know for sure what you have right now.


Your other option is to simply put it inside some kind of box if the plastic is the only issue.
 
I have the same equipment and a similar issue. My RLC Plotter is linked to the GPS Antenna via Seatalk and there were two different models of Raystar 120. One that used NMEA and the other Seatalk. I think the NMEA connected ones are quite easy to replace generically where as the Seatalk (Seatalk 1 as it seem to be referred to today) is a bit more of an issue (and expense). But just to add I'm just getting to grips with this stuff myself so I'm not currently an expert on this technology..
 
A raymarine technician ( through their website) after a delay) advised - probably the most expensive option buy a raystar 150 antenna and a converter to sea talk 1- but I could not find the converter listed with the accessories. In the meantime the inverted yogurt pot seems to be doing a job protecting the innards of the antenna from the elements. It would seem the wire extension is an unnecessary feature so I have abandoned any plan to reinstall.
 
superboots said:
A raymarine technician ( through their website) after a delay) advised - probably the most expensive option buy a raystar 150 antenna and a converter to sea talk 1- but I could not find the converter listed with the accessories. In the meantime the inverted yogurt pot seems to be doing a job protecting the innards of the antenna from the elements. It would seem the wire extension is an unnecessary feature so I have abandoned any plan to reinstall.
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As previously mentioned, your original GPS is ST1. A Raysatr 150 and ST1-STNG converter is an insane option.

Should ypu need to replace the GPS, a cheap NMEA0183 GPS can be fitted, the power cable should have the wiring for two NMEA IN ports.
 
Delving more into this, it maybe that the gps antenna is a Raystar 108. (no manual with all my stuff) I could not find a photo of an identical version with the external wire but the shape is the same. It seems the top domes cracking was a common problem. The unit does hold electronics so needs to be protected. While the inverted yogurt pot is doing this job I'd like to get of an old dome as a replacement - no jumbles these days. Can anyone help?
 
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