With today's electronics being as good as they are, in your opinion is a external antenna really necessary? Is one needed on each unit on the boat?
With today's electronics being as good as they are, in your opinion is a external antenna really necessary? Is one needed on each unit on the boat?
100% wouldn't be without one.
2017 BassCat Eyra
Why? Not doubting you, I'm just curious. Google tells me that it is more accurate but I didn't find any quantitative results.Originally Posted by west_tn
I had one on my first GPS, maybe 20+ years ago, but not since. I see them used all the time so I guess it makes sense but would like to know why.
More people that know way better than me on here. But the unit uses them both to show you on your map the exact position of your boat in relation to the screen. As in when your boat turns just a slight amount your map screen turns also. This shows up while sitting spot locked. Otherwise with one antenna your boat has to be moving some for it to show up. Im certain if i am wrong someone will correct me. But fishing offshore I would not be without the external antenna. Makes a big difference. .
With the external one you can be sitting dead still and it will still show you exactly what way your boat is facing. This is a must for fishing off shore brush piles, ledges, humps, etc.
2017 BassCat Eyra
Okay, I can totally understand that. I recall being in an extremely dense fog about 200 yards from the dock but had a narrow channel to follow to get to the dock (upper Chesapeake Bay). I had to move to get a heading but the channel was maybe 30 feet wide. Having a real time direction of the boat would have been very useful.
Thanks
Not all external antennas have a heading function. With Lowrance you want a Point-1 antenna.
the funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realize it doesn't say anything it's to late to stop reading it
Doc beat me to it. Heading sensor is what you need. Especially to fish offshore. Point One for Lowrance and Garmin 24XD. They are both also GPS antennas.
For Garmin users, if you only need a heading sensor, the SteadyCast Heading Sensor works great.
2020 Ranger VS1782 DC
Mercury ProXS 150
Garmin 106 Ultra/UHD 93sv/LVS34
Ulterra Quest, 115/90
2023 Tahoe Premier, 5.3
It also helps when marking waypoints like a brushpile or log. The closer that antenna is to your transducer the more accurate the waypoint. Using your console units' GPS and the transom transducer, your waypoint is automatically 10' off. Really not a deal breaker most of the time, but also factor in the error we receive from GPS that 10' could turn into 50' or more.
'05 Stratos 200 ProXL, '05 Evinrude 225HO
Yes, I should have mentioned this. Gotta uave the heading function.
2017 BassCat Eyra
Heading sensor is a definite yes. GPS is a maybe depending on the situation. I have one on my transom above the transducer to help with waypoint marking accuracy, and the one at the bow is for the heading, despite the 1199 there being closer to the 360 than the heading sensor and its inability to separate heading and GPS data. I'll eventually upgrade to cut down the number of heading sensors installed--at least they are double-sided taped and not mounted with screws.
1985 Skeeter SF-175 & 1985 Evinrude 150 XP (with VRO removed)
2x Humminbird 1199 with Humminbird 360 and Side Imaging & Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv with LVS32
Minn Kota Ultrex 80 45" DCS Advanced GPS
Millennium Spyderlok Crappie Rod holders (this boat is primarily used for crappie fishing)
fun fact... not all lowrance point 1 gps receivers have a magnetic heading function, though it is unlikely that you could purchase a new one without it.... probably.
1994 201 Champ re-powered with a 250 HO G2 E250LHAFA 05438419
I like the external antenna, I have one with my hummingbird that’s a heading sensor with GPS. My bow unit is network to the console so I can also pull that data in from up there. I think that antenna is probably a little more accurate.
2022 Caymas CX 19 / Mercury 225 Pro XS
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