Next message: Casher, Jeff: "RE: Refrigerator"
We just got back from a 6 month cruise to the pacific northwest where we
used radar A LOT. We have a Furuno 24 mile CRT (8 years old) and recently
installed a Autohelm ST50 LCD in the cockpit. While I really like having
the LCD radar in the cockpit, I did notice that the higher power Furuno
definitely works quite a bit better. When motoring down the West Coast in
clear weather, we would see lights of fishing boats (35-60' and bigger) long
before we would pick them up on radar. We noticed that we would NOT pick
them up on radar until we were 2-3 miles away. The big radar would see them
a 6 miles or better. Also, we often noticed that the LCD radar would not
see land beyond 6 miles or so but the big radar would see it at 16 or more
miles.
We used the LCD almost exclusively all summer as it is the other one is not
useful from the cockpit. It seems sufficient but does take more effort to
really use even though it has more automated features. Also, it is marginal
in periods of heavy precipitation.
I am glad we have the big one for marginal conditions even if it is down
below and hard to use. The LCD radome is on a leveler on the radar arch (I
think it helps) while the CRT radome is above the first spreader. This may
also account for some difference; I don't know for sure. Hope this
helps...jpc
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>From: daemon
>To: live-aboard
>Subject: radar
>Date: Monday, October 14, 1996 10:18PM
>
>We have a 40 foot trawler with an old, old radar unit (the kind you stick
>your face in the viewer) that we need to update. Information on
>minimum-maximum kW transmit power would be appreciated. How important is
>the higher (4.0 kW of transmit energy) wattage in inclement weather? Is it
>really necessary for foggy, drizzly conditions? How about the screen - LCD
>or CRT? What about radome as opposed to open array antennas? I guess what
>I'm asking is, "Is the higher price of the stronger unit and the open array
>antenna really worth it or really necessary?"
>
>
