Any Lowrance 3G radar feedback?

[mikereed100]

We have been using our Simrad 3G radar for nearly 2 years and love it. (FWIW the only difference between Lowrance and Simrad is that the Simrad comes with the RI 10 interface included). Resolution is very good up to 6 miles, beyond that resolution drops off rapidly. Fairly hopeless beyond 8 miles. The low amp draw is very useful for our solar-only boat and the instant-on is a great feature. You just leave it off until you need it. We found it indispensable for navigating through fishing fleets and squalls in SE Asia/Philippines where AIS was useless. Also very good at picking up bergy bits in Alaska and navigating the Inside Passage in the fog.

[Neptune's Gear]

I pretty much agree with mikereed100, we have the 3G Lowrance, used with Open CPN. NO MFD, direct to the PC. Instant on is great, low power draw, great out to 6-7 miles, OK after that.
You guys looking at AIS. The Vesper Marine Vision and XB8000 are the ONLY ones currently available with Multiplexing between ports, and the ability to act as an access point - so you can have 5 devices on the wifi at once, OR you can join an existing wifi network. Most others are AD-Hoc networks only - only one device. They are also great NMEA 2000 - NMEA 0183 converters...
Happy to help anyone looking and expalin the differences in models, incl Digital Yacht ones.
Sorry about the slight digression.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Neptune's Gear

I pretty much agree with mikereed100, we have the 3G Lowrance, used with Open CPN. NO MFD, direct to the PC. Instant on is great, low power draw, great out to 6-7 miles, OK after that.
You guys looking at AIS. The Vesper Marine Vision and XB8000 are the ONLY ones currently available with Multiplexing between ports, and the ability to act as an access point - so you can have 5 devices on the wifi at once, OR you can join an existing wifi network. Most others are AD-Hoc networks only - only one device. They are also great NMEA 2000 - NMEA 0183 converters...
Happy to help anyone looking and expalin the differences in models, incl Digital Yacht ones.
Sorry about the slight digression.

Which devices to your knowledge use ad-hoc mode. .

Dave


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[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Enough of that porn! Aaaargh!

And it only costs $1800! Anybody want to buy a nice used Airmar H2183?

That looks like the absolute killer app for heading data. I didn't know about that. I would absolutely go with that if I were you, Alchemy. Why bother with a magnetic compass in a steel boat, when you can buy something like that for only $1800? Dynamic heading accuracy 0.5 degrees!!!

Heh...I sense a touch of either envy or sarcasm. I haven't got it yet, but I need something in that range, I think, even though it's not even particularly new tech.

Metal boats have certain demands plastic does not. It's worth it when you arrive home in one piece, I suppose.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Dutch steel motorboats mount the compass UL beside the anchor light about 3 feet above the wheelhouse

Dave

My current fluxgate compass is right in the middle of the alu roof. It's sufficient standoff from the mild steel sides, evidently.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

We have been using our Simrad 3G radar for nearly 2 years and love it. (FWIW the only difference between Lowrance and Simrad is that the Simrad comes with the RI 10 interface included). Resolution is very good up to 6 miles, beyond that resolution drops off rapidly. Fairly hopeless beyond 8 miles. The low amp draw is very useful for our solar-only boat and the instant-on is a great feature. You just leave it off until you need it. We found it indispensable for navigating through fishing fleets and squalls in SE Asia/Philippines where AIS was useless. Also very good at picking up bergy bits in Alaska and navigating the Inside Passage in the fog.

I was told by a radar guy that eight miles is about the "break point" between the newer digital radars and the older pulse/magnetron type, and that the newer ones were excellent for spotting the pilings on the way back to the marina dock during a power failure at 3 AM in the fog, but the older ones were superior at seeing the container ship or the approaching squall line at 20 NM.

So the answer, depending on your sailing plan, may be "both"!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

I was told by a radar guy that eight miles is about the "break point" between the newer digital radars and the older pulse/magnetron type, and that the newer ones were excellent for spotting the pilings on the way back to the marina dock during a power failure at 3 AM in the fog, but the older ones were superior at seeing the container ship or the approaching squall line at 20 NM.

So the answer, depending on your sailing plan, may be "both"!

That's what I had always heard, but my experience with the Navico 4G radar is different. It is that the close-in performance is not dramatically better than HD pulse radar, nor is, surprisingly, the long range performance noticeably worse. YMMV.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Heh...I sense a touch of either envy or sarcasm. I haven't got it yet, but I need something in that range, I think, even though it's not even particularly new tech.

Metal boats have certain demands plastic does not. It's worth it when you arrive home in one piece, I suppose.

My comments were entirely sincere. That is one extremely cool piece of gear. Position data accurate to <1 meter! Heading data accurate to < 0.5 degrees. Wow! I do sincerely want it.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

My comments were entirely sincere. That is one extremely cool piece of gear. Position data accurate to <1 meter! Heading data accurate to < 0.5 degrees. Wow! I do sincerely want it.

I did mention them to you when you were starting the new electronics fit out , they really are the dogs boll€&ks

Dave


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[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I did mention them to you when you were starting the new electronics fit out , they really are the dogs boll€&ks

Dave


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Yes, you did! I remember well. But I think they were much more expensive then. The price is now quite reasonable considering what you get.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Yes, you did! I remember well. But I think they were much more expensive then. The price is now quite reasonable considering what you get.

In blighty http://www.jgtech.com/compass.htm has then for £ 1400 , NMEA 2k too

Dave


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[mikereed100]

Originally Posted by Neptune's Gear

we have the 3G Lowrance, used with Open CPN. NO MFD, direct to the PC.

Matt,
How do you get the radar to talk to the PC? When I bought my radar I researched this but was told the only way was by using software that cost more than my MFD. We also use OpenCPN so the MFD is used only for the radar (and the stereo).

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

That's what I had always heard, but my experience with the Navico 4G radar is different. It is that the close-in performance is not dramatically better than HD pulse radar, nor is, surprisingly, the long range performance noticeably worse. YMMV.

Hmmm. I have enough power to have what I want, but I would prefer to have a low-draw, modern and compact radar. I don't really need the close-in function as I'm unlikely to want to pull stunts like full fog, 3 AM, blacked-out marina entrances. I'm more interested in spotting squall lines, South Pacific awash reef lines and tankers, hence a nice high AIS antenna for the latter.

So you are giving me something to consider. The short-range performance of the newer radars is both phenomenal and largely irrelevant to old fart sailors who keep a watch. For me, radar is about giving us warning over what we have yet to see from the deck level, either due to height of eye or fog/night/haze.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

My comments were entirely sincere. That is one extremely cool piece of gear. Position data accurate to <1 meter! Heading data accurate to < 0.5 degrees. Wow! I do sincerely want it.

OK, then. It's hard to read sincerity on forum posts. Yes, it's a nice bit of kit, particularly for the metal boat owner, as it allows all sorts of goodies like the AP to track more accurately and the plotter to (where the chart itself is properly surveyed) to work more truthfully. And if you have confidence in the chart, with 1 metre accuracy, you open up opportunities to take otherwise denied cuts or anchorages if they offer a tight but doable connection to the sea.

If I get it, I'll post on my findings as it's a relatively rare choice for a cruising yacht to purchase, I think, despite its clear utility.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Hmmm. I have enough power to have what I want, but I would prefer to have a low-draw, modern and compact radar. I don't really need the close-in function as I'm unlikely to want to pull stunts like full fog, 3 AM, blacked-out marina entrances. I'm more interested in spotting squall lines, South Pacific awash reef lines and tankers, hence a nice high AIS antenna for the latter.

So you are giving me something to consider. The short-range performance of the newer radars is both phenomenal and largely irrelevant to old fart sailors who keep a watch. For me, radar is about giving us warning over what we have yet to see from the deck level, either due to height of eye or fog/night/haze.

The 3G radar is supposed to not show birds or weather as well as pulse radar. Birds important for fishermen. I can't verify this. Incredibly there was nor a cloud in the sky in the Channel or Biscay during the whole month of July last year during our summer cruise.

The advantage in power consumption of 3G radar is not so great in use, but 3G radar is truly instant on, so some people save power by keeping their 3G radars in standby most of the time.