Internal aerial chartplotter

[KINGFISHER 9]

Does anyone use one of these please? I've been thinking about getting a Cobra with an internal GPS aerial so I can swap it between boats - it will run off a cig lighter type socket - the big question is ... will it work down below or does it have to be connected to an external aerial? Obviously it will work in the cockpit with direct line of sight, and I suspect under a sprayhood but, will it work at the chart table? I've only seen this model which will plug into a cig lighter type 12v socket ... are there any others?

 

[Aja]

I have a Garmin with integral aerial. It lives under the sprayhood and works. I havn't needed to try it down below.

It is easily removable (one 12v cable) so I feel better when alongside that it is hidden from view.

Donald

 

[kds]

I have a GPS with external arial - which I have fixed inside the cabin. Works perfectly.
Ken

 

[tjbrace]

I have a Magellen fx324 in the cabin. No problems with reception but plotter software frequently freezes and the screen is too small to be usable as a plotter. It came with the boat.

 

[Tranona]

Have a Navman with internal arial. Tried it down below and a bit slow locking on. Normally have it at the wheel when it is fine. Have a Garmin GPS with internal arial down below and it works OK

 

[seumask]

Genrally GPS receivers seem to work well enough down below, make sure that they have minimum metalwork obscuring their view of the sky.

 

[Boomshanka]

I've got a Standard Horizon C180i (internal aerial) and it works absolutely fine down below

 

[Billjratt]

I had an old garmin 24 downstairs on the last boat. It is now used in the wheelhouse and sometimes the shed. Always OK, so fiberglass, balsa core, foamy plastic headlining, perspex, glass, wood, tarry felt are, at worst, "translucent" So as long as your boat's made of one or more of the above, it should work.

 

[FAITIRA]

Know nothing about electronics, but I have an internal GPS aerial connected to my MAX SEA to make it a plotter, works fine.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Thanks for the replies ... all sounds very encouraging, especially as I was thinking of having my next boat built of tarry felt! The guy selling them at the show didn't reckon it would work down below which rather put me off ... you'd expect him to have said yes to make a sale! I think I'll go ahead and buy the Cobra ... I should be able to shift it between boats and also take it ashore which would save it getting nicked if anyone broke in! Presumably one could fit an external aerial if necessary ... I'll have to find out. Thanks again.