Chartplotter and Bimini

[Chuck Healey]

I have a Garmin chartplotter with a internal antenna. This winter I plan on upgrading to a color chartplotter and I want to still have an internal antenna. I hook it up every time I go out, and don't want the added trouble of hooking up an external antenna connection every time. I also plan on installing a bimini as well. I have been told that the bimini wont effect the reception of a chartplotter with a built in antenna, but I wanted to get others feedback as well. Anyone had to go with an external antenna on their chartplotter because of reception problems caused by a bimini?

[richandlori]

I can't comment about a Bimini, but I have used my Garmin 178C in the cabin for extened periods and have not seen any problems. So I don't see a bimini as being a problem.

Rich

[Moe]

From using our internal antenna Garmin 178C on our Whaler, I can tell you it makes no difference whether the binimi is deployed over it or not.

From using it in both the open cockpit and the cabin of our 26X, I can tell you it makes no difference in the number of satellites received... usually 10-11. I bought a Garmin power cable for a 172C (same as the 178C but no sounder) and wired it to a lighter plug so we can run the 178C in the cabin overnight with the anchor alarm on. I've also run it under the MacGregor bimini with no problem.

[Catigale]

My Garmin 76CS works in cabin, in house, under Bimini wherever I go pretty much.

If anyone wants a Garmin compatible external antenna cheap let me know by EM PM.

[Chip Hindes]

This is all very interesting because my 176C works fine outdoors, including under the bimini, but doesn't work at all in the house; inside the cabin I regularly lose the satellites and thus can't depend on it. This makes it impossible to use the anchor drag alarm in any reasonable fashion.

Is it possible the 176C is not as sensitive as the 178C, or do I just have a bad "copy" of the 176C?