internal or external antena

[dunmears]

Question -Is it possible to use an internal antena on a gps unit if the unit is under a bimini top. A salesman asured me it is o.k. if the sides of the bimini are uncovered. ????????????

[ThePinkPanther]

Yep, it normally works fine so long as it is not under supporting aluminium poles etc. I guess you have a handheld GPS do you?

If so, remember that if you move it about to a spot where you have the line-of-sight of the antenna obstructed then you will lose the signal.

[disorderly]

Hi dunmears,

This could be the one situation where it pays to buy locally.
My gps with internal aerial works fine next to the windscreen and under a vinyl canopy(of my runabout),but a bloke I know put a similar new one(internal aerial) on his centre console with a canopy and it didnt work.He had bought on the dealers advise and ended up swapping for a unit with an external aerial.
So it might be worth trying before buying.

Scott

[CamH]

I have a Raymarine 435i under a large soft top cover with aluminium supporting uprights and all works fine.

[smaks]

Personally, If you are at a point where you are questioning the "maybe/maybe not" for the functioning of an internal aerial - go the external aerial. It will probably save the heartache in the end. Depending on the model and the type of unit the are some really good low profile antenna out there (depending on the brand) and with a bit of creative cabling it might be the go.

[death_ship]

go external
no need to be concerned then, always unobstructed

[Foxy4]

I would also look at going the External way as well. That way if you ever change boats or add a different type of top on then you will be able to still use it.

[tunaticer]

I am wondering if you can plug in a external aerial into an internal aerial machine??

Jack.

[nedoleboy]

ive got a h2o c and has an internal aerial but also has an external aerial jack Jack ned.

[smaks]

I believe the majority of all the new flash Garmin 400 and 500 series plotters come standard with an internal aerial but looking at the prices of the external aerials that you can buy to fit to them they are quite inexpensive!

[Kerry]

Question -Is it possible to use an internal antena on a gps unit if the unit is under a bimini top. A salesman asured me it is o.k. if the sides of the bimini are uncovered. ????????????

The comment about the sides of the bimini being uncovered is totally irrelevant and would tend to indicate the salesman really has no idea what they are on about.

Internal under a bimini will work BUT will not have the integrity of an external antenna with a full 360 degree view of the sky above about 5-10 degrees.

The lower an internal unit is mounted the more possibility of there being other more obstructive influences than simply the bimini.

Regards, Kerry.

[dunmears]

The reason I ask the question about the entena is that I'm having major problems with a Hummingbird Matrix 12. I've had two brand new units in my new boat and they have both failed and the boat has only done ten hours on the water. I have an external entena on the boat with these units but I want to try a different brand and I was thinking of getting an internal antena and leaving the Humminbird antenna in place so I won't have a gaping hole in the side of the boat.

[Kerry]

Humminbird external GPS antenna (GR4) don't apear to be much of a problem, the other end, no comment!

Just about any other brand will be able to use the existing external antenna (GR4 ??), which would certainly be the better option over any internal regardless of make/model.

[charleville]

I reckon that there is no universal answer to this question. It would be a case of try it and see I reckon.

I have a Garmin Handheld mounted just behind the windscreen on the side of my Quintrex runabout with a canopy top and it works perfectly.

My assumption is that your bimini top is a vinyl fabric and not aluminium though. If it is aluminium, forget it.

[Getout]

I have an external antenna mounted on the dash inside the windscreen under a Stainless targa/bimini. Works perfectly with quick reliable fixes. Don't forget that the GPS tracks a number of sattellites simultaneously and can provide a reliable fix when some are obstructed. Apparently, the lower the mounting point, the better the view so I went for dash mount rather than bimini mount