jgm
New Member
Anybody using one of these? Recently reviewed in PBO, comments welcome from actual users.
Standard Horizon CP300
- Thread starter jgm
- Start date
aluijten
Well-Known Member
I've got one installed (flush mount) and did a cruise from Holland to Norway with it.
I'm quite please with it, it has lots of nice features.
I hooked it up to a Furuno GPS, a NMEA mulitplexer, an AIS receiver and even my DVD car-stereo that sits in my boat.
So in the end I was going through a 53 hr. passage to Denmark watching a movie on the chartplotter (53 hours can become a bit boring I can tell).
The chartplotter feeds into a Furuno repeater and into an Autohelm. It took me three weekends to install all the wiring :-(
The charts (C-MAP) are a bit more expensive than Navionics, but the quality is quite good.
The usage of the plotter is quite easy, although the number of things you can do with it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
The display quality is great and even in clear daylight very much usable. As with all other chartplotters, direct sunlight on the display makes them virtually unusable.
The cursor joystick is a bit too sensitive to my taste.
All in all, if you do not want an integrated radar as well, a great piece of kit at a good price. I can recommend it very much.
Arno
I'm quite please with it, it has lots of nice features.
I hooked it up to a Furuno GPS, a NMEA mulitplexer, an AIS receiver and even my DVD car-stereo that sits in my boat.
So in the end I was going through a 53 hr. passage to Denmark watching a movie on the chartplotter (53 hours can become a bit boring I can tell).
The chartplotter feeds into a Furuno repeater and into an Autohelm. It took me three weekends to install all the wiring :-(
The charts (C-MAP) are a bit more expensive than Navionics, but the quality is quite good.
The usage of the plotter is quite easy, although the number of things you can do with it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
The display quality is great and even in clear daylight very much usable. As with all other chartplotters, direct sunlight on the display makes them virtually unusable.
The cursor joystick is a bit too sensitive to my taste.
All in all, if you do not want an integrated radar as well, a great piece of kit at a good price. I can recommend it very much.
Arno
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I have found it to be a great bit of kit.
I like C Map cartography.
Functions / actions are fairly intuitive
Minor Niggles:
Joy stick is a bit too close to buttons
I can't select tide data for a 'different' port (Or I haven't worked out how to)- It gives you the data for the closest port.
User book not the best I have seen. - I changed a window in the 'Nav' screen displayed data and now want to change another data window but can't find out how to in the book.
Pity you can't move the on chart 'Full Data' window to other corners of the display, but using 'head up' and centering at the bottom of the screen sort of solves it.
I like C Map cartography.
Functions / actions are fairly intuitive
Minor Niggles:
Joy stick is a bit too close to buttons
I can't select tide data for a 'different' port (Or I haven't worked out how to)- It gives you the data for the closest port.
User book not the best I have seen. - I changed a window in the 'Nav' screen displayed data and now want to change another data window but can't find out how to in the book.
Pity you can't move the on chart 'Full Data' window to other corners of the display, but using 'head up' and centering at the bottom of the screen sort of solves it.
jgm
New Member
Arno Thanks. Looks like yours is fitted externally
I was thinking of insalling it under the sprayhood but it appears to have no IP classification. How did it look as regards waterproofing?
I was thinking of insalling it under the sprayhood but it appears to have no IP classification. How did it look as regards waterproofing?
aluijten
Well-Known Member
SH claims it to be waterproof. They also give a warranty for this.
In all honesty I think the backside of the plotter is splashproof at best, bit given the fact there are a few unprotected connectors there, I have my doubts.
As said my unit is flush mounted next to the cabin entry. I had long and hard thoughts about this as I don't like to cut holes in my boat.
In the end I decided to flush-mount it, as this prevents theft and makes it easier to use. Also the wiring looks better that way.
By the way, I found out that the video-connector on the CP300 is the same as the old Autohelm ST50 seatalk connector. That saved me the money of buying the optional cable.
Having bought the model with the external GPS antenna, I actually did not use this antenna and hooked it up to a Furuno GP-32 instead.
That is a great feature of this plotter, it has lot's of inputs and outputs.
I agree that the handbook is not great, but all information is there. Sometimes it's not at the place where you expect it. So read and re-read the manual is the best approach.
Most handbooks for these versatile kind of equipment are not great. Reading a Raymarine C-Series handbook is also no fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Arno
In all honesty I think the backside of the plotter is splashproof at best, bit given the fact there are a few unprotected connectors there, I have my doubts.
As said my unit is flush mounted next to the cabin entry. I had long and hard thoughts about this as I don't like to cut holes in my boat.
In the end I decided to flush-mount it, as this prevents theft and makes it easier to use. Also the wiring looks better that way.
By the way, I found out that the video-connector on the CP300 is the same as the old Autohelm ST50 seatalk connector. That saved me the money of buying the optional cable.
Having bought the model with the external GPS antenna, I actually did not use this antenna and hooked it up to a Furuno GP-32 instead.
That is a great feature of this plotter, it has lot's of inputs and outputs.
I agree that the handbook is not great, but all information is there. Sometimes it's not at the place where you expect it. So read and re-read the manual is the best approach.
Most handbooks for these versatile kind of equipment are not great. Reading a Raymarine C-Series handbook is also no fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Arno
rickp
Well-Known Member
How do you find the AIS on it? I've got mine all wired up - but it seems very slow to get the vessel names (which I know are not transmitted as often - but after 30 minutes not to have picked up the name is a little odd). More concerning was the name of one vessel changed as we got to within 400m - so I wonder if there is some software issue in the CP300 in relation to AIS? Its get the location, course and speed find though so does the job.
Apart from that, I think its a great little unit.
Rick
Apart from that, I think its a great little unit.
Rick
aluijten
Well-Known Member
The AIS on my unit works great. I haven't found any of the issues you've reported. The only thing I saw where either the unit or I got confused (I'm not sure who mixed it up) was when I approached a vessel with a pilot boat directly next to it. I saw a single triangle with every time a different name. What gave it away in the end was that the name of one vessel had the word 'pilot' in it. This was all a quite some distance so I could not see the actual ships.
I'm using a dual channel AIS receiver that most of the times has already caught the name of the ship before I'm becoming interested.
The only thing I find a pity is that the number of details about a target is quite limited. For example, you cannot see the size of the ship.
Cheers,
Arno
I'm using a dual channel AIS receiver that most of the times has already caught the name of the ship before I'm becoming interested.
The only thing I find a pity is that the number of details about a target is quite limited. For example, you cannot see the size of the ship.
Cheers,
Arno
rickp
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I'm using a dual channel AIS receiver that most of the times has already caught the name of the ship before I'm becoming interested.
The only thing I find a pity is that the number of details about a target is quite limited. For example, you cannot see the size of the ship.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ah, I'm on the cheapy NASA unit (single frequency at a time). I'll try and hook it up to a PeeCee to see if it is getting the names earlier than the SH unit, or if its my dodgy aerial. I do get frequent type-5 messages so I think the NASA box is sending them. Will investigate further....
I agree that there are a few things that would be nice. A list of all AIS targets with relevant info on one screen would be nice. As would more details on the popup box like you say (destination, status and dimensions would be all be useful at times).
Jon - are you listening? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Rick
I'm using a dual channel AIS receiver that most of the times has already caught the name of the ship before I'm becoming interested.
The only thing I find a pity is that the number of details about a target is quite limited. For example, you cannot see the size of the ship.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ah, I'm on the cheapy NASA unit (single frequency at a time). I'll try and hook it up to a PeeCee to see if it is getting the names earlier than the SH unit, or if its my dodgy aerial. I do get frequent type-5 messages so I think the NASA box is sending them. Will investigate further....
I agree that there are a few things that would be nice. A list of all AIS targets with relevant info on one screen would be nice. As would more details on the popup box like you say (destination, status and dimensions would be all be useful at times).
Jon - are you listening? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Rick
aluijten
Well-Known Member
One other thing springs to mind. If you activate the CPA alarm for the AIS module and actually get an alarm, it can be pain in the a** to find the actual target on the map. In the alarm pop-up screen there should have been a 'locate on map' button.
But, as said by others as well, still a great set for a decent price.
Arno
But, as said by others as well, still a great set for a decent price.
Arno
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Anybody using one of these? Recently reviewed in PBO, comments welcome from actual users.
[/ QUOTE ]
Looks like the dogs danglies - they say it's waterproof, and it has a little stand, so looks designed for mounting "outside".
I would probably have bought this if it had been around when I bought the Lowrance.
Anybody using one of these? Recently reviewed in PBO, comments welcome from actual users.
[/ QUOTE ]
Looks like the dogs danglies - they say it's waterproof, and it has a little stand, so looks designed for mounting "outside".
I would probably have bought this if it had been around when I bought the Lowrance.
Cspirit
Well-Known Member
I see from the PBO review of this plotter that it's not necessary to buy the version with the external aerial, since they say that the internal aerial version seems to work OK at the chart table in GRP boats. Can anyone verify this?
RichardTaylor
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I see from the PBO review of this plotter that it's not necessary to buy the version with the external aerial, since they say that the internal aerial version seems to work OK at the chart table in GRP boats. Can anyone verify this?
[/ QUOTE ]
My experience with GPS on both boats and cars is the aerial will pick up (contrary to opinion) in just about any position that is not shielded by metal (or metalised windscreens). For instance in my car I run 2 GPS receivers and both aerials are positioned on top of the glove box. Above that is (possibly) the passenger airbag, the dashboard and then the windscreen/metal-roof. Therefore in a GRP boat running an internal aerial should never pose any problems.
Back to the SH CP300, I am considering one which I would mount on the "hatch-door" so can be used in the cockpit and inside. Does the mount allow fixing at the rear of the unit, or only the base of the unit.
Finally I dont know much about AIS but would be interested to know more about integrating AIS into the unit (which AIS receiver and how it is wired).
I see from the PBO review of this plotter that it's not necessary to buy the version with the external aerial, since they say that the internal aerial version seems to work OK at the chart table in GRP boats. Can anyone verify this?
[/ QUOTE ]
My experience with GPS on both boats and cars is the aerial will pick up (contrary to opinion) in just about any position that is not shielded by metal (or metalised windscreens). For instance in my car I run 2 GPS receivers and both aerials are positioned on top of the glove box. Above that is (possibly) the passenger airbag, the dashboard and then the windscreen/metal-roof. Therefore in a GRP boat running an internal aerial should never pose any problems.
Back to the SH CP300, I am considering one which I would mount on the "hatch-door" so can be used in the cockpit and inside. Does the mount allow fixing at the rear of the unit, or only the base of the unit.
Finally I dont know much about AIS but would be interested to know more about integrating AIS into the unit (which AIS receiver and how it is wired).
rickp
Well-Known Member
I have the CP300i with the internal GPS receiver and it works fine at my inside helm.
Rick
Rick
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I mounted my 300i on a hinged plate just inside the hatch door.
Access to cables and screw to change the viewing angle is no problem.
Access to cables and screw to change the viewing angle is no problem.
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
My Lowrance 3600i with internal aerial will not work anywhere inside the boat.
jgm
New Member
Great response, many thanks to all.
Bilgediver
Well-Known Member
I can't select tide data for a 'different' port
................................................................
Move the cursor to the tidal diamond on the screen for the other port...it then opens it.
John
................................................................
Move the cursor to the tidal diamond on the screen for the other port...it then opens it.
John
murraymints171
New Member
Probably a bit late with the info but I bought the external ariel and it works with the ariel INSIDE the boat. Annoying really but the salesman at Excel said better safe than sorry. I use it on a hinge in the hatch. I cant see any point having an external ariel in this position
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
I've used the old SH CP175 which is similar and this behaved ok with a NASA AIS engine.
fireball
Well-Known Member
Our CP180i swapped names on the cruiseships as they came out of Southampton ... it was hooked up with the NASA AIS engine - we ended up changing the engine and the antenna ... I'm now looking at getting a dual channel engine as I think this will be far better
