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07 June 2010, 16:07
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#1
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Member
Country: Ireland
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 90
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which is better, internal or external anntenna
Thinking of a new GPS, which is better internal or external anntenna, or is there any difference . The external is a bit dearer and you have the cable to route back to the Aframe, does anyone have an opinion, thanks
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07 June 2010, 16:26
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#2
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RIBnet admin team
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,912
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I have both, a Raymarine A65 (external ant. on A frame) and a Ray 435i, flush mounted (internal ant.) The GPS reception is MUCH poorer on the internal unit. However, when it was surface mounted, i.e. vertical in a bracket, the reception was a bit better. I suspected some interference between the antennae (dunno how or why) as when I moved the external unit from the console to the A frame, the 435i reception improved from useless to just poor.
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07 June 2010, 16:35
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#3
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Member
Country: Ireland
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 90
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My reason for thinking of an internal anntenna was less problems with cable to areial , also with it being on the console didnt think it would make much difference with a signal, also I was thinking that an external anntenna was more for a boat with a wheelhouse, so by what you have told me there is a difference
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07 June 2010, 16:46
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#4
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Member
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: Wildheart
Make: Humber/Delta Seasafe
Length: 5m +
Engine: Merc 60 Clamshell
MMSI: 235068449
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,671
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Just going to play devil's advocate here...... not the same units, so is it a fair test?
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07 June 2010, 16:49
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#5
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Dorset & Hants
Boat name: Streaker/Orange
Make: Avon/Ribcraft
Length: 4m +
Engine: 50Yam/25 Mariner
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,551
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And to play devils advocate even more .....
I reckon the Garmin 276 on one boat I have with the built in aerial is better reception that the Navman with the Aerial on the A-frame on the other !
The Garmin improved a HUGE amount when I updated the software.....
If I had to replce the Navman I'd have a built in Aerial as less to go wrong/falloff/ short out etc .
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08 June 2010, 11:35
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#6
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RIBnet admin team
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,912
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You're all right of course but then, it wasn't a test, just my experience with those specific units. Both units are obsolete now so modern kit should be better. Points against external all accepted. I do like the clear view of the sky offered on the a-frame though. A couple of big lads and some other console clutter cut signals back quite a bit at certain times.
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09 June 2010, 09:01
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#7
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RIBnet supporter
Country: Ireland
Town: Donegal
Boat name: Deep Six
Make: Redbay Stormforce
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki 140 4/stroke
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 178
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size and position matters
The basics of propagation still apply with gps antenna,
Most antenna have a "best position" and typically this is achieved with a nice external antenna, most internal units get mounted at various angles from horizontal to vertical, with no consideration how the antenna is pointed. Also the size of the collector is generally smaller, so as not to interfere with cosmetics.
So thats what it eventually comes down to, cosmetics, external antenna pain in the A55 to install, but better performance, internal, quick and easy, will probably do the job, but in certain situations will not be as good.
Hope this helps !!
DonegalDan
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09 June 2010, 12:41
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#8
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Member
Country: UK - Wales
Town: West Wales
Make: Vipermax 5.8, SR4.7
Length: 5m +
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,299
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I've just fitted a Garmin 551S to my little Searider. This unit has an internal antenna and is flush mounted in the console at an angle of around 30 deg from the vertical. I had doubts as to the effectiveness of the antenna, given it's position, but it really works well, with a stronger GPS signal than some of my external antenna Garmin units showed, even with the boats inside a building. I thought I may have had to lay out some extra dosh for an external antenna on the 551S, but this doesn't now seem to be the case.
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09 June 2010, 13:51
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#9
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Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Leicester
Boat name: Vixen
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki OB 175
MMSI: 235071839
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,624
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Lowrance have had some serious problems with their GPS modules, unit since withdrawn and all their HDS units are now internal.
Automotive GPS (TomTom et al) have internal antennas. If this kit can work through glass quickly and has done reliably for years it should in marine applications. Or am I naively hoping for to much again!
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New boat is here, very happy!
Simon
www.luec.org
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09 June 2010, 16:45
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#10
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RIBnet supporter
Country: Ireland
Town: Donegal
Boat name: Deep Six
Make: Redbay Stormforce
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki 140 4/stroke
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 178
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Antenna
Simon,
Reckon you internal antenna is vertical in TOM TOM etc,
for viewing by the driver, this is why they get a clear view of the sky,
also the older garmin had a fold out antenna, that came out at 90deg to the viewscreen.
I'd imagine there should be best practice guides available with marine GPS ? to best angles to mount kit etc ?
Donegaldan
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09 June 2010, 23:04
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#11
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Member
Country: Ireland
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 90
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So if the unit was positioned on the console of the rib with a built in anntenna it should pick up a good signal considering there is nothing overhead to block it, and therefore it it would be as good as a unit with an external anntenna .
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10 June 2010, 17:06
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#12
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Member
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Inverness
Boat name: none
Make: none
Engine: none
MMSI: none
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,908
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The only other thing to consider is the position of the aerial relating to the tranducer. I have both an internal and external aerial on my boat but run the whole system on the external. Apart from it is in a slightly better position for a clear view it is also directly above the transducer which means all my positions taken from wrecks are exact rather than offset by a few metres.
This may or may not be important to you unless you dive........
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