Can Garmin GPS antenna work well w/ RayMarine element?

[Capt. Steve1]

Update on the new GPS antenna: good is the RayMarine recognizes the external antenna as a data source. The bad is the RayMarine isn’t receiving heading data thus a blank heading page.
I thought the heading sensor made the Garmin a supior antenna compared to the Ray star 150 which doesn’t have the heading sensor.plus in near future I may want a auto pilot which requires a heading sensor, as just a GPS I believe I can plot courses w/out a heading sensor.
Both Garmin an RayM say the antenna an head sensor are compatiable w/ each other.
The Garmin seller will replace the antenna (Iwill have to pay to send back) whose to know I’ll end up w/ the same situation, seller has said he’s never had a bad antenna from Garmin.

remember I'm testing the new antenna inside the house w/ antenna next to the window so the antenna is stationary.


in order to get a heading must this antenna be moving like when on a vessel?
Ray says if the Garmin was Rx heading data it would be displayed under heading tab which is a blank page they suspect antenna to be faulty.

here's some compatability sentences codes from each manufactor.upper left is RayM right is Garmin


reponse from RayM
"We do support PGN 127250 for heading. We do not, however have anyway on the Element to see if the Garmin product is actually outputting that data. We do see their GPS data, so that makes the Garmin device suspect. A heading sensor is a compass. You may still create a route without heading."

thanks for advising.

[Hobby]

Is this your Garmin GPS?
https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GPS_...ions_EN-US.pdf

Check page 7 under Heading Calibration. The Sensor in the GPS will not output heading until the sensor is calibrated. And the boat must be moving to calibrate the sensor.
You may not be able to check the heading sensor until it is installed in the boat and calibrated.

[Capt. Steve1]

Originally Posted by Hobby

Is this your Garmin GPS?
https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GPS_...ions_EN-US.pdf

Check page 7 under Heading Calibration. The Sensor in the GPS will not output heading until the sensor is calibrated. And the boat must be moving to calibrate the sensor.
You may not be able to check the heading sensor until it is installed in the boat and calibrated.

yes I have read the instructions but don't fully understand them. first off I've read somewhere else (where a none garmin MFD) the antenna may not need to be calibrated an will work but won't be as accurate.
this cenareo the user was probally Rxing heading data.


yes I agree the antenna must be moving in order to preform the basic calibration however the RayM isn't veiwing any heading data thus the heading tab page is blank image in post16.



where I'm confused is in order to have an view heading data must the antenna be moving? the instructions maybe assuming the vessel is in water an moving instead of setting up inside a house just configuring w/ settings.


like it's just a magnetic compass correct shouldn't it be able to know north south ect.?


but it doe's make sense that a stationary antenna isn't making any heading like heading means moving correct.



I was planning to do the basic calibration (the turning in 3 circles)the antenna during next cruise in 4 1/2 months however I have very limited time in sending back for a replacement.



having a functioning heading sensor would be nice to be able to eventually grow into an auto pilot but it won't be the end of the world if it won't work. the most important function is receiving the GPS signal an being able to plot courses.
thanks Hobby for advising

[Hobby]

My responses are after each dash. Sorry, I couldn’t change the color on my responses.

Originally Posted by Capt. Steve1

yes I have read the instructions but don't fully understand them. first off I've read somewhere else (where a none garmin MFD) the antenna may not need to be calibrated an will work but won't be as accurate.
this cenareo the user was probally Rxing heading data.

-This user may have been referring to using COG as Heading. That will work as long as there is minimal current or wind to move the boat sideways as it travels forward.
COG. Course over ground
The true direction of progress of a vessel between two points with respect to the surface of the earth. The vessels COG may differ from its heading due to effects of wind, tide and currents.
COG is determined from the GPS output and the boat needs to be moving.

yes I agree the antenna must be moving in order to preform the basic calibration however the RayM isn't veiwing any heading data thus the heading tab page is blank image in post16.

where I'm confused is in order to have an view heading data must the antenna be moving? the instructions maybe assuming the vessel is in water an moving instead of setting up inside a house just configuring w/ settings.

-no, the antenna does not need to be moving for the sensor to be outputting data. But your sensor needs to be calibrated before it will output data.

like it's just a magnetic compass correct shouldn't it be able to know north south ect.?

-No, it does not work like a magnetic compass. There is no compass card or magnetic pointer that spins around. The unit senses the earths magnetic field and then processes the information to compute the heading. To do that, the processor needs the information from the Heading Calibration. Before the calibration is completed, the unit cannot output a heading.

but it doe's make sense that a stationary antenna isn't making any heading like heading means moving correct.

-Heading does not need the boat to be moving.
Heading. [hed-ing] The direction in which a ship's bow points at any given time. The boat has a heading even when stationary.

I was planning to do the basic calibration (the turning in 3 circles)the antenna during next cruise in 4 1/2 months however I have very limited time in sending back for a replacement.

-I don’t see anything in your posts that would say the unit is not functioning correctly. The unit outputs GPS coordinates, yes?
You may have to bite the bullet and wait till spring to calibrate it. Of course you might have a bad unit, but there is no way to determine that until you attempt the Heading Calibration.

having a functioning heading sensor would be nice to be able to eventually grow into an auto pilot but it won't be the end of the world if it won't work. the most important function is receiving the GPS signal an being able to plot courses.

-Yep, that’s the best attitude…the electronics stuff is interesting but don’t let it control your life.😀

thanks Hobby for advising

[Capt. Steve1]

same stuff different day I do have satalite fix position.an am able to see satalites in the area.
unable to recognize any heading data. I do have the garmin checked as always use this source. however the error message indicates one or more devices can not be configured to use this source. even though I have only checked the garmin could the element think there's 2 antennas it's own an the garmin?


Hobby not to second guess your expertise but when you say the garmin must be calibrated in order to receive heading data are you setting up an using a garmin antenna w/ first hand experience?


you are probally correct that the head sensors needs calibration to ouput data. .


2nd response from Ray: he's kindof evasive about requiring calibration in order to output heading data but Ray is known for excellent support.

"While GPS antennas do not need to be calibrated, heading sensors do. This is for the purpose of detecting direction and magnitude of interference and then compensating for it"
I assume interferance is wind/tides an currents.

I asked Ray doe's it need to be calibrated before any data is output. I'll ask garmin also.

RayM says:
It is not my product, so I can not address that question. I have never seen a compass that would not out put heading data, even if uncalibrated and incorrect.
I somewhat agree w/ this response
I thought the calibration is basically fine tuning. thanks hobby will report back w/ garmins response.




mite be a good idea to send back for a replacement antenna.

[Capt. Steve1]

Hobby I feel terriable for questioning your expertise sorry for that.
here's garmins reponse which is contradictory to what RayM says.

"The calibration will need to be done before any heading information will be sent. The antenna will need to be installed in the front 1/3 of the boat, forward of the pivot point for best results. Page 8 of the installation manual goes over step by step on how to do the calibration. I have included it here for your convenience:"

[Capt. Steve1]

message from garmin.There is nothing faulty with the antenna. The heading sensor will not output proper heading data until it is calibrated. Since this is your first calibration, the data field will appear blank. What you've underlined in the manual just means that you will need to set up a data field on your chartplotter for heading. The data field will just say heading, not GPS heading or Course Over Ground.