Where is your GPS antenna?

[Justin_NSA]

Mine is on the transom. Right next to the B in Bella.That's where a P.O. mounted it. I broke the mount with my Makita buffer a while back and glued it back together. The joint just gave out. I can't find a suitable replacement mount with the same bolt pattern. I don't want to drill more holes. I'm thinking of mounting it on the stern rail but I read that my bimini might affect the accuracy. No different from now right? Should I mount it on my bimini rail outside of the fabric? I think there's enough cable in the laz. Does it matter that much?

pic when I bought her. I don't hang my shore cable on the antenna.

 

[dlochner]

The mount looks like one from a large whip antenna. The threads on these are all the same.

Modern GPS antennas are pretty good. You could probably mount the antenna in the cabin and still get good accuracy and signals. The Bimini won't interfere with reception or accuracy.

The one problem you might have is with the cable. will it be long enough to move the antenna? Can it be disconnected from the antenna or will it be necessary to pull the wire and reinstall it.

 

[DougM]

I originally had a raymarine RS125 antenna mounted on the stern rail. When I replaced the MFD, the new one has an internal gps antenna which has worked quite well. I was going to continue to use the RS125 but broke the cable at the antenna end connecter (don’t ask), and have not been able to locate a new one. Its to the point now where I may just continue to use the internal antenna

 

[Bob S]

My Garmin is mounted on the stern rail but also have a Vespa GPS antenna for my AIS mounted in the cabin with no problems with either.

 

[rgranger]

 

[bawlmer]

I use the built in antenna which is inside a Navpod and under a bimini. It works perfectly.

 

[Justin_NSA]

There's plenty of cable coiled up in the locker. It's a Lowrance antenna. I'll move it to the stern rail if it doesn't matter. If it does, I can mount it high in the bimini rail.

 

[kappykaplan]

Mine are mounted on the pushpit top rail.

 

[FastOlson]

My Lowrance 'antenna' is actually a bit more than a basic receiver. It can inform our plotter which way the boat is pointing, even at rest. (My older antenna that plugs into the laptop computer does not do that; altho that little 'puck' works fine down inside, at the nav table.)

We used a small standoff bracket mounted on the little platform that holds our radar antenna dome, which is on a stern post.
(Also, I moved the stern light up onto that post from the original stern rail location-- much better visibility when in larger seas.)

You can view it in this photo:

O-34 Close Hauled

forums.sailboatowners.com

 

[jon hansen]

never mounted or attached the external antenna. gps is in the cabin, it just works.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Doesn't sound like it makes any difference where. The pushpit rail it is. Just have to make sure my locker cover clears. Thanks guys !

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

never mounted or attached the external antenna. gps is in the cabin, it just works.

I broke mine a number of years ago. When I received the new antenna, I tried temporarily putting it in the cabin and it still worked just as well as the original location on the stern rail. I would think ANYWHERE on the boat, above or below decks, is acceptable.

 

[capta]

Ours is now mounted on a box above the companionway, almost perfectly amidships. This has dampened the swinging that happened when it was on the stern.

 

[justsomeguy]

I would think ANYWHERE on the boat, above or below decks, is acceptable.

The lower the better.

 

[JohnShannon]

fiberglass is pretty transparent to radio signals. good tips about putting it at the center of the boat.

 

[Davidasailor26]

One more anecdotal data point for no issues with the MFD internal antenna under a Bimini.

 

[Brian D]

Mine is below decks attached to my Comm Station.

 

[rgranger]

Ours is now mounted on a box above the companionway, almost perfectly amidships. This has dampened the swinging that happened when it was on the stern.

I did not know a gps antenna could do that