Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

Thanks,
Butch

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Butch Davis" wrote in message
ink.net...
As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

Thanks,
Butch


Yes. And I would go the same route with my open cockpit runabout if I was
in the market for a GPS and if the unit was within my budget for a GPS.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

Once upon a time (1999ish) I switched from an internal antenna to an external
antenna on my 17' Boston Whaler Montauk center console. Same GPS. The
signal strength bars were noticiably better with the external antenna. A couple
of years later I bought a new GPS. I spent a few extra bucks for the external
antenna version.

Maybe it was just that the external antenna was a better antenna. Maybe it was
the metal rail over the top of the windshield.


Chuck


"Butch Davis" wrote in message ink.net...
As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended
fro use on open cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no
difference in satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

Thanks,
Butch

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:49:32 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

No.

dedicated external antennas are always superior...


If this is recently released technology how do you know?

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:37:37 -0500, " JimH" jimh_osudadATyahooDOT
com wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:49:32 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on
open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

No.

dedicated external antennas are always superior...

If this is recently released technology how do you know?

because they can only be one kind of antenna for a variety of reasons.
the only improvements is in algorithms and transmitted signal quality.
plus quantity of available satellites of course.

I would like to see a field test of the unit before I jumped to any
conclusions.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:49:32 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

=====================================

An external antenna will almost certainly give you a stronger more
reliable signal assuming that it is mounted in the clear. That said,
you may very well be happy with the internal antenna. If you have a
handheld GPS with an internal antenna you could temporarily put it in
about the same place as you are proposing for the Lowrance and see how
it performs there.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Butch Davis" wrote in message
ink.net...
As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

Thanks,
Butch


My Garmin 162 has an internal antenna and has no problem getting fast and
consistent satellite locks with WAAS or without. If the only thing the
signal has to shoot through is a canvas bimini top, such as in my
installation, I wouldn't hesitate to go with an internal antenna. Sure
simplifies the installation.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:46:02 -0500, " JimH" jimh_osudadATyahooDOT
com wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:37:37 -0500, " JimH" jimh_osudadATyahooDOT
com wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
m...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:49:32 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on
open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an
internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference
in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

No.

dedicated external antennas are always superior...

If this is recently released technology how do you know?

because they can only be one kind of antenna for a variety of reasons.
the only improvements is in algorithms and transmitted signal quality.
plus quantity of available satellites of course.

I would like to see a field test of the unit before I jumped to any
conclusions.

whatever...


Hey, as you know there are no absolutes in life Tom..........and technology
changes everyday.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:03:20 -0700, "RG" wrote:


"Butch Davis" wrote in message
hlink.net...
As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on
open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

Thanks,
Butch


My Garmin 162 has an internal antenna and has no problem getting fast and
consistent satellite locks with WAAS or without. If the only thing the
signal has to shoot through is a canvas bimini top, such as in my
installation, I wouldn't hesitate to go with an internal antenna. Sure
simplifies the installation.

i agree with wayne. the question was will it make a difference and it
does make a difference. how that difference effects the operation of
the unit is most probably minor, but it will affect gps performance.

And it may be so minor as to be unnoticeable. Again, you do not know
without actually testing or using the unit.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

i agree with wayne. the question was will it make a difference and it
does make a difference. how that difference effects the operation of
the unit is most probably minor, but it will affect gps performance.

On the other hand, over time, the internal antenna unit could turn out to be
more reliable since there is no antenna cable to flex and break (highly
unlikely) or antenna/cable connections to corrode from exposure to the
elements (quite a bit more likely). Yet another minor point.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:49:32 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

No.

dedicated external antennas are always superior...

I have a Garmin with the internal antenna. Garmin 160 and I rarely have a
problem. Mostly on lakes with high hills around it. But does the job
perfectly well in the ocean. And I do not have to mount another antenna.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

" JimH" jimh_osudadATyahooDOT com wrote in message
...

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:46:02 -0500, " JimH" jimh_osudadATyahooDOT
com wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:37:37 -0500, " JimH" jimh_osudadATyahooDOT
com wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
om...
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:49:32 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As of late this month Lowrance LMS-337C DF GPS will be available as
an
LMS-339C DF IGPS with internal antenna. It is recommended fro use on
open
cockpit or center console boats.

For cost and ease of installation reasons I'd prefer to use an
internal
antenna unit. Seems to me that it would make little to no difference
in
satellite reception on my center console boat.

Do you agree?

No.

dedicated external antennas are always superior...

If this is recently released technology how do you know?

because they can only be one kind of antenna for a variety of reasons.
the only improvements is in algorithms and transmitted signal quality.
plus quantity of available satellites of course.

I would like to see a field test of the unit before I jumped to any
conclusions.

whatever...


Hey, as you know there are no absolutes in life Tom..........and
technology changes everyday.


But an external antenna would use the same technology and be able to be
placed in the ideal location. Therefore better signal.

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

Wow!! Thanks for the incredibly numerous helpful replies. Chuck, your
Montauk console is very similar to my Dauntless console. My current GPS has
an external antenna mounted to the steel tube running across the top of the
windshield. If I use an internal antenna it would be abour 11 inches lower
than the external and about four inches aft of it.

Based upon my preconcieved notions and the responses here I'll almost
certainly go with the internal antenna.

I'm looking forward to a WAAS unit with a color display and Navionics
charts. Wish a larger display was in the budget.

So far it looks like Tiger GPS has a competitive price at $671 delivered. I
spent more than that for my LMS-160 in 1999.

Thanks again.

Butch

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

On Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:05:18 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Wow!! Thanks for the incredibly numerous helpful replies. Chuck, your
Montauk console is very similar to my Dauntless console. My current GPS has
an external antenna mounted to the steel tube running across the top of the
windshield. If I use an internal antenna it would be abour 11 inches lower
than the external and about four inches aft of it.

Based upon my preconcieved notions and the responses here I'll almost
certainly go with the internal antenna.

I'm looking forward to a WAAS unit with a color display and Navionics
charts. Wish a larger display was in the budget.

So far it looks like Tiger GPS has a competitive price at $671 delivered. I
spent more than that for my LMS-160 in 1999.

Thanks again.

Butch


Butch, you can go to alt.binaries.pictures.sports.ocean and look for the
post titled Trolling.jpg.

You'll see where I have my antenna mounted, on the console. When looking
for a place to mount it, I had the boat on a rack next to a Grady White
with the antenna mounted on his hardtop. I received one more satellite than
he could, with as good or greater signal strength. He immediately got on
his cell-phone and began whining at the Grady folks.

Anyway, that's my two cents, FWIW.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

John,

Thanks for the picture. Nice looking boat, BTW. Looks like a pretty basic
standoff pipe mount just forward of the helm. Looks like something I can
do. Gotta think about it some.

Butch
"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:05:18 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Wow!! Thanks for the incredibly numerous helpful replies. Chuck, your
Montauk console is very similar to my Dauntless console. My current GPS
has
an external antenna mounted to the steel tube running across the top of
the
windshield. If I use an internal antenna it would be abour 11 inches
lower
than the external and about four inches aft of it.

Based upon my preconcieved notions and the responses here I'll almost
certainly go with the internal antenna.

I'm looking forward to a WAAS unit with a color display and Navionics
charts. Wish a larger display was in the budget.

So far it looks like Tiger GPS has a competitive price at $671 delivered.
I
spent more than that for my LMS-160 in 1999.

Thanks again.

Butch


Butch, you can go to alt.binaries.pictures.sports.ocean and look for the
post titled Trolling.jpg.

You'll see where I have my antenna mounted, on the console. When looking
for a place to mount it, I had the boat on a rack next to a Grady White
with the antenna mounted on his hardtop. I received one more satellite
than
he could, with as good or greater signal strength. He immediately got on
his cell-phone and began whining at the Grady folks.

Anyway, that's my two cents, FWIW.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to
resolve it."
Rene Descartes

Internal GPS Antenna (IGPS) Question
 

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:18:57 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

John,

Thanks for the picture. Nice looking boat, BTW. Looks like a pretty basic
standoff pipe mount just forward of the helm. Looks like something I can
do. Gotta think about it some.

Butch
"JohnH" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:05:18 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Wow!! Thanks for the incredibly numerous helpful replies. Chuck, your
Montauk console is very similar to my Dauntless console. My current GPS
has
an external antenna mounted to the steel tube running across the top of
the
windshield. If I use an internal antenna it would be abour 11 inches
lower
than the external and about four inches aft of it.

Based upon my preconcieved notions and the responses here I'll almost
certainly go with the internal antenna.

I'm looking forward to a WAAS unit with a color display and Navionics
charts. Wish a larger display was in the budget.

So far it looks like Tiger GPS has a competitive price at $671 delivered.
I
spent more than that for my LMS-160 in 1999.

Thanks again.

Butch


Butch, you can go to alt.binaries.pictures.sports.ocean and look for the
post titled Trolling.jpg.

You'll see where I have my antenna mounted, on the console. When looking
for a place to mount it, I had the boat on a rack next to a Grady White
with the antenna mounted on his hardtop. I received one more satellite
than
he could, with as good or greater signal strength. He immediately got on
his cell-phone and began whining at the Grady folks.

Anyway, that's my two cents, FWIW.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to
resolve it."
Rene Descartes


It's the regular external antenna that came with the unit mounted on a
plastic base from West Marine, cost a couple bucks is all.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes