GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

[Gregk]

Any preference here? I'm assuming the external would get better reception, no?

 

[Gregk]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting the Humminbird 788c. As it was, Gander Mountian didn't have the 788ci in stock. Needed to get it today. They have a coupon for today and tomorrow, 20% anything you can fit in a cooler (that you also have to buy). Guy said I found a loophole because normally sonars are excluded.
I got the fishfinder for $520.00. I knew I'd never be able to find it cheaper.

http://www.gandermountain.com/email/070110/gandermail070110b.html

 

[cannonford57]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

patience greg,internal antennas are great.heck if a radio signal will go through a brick wall then you would think a mil.spec satellite would make it through a plastic case....if you had to have the mapcard feature then i guess ya did good.for 200.00 ya could have gotten the eagle cuda 350 with gps,fishfinder and water temp..no card, a bit more work but hey, whats 300.00 right......

 

[big_b]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

I have the Humminbird 788ci and it does great with the internal antenna ...

 

[Boatist]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

GPS satellites are easy to pick up in low earth orbit. Also newer GPS units have better recievers.
However the WAAS error correction satellites are not that easy to pick up.
Since they have been repositioned in the sky they are eaiser to pick up.
They are in high earth orbit over the equator and Geostationary.
So the farther north you go the lower on the horzion they are and the harder they are to pick up.
If you do not Pick up the WAAS error correction satellites you will still be able to pick up the GPS satellites that orbit in low earth orbit as they go over head.

With out the WAAS Satellites unit will be accurite to about 30 feet but with the WAAS error correction satellites unit will be accurite to about 9 feet.

So the farther from the equator you go the more inportant an external antenna is if you need the unit to be accurite to 9 feet.

 

[John_S]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting the Humminbird 788c. As it was, Gander Mountian didn't have the 788ci in stock. Needed to get it today. They have a coupon for today and tomorrow, 20% anything you can fit in a cooler (that you also have to buy). Guy said I found a loophole because normally sonars are excluded.
I got the fishfinder for $520.00. I knew I'd never be able to find it cheaper.

http://www.gandermountain.com/email/070110/gandermail070110b.html

The external receiver is a little more work to find a mounting location and run the wiring. In my experience, they still are a little better than what the internal can do. I have a 798CI that when is in my fishing boat, is connected to an external receiver. When it is in one of my other boats, or portable mount, it just uses the internal.

I think you will be very happy with the 788. Register your unit on the HB website and see if there is a newer firmware release. Does your box say Unimap or Contour XD maps on it?

 

[John_S]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

patience greg,internal antennas are great.heck if a radio signal will go through a brick wall then you would think a mil.spec satellite would make it through a plastic case...

Yea, but if you look at the store display units, most will not have a gps lock inside the building.

.if you had to have the mapcard feature then i guess ya did good.for 200.00 ya could have gotten the eagle cuda 350 with gps,fishfinder and water temp..no card, a bit more work but hey, whats 300.00 right......

If a Cuda makes you happy, thats great for you, but comparing a bottom of line product to a mid-level one for $ savings, doesn't make much sense.

 

[Gregk]

Re: GPS Fishfinders - external vs internal antennas

.for 200.00 ya could have gotten the eagle cuda 350 with gps,fishfinder and water temp..no card, a bit more work but hey, whats 300.00 right......

Thanks, cannonford but i really wanted color and the bigger display screen.