Philips AP navigator APN4

Ecosse120

Ecosse120

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 Dec 2005
Messages
423
Location
Muddy Essex
Visit site
Just picked up one of the above with no cables or manual. Anybody got an old manual kicking around ? Has anybody got any idea what sort of GPS aerial I will need, are they all the same ? Ebay seem to start at a couple of quid and go skyways ?? Please help
 
Is this a Decca navigator? In which case you won't be able to use it as there aren't any Decca transmissions any more.
 
PM me your email address. I've got the Mk 8 manual on PDF.

I wouldn't spend a lot of money on the unit. It's not very user friendly when compared to Garmin, Furuno etc.
 
I inherited an AP4 when I bought Katouf in 2003. It last worked in Shoreham Harbour (the previous owner sailed out of Sussex Yacht Club) and shows the last position of the boat before it was taken out of the water. The internal memory gave the latitude / longitude co-ordinates of the mooring berth despite being wrapped up and stored ashore for about 6 years!
Having said that, when switched on it indicates 'aerial error' and nothing else. I contacted Leica, who have taken over from Phillips on the GPS side but their information guys couldn't get their heads round the old technology - there was nobody surviving from the Phillips takeover.
When I last posted about the AP4, informed opinion was of the same sort you're getting now, ie don't waste money on it. Someone did say that it was possible to get a new aerial but no further info was forthcoming.
I've gone back to basics and use a paper chart and a hand-held Garmin to give a check on GPS co-ordinates when I can't find the buoy or landmark when expected.
 
Thanks for this, looks as though it is one for the bin, shame as it has never been used. Thanks Michael for the instructions, very quick response, unfortunately yours is much more advanced.
 
they are very user unfriednly, stick it on ebay, might get a few quid, and put it towards a modern GPS, even a handheld, as they are realy quite cheap these days
 
I have a manual that I could photcopy if you cannot get one.
I love my APN 4, it's not terribly user friendly nor quick to acquire a signal, but what other set gives such a good display of big digits?
 
[ QUOTE ]
... it's not terribly user friendly nor quick to acquire a signal, ...but what other set gives such a good display of big digits?

[/ QUOTE ]

Eight years is a long time to wait for a signal. Maybe the fact that the government pulled the plug on the Decca system in 2000 has something to do with it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
What sort of aerial / antenna do you use? My existing antenna dates from Decca days so obviously wouldn't work and gives me the error signal.
I was told that it was possible to get a different antenna that would make the AP4 work but no-one seems to know the spec.
 
Hello,
iam dutch and have the same question,looking for de manual and withs antenna

help me please
sorry for the bad writing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top