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Author Topic:   Garmin 540/545 series GXM31 antenna

bluewaterpirate posted 05-01-2007 01:52 PM ET (US)
Here a couple pictures of the GXM31 Antenna wire harness and connectivity. The antenna has self contained XM module transceiver that provides XM Weather/Music to the 540/545 units.
Tom
http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/show/external/267343/357784/ 16215542/file.jpg
http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/show/external/267343/357784/ 16215539/file.jpg

ConB posted 05-01-2007 06:00 PM ET (US)
The local West Marine and Boaters World didn't have one I could look at.
Were should the GXM31 be mounted?
Tom, what are your thoughts on 540 vs. 545?
Con
bluewaterpirate posted 05-01-2007 07:19 PM ET (US)
I've flush mounted four so far three under tee tops and one under a biminis. The only difference between the 540 and 545 is screen resolution. Both great units.
Tom
towboater posted 05-03-2007 03:25 AM ET (US)
The antenna and transducer for my 545s arrived today.
Meanwhile, Ive been using the unit simply hooked up to pos and neg inside the cabin of my Tug. The internal antenna has only lost reception once going past a former nuclear plant. hmmm. Only took about 5 mins to reset doing a whopping 10 against the ebb. I suppose a faster boat would take longer to reconnect...but then, a faster boat may not have the interference a cabin does.
The 5" screen has 10 times better resolution than the pre vector units. Damn it. These units are almost RUINING the art, the skill to learn how to navigate Columbia River day, night, fog and bottom over the past 30 years and this little box has it all...nearly everything Ive learned...deadly accurate, in vivid color.
Hey, hehe, it's all good. Get one.
mk
grantrobarts posted 05-03-2007 09:24 AM ET (US)
I ordered a 540s, but now I am almost regretting not ordering the 545s. I guess I will go ahead and find out if I made a mistake.
bluewaterpirate posted 05-03-2007 10:22 AM ET (US)
You'll be more than happy with the 540.
Tom
towboater posted 05-03-2007 01:15 PM ET (US)
Sorry Grant. "Get one" kinda implies there are no other worthy options.
I used my 545s as a reference for screen resolution, vector charting & internal antenna results.
It has a memory card & sonar options you may not need.
Comments on the extra expense of memory cards;
I am often hired to perform poor man's surveys at the confluence of the Cowlitz & Columbia River. We endure constant silting from Mount St Helens ash flows with every freshet. NOBODY knows more about this area than I do.
This area changes faster than USGS can update it.
I am not certified. Prior to this 545s, I would take GPS readings and soundings from two different machines and write them down by hand. Then I would transfer this info onto a expensive Navigation program installed on my hard drive that allows me to customize waypoints, soundings etc. Eventually print it out.
Rose Point Coastal Explorer Program is supposed to interphase with the Garmin card and thus speed things up for me substantially & far less investment than any interphasing option avail 2 years ago.
Point is, recreational boaters probably dont need all this memory/bluetooth crap. Just get the highest screen resolution and vector chart enabled GPS you can afford & enjoy.
mk

franzenjb posted 08-22-2007 04:39 PM ET (US)
I need help deciding between the Garmin 540 and 540s. I have 24" Regal sport boat that I use in the Delaware and Rehoboth bays mostly for pleasure boating, no fishing. The bays can be quite shallow so I want [the GARMIN 540s] to help keep me out of shallow water. My boat has a built-in depth finder, and my installer tells me it would be quite expensive to replace it with a Garmin [SONAR transducer].
Should I stick with the 540 and use the boat's [SONAR transducer]? The Garmin is much easier to read versus the boat's built-in depth gauge.
jimh posted 08-24-2007 09:11 AM ET (US)
I don't recommend trying to use the Garmin SONAR with a transducer from another manufacturer which was intended just as a depth sounder. If you select the Garmin SONAR you should install the Garmin transducer.
Is the current depth sounder's transducer installed as a through hull, and in-hull, or a transom mount?
What type of transducer do you plan to use with the Garmin?
bessoni1 posted 09-11-2007 08:40 PM ET (US)
My radio is mounted in the compartment above in my t tops. My GPS is mounted in my center consoul. The XM wired seem very bulky. I find it imposible to fish those up through the tubing. It my be easier for me to by a XM ready radio.Has anybody experienced this problem??

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Author	Topic: Garmin 540/545 series GXM31 antenna
bluewaterpirate	posted 05-01-2007 01:52 PM ET (US) Here a couple pictures of the GXM31 Antenna wire harness and connectivity. The antenna has self contained XM module transceiver that provides XM Weather/Music to the 540/545 units. Tom http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/show/external/267343/357784/ 16215542/file.jpg http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/show/external/267343/357784/ 16215539/file.jpg
ConB	posted 05-01-2007 06:00 PM ET (US) The local West Marine and Boaters World didn't have one I could look at. Were should the GXM31 be mounted? Tom, what are your thoughts on 540 vs. 545? Con
bluewaterpirate	posted 05-01-2007 07:19 PM ET (US) I've flush mounted four so far three under tee tops and one under a biminis. The only difference between the 540 and 545 is screen resolution. Both great units. Tom
towboater	posted 05-03-2007 03:25 AM ET (US) The antenna and transducer for my 545s arrived today. Meanwhile, Ive been using the unit simply hooked up to pos and neg inside the cabin of my Tug. The internal antenna has only lost reception once going past a former nuclear plant. hmmm. Only took about 5 mins to reset doing a whopping 10 against the ebb. I suppose a faster boat would take longer to reconnect...but then, a faster boat may not have the interference a cabin does. The 5" screen has 10 times better resolution than the pre vector units. Damn it. These units are almost RUINING the art, the skill to learn how to navigate Columbia River day, night, fog and bottom over the past 30 years and this little box has it all...nearly everything Ive learned...deadly accurate, in vivid color. Hey, hehe, it's all good. Get one. mk
grantrobarts	posted 05-03-2007 09:24 AM ET (US) I ordered a 540s, but now I am almost regretting not ordering the 545s. I guess I will go ahead and find out if I made a mistake.
bluewaterpirate	posted 05-03-2007 10:22 AM ET (US) You'll be more than happy with the 540. Tom
towboater	posted 05-03-2007 01:15 PM ET (US) Sorry Grant. "Get one" kinda implies there are no other worthy options. I used my 545s as a reference for screen resolution, vector charting & internal antenna results. It has a memory card & sonar options you may not need. Comments on the extra expense of memory cards; I am often hired to perform poor man's surveys at the confluence of the Cowlitz & Columbia River. We endure constant silting from Mount St Helens ash flows with every freshet. NOBODY knows more about this area than I do. This area changes faster than USGS can update it. I am not certified. Prior to this 545s, I would take GPS readings and soundings from two different machines and write them down by hand. Then I would transfer this info onto a expensive Navigation program installed on my hard drive that allows me to customize waypoints, soundings etc. Eventually print it out. Rose Point Coastal Explorer Program is supposed to interphase with the Garmin card and thus speed things up for me substantially & far less investment than any interphasing option avail 2 years ago. Point is, recreational boaters probably dont need all this memory/bluetooth crap. Just get the highest screen resolution and vector chart enabled GPS you can afford & enjoy. mk
franzenjb	posted 08-22-2007 04:39 PM ET (US) I need help deciding between the Garmin 540 and 540s. I have 24" Regal sport boat that I use in the Delaware and Rehoboth bays mostly for pleasure boating, no fishing. The bays can be quite shallow so I want [the GARMIN 540s] to help keep me out of shallow water. My boat has a built-in depth finder, and my installer tells me it would be quite expensive to replace it with a Garmin [SONAR transducer]. Should I stick with the 540 and use the boat's [SONAR transducer]? The Garmin is much easier to read versus the boat's built-in depth gauge.
jimh	posted 08-24-2007 09:11 AM ET (US) I don't recommend trying to use the Garmin SONAR with a transducer from another manufacturer which was intended just as a depth sounder. If you select the Garmin SONAR you should install the Garmin transducer. Is the current depth sounder's transducer installed as a through hull, and in-hull, or a transom mount? What type of transducer do you plan to use with the Garmin?
bessoni1	posted 09-11-2007 08:40 PM ET (US) My radio is mounted in the compartment above in my t tops. My GPS is mounted in my center consoul. The XM wired seem very bulky. I find it imposible to fish those up through the tubing. It my be easier for me to by a XM ready radio.Has anybody experienced this problem??