Radios locations advice (NMEA 0183)

[czizza]

Santa rewarded all my hard labor with two new gifts:



I posted before that I am going to install a Radar Arch on my 1997 Aquasport Explorer for my used Raymarine Pathfinder SL70C this was to mount the GPS and Radar but now I need to also use it for the VHF Antenna  :rendeer:

So here are my questions, please post pictures if you respond:

*) The Radio will go in the Cuddy there is a hole for one ... so that is obvious
*) Fish finder will be connected to the Raymarine on the NMEA 0813 input side

1) Where would you mount the speakers for the Radio?
2) Where do I mount the VHF Radio (I plan on connecting my NMEA 0183 out from the Raymarine to the DSC for positioning)
3) What kind of Antenna mount would you use?
4) Do I get two Antenna mounts? Or do I get the combined Antenna VHF and AM/FM and just mount the one?
5) Lights should I get them and mount them on the Radar Arch too? I was thinking two forward and one back?
6) I was also thinking WiFI NMEA 0183 connection for Navionics or someother software.
7) I have a Raymarine SL120 GPS (Seatalk) where do I get a mount for that? I heard it needs to be higher then the radar.

Here is how my Dash looks with the Raymarine and FishFinder.



I like weekend projects and now that I gave up Drag Racing I will put more energy into the boat ... I am still keeping the car ... LongIslanders sleep too much so I need to do some driving and piss them off  

I am looking for suggestions of people who did some the stuff I am thinking about. I do all my own work so money is a concern but I offset that with my labors.

Happy New Year and thanks for the advice,
Melo

[wingtime]

Do not get the combined VHF /FM antenna.  The performance is terrible.  I have had great luck with the Gam electronics SS2 antenna and apropriate adapter.

[icemanbryan]

FWIW, do not buy a Tuna Trapper Antenna.
I purchased one last Spring.
Nothing but junk and Company would not help at all.

[seabob4]

*) The Radio will go in the Cuddy there is a hole for one ... so that is obvious
*) Fish finder will be connected to the Raymarine on the NMEA 0813 input side

1) Where would you mount the speakers for the Radio?
2) Where do I mount the VHF Radio (I plan on connecting my NMEA 0183 out from the Raymarine to the DSC for positioning)
3) What kind of Antenna mount would you use?
4) Do I get two Antenna mounts? Or do I get the combined Antenna VHF and AM/FM and just mount the one?
5) Lights should I get them and mount them on the Radar Arch too? I was thinking two forward and one back?
6) I was also thinking WiFI NMEA 0183 connection for Navionics or someother software.
7) I have a Raymarine SL120 GPS (Seatalk) where do I get a mount for that? I heard it needs to be higher then the radar.

Happy New Year and thanks for the advice,
Melo

No pics, but, do have some experience with this stuff...

1)  Install the stereo speakers in the wings of the helm.  Far aft as possible, as well as high as you can get them.
2)  Install the VHF to the starboard wing just forward of the helm seat, then run your wiring for power and the DSC through the wing to the helm electrical area, the antenna cable up the arch leg.  This is where VHFs were installed at the factory when the boat was optioned with a VHF...
3)  Use a Shakespeare fold down SS mount, t/bolted to the arch.
4)  Use a dipole antenna splayed out below decks, you don't need an AM/FM external glass antenna like a Shakespeare Galaxy, unless you like listening to talk shows...which you shouldn't be doing when out on the water.  Hell, most people don't even have stereos these days, just docking stations for their iPods...
5)  Spreaders.  They are most often needed to light up the cockpit, 1 each of Scarab Chris's spreaders will do he trick, contact me if you want a deal.


Questions 6 and 7.  First, NMEA 0183 is old stuff, so I doubt there is a WiFi set up that works with that protocol.  NMEA 2000?  Yes.  Second, the SL 120 GPS Antenna is REALLY old stuff, as it mates up to the Pathfinder series (which you have), one of the first, if not the first, LCD head units for Radar ever produced.  I'll take a look at it on line and see what you have...

Oh Lord, is the SL 120 a GPS reciever?  Like a separate head unit for GPS only?  Dude, that stuff needs to go to the landfill on Staten Island!!  Ancient equipment, and will not get you anywhere near the accuracy that today's units can.  Probably not even WAAS...

Do yourself a favor, spend a few bucks and get something that will actually tell you where you are at!

I'm not trying to be an a-hat about this, but what you have is not really worth the time nor money to install it on your boat...

[czizza]

Bob,

Here is a picture of another dudes boat,



1) When you say wings of the helm are you referring to the blue circle or the organge circle? I don't think I can do the orange circle due to the depth of the speakers.

2) For the VHF (red arrow) is that where you were thinking of?

3-5) Cool I will search.

6 and 7) I know NMEA 2000 came out but unfortunatley I got the SL70RC real cheap. The GPS it is a Raystare 120 not an SL120. I have the unit installed and the GPS mocked up for now and it works real good. I have read online that the Raymarine stuff is pretty good.

I plan on doing big upgrades this year for my first year as a boater as you know from my other posts. I think I can do it all and be close to having something cool. I know it might not be perfect but I think I will have a good grasp of what is needed maybe for the next boat or next round of upgrades.

What do you have for your charting/radar on your boat? I also heard that the GPS needs to be 1Meter away from the VHF and Radar what do you do for that too?

-Melo

[seabob4]

Melo,
Excellent questions, didn't mean to sound like some a-hole on THT, was just considering the equipment you have.  Myself?  I don't own a boat, at least not at this moment.  I simply was in the OEM boat building business for 17 years, the last few as a production engineer at Proline, so I have a bit of knowledge in regards to what works, what doesn't...

The blue circle is EXACTLY where you want to mount your speakers.  More sound will be directed aft than if they were mounted in that vacu-formed insert thingie.  The VHF as shown?  There you go, install your's as shown.

Now, as far as distance of all the antennas in regards to each other (remember, your radome is just a big round antenna), keep in mind that all cableing is shielded, and, in theory, should reject any interference.  However, keep this in mind as well.  The cabling that runs to your helm, the radar, the VHF antenna, the GPS cable, they are typically, no, I'll say ALWAYS run through the same rigging pipe/rigging tube/wire chase directly next to each other, always in direct contact with each other!  You know that, I know that!  So what makes a separation of receivers any good when the signals they are sending to the head units are traveling along paths that are VERY close neighbors?  I believe it is a CYA type of deal.

But, you never know.  So, seeing as you're going to install the arch, you have it easy.  GPS antenna to the far port side, radome on the radar plate in the middle, VHF antenna to the far starboard side.  I recommend an 8' Shakespeare Galaxy for the VHF antenna.  The reason I say VHF to the starboard side is that she needs to folded down when trailering.  Much easier, and much more proximate, from the helm position, starboard side.  Ask the membership here how many times the VHF antenna has been left in the raised position after the boat has been loaded on the trailer and they headed down the road...OOOPS!!

You've got the smarts and you are asking excellent questions.  Keep on asking, and we will try to give you are best, most educated answers.  Many of us have been at this a very long time, and, as you know, experience is the best teacher.

[czizza]

Bob,

Thanks for the information and your advice is appreciated and spot on. Don't worry about coming off a little roughish I am big boy and have owned my own business for 22 years so I am not hurt when I recieve contrary opinion.

Once I get the arch up I will start a new round of pictures and articles on the install. As for the arch I am still on the fence to.which one.

Thanks again,
melo

[seabob4]

Melo,
Cool.  We are here to help, we're also here to give you a big when you've done good.  But sometimes, you might get this...

I get that all the time...

[gman 82 aquasport]

In a perfect world all components would be mounted in perfect harmony, but most of us don't own boats like that I know that when I purchased all new electronics for mine(Garmin441s, vhf, stereo) they all had directions on how to install and distances away from others..Then I looked at a lot of CC boats and their electronics boxes....almost all had their vhf,stereo and gps stuff in a box 20-24 inches wide and 10 inches tall and 12-16 inches deep, and no-one said that they were having problems with stuff, so I like many others, stuck all mine in a box on my t-top, is it perfect, no, but it all works well and does what it is supposed to do...but I always take heed to people "who have been there done that"(seabob4) and use their advice to the best of my ability to make the things work in my boats world..just my 2 cents

[seabob4]

What Gary said.  Throw in a pair of speakers mounted on the underside of the e-box...

If we "listened" to all the nay-sayers, we would need a 10' X 20" console!!!    

[czizza]

Originally I was going to mount the speakers in the wings of the helm but my radar arch mount will be there and since the radar arch has a pivot on the back leg that is where my electronics and cables for devices will be passed through.

I spoke to Raymarine and they said that the Radar signal can be skewed if the magnet from the speaker gets too close so I chose option B, in the box (not sure how you call them):

{Before} Here is the box:


{First one}:


{Both boxes} Here is how they look side by side:


I will send picks of when I re-install them into the helm.

BTW, its funny but the wires that are from the factory installed radio harness is actually hanging where these boxes are so I believe this is what the factory would have done.

-Melo

[Capt. Bob]

I don't think I can do the orange circle due to the depth of the speakers.Melo

It appears you found room after all.

[czizza]

Alright the radio install is done, the VHF radio is mount but not wired. That will get done once I get the radar arch installed so I can mount the antennas.

Here is the port side setup:


Here is the starboard side:


Here is the radio without the radio:


Here is the radio (this radio also comes with an RF receiver that is mounted behind the wall and the pocket changer works from anywhere on the boat ... that is awesome):


The radio is really load and the EQ is easy to setup.

Here are more pictures:

[Capt. Bob]

Well look at you.

Now on to the arch.

Good luck.