Radar
- Thread starter Theb55
- Start date
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
The salesman tried to talk mephitic? Wow, now that's trash talk!
I thought I'd chime in because.....I recently bought a boat that came with a brand new Lowarance HDS-10 GPS/sounder and a brand new Lowrance 3G Broad Band Radar. Most of my marine electronics experience up until then had been with Furuno so I approached the Lowrance stuff with a bit of intrigue mixed in equal parts with caution (around here, it's a Furuno world because there are so many commies: Lowrance is considered toys for bassin' types)
But I once owned a Lowrance Global Map 2000 which I thought was a pretty good rig so I gave both a chance. Long story short, after a few trips I ended up putting both the HDS-10 and the Lowrance BroadBand radar on Craigslist, replacing both with Furuno Navnet GPS and a Furuno 1623 radar.
BroadBand radar: I presume this is what you were looking at and your sales guy trash-talked? I heard BroadBand is good for in-close signals; good for collision avoidance (and finding vacant berths in a marina; they really stress that one in their brochures) .
But I heard BroadBand falls short for true marine radar use---not only in-close collision avoidance but long-range navigation/long-range collision avoidance. If you're in pea-soup fog in a shipping lane, you might want to be able to track cruise ships and log barges that are 10-20 miles away so you'll know where to be before they're in your face. I heard BroadBand doesn't fill that part of the bill, although from what I read, their R+D is improving that
I go to the commie shows (Pacific Marine Expo) because I'm a bait distributor and I need to talk to my guys. I always visit the marine electronics booths when I'm at these shows. Furuno dismisses BroadBand for the reasons indicated above--they love to ask the rhetorical question: so tell me about what kind of target definition Lowrance gives you beyond 10 miles??? Tell me why that never comes up in their advertisements?
Short answer: Furuno could have jumped on that technology but they didn't, choosing instead to pursue HD (High Definition) . I hear from users of HD that if you get a Furuno
4 Kw system dialed in, you can see a kayak at 4 nautical miles....
Furuno of course isn't the only game in town. There are some guys who swear by RayMarine. Northstar/Sitex and Lowrance are all Navico now, so they've all gone Broadband
For me: I stick with Furuno because I can pick up the phone and call a human being any time I have a problem and in five minutes get a clear concise answer. I heard that with Lowrance, you pays your money and you takes your chances on that front.
good luck
I thought I'd chime in because.....I recently bought a boat that came with a brand new Lowarance HDS-10 GPS/sounder and a brand new Lowrance 3G Broad Band Radar. Most of my marine electronics experience up until then had been with Furuno so I approached the Lowrance stuff with a bit of intrigue mixed in equal parts with caution (around here, it's a Furuno world because there are so many commies: Lowrance is considered toys for bassin' types)
But I once owned a Lowrance Global Map 2000 which I thought was a pretty good rig so I gave both a chance. Long story short, after a few trips I ended up putting both the HDS-10 and the Lowrance BroadBand radar on Craigslist, replacing both with Furuno Navnet GPS and a Furuno 1623 radar.
BroadBand radar: I presume this is what you were looking at and your sales guy trash-talked? I heard BroadBand is good for in-close signals; good for collision avoidance (and finding vacant berths in a marina; they really stress that one in their brochures) .
But I heard BroadBand falls short for true marine radar use---not only in-close collision avoidance but long-range navigation/long-range collision avoidance. If you're in pea-soup fog in a shipping lane, you might want to be able to track cruise ships and log barges that are 10-20 miles away so you'll know where to be before they're in your face. I heard BroadBand doesn't fill that part of the bill, although from what I read, their R+D is improving that
I go to the commie shows (Pacific Marine Expo) because I'm a bait distributor and I need to talk to my guys. I always visit the marine electronics booths when I'm at these shows. Furuno dismisses BroadBand for the reasons indicated above--they love to ask the rhetorical question: so tell me about what kind of target definition Lowrance gives you beyond 10 miles??? Tell me why that never comes up in their advertisements?
Short answer: Furuno could have jumped on that technology but they didn't, choosing instead to pursue HD (High Definition) . I hear from users of HD that if you get a Furuno
4 Kw system dialed in, you can see a kayak at 4 nautical miles....
Furuno of course isn't the only game in town. There are some guys who swear by RayMarine. Northstar/Sitex and Lowrance are all Navico now, so they've all gone Broadband
For me: I stick with Furuno because I can pick up the phone and call a human being any time I have a problem and in five minutes get a clear concise answer. I heard that with Lowrance, you pays your money and you takes your chances on that front.
good luck
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Mighty Sylvan
Active Member
me·phit·ic/məˈfitik/Adjective: (esp. of a gas or vapor) Foul-smelling; noxious.
Synonyms: stinking - smelly - noisome
I'm thinking you feel the salesman was not representing the Lowrance system very well. I do not have radar but if I did it would be a lowrance. I like the overlay and it is user friendly. It can be added to any of the HDS series GPS.
Synonyms: stinking - smelly - noisome
I'm thinking you feel the salesman was not representing the Lowrance system very well. I do not have radar but if I did it would be a lowrance. I like the overlay and it is user friendly. It can be added to any of the HDS series GPS.
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
The Furuno Navnet system does all the overlay stuff. Here's a vid that shows the Navnet GPS/radar overlay in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFzwxoMAVew
But for real-time overlay of radar and GPS/charting, it gets really spendy (that SC30 satellite compass required for the Navnet overlay is a couple of grand, way more then I want to spend)
That's the down-side with Furuno--long dollars. But Navnet has been around long enough that you can find used stuff on eBay and CL
I got my Navnet MFD12 for 50% of what you'd pay full retail. Same with the Furuno 1623 radar
The 1623 is stand-alone --it doesn't pipe info to the Navnet. But I like the idea of redundancy: separate your units so you'll have back-up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFzwxoMAVew
But for real-time overlay of radar and GPS/charting, it gets really spendy (that SC30 satellite compass required for the Navnet overlay is a couple of grand, way more then I want to spend)
That's the down-side with Furuno--long dollars. But Navnet has been around long enough that you can find used stuff on eBay and CL
I got my Navnet MFD12 for 50% of what you'd pay full retail. Same with the Furuno 1623 radar
The 1623 is stand-alone --it doesn't pipe info to the Navnet. But I like the idea of redundancy: separate your units so you'll have back-up.
ReelSlim
Crew Member
I have Lowrance electronics that I installed when I bought my boat new in 08. Like most electronics it was quickly replaced by first HD units and then the Braodband radar domes. I was lucky enough to grab one of the last 24" domes on the Island which required the RIM cable to get it all going. If you can get your hands on a bit older unit that someone is giving away because they just have to have an HD unit I highly recommend it. I too run two seperate units......a 525 unit that is sounder/gps/radar that I strictly use as a sounder and is my back up gps/radar. I also run a 7200 gps/radar that is used strictly as my gps 80% of the time. But as you know on Swiftsure later in the summer months radar is nice out there with all the big boats going past! lol Personally I'm not too concerned with overlaying the radar data on my map screen and I prefer to run it as a split screen. Since you mentioned you fish Swiftsure as do I mostly.....I'm not too worried about hitting a reef like in lots of coastal areas but more worried about what's coming my way? If you fish in areas with more coastline features to be worried about then I think the overlay is a good feature. As was already mentioned you will probably make a lot of your decision based of what you want to fork out......but for overall ease of use the Lowrance is good bang for your buck....IMO If your looking to see a seagull two miles away then your will have to get another brand. For me however I'm not too concerned about running into any seagulls? lol I'm sure you will get lots of replies since everyone likes their particular brand. Lots of good features on lots of units.........good luck!
SerengetiGuide
Well-Known Member
I like Raymarine, ease of use is extremely high, Furuno isn't too bad either though.
pescador
Well-Known Member
I installed a Garmin 720S last year and am very happy with it. Doesn't suck a lot of juice, great overlay. Wouldn't leave home without it now. Price all in was around $ 3K....Check it out. I know people think the other guys are the only options, but, Garmin is leading the way now in marine navigation...
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
I have zero experience with Garmin radar but their GPS/chartplotters are excellent. I had a $ 200 Garmin hand-held back-up unit save my bacon multiple times this summer off Van Isle when my Furuno Navnet puked on me (wiring issue, not hardware issue) .
And the Garmin map chips are excellent, especially for Canadian WestCoast---no doubt. I understand why so many people use them.
And the Garmin map chips are excellent, especially for Canadian WestCoast---no doubt. I understand why so many people use them.
nahmint
Member
I'm running Raymarine also.... C-80 multifunction display with RD218 2kW radar, RS125 GPS sensor & DSM300 1kW digital sounder module. The software is Navionics Gold. I also have DSC integrated into the system which of course utilizes my vhf. I've been using the system for 4 years now & am very comfortable with its performance and reliability.... we run "inside" and "offshore.
Like SerengetiGuide, I find the system very user friendly.
Like SerengetiGuide, I find the system very user friendly.
Sculpin
Well-Known Member
I just bought the Lowrance 3G radar and an HDS7 and HDS10 head units. I haven't even opened the box yet because I have been reading about the new 4G that just was released this month.
http://www.lowrance.com/About/Press-Releases/Navico-Introduces-Broadband-4G-Radar/
Great right up on it here
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/10/navico_broadband_radar_4g_the_launch_demo.html
That dual range mode looks really cool.
I think I will exchange my 3G for the newer 4G unit.
Hookin'up
Well-Known Member
I think i'll wait for the boat show and see whatwe can muster up
Sculpin
Well-Known Member
That's a good idea gidyup. Lot's of savings to be had at the show. I'm taking a mini vaction this year (Mexico didn't end up on the books this year) down to Seattle and will check out alot of stuff at the show there.
Here is another 4g video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niWTM2MullU
I am totally new at the radar thing with personal use. I have been on boats with them and wasn't too impressed with the clutter around us and kept looking with my own eyes so to speak. Still will use my own eyes. 16 plus miles (32 miles with the new 4g unit) is along way to make a decision from what you see on a screen. I'm more concerned with what is happening right around me. Especially fishing amongst groups of like minded folks on a popular contour on the banks in the fog.
I think this technology (broadband) is the future and we will see others follow suit. Time will tell I guess.
Cheers,
Sculpin
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Theb55
Active Member
A special thanks to everyone who posted. Given what I have learned, I will begin by moving my Harmon 398 to the auxiliary steering and look to picking up a good chart plotter/sonar unit and then use that unit as a sonar and backup gps unit when I get radar.
Anyone have thoughts on thru hull transducers?
Anyone have thoughts on thru hull transducers?
Sculpin
Well-Known Member
They are the bees knees.
Hit em Hard
Member
TenMile
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't get too bent out of shape around these 16mi, 24mi etc... radars on a sport boat. Assuming that you can get your radar 10ft off the water, and the ship you are tracking is 50ft above the water he will be below your horizon until he is at least 14mi from you or closer. That said, it will be difficult and nearly impossible to see boats that far out -- some exceptions but nothing I'd be relying upon for certainty.
If you have a need to track someone that far away -- get an AIS receiver -- much more reliable for vessels that are further away. I've got both the 3G radar and an AIS -- and the AIS is much better -- all commercial boats have them.
“Every ship, other than a fishing vessel, of 500 tons or more that is not engaged on an international voyage shall be fitted with an AIS, but if it was constructed before July 1, 2002 it need not be so fitted until July 1, 2008.”
If you have a need to track someone that far away -- get an AIS receiver -- much more reliable for vessels that are further away. I've got both the 3G radar and an AIS -- and the AIS is much better -- all commercial boats have them.
“Every ship, other than a fishing vessel, of 500 tons or more that is not engaged on an international voyage shall be fitted with an AIS, but if it was constructed before July 1, 2002 it need not be so fitted until July 1, 2008.”
Hookin'up
Well-Known Member
I have the same VHF as Tenmile and must say it is pretty cool, overlays all commercial traffic and ship info right onto the HDS10 as well as the large screen on the vhf
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