[aeventyr60]

Will a GPS antenna from one manufacturer work with another GPS. Say I have a Fixed mount Garmin GPS, with a arch mounted antenna, could I install a Furuno GP 32 and have it work? Is there an antenna communication protocol being used? Or is it just an electrical pulse?

 

[denverd0n]

Varies depending on the manufacturer. Some build a GPS receiver into their antenna housings, which decode the signals from the satellites and transmit data (either in a proprietary or a standard protocol) to the unit. Others are just an antenna feeding RF signals down the wire, which are then decoded inside the unit.

Many people get confused between GPS antennas and GPS receivers (and then some just call the whole chartplotter a "GPS").

So, short answer to your question is, it depends. You will have to check with the manufacturers of the specific units you are considering in order to be sure.

 

[aeventyr60]

My point is GPS receivers with external antennas. Also interesting that the Garmin 72 won't get a signal from inside the boat, nor will the Garmin hockey puck style antenna on my laptop. Have external antenna for the 72, but just use it mounted in the cockpit where it receives a signal just fine. The Furuno GP 32 has an external antenna, receiver mounted in the cockpit, works great. Just wondering on how the antenna to receiver signal works?

 

[travlin-easy]

Most GPS antennas are not compatible with different brands. It's not like an old radio or TV antenna and some have an exciter, which varies in supply voltage.

My Lowrance HDS7 has a built-in antenna, it works in the cabin, the cockpit, and even in my car. Nothing seems to block the signal but steel and concrete.

Good luck,

Gary

 

[hellosailor]

If it is an external antenna, not a full receiver, then it can still be either an active antenna, or a passive antenna.

If it is a passive antenna, it just needs to be the same impedance and it probably is.

If it is an active antenna, then there is no standard for what voltage it runs on, so hooking up a different one (say, 5v/vs/12v) could blow things up on both ends. If the voltage matches but the communications protocol is different say RS-232/NMEA 0183 versus Garmin Proprietary, or the data settings differ, say in the parity, speed or bit count...no damage but it wouldn't work.

So you'll need to know what you have, and then find out what protocol it uses, and whether anyone else uses the same. Odds are, a number of them are similar. But even in Vegas, Odds are no guarantee.

You might troll eBay to see if one comes up in a couple of months. Or bite the bullet and replace the whole thing, since a newer GPS is likely to have WAAS (useful off the US coasts) augmentation, to use more satellites, and to have so much better sensitivity that it works without an external antenna. And, uses less power.