Plotter - internal vs external aerial

S

SpaceCygnet

Active Member
Joined
25 Apr 2006
Messages
65
Visit site
Hi,

I am looking to purchase a standard Horizon CP300 plotter. There are 2 options, an internal or an external aerial. Does anyone have experience of either? In particular the internal as thats the one I was leaning towards - are there any cases where it will not pick up a signal and an external might?
Thanhs, Gerry.
 
We've got a CP180i .... been absolutely fine - although the mount is above deck we do use it in harbour at the chart table and it picks up GPS signal with no problem ...
I've also picked up a GPS signal in the sitting room of my home .... not bad through 2 ceilings and a roof!!


The advantage is that you don't have another cable with another mushroom to mount ....
 
It probably did ..... mind you - it could've come down the chimney instead!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
A friend has the CP300 with built in aerial fixed on a bracket which is level with the washboard space when facing outwards.It works fine.He also runs it off a 12v pack at home & it works in his study.I have had a handheld Raymarine RC400 plotter which worked inside 2 different boats.
 
My two internal aerial plotters both work(ed) inside the saloon, but could be slightly slower to seek all the satellites, satellites are more likely to drop in and out; but they both maintain(ed) a fix despite this. As I always remove instruments an internal aerial plotter is much better for me, it also means I can run the plotter at home, in the car, where I choose. In the cockpit the plotter is on a bracket by the helm, it works perfectly and does not require a second cable to a vulnerable antenna.

I see no point in having a plotter fixed at the chart table, if this was my wish I would stick to a normal GPS and charts.

The internal aerials cannot be bulkhead mounted, I imagine this might be nice, although, if you have been watching plotters; No manufacturer has kept a single sized unit going since conception, you would end up with holes drilled and filled as few would keep the same plotter for the life of the boat.

I have built a roving power lead and thus other than my installed helm position with bracket and cable inc. nmea etc. The internal antenna plotter is truly portable, it is far easier to sit at the saloon table and set up a route for the next day, no?
 
I've bought a 300 external for two reasons:

- It has been flush mounted, which is only doable with the external version
- I'm actually using my Furuno GPS as the main receiver for GPS, thus having GPS positions available inside at the chart table (handy for keeping a cruising log). So I'm not even using the supplied Standard Horizon GPS antenna at present.

Using the external version also gives you slightly more connection options. My plotter is connected to the ST-50 instruments, a VHF (both outputting GPS for DSC distress functionality as receiving positions from the VHF for DSC notifications), an AIS receiver, a ST4000 Autohelm and can even be used as a display for my DVD player...

Cheers,

Arno
 
I have external antena Lowrance, make really doesn't matter. Shortly after I bought - the internal antena version appeared. I wish I had bought internal. My external antena is usually hanging of the curtain rail inside cabin and has no trouble tracking. But the cable is a pain !
 
I bought the Horizon 300 with internal aerial. i had the same debate as you; internal or external?. I have been using it since last year, it will pick up everything and at the same speed when inside or outside
 
I bought an internal one on a Navstar plotter - At first I suspected this might be a mistake particularly as it looses satellites easily if in the cabin. However, as others have said, the best place for a plotter is outside. Mine is mounted at the top of the companionway under the spray hood it works fine - I can just about read it when on the helm - I would like it nearer, but I have quite a small cockpit and I wanted it out of the way and not falling overboard!

I have permanently mounted the bracket on the cabin roof and remove the plotter at the end of each journey and stow away out of site.

I "plumbed in " a cable from the fusebox (and DSC radio) to a socket mounted on the walll in the heads (my heads are just at the bottom of the companionway) and then use a flying lead with plug on one end to connect to the plotter.

All in all I'm very pleased with the arrangement and think it's the best bit of extra kit I've bought (so far).

Julian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top