AIS installation

[hycslim]

Hi

I have purchased a Vesper Watchmate 850 and want to mount it on the pedestal guard at the helm. In order to protect the back of the unit and help weather proof it I figure I should mount it in a navpod. The question is will the internal antenna work properly or should i install an external antenna, also any suggestions on pods would be appreciated.

Thanks

Allan

[colemj]

Aren't Navpods fiberglass? If so, then they will be completely transparent to the GPS signal and pose no problem.

But isn't the Watchmate 850 waterproof? If so, I don't see why it needs to be in a protective pod at all.

Mark

[hycslim]

Hi

Thanks for the response, they are water proof. My thoughts were to somehow protect the wiring from accidents.

Allan

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by hycslim

Hi

I have purchased a Vesper Watchmate 850 and want to mount it on the pedestal guard at the helm. In order to protect the back of the unit and help weather proof it I figure I should mount it in a navpod. The question is will the internal antenna work properly or should i install an external antenna, also any suggestions on pods would be appreciated.

It will be fine if the only thing between the device and the sky is a canvas bimini top/sprayhood.

That said, if you install it at a help (presumably away from the cabin where you sleep) then you will waste the most useful feature of the 850, which is its anchor watch alarm that uses very little power. I have seen several folks who are very happy with their 850s installed inside (to use as anchor watch alarm). It is very easy to take a twisted pair wire form the Vesper to the helm plotter to let the helm plotter plot AIS targets...