GPS Location

[Wedgie]

Hi there,
I own a 2008 Hunter 45cc monohull with an E120 Chart Plotter installed which is failing intermittently.
My problem is I cannot locate the site of the GPS which sends our position information to the chart plotter. It's not on the mast where you would expect it to be, nor anywhere else immediately visible.
It has obviously been built in when Hunter built the yacht, but where !!!
Would anyone have any idea where it might be located ?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks and Regards,
Mark

 

[bananabender56]

Can't say I've seen a gps on the mast. Stupid question but have you confirmed the gps is external?

 

[Rick486]

Hi there,
I own a 2008 Hunter 45cc monohull with an E120 Chart Plotter installed which is failing intermittently.
My problem is I cannot locate the site of the GPS which sends our position information to the chart plotter. It's not on the mast where you would expect it to be, nor anywhere else immediately visible.
It has obviously been built in when Hunter built the yacht, but where !!!
Would anyone have any idea where it might be located ?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks and Regards,
Mark

Check around the cockpit coaming for the very top of the GPS antenna. Looks like a mushroom cap. Many dealers install the GPS antenna thusly.

 

[Slipin Away]

My 2006 45cc it is located on the port cockpit coming. just forward of the arch, with just the muchroom showing

 

[Sailgunner]

The chart plotter may have its own internal GPS.

 

[uncledom]

The Raymarine E120 uses an external GPS unit. Mine is located just outside the coaming near the forward arch base on the starboard side. It can "see" through fiberglass and so it can be mounted to the under side of the deck somewhere. Occasionally mine loses data. It's usually because some big guy is standing over it and it doesn't "see" through humans. Just so you understand it can be obstructed versus disconnected or loose wire or broken. Hope this helps.

 

[Don Lucas]

My system has been having a problem with getting a fix the past couple of weeks and I've had to restart the GPS and wait. I had the problem beginning of the season a couple of years ago, but it just stopped.

I learned that there is a battery in the GPS antenna. I don't know if it recharges while operating, but I think as it goes the unit doesn't maintain fix.

 

[Wedgie]

Thanks to everyone for their help. We are very aware of what the GPS unit looks like as we can see it on other boats and there is certainly no "mushroom" top showing anywhere, we have now gone over every part of the cockpit, including the coaming with a fine tooth comb, I'm sure it's not something that could be missed.
We were told by Raymarine that the E120 does have an external GPS unit and with what you have all told us we now think the obstructed position is the answer. If only we knew where it was we could then make certain it wasn't "obstructed".
Thanks and Regards to all,
Mark

 

[uncledom]

Wedgie look in all the lazerettes and then look up into the corners. These are good places from an installers point of view. Behind the instrument cluster and other places where they wouldn't have to take down a head liner. They don't like doing that either. Happy hunting and good luck.

 

[Wedgie]

Thank you all.

We found it situated in the ceiling almost immediately above the nav station next to the companionway, for every ones future reference.

So I would say that obstruction was probably the cause of the problems we were having.
It's very accessible thank goodness, but some reference to it somewhere in the yachts schematics would have helped dramatically.

I will be making a note of it now, just in case we on sell the yacht at some point .

Once again thanks to all who responded.

Cheers

 

[Jeff Jellick]

We have a 2006 Hunter 45 CC, with the same electronics set as you. The antenna for the Raymarine 120 Chart Plotter is the mushroom shaped antenna. Ours was mounted on the stern rail on the port side.

 

[seadaddler]

Wedgie

Are you saying the GPS puck mushroom shape is in the ceiling and not
exposed to outside the boat.
Just asking because have always seen this GPS puck outside for good reception
to satellites and my mushroom puck is mounted flat on the deck and also has 3 colored lights to tell how it is working,is this the same type of puck you are talking about.
Nick

 

[Wedgie]

The mushroom shaped GPS is in the ceiling, yes. We are told by Raymarine that because the antenna is strong enough to be able to "see" through the fibreglass, as long as there is nothing to obstruct it on the surface above, like a book or a towel etc., and that has been our problem.
Weird I know.