Garmin Radar Fantom?

b_arrington said:
... The two pics are the radar display, and then the actual kayaks off the bow. The radar shifted from showing a single return and separate returns for the two kayaks. The two smaller returns on the right are a couple of mooring buoys.
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So your saying the 18x picked up the kayaks as separate targets at the distance of the picture of them? Still good enough for slow running and at distance they showed up in general. Real nice, now you have me thinking of the sale BOE Marine has going on ...
 
SKybolt said:
Sorry for the bad PIC's, should have taken SS like @alnav did.
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Orlando, in case you haven't tried it, screen shots are incredibly easy once set up. It turns on via Options...Settings...Preferences...Screenshot Capture. You need a card inserted that can be designated for the pictures. I don't think it cares which card but I stay away from chart and AC cards and use the one I keep for software updates. Taking a screenshot is done by holding down the Home or X button for six seconds.
 
SKybolt said:
So your saying the 18x picked up the kayaks as separate targets at the distance of the picture of them? Still good enough for slow running and at distance they showed up in general. Real nice, now you have me thinking of the sale BOE Marine has going on ...
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Just to be clear, it's a Fantom 18, not an 18x. But yes, the radar return and pic of the 'yakers were at the same time. And the radar showed them from much further away.
 
b_arrington said:
I played with some of the MARPA auto-acquire settings mentioned above, so that only targets moving toward me are acquired. This helped enormously to only pickup the targets that were important. I also set to not alarm when targets are lost; that helped reduce the frequent alarms as well.
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This right here....did not know you could do that. Will have to give it a try.
 
Funny, BOEMARINE was running a Garmin clearance on the Fantom 18 for $1749.99 and showed it listing for $1999.99 last week. Now, today it is listing for $1649.99 and on sale for $1575.75. Wonder why it keeps dropping so much ans so fast. It's still listed on Garmin's site for $1999.99.

https://www.boemarine.com/garmin-gm...118312934&mc_cid=dc4881cd0e&mc_eid=7e8a1b42e7

EDIT: Someone is playing games: now $1,579.87 Same link
 
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SKybolt said:
Funny, BOEMARINE was running a Garmin clearance on the Fantom 18 for $1749.99 and showed it listing for $1999.99 last week. Now, today it is listing for $1649.99 and on sale for $1575.75. Wonder why it keeps dropping so much ans so fast. It's still listed on Garmin's site for $1999.99.

https://www.boemarine.com/garmin-gm...118312934&mc_cid=dc4881cd0e&mc_eid=7e8a1b42e7
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Probably a close out sale to clear out inventory. Garmin may have lowered the MAP, or provided some discounts to resellers but not changed the price on their website.
 
b_arrington said:
Probably a close out sale to clear out inventory. Garmin may have lowered the MAP, or provided some discounts to resellers but not changed the price on their website.
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Yeah, that must be it. Garmin never drops their price though. Strange though, but great price.
 
We have the Garmin Fantom 010-01706-00, picked it up at a similar price during a boat show special 2 years ago. Our experience has been solid, it it can be set to put a trail on the moving object (boat, kayaks, jets ski..whatever).
29316154-F901-43F8-B5FD-9ABF995952A4.jpeg
 
Mig22 said:
We have the Garmin Fantom 010-01706-00, picked it up at a similar price during a boat show special 2 years ago. Our experience has been solid, it it can be set to put a trail on the moving object (boat, kayaks, jets ski..whatever). View attachment 131146
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Trails sure can be useful to see a target’s path and speed. I find in a target-rich environment they can quickly clutter the screen. I like using the MotionScope functions they show target relative direction via colors (green, pink, red).
 
I was out today and turned on my radar (Fantom 54) and was getting almost no returns and the land on either side of the channel was not showing up. We anchored out for the day and I searched the strings thinking I might have accidentally changed something but could not find anything that corrected the issue. I took this picture back at the marina and is a good representation of what I was seeing or more accurately what I am not seeing. Forgot to take a picture out my windshield but it is a crowded marina that’s not showing up.
Any suggestions on what I should be checking before calling Garmin on Monday?

Thanks.

7D7AA4DF-3E58-402D-BC7D-182D918FF42F.jpeg
 
Tripsdad said:
I was out today and turned on my radar (Fantom 54) and was getting almost no returns and the land on either side of the channel was not showing up. We anchored out for the day and I searched the strings thinking I might have accidentally changed something but could not find anything that corrected the issue. I took this picture back at the marina and is a good representation of what I was seeing or more accurately what I am not seeing. Forgot to take a picture out my windshield but it is a crowded marina that’s not showing up.
Any suggestions on what I should be checking before calling Garmin on Monday?

Thanks.

View attachment 133569
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Forgot exactly where but try looking under the radar options there is range option A and B. B should give you what you’re looking for.
 
@Tripsdad it looks like you have the sea setting on auto high. That should be off unless high winds and seas. And your gain should be around 50% to start. May need to be higher/lower depending on your returns.
 
Irie308 said:
Forgot exactly where but try looking under the radar options there is range option A and B. B should give you what you’re looking for.
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I saw the range option and it is set to “A”. I’ll try changing it to “B” tomorrow. Thanks
 
SKybolt said:
@Tripsdad it looks like you have the sea setting on auto high. That should be off unless high winds and seas. And your gain should be around 50% to start. May need to be higher/lower depending on your returns.
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Thanks for the input.. It worked fine until this morning but I’ll try this tomorrow as well.
 
Tripsdad said:
Thanks for the input.. It worked fine until this morning but I’ll try this tomorrow as well.
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Sea clutter shouldn't be on at all in most cases. It's best when in open water with cresting waves that the radar picks up. The screen will show a lot of little returns all over from the waves and that is how to clear that up. It effectively raises the bottom of the beam as far as the display is concerned. But when set too high it can remove boats as well.

EDIT: An engineers explanation of what sea clutter actually does to the return. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/sea-clutter
 
SKybolt said:
Sea clutter shouldn't be on at all in most cases. It's best when in open water with cresting waves that the radar picks up. The screen will show a lot of little returns all over from the waves and that is how to clear that up. It effectively raises the bottom of the beam as far as the display is concerned. But when set too high it can remove boats as well.

EDIT: An engineers explanation of what sea clutter actually does to the return. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/sea-clutter
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When I was trying to adjust the setting I saw that sea clutter changed what I saw in the outer rings but I still did not pick up any of the land masses that I usually see. The picture I attached is in my slip with land visible in all directions. I’ll try changing the range and adjusting the sea clutter when I’m down at the boat today.
Thanks.
 
Tripsdad said:
When I was trying to adjust the setting I saw that sea clutter changed what I saw in the outer rings but I still did not pick up any of the land masses that I usually see. The picture I attached is in my slip with land visible in all directions. I’ll try changing the range and adjusting the sea clutter when I’m down at the boat today.
Thanks.
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Take a look at the filter settings as well. There is a noise rejection setting that could also affect what your seeing.

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/web...UID-6E5CAC4D-818D-4B04-A864-5093F5A4A449.html

Also There is a no transmit zone setting, take a look at this as well.

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/web...UID-8551A687-0B5C-4ADE-97E7-E9F6EC4E366B.html
 
I just looked at my settings and it is defaulted to "Calm" and set to Range A. Hope that helps.
 
SKybolt said:
I just looked at my settings and it is defaulted to "Calm" and set to Range A. Hope that helps.
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Thanks. I tried changing the Range to B and turned off the sea clutter. I tried adjusting the filters and checked to make sure No Transmit Zone settings were off but still no change. The LED on the radar base flashes green which the documentation says shows normal operation. I am attaching 2 more screenshots, the first showing radar and the second radar/chart overlay so you can see what is missing from the radar. I’m going to call Garmin tomorrow but if any one has any other suggestions please let me know.
02377001-2784-4994-8941-A6A9C43ED494.jpeg
52252F66-106E-4170-91CA-160900CABD5F.jpeg
 
Tripsdad said:
Thanks. I tried changing the Range to B and turned off the sea clutter. I tried adjusting the filters and checked to make sure No Transmit Zone settings were off but still no change. The LED on the radar base flashes green which the documentation says shows normal operation. I am attaching 2 more screenshots, the first showing radar and the second radar/chart overlay so you can see what is missing from the radar. I’m going to call Garmin tomorrow but if any one has any other suggestions please let me know.View attachment 133625View attachment 133626
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Wow, you got me on this now. The only thing I can think of is there is something in the motion scope settings possibly, my radar doesn't have Motion scope so I am unfamiliar with them. If Garmin is able to help you please post back what your issue was. Good Luck!
 
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