Which chart plotter varient?

[Seahope]

Hi,

I am thinking about changing my Chart Plotter and as I currently have a Standard Horizon unit I am thinking about the CP180 or CP180i models. The only reason I would like to upgrade is that I would like the AIS display capability of the new units (my existing older model can't display AIS) and the VHF set that will be replaced because it is definitely US will feed this information. I can see that the former model says it is for an external antenna, which I have already on my boat and the later has an internal antenna. I would just like to confirm that I actually need the CP180 model rather than the CP180i model which is about £50 cheaper.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[PaulGooch]

Standard Horizon are a good company, but i think the CP180 and CP300 are getting a bit long in the tooth and there are better alternatives now. Take a look at the Garmin 551. It's a 5" plotter that supports AIS and will interface with your VHF via NMEA 0183. It comes with Garmin G2 cartography pre-loaded, for the UK/Ireland.

Garmin AIS implementation is much better than Standard Horizon. The G2 cartography is fully detailed, not just a base map. If you're changing the VHF, i'd stick with Standard Horizon there, which will work fine with a Garmin plotter.

 

[prv]

Not sure I understand your question.

The 180i has a GPS inside it, complete with antenna. The 180 needs position data fed to it over NMEA. As far as I know, that's the only difference.

(Note that they confuse the issue slightly by talking about an "external antenna" for the 180, but the unit in question isn't just an antenna but a complete GPS with NMEA output. You can't use a simple antenna with co-ax connection instead, but you could use an old traditional GPS if you have one.)

If for some reason the 180i is cheaper (I'd expect the other way round) then you can always use that, whatever kit you already have. Only reason not to is that it's harder to flush-mount because of the protruding antenna bulge. If you mount it somewhere that can't see the sky (modern GPSes work fine inside a plastic boat) then it can still accept an external input just like the 180.

The 180i definitely does AIS (I have one) and I'm sure the 180 does too. They use the same software.

Pete

 

[Seahope]

Standard Horizon are a good company, but i think the CP180 and CP300 are getting a bit long in the tooth and there are better alternatives now. Take a look at the Garmin 551. It's a 5" plotter that supports AIS and will interface with your VHF via NMEA 0183. It comes with Garmin G2 cartography pre-loaded, for the UK/Ireland.

Garmin AIS implementation is much better than Standard Horizon. The G2 cartography is fully detailed, not just a base map. If you're changing the VHF, i'd stick with Standard Horizon there, which will work fine with a Garmin plotter.

Sorry too late. Bought another Standard Horizon.

 

[Seahope]

Not sure I understand your question.

The 180i has a GPS inside it, complete with antenna. The 180 needs position data fed to it over NMEA. As far as I know, that's the only difference.

(Note that they confuse the issue slightly by talking about an "external antenna" for the 180, but the unit in question isn't just an antenna but a complete GPS with NMEA output. You can't use a simple antenna with co-ax connection instead, but you could use an old traditional GPS if you have one.)

If for some reason the 180i is cheaper (I'd expect the other way round) then you can always use that, whatever kit you already have. Only reason not to is that it's harder to flush-mount because of the protruding antenna bulge. If you mount it somewhere that can't see the sky (modern GPSes work fine inside a plastic boat) then it can still accept an external input just like the 180.

The 180i definitely does AIS (I have one) and I'm sure the 180 does too. They use the same software.

Pete

Thanks. Just bought the 180i. Force4 had it at very reasonable price and £50 cheaper than when I looked at it a few months ago. Just dropped it off with the company completing the refit and asked for the existing unit to be checked out so I can sell on EBay with good conscience.

 

[PaulGooch]

Not sure I understand your question.

The 180i has a GPS inside it, complete with antenna. The 180 needs position data fed to it over NMEA. As far as I know, that's the only difference.

(Note that they confuse the issue slightly by talking about an "external antenna" for the 180, but the unit in question isn't just an antenna but a complete GPS with NMEA output. You can't use a simple antenna with co-ax connection instead, but you could use an old traditional GPS if you have one.)

If for some reason the 180i is cheaper (I'd expect the other way round) then you can always use that, whatever kit you already have. Only reason not to is that it's harder to flush-mount because of the protruding antenna bulge. If you mount it somewhere that can't see the sky (modern GPSes work fine inside a plastic boat) then it can still accept an external input just like the 180.

The 180i definitely does AIS (I have one) and I'm sure the 180 does too. They use the same software.

Pete

They are both the same, apart from the antenna (GPS engine really, as you point out).

They do both support AIS.

The i is cheaper. Presumably costs less to include the gubbins internally than to have to make an external enclosure and to supply brackets and cables.

 

[PCUK]

Just fitted a 180E. Amazed that it immediately located itself inside a barn near the M5. Impressive!

 

[PaulGooch]

Just fitted a 180E. Amazed that it immediately located itself inside a barn near the M5. Impressive!

The GPS receivers do seem to have improved dramatically. I have a Garmin 620, which is a plotter and Sat Nav and has it's own battery. It works in my house, on the desk of my upstairs office. Finds 6 to 8 satellites.