Heading sensor for Radar Overlay

The Raymarine customer "support" person doesn't know what they are talking about. A GPS antennae does not give compass orientation information needed for radar overlay. That was bad advice.

While you are correct that the GPS alone does not give compass orientation it is possible to do without a heading sensor. If you read the link I posted above Raymarine support indicated that it was possible on Lighthouse 2 to overlay radar data without a heading sensor. I do not know what software the OP is running.

I know that I already can do this on my Axioms running Lighthouse 3 and I do not have a heading sensor. The only caveat is that the boat must be moving to establish COG from the GPS signal.

-Kevin
 
While not 100% sure - it sounds like it available on Lighthouse 2:
https://forum.raymarine.com/showthread.php?tid=7079

When the boat is moving it uses the heading based on GPS for the overlay. While the heading sensor would certainly provide better data if all you need is the overlay when underway it might be available.

-Kevin

Yep, according to that post Lighthouse 2 is supported and will only work if the boat is in motion above 2 knots and providing a valid COG. So sitting at the dock or the like sounds like you can not have radar overlay without a heading sensor. Strange, I know my older Garmin 4212 would provide a radar overlay even at the dock without a heading sensor. Granted, from what I remember they were not aligned at all which made no sense to be in that view without the sensor being on. I mean what does RM do when the COG disappears, change views?
 
Yep, according to that post Lighthouse 2 is supported and will only work if the boat is in motion above 2 knots and providing a valid COG. So sitting at the dock or the like sounds like you can not have radar overlay without a heading sensor. Strange, I know my older Garmin 4212 would provide a radar overlay even at the dock without a heading sensor. Granted, from what I remember they were not aligned at all which made no sense to be in that view without the sensor being on. I mean what does RM do when the COG disappears, change views?

To be honest I am not sure since I only look for the data overlay when underway. I think there was a startup warning or something to the like. I am still blocked for the winter so I will power it up next time on board and take a look.

-Kevin
 
I have read in RM documentation that motion (at 8 knots) is required to establish a heading in order to be able to enable the overlay feature, but for what I am experiencing its closer to 10-11 knots.

I live in SoCal in Long Beach and encounter dense fog off the coast many times (vis can drop to a 100-150 feet at times). Coupled with many many cargo ships moving and anchored, oil tankers and fishing vessels makes me very uneasy driving to our destination at that speed. Thus the need for the overlay feature at slower speeds...

Until I can get the right equipment installed, I plan on using the chart/radar split
screen option, not my prefered approach but sorta helps out...
 
Sorry, I am not really recommending older technology. I have no idea what will work with the OP's newer MFD head unit.
But in my case, I had older technology and no clear plan whether to stick with Raymarine if and when I upgrade the whole system. So for me, going with older used compass technology designed specifically to work with my older head unit, made economic sense as well as eliminated any compatibility concerns for me.

I was referring to Raymarine Tech support, thought they were recommending a RS130…
 
While you are correct that the GPS alone does not give compass orientation it is possible to do without a heading sensor. If you read the link I posted above Raymarine support indicated that it was possible on Lighthouse 2 to overlay radar data without a heading sensor. I do not know what software the OP is running.

I know that I already can do this on my Axioms running Lighthouse 3 and I do not have a heading sensor. The only caveat is that the boat must be moving to establish COG from the GPS signal.

-Kevin
That is interesting considering Raymarine C-series for years worked the same, and then the last software update issued by Raymarine for the C-series killed the overlay without a compass. They must have hired someone from Apple around that time! LOL
 
That is interesting considering Raymarine C-series for years worked the same, and then the last software update issued by Raymarine for the C-series killed the overlay without a compass. They must have hired someone from Apple around that time! LOL

Possibly due to software bloat (New features vs old processors). Just because the software was capable perhaps the processor could not process the data fast enough.

-Kevin
 
Possibly due to software bloat (New features vs old processors). Just because the software was capable perhaps the processor could not process the data fast enough.

-Kevin
Nah, it had GPS motion-based radar overlay from the day the C80 was issued. I have the original manuals from when the PO installed the C80. I added the radome myself later. I used it for probably 5 years or more without a heading sensor with no problems at all till that last software update. Then I added the sensor/compass and got the functionality back.
 

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