I am ready to give up on my old 1985? vintage Sitex Loran which came with the boat. I can't figure it out even with the manual and get it to work properly. It appears overly complicated and not many people I know still use Loran. Should I just throw it out and buy a Garmin 76sc or 60 or? which I hope would be easier to use? Any suggestions.
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Russell Egge
GPS is easy to use.
You can either learn to use your Loran and keep it as a backup, or by all means get rid of it. Having something on board that doen't work/you can't use is never a good idea. Russell
You can either learn to use your Loran and keep it as a backup, or by all means get rid of it. Having something on board that doen't work/you can't use is never a good idea. Russell
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Paul Akers
Sell on eBay
Sell it on eBay. That's what I did with my Micrologic LORAN. There are many diehards out there who still like LORAN or want replacements. I was really surprised what I got for it.
Sell it on eBay. That's what I did with my Micrologic LORAN. There are many diehards out there who still like LORAN or want replacements. I was really surprised what I got for it.
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Tammy
At least you got a manual
Our boat came with a Loran but not a manual. Loran was first piece of junk removed from boat.
Our boat came with a Loran but not a manual. Loran was first piece of junk removed from boat.
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jason
gps
Hi john:I was going to fire mine up too and the manual was greek to me. i went on e-bay and they are selling for around $5.00. so do yourself a favor and get a gps. Thats what i'm going to do. One with about three buttons.
Hi john:I was going to fire mine up too and the manual was greek to me. i went on e-bay and they are selling for around $5.00. so do yourself a favor and get a gps. Thats what i'm going to do. One with about three buttons.
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Mark
Use as backup
If you can figure it out, I would keep it. We have an 85 C36 with a Loran that works great and its nice to know you have a backup that is dependable - some folks just buy two GPS units but we cannot afford to do that. I actually like it for positioning since the TDs are so easy to use on a chart (I know - old fashion). Just think, if all the satallites go down after a solar flare - you still might make it home safe.
If you can figure it out, I would keep it. We have an 85 C36 with a Loran that works great and its nice to know you have a backup that is dependable - some folks just buy two GPS units but we cannot afford to do that. I actually like it for positioning since the TDs are so easy to use on a chart (I know - old fashion). Just think, if all the satallites go down after a solar flare - you still might make it home safe.
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Steve Christensen
Agree with use as backup
I second the idea to keep as a backup. My 1989 Ericson came with what is probably the same Sitex LORAN, which I admit is a bear to figure out and use, especially if you want to program in waypoints and routes. So I bought a GPS as well. But it is dead easy to bring up the Lat and Lonon on the Sitex, which is all I care about. when making a passage I keep them side by side and compare fixes. If they agree fairly closely I feel a lot better about knowing exactly where I am. I like having the LORAN as backup so much that I even spent $125 about 5 years ago to have the chip replaced after the internal battery died. Which, by the way, is probably what is wrong if your unit will not boot up and get a fix. Steve Christensen
I second the idea to keep as a backup. My 1989 Ericson came with what is probably the same Sitex LORAN, which I admit is a bear to figure out and use, especially if you want to program in waypoints and routes. So I bought a GPS as well. But it is dead easy to bring up the Lat and Lonon on the Sitex, which is all I care about. when making a passage I keep them side by side and compare fixes. If they agree fairly closely I feel a lot better about knowing exactly where I am. I like having the LORAN as backup so much that I even spent $125 about 5 years ago to have the chip replaced after the internal battery died. Which, by the way, is probably what is wrong if your unit will not boot up and get a fix. Steve Christensen
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John
Thanks
I will now commit to buying the GPS. I do appreciate all of your responses. It is a great help to me. Be well.
I will now commit to buying the GPS. I do appreciate all of your responses. It is a great help to me. Be well.
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Paul Akers
Backup?
Remember that if you keep it as a backup, you will still have to keep the antenna set up. Sorry Jason, about the $5.00 that they were selling for on eBay. When I sold mine, I got over $100 a year ago.
Remember that if you keep it as a backup, you will still have to keep the antenna set up. Sorry Jason, about the $5.00 that they were selling for on eBay. When I sold mine, I got over $100 a year ago.
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Peter J. Brennan
Not backup, different system redundancy
Boat came with a LORAN ten years ago. The LORAN drives the autopilot. Recently acquired a Magellan SportTrak Pro GPS. With the GPS I can see where I am with the little chart in the window. It does all sorts of things the by-now ancient LORAN does not. But the LORAN has better reproducibility once you enter waypoints. The LORAN may not show the waypoint where the chart says it is but it will go back to its own determined waypoint precisely every time. The GPS will show the waypoint where the chart says it is but may be off in any direction by a few meters from one time to another. So the LORAN steers the boat, precisely, while the GPS tells me where we are. I don't intend to get rid of the LORAN.
Boat came with a LORAN ten years ago. The LORAN drives the autopilot. Recently acquired a Magellan SportTrak Pro GPS. With the GPS I can see where I am with the little chart in the window. It does all sorts of things the by-now ancient LORAN does not. But the LORAN has better reproducibility once you enter waypoints. The LORAN may not show the waypoint where the chart says it is but it will go back to its own determined waypoint precisely every time. The GPS will show the waypoint where the chart says it is but may be off in any direction by a few meters from one time to another. So the LORAN steers the boat, precisely, while the GPS tells me where we are. I don't intend to get rid of the LORAN.
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