Radar Dome - Mast Mount vs Stern Post Mount

[Mickey Goodman]

I am considering installing a Radar, GPS & Chart plotter combo during the winter.The question I have is where is the best place to install the Radar Dome and GPS antenna? On the Mast or on a post attached to the stern.What are the pro and cons of each?Thanks,

 

[Justin Wolfe/PYI]

Pro's/Con's

Mickey,For a mast mount. Things to consider:The mount is less expensive than most other options.The radar is nice and high and away from peoples heads.It can be a real pain running the radar cable from the mast mount, down the mast and to the nav station. If you pay someone else to do it, much of what you saved on the mount is lost in labor charges.If you store your boat with the mast down, the cost of demasting and storing is higher because they have to deal with the radome. Eventually when you remove the mast you'll probably cut the cable and install a connector. Not the best thing for the signal and notoriously a problem area.Stern PoleIndependent from rig. If your mast falls down, you've still got your radar & antennas (assuming the mast doesn't fall on the pole).Shorter run of cable (cable is expensive).Usually not necessary to remove for winter storage.Mounting a pole can be tricky. In order to be above peoples heads the pole is too tall to just be supported at the base. A secondary support is required and that often requires a bit of creativity.It is easier to attach other antennas to a stern pole than a mast mount.That's all I can think of. It's definitely a compromise either way.

 

[Patrick Ewing]

I put mine on the mast

Just to add a little to what Justin said, height gives more range and less exposure to microwave radiation which will cause color blindness in time if you look at the antenna while it is operating.If you are going out on the ocean in a heavy swell, you will need the height to see over the waves. The probability of the antenna and target having a clear unobstructed path is less with a lower antenna. Just try to watch another boat in those condidtions visually. This is all further complicated by the motion of the boat and the fact that the radar works best in the plane of the antenna so the sensitivity changes with the orientation of the antenna.The down side is that if you are inland and want to see a smaller target at very close distances, a lower altitude is a little better. Windage and height are also an issue.I plan to move my radome to just above the forestay (fractional jib).Sitex has a new radar which uses a PC for a display and will show an electronic chart with GPS plotting data at the same time. The cable is much smaller for this kind of connection (USB I think) and that would make it easier to install. I may sell my Raytheon and get one. The Cmaps are very expensive and I have lots of CD charts already.