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Author Topic:   GPS Antenna INT vs EXT

prxmid posted 03-20-2002 08:33 PM ET (US)
I have a 1999 18-Outrage and I purchased a Garmin GPS/SONAR (sorry, forgot which model). I took it to my Whaler dealer for installation and he called to say the internal antenna would not [receive] through the instrument box and I would have to mount it on top of the console or get an external antenna. Store [selling the GPS] recomended int antenna. Does this sound right?
EddieS posted 03-21-2002 01:29 AM ET (US)
PRXMID,
I would try it with the patch (internal) antenna first. I have used a Garmin 45 mounted in the cabin of my old Luhrs 32 with good success. You should be able to punch up the screen showing the signal strength of the satelites. Do this outside the box and again inside the box and compare the results.
By the way my Luhrs had a massive aluminum tuna tower above the flybridge and I could still use the 45 in the cabin below the bridge.
Ed
triblet posted 03-21-2002 02:51 AM ET (US)
GPSs won't see through much of anything. Just putting your hand over the antenna cuts the signal strength a bunch. I found that my Garmin 175 got a better signal strength from an antenna on my Montauk's console rail than from its internal antenna when sitting on the console top. So when I bought a 162, I bought the external antenna version.
I think you will be better off with an external antenna. Try e-bay. And try http://tvnav.com/

Chuck
Whaletosh posted 03-21-2002 08:45 AM ET (US)
Chuck,
I would like to thank you for the lead to TVNav. I haven't ordered from them yet (will be next week), but they do seem responsive. Plus the prices are better than anybody I have found so far (short of e-bay) for Garmin items. They also carry the RAM line of mounts for Garmin units, which I believe to be superior to the Garmin mounts in many cases.
Thanks again,
Sean
prxmid posted 03-21-2002 07:00 PM ET (US)
Thanks, didn't want any more crap gunking up the boat but I guess external is the way to go.
dfmcintyre posted 03-23-2002 05:51 PM ET (US)
Prx -
I bought the earlier model, the Garmin 135 combo. Smaller screen. It came with an external antenna that is mounted _inside_ the console, just infront of the base of the flush mounted compass.
During some experimentation we found that there was around a 5 - 8% loss, between holding the anteanna outside the console, and wedging it up infront of the compass base.
You might want to check it yourself.....
Don
Dick posted 03-23-2002 06:42 PM ET (US)
I run an older Garmin GPS III handheld, mounted on the Montauk console it will normally lock onto 9 to 10 satellites using the small attached antenna. I tried it in the house setting on my desk and it locked onto 6 satellites, walked out to the backyard and it picked up 3 more. I sure can't see any need for an external antenna. It would look cool though.
jimh posted 03-23-2002 11:14 PM ET (US)
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Author	Topic: GPS Antenna INT vs EXT
prxmid	posted 03-20-2002 08:33 PM ET (US) I have a 1999 18-Outrage and I purchased a Garmin GPS/SONAR (sorry, forgot which model). I took it to my Whaler dealer for installation and he called to say the internal antenna would not [receive] through the instrument box and I would have to mount it on top of the console or get an external antenna. Store [selling the GPS] recomended int antenna. Does this sound right?
EddieS	posted 03-21-2002 01:29 AM ET (US) PRXMID, I would try it with the patch (internal) antenna first. I have used a Garmin 45 mounted in the cabin of my old Luhrs 32 with good success. You should be able to punch up the screen showing the signal strength of the satelites. Do this outside the box and again inside the box and compare the results. By the way my Luhrs had a massive aluminum tuna tower above the flybridge and I could still use the 45 in the cabin below the bridge. Ed
triblet	posted 03-21-2002 02:51 AM ET (US) GPSs won't see through much of anything. Just putting your hand over the antenna cuts the signal strength a bunch. I found that my Garmin 175 got a better signal strength from an antenna on my Montauk's console rail than from its internal antenna when sitting on the console top. So when I bought a 162, I bought the external antenna version. I think you will be better off with an external antenna. Try e-bay. And try http://tvnav.com/ Chuck
Whaletosh	posted 03-21-2002 08:45 AM ET (US) Chuck, I would like to thank you for the lead to TVNav. I haven't ordered from them yet (will be next week), but they do seem responsive. Plus the prices are better than anybody I have found so far (short of e-bay) for Garmin items. They also carry the RAM line of mounts for Garmin units, which I believe to be superior to the Garmin mounts in many cases. Thanks again, Sean
prxmid	posted 03-21-2002 07:00 PM ET (US) Thanks, didn't want any more crap gunking up the boat but I guess external is the way to go.
dfmcintyre	posted 03-23-2002 05:51 PM ET (US) Prx - I bought the earlier model, the Garmin 135 combo. Smaller screen. It came with an external antenna that is mounted _inside_ the console, just infront of the base of the flush mounted compass. During some experimentation we found that there was around a 5 - 8% loss, between holding the anteanna outside the console, and wedging it up infront of the compass base. You might want to check it yourself..... Don
Dick	posted 03-23-2002 06:42 PM ET (US) I run an older Garmin GPS III handheld, mounted on the Montauk console it will normally lock onto 9 to 10 satellites using the small attached antenna. I tried it in the house setting on my desk and it locked onto 6 satellites, walked out to the backyard and it picked up 3 more. I sure can't see any need for an external antenna. It would look cool though.
jimh	posted 03-23-2002 11:14 PM ET (US) [Administrative post]