Philips AP Navigator

clyst

clyst

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Aug 2002
Messages
3,233
Visit site
A friend of mine (yes I have many) has purchased a small yacht complete with a Philips AP Navigator and has difficulty in "firing it up " .
I have an idea this piece of equipment is no longer of use as it used decca or lorran.
What does the panel think ?? Chuck it or try to get it to work.
 
As Twisted Ken says probably a Decca but they did also make GPS recievers. IIRC they looked pretty similar and I believe it was possible to convert the very last of the Philips Deccas into GPS .

Even if its an old GPS its not worth messing about with.
 
Perhaps best not to be too hasty.....

I had a Philips Mark 6 AP Navigator (GPS) which was working perfectly when I took it off the boat last year to make room for a Radar/Chartplotter.

I also had the original invoice: £1720 in April 1992!

These were professional quality units and not Decca conversions.
 
clyst said:
A friend of mine (yes I have many) has purchased a small yacht complete with a Philips AP Navigator and has difficulty in "firing it up " .
I have an idea this piece of equipment is no longer of use as it used decca or lorran.
What does the panel think ?? Chuck it or try to get it to work.
Click to expand...

If its a MK9 then its worth the effort of fitting a new LEICA GPS receiver (ie a new antenna). The MK9 was a very good piece of kit; but remember its a navigator not a plotter. However if its a MK4 I dont think it can be upgraded to GPS and it was not a landmark in navigator design anyway so bin it.
 
The Philips AP was a Decca navigator, the sad fact was, it was **** even then, the Navstar 2000D and pirate copies were far better, especialy if you used them for wreck fishing. It belongs in the bin, but smash the **** out of it first.
 
Mk8

As per some of the previous posters (but not all - why do some people like to be so catagorical about their ignorance?) I can also confirm that the later models were definitely GPS. I had one on my boat when I bought her. I have a scanned copy of the user manual for the mk8 if your friend needs it. The front cover shows the what it looks like:
 
Aeolus said:
As per some of the previous posters (but not all - why do some people like to be so catagorical about their ignorance?) I can also confirm that the later models were definitely GPS. I had one on my boat when I bought her. I have a scanned copy of the user manual for the mk8 if your friend needs it. The front cover shows the what it looks like:
Click to expand...

And I can confirm that back in the mist of time I did upgrade one from DECCA to GPS, its was just after LEICA bought the company the antenna has LEICA on it, we thought it a bit strange at the time- yes the camera people. But the actual AP human interface was a delight to use compared to some of the modern stuff. Its hard to be specific, it was a while ago, but I "upgraded" to a garmin (bought another boat) and it was by comparision awkward to use.
 
Marsupial said:
And I can confirm that back in the mist of time I did upgrade one from DECCA to GPS, its was just after LEICA bought the company the antenna has LEICA on it, we thought it a bit strange at the time- yes the camera people. But the actual AP human interface was a delight to use compared to some of the modern stuff. Its hard to be specific, it was a while ago, but I "upgraded" to a garmin (bought another boat) and it was by comparision awkward to use.
Click to expand...

Just to add, Leica make probably the best surveying equipment on the market (total stations, GPS etc)
 
I use a Philips ap Navigator, a Mk 5, originally on Decca it was converted to Gps about 12-15 years ago, you sent it in for software and changed from a whip to mushroom antenna. the conversion was branded 'Leica' but actually came from New Zealand. Labelled 'ap navigation, GPS Survivor'
Good clear display with proper numeric keypad, loads of routes, stacks of waypoints and a load of functions it also supplies NMEA data to the VHF. Had to replace an internal battery a few years ago as it would not hold memory but otherwise faultless. I hope it stays reliable for ever.
The distributors, parts etc. was at Cowes but I cant remember the name except I think that it started with a 'C'
If you want MK 5 info. from the short or long manual PM me for photocopies.
 
clyst said:
A friend of mine (yes I have many) has purchased a small yacht complete with a Philips AP Navigator and has difficulty in "firing it up " .
I have an idea this piece of equipment is no longer of use as it used decca or lorran.
What does the panel think ?? Chuck it or try to get it to work.
Click to expand...


If squarish in shape it is a Decca unit and so will not work as that...Mind you it does make an excellent voltmeter with remarkable accuracy jf you have room.

If rectangular in shape then it is Sat nave and a good one possibly an AP8.

I think the Decca was AP4.
 
Nothing wrong with the ar navigator mk8, large screen, built for Dinasors like me. If you are unsure as to what you have the Decca has two rows of buttons, the left vertical two are marked U and I if I recall & the gps has up/down/left right pad and the E button. I use the old decca for passage planning at home, long winded way of doing thing but at least any mistakes can be sorted out rather than doing it all onboard. :)
 
Check what it is before getting rid of it! If its decca chuck it. Possible even the earliest GPS models no good as not Y2k complient. But if its a later one...

Got a 1996 Mk 9D (Differential) AP navigator on my boat and its great. In a world of tiny buttons and screens trying to be too clever, it has large clear text, simple pages like lat and long, range and bearing to next wpt etc.
For an old set It has some really nice features like a traffic light system of LEDs on the case showing signal reliability. Red - no good. Amber -yes but check accuracy, green - Very good.

It also has an input in the wiring harness to connect a simple waterproof push button to in the cockpit. This then suppliments the MOB button on the set.

NMEA out drives the B&G hercules too.

Can I add that it finds the satellites and locks on really quickly.

Only downside seems to be that current consumption (~0.7 amp) is fairly high considering its only black and white LCD screen. I dont have one but presume some of the modern colour and highly backlit plotters dont take much more than that?
 
Just remembered I have my set at home as I'm re-wiring the boat at the mo. Heres what it looks like so if the set in question is like this -definately dont chuck it!
 
Last edited:
thanks for your replies chaps !! All I can say is

A. It definately has a whip and not a mushroom

B. I havent looked under the cover ..... no idea what the face looks like . will have a look later this week .

Cheers for all your help .
 
clyst said:
thanks for your replies chaps !! All I can say is

A. It definately has a whip and not a mushroom

B. I havent looked under the cover ..... no idea what the face looks like . will have a look later this week .

Cheers for all your help .
Click to expand...

If it has a whip it is Decca. so OK as a volt meter :D

The whip can make a great Navtex antenna :D might need tweeking
 
A bit more info on the unit .

Its a type APN4 . It has 5 buttons in a row under the screen . First button has arrow up , second arrow down , third arrow left and fourth arrow right . The fith button has the letter "E" on it .

Hope that info is sufficient to pin it down as to chuck or save .

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

A
HELP! Trapper 300 Restoration - Seeking Blueprints for a Unique Family Yacht!
Replies
2
Views
267
Neeves
N

Share this page

Top