Radar install, any tips or tricks please?

Recently upgraded our charplotter to a GarminGPSMAP 840 XS and now want to install new Garmin GMR 18HD Radome. We have all the cables and mounts etc., but wondered if anyone else has installed similar unit and what if any issues you encountered. We read in the install guide that the antenna cable, which is Starboard side, should not be in contact with the radar cable and even possibly encased in metal.......anyone done that at all? Appreciate any advice and many thanks in advance!

Brenda

I installed a touchscreen Garmin 7212, 404xHD radar array with a new satellite antenna. Installation is quite simple really. I love Garmin due the easy install and user interface. I did not install the antenna cable in any type of metal conduit just ran it along side the radar cable to the helm. Everything works and has since install.

Thanks very much trit21, that's good to know. Brenda

The reason for the instruction in the manual, is noise.

By noise, I mean interference, which can present in a few different ways.

Actual noise on the radio, or a loss in transmission or reception.
Interference, clutter on the radar display
Intermittent occurrences or constant interference
May be affected by weather.
Etc etc.

As a previous poster has commented, this may not occur.....but it could, can, may and will for some people.

Hence the manufacture HAS to list this in their instructions, so when someone is affected, they have protection to themselves by being able to say, "our instruction manual says........"

We operate in this field with this and similar equipment. We come across the situation occasionally, mostly showing up as radio interference. We haven't used metal conduit, but have remedied most fit ups, by separating the cables and even just using split nylon conduit over one.

If you have no choice except to run the cables down the same side/channel. At least try and keep them separated as much as possible. If you can fit nylon conduit to one or both. Do NOT tape or cable tie them together.

I stress I am not denying what was said here previously. However spend a bit of time running the cable through, and shielding it, you may find it could save you some frustration down the track.


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Thanks Ian., very useful info. Our son-in-law, who's an aeronautical engineer is doing the install for us. He also told us that the metal casing was for interference but that he was concerned about corrosion. Think we will encase in nylon conduit, endeavor to keep them apart and our fingers crossed Brenda



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1"-2" distance - I run my VHF in the top of the side conduit and the radar in the bottom - so 2-3' between them. My Radar control box is in the side panel - so only VHF cables go up under the helm.

If you listen on VHF when people are talking you can often hear a tiny 'squeek' every 1 1/2 - 3 seconds while they talk - that is the radar...

Could you use a external braided shield jacket and ground one end over the cable instead conduit?

Most SR will need 4-6 degree wedge for "on the plane" radar use. I have a great radar so I manage with 3 degrees using stainless steel spacers - as I often just puddle around at 6-7 knots. But the old Garmin 18HD will need to be tightly calibrated. The new Garmin xHD domes are not as sensitive and has better beamshaping - and 4 deg. should be ok on those.

But still not even close to my Simrad 4G *G*.......

Thanks everyone! We are still working on the install today, have the Radome on the arch and wires pulled through. There is absolutely no way we could encase the wires in anything as hardly enough room for them "naked" Just keeping our fingers crossed it will be okay. Going to check the Radome angle too, we have the spacers ready, but expect our Radar use will be mainly at night and in inclement weather so we won't really be on plane with it too much, if at all. Installing the second Garmin chartlplotter/fishfinder and hooking it all up today too, hopefully We had to have a new light and bought the one recomended to work with the Radome but it does look so much taller than our old one......more bridges we have to ask to open on our travels

I installed mine myself. Just make sure that all the grounds are clean and tight. No issues here.

Thanks all for the info! We now have the Radome installed and well tested this last week on a trip to Caladesi Island and it worked like a charm. We also have a backup Garmin 740 1XS installed too and both our Garmin chart plotters work great together. We also bought the Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision Card for the Sat View which is excellent.

I have a GMR HD 18 on my boat. I did the install myself and it went very well. Biggest challenge was routing the cable up thru the arch. I used a Sea Scan mount to get the radome above my head level when running while standing and to improve range. They are great units with excellent resolution. Follow the directions and you should have no problems.