Mounting gps antanne on h23
- Thread starter gutsgolf
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GPS works best with an unimpeded view of the sky. I've seen many mounted on stern rails and they seem to perform well there. You wouldn't want it on a spreader right next to the mast, but further out on a spreader would be ideal.
Do not mount it high, such as on a spreader or mast.. you want it as low as possible to minimize movement due to rocking and pitching. You also want it to be a good distance from your VHF or any other transmitting antenna so stray RF won't fry the device. I know several people that have theirs mounted inside the cabin in some out of the way (and unseen) fashion, and another guy who hid it inside on the transom. It doesn't need to be outside in the elements, but you should ensure there are no major metal bits between the antenna and the sky. A mast and/or boom will generally not interfere with the received signal, so don't consider them 'major metal bits' 
Cheers,
Brad
Cheers,
Brad
That would probably work fine. Mounting it below deck will affect performance, no matter what your boat is constructed of. It may be suitable for you though and could make installation much easier. You don't want it where you'll be sitting on top of it or right up next to it. It may still work at times, but your body could shade 1/2 the sky if you're close enough. Try it out in a few locations and go with what works for you.
So those multi arm mounts that I see that seem so efficient for GPS, VHF, TV, etc. are not a good idea? So does one need a compromise between controlling the motion by mounting as low as possible versus interference or loss of whatever from mounting in the cabin? Surely the manufacturers have come up with the ideal mounting location?
On my H23 I have a swing mount that I attached inside the companion way. With the hatch board in, the handheld GPS is inside and protected from the elements. When I remove the hatche boards I swing the mount out and it has a clear view of the sky. I can use the handheld with a laptop and have a chart plotter on the laptop that I keep down below, but most of my sailing with the H23 is now on a lake so I only use the handheld to give me trip distance and speed.
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