Radar suggestion for NN3D

[wildgeechi]

I've never had or operated a radar before. Should I get a radome, or the 3.5' open array? substantial price difference, substantial weight difference.... is there a substantial performance difference to justify the above?

[Nomans]

Originally Posted by wildgeechi

I've never had or operated a radar before. Should I get a radome, or the 3.5' open array? substantial price difference, substantial weight difference.... is there a substantial performance difference to justify the above?

Which display do you have? 12" or 8"? What do you want to be able to do -- basic navigation in fog or darkness once in a while, do that a lot in complicated waters, or find birds too?

If you only have an 8" display, don;t waste your money on an open array because you don't have enough full-screen mode "real estate" to get the full benefits.

The open array will do everything the 24" dome will do, just better, and will do some things like spotting birds that are very marginal with a dome. If you have to deal with lots of small targets close together (complex channels with lots of boats for example), the array will be worth having.

For basic navigation, the dome will do a perfectly good job of resolving most targets needed to stay out of trouble.

I have a NavNet 3D system with the 4 foot 6kW open array and it is a fantastic radar. I have seen the 4kW dome in operation and it is very good for a dome. It just doesn't give you that last bit of performance. So what shows as two small targets on my open array at 3 miles might show as one target with the dome-- but you will know there is something there and as you get close, it should split to two targets with the dome too.

Whatever you get, spend a lot of time using it in clear weather during daylight so you get a good feel for what things look like on the screen. You don't want to learn in the fog.

[wildgeechi]

Originally Posted by Nomans

Which display do you have? 12" or 8"? What do you want to be able to do -- basic navigation in fog or darkness once in a while, do that a lot in complicated waters, or find birds too?

If you only have an 8" display, don;t waste your money on an open array because you don't have enough full-screen mode "real estate" to get the full benefits.

The open array will do everything the 24" dome will do, just better, and will do some things like spotting birds that are very marginal with a dome. If you have to deal with lots of small targets close together (complex channels with lots of boats for example), the array will be worth having.

For basic navigation, the dome will do a perfectly good job of resolving most targets needed to stay out of trouble.

I have a NavNet 3D system with the 4 foot 6kW open array and it is a fantastic radar. I have seen the 4kW dome in operation and it is very good for a dome. It just doesn't give you that last bit of performance. So what shows as two small targets on my open array at 3 miles might show as one target with the dome-- but you will know there is something there and as you get close, it should split to two targets with the dome too.

Whatever you get, spend a lot of time using it in clear weather during daylight so you get a good feel for what things look like on the screen. You don't want to learn in the fog.

12 inch screen(s). I'd like to be able to find birds, and of course use for navigation. So I should probably just suck it up and swing for the smallest array?

[Nomans]

Originally Posted by wildgeechi

12 inch screen(s). I'd like to be able to find birds, and of course use for navigation. So I should probably just suck it up and swing for the smallest array?

Go for the biggest array that fits and you can afford. The wider the array, the better the resolution. So 4' is better than 3.5' and 6' is even better but that would be a bit much if your boat is the one in your signature. Size is more important than output power. However, sually the bigger arrays are also sold with higher output. In theory a 6' 2kW array would be better than a 12kW 3' array under most conditions but you can't buy one.

[Red Sky]

I asked the Furuno techs and a sales rep for Furuno this same question. I live here on the west coast in Washington. Their reply to me was that unless I planned to navigate offshore in heavy seas and fog on a consistent basis or unless I planned to use it for spotting birds at a good distance then an array on a 30' boat was overkill. The rep also followed that by saying "of course if you want it I will certainly sell it to you."

They told me that the 4kw dome was more than adequate for daily use in heavy traffic and for general fishing. I went with the dome and have been more than satisfied with it's performance. With the echo trail feature it's easy to follow targets etc.

[T-bone123]

4 foot 6kw array would be my choice.

[Red_Tag]

If you're after birds, I'd recommend the 4 foot 6kw open array as well.

You will have to check if it will fit on your roof though and not bang into your trolling poles.

[Glen E]

The general rule of thumb we use when selling radar is this:

If you are willing to really learn how to use radar and tune it well, as in learning from a book like "Radar for Mariners", the 4kw and 6kw will see birds. But if you want the birds to be very apparent, get the 12kw.

[RM]

The 4kw dome has excellent target definition. When in auto mode mine will pick up a crab pot bouy with a flag on it. It also picks up flocks of birds well within 2-3 miles. If looking for further might look at an open array but the performance of the new dome radars is quite impressive.