Satelite Radio Weather

[Dcarg]

I understand that you can subscribe to satellite radio...I think it is XM...and receive the satellite images of the weather in your area. Can someone who understands the technology explain this. Do you need a separate receiver or is it shown on a GPS?
Thanks

[thataway]

There is a unit which is a reciever and has an antenna and attatches to the laptop and a chart on DVD or CD. There are also units which can be used with RayMarine and Garmin--Sirius and Xm respectively.

[Dcarg]

Thanks Bob, but I am still a bit lost. Does that mean you have to have a laptop on board with a cd or dvd chart to see the graphic weather report? I was under the impression...and not an informed impression at all...that the graphics could be somehow linked and overlayed on a GPS or that there was a specific receiver (screen) that you could get thet would show that info....almost like radar but weather only.

[itwonder]

Practically speaking, the cheapest and easiest way to get into XM weather is to buy a Garmin 376. It's all integrated and ready to play: GPS chartplotter, XM Weather (overlaid on the chart display if you like), and even XM radio for music and news. Sells for around $995. Add to that the XM weather subscription cost, $30-$50/mo.

Garmin also has the GDL-30 weather data receiver, a black box that attaches to the 3006 or 3010 chartplotters via the Garmin Marine Network. As with the 376, weather data is overlaid on the chart displays. But you need to have a 3006 or 3010 to use this.

Other manufacturers are adding black boxes similar to Garmin's to their product lines. Raymarine has announced one that works with E series chartplotters, again via their network. It uses Sirius weather, XM's competitor. Lowrance is said to have something in the works too.

There are laptop based systems, but I won't mention them because they are finicky at I don't know anyone who has been really happy with one.

The Garmin 376 is presently the only box you can just turn on, subscribe to XM, and be up and running. Got to give them credit for that. The Garmin 396, same unit but for aviation, has been a huge hit with general aviation pilots because of it's features and weather integration.

There is another approach that isn't discussed much, but should be noted even though it's not satellite based. You can subscribe to mobile mycast, and get weather and nexrad weather radar displayed on your cell phone. It's not overlaid on charts of course, but it is overlaid on a basic map. The weather is basic, not marine oriented. But at $15-$20 a month, it's a lot less expensive than the XM weather subscription. Might be good enough depending on where and how you boat. See www.mycast.com for details.

[Dcarg]

Thanks Bob. That was exactly what i was looking for and very helpful.
David

[Team Ruby]

If I might add, see if anyone near you can show you a Garmin with the XM weather overlay. I have a 3010 and I think if you saw it in operation and had a chance to play with it you would probably be pretty much sold on it. For everyone who has looked at my display, seeing tells you so much more than what you're hearing about it. The Garmin black box, the GDL 30 or 30A if you are also opting for satellite radio will require you to install a second satellite mushroom antenna. I would next if you haven't already done so, go to XM's website and examine what the various packages offer you. Depending on your specific needs and usage there are some other interesting pieces of information available to you besides storm and rain information.
Team Ruby

[tcbetka]

I have an XM Weather unit from WxWorx that displays on a PC (needs Windows XP). About the only other way to do it is the Garmin 376 as was mentioned, or the 3000-series units. There are additional hardware options but they are quite pricey.

It's great stuff though. There are two satellites (rock & roll) orieneted over the coasts in geosynchronous orbits. So coverage is pretty good, and we have used ours in a car and an RV and had good reception. We did notice better reception heading south than heading north, so the satellites must be towards the southern US, as our antenna is a magnetic puck that was on the front fender of our vehicle. A more expense vertical antenna would likely make a significant difference.

If you think you might use it in your car I would probably go with the 376. In fact, I was going to go with the 3000 series, but am contemplating using a tablet PC on the boat and simply using my existing hardware, as it was rather pricey (about $1000). There are several options but eventually you just have to plop down some cash and jump onboard.

TB