Question about radar overlay and split screen

[ZZ13]

This is my first boat with radar. I am just now starting to learn to use it. My plan is to keep my SL70CRC in split screen mode (radar and chart) at all times starting with my next outing so that I start sucking up knowledge (so far I have only used chart mode). My boat does not have a heading sensor. I have read every thread (including Presentation's valuable learning threads) and every documentation I can find, but I still am not sure if overlay mode buys me anything such that I should invest in adding a heading sensor. Again, I am starting from scratch here - right now I have no idea what I am looking at on the radar screen. I hope to learn quickly. Is adding a heading sensor to get overlay mode worth it? Or will I do just fine in split screen mode with COG seeding everything?

 

[mainstream]

I use my overlay all the time when navigating on my lake due to the ice we get in the winter the nav bouys and rock markers can move so it's good to see where the actual bouy should be and where it actually is on the overlay it works much better due to the full screen size I will use split screen very rarely I guess it's personal preference also overlay works well for disdiguishinng fixed units versus mOving targets and ghosting just my $.02 it dose take sometime to get use to

 

[Gunn]

I have used overlay on mine too (though rarely), but...I do not have a heading sensor. I didn't think one was required for that feature? Your GPS will know which direction you are heading once you begin moving, so then they can both be aligned without a heading sensor.

During the daytime, I'll mostly run with full screen radar. After dark, I will either flip between the full screen GPS and radar, or split screen both.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I use gps/overlay all of the time as my default screen. We also used to have the RL70CRC and for me that screen would be too small to use as split screen.

If you decide on a heading sensor you might consider something like the KVH 1000 Azimuth compass. This has NMEA 0183 output from the compass will work with the RL display (a friend uses one with his twin RL80s). The Pathfinder system was very good but now is two generations out of date. On one hand that means nothing if it works for you. On the other, its only a matter of time before Raymarine decides to discontinue parts support. Going with a generic compass that can be used with any future electronics you might get will soften the blow when you are forced to upgrade because of parts unavailability.

Besides that the RM SHS2 heading sensor is a complete piece of equine excretion. Mine typically gets un calibrated once a season and then you have to find flat water to go in slow circles for several minutes while it resets itself (try doing in the ocean on a windy day).

Henry

 

[Gofirstclass]

My current boat's radar is TU and I'm going to get it replaced, and also replace the MFD at the same time.

On my last boat (330 Sundancer) I had a very nice Simrad system and did the overlay thing almost all the time. I find it nice to be able to see radar images and the GPS display at the same time on the same screen. IMO the biggest advantage comes from only having to watch one screen. That's probably not a big deal when it's nice outside and you're practicing using the radar. But let the weather go to crap and you'll appreciate only having to look at one point.

Here's an example: At the time this picture was taken I was less than a hundred yards from the opening to the bay our yacht club sits in. I was crabbing across the Columbia on approach to the opening and, as you can see, I can't yet see it. The next photo shows what the MFD display looked like with the radar overlay on top of the GPS/plotter display...

There's a TON of information on the screen and if you had to look at two screens you might miss an important piece of it. That's not to say that a person couldn't miss that same info if it was all on one screen, but I think this is easier.

If you look at the screen you can see the angle I'm crabbing acrosss the current at. This is shown by the long line extending from the bow (called a "lubber line") and the short line. The lubber line is the direction the boat is pointed and the short line is my course over ground (COG) and its length represents the distance I will travel in 3 minutes at my current speed (shown at the top at 2.2kn). At this point, since I can't yet see the opening, it's important that I keep the short line (COG) aligned with the opening to the bay. The smallest circle represents a distance of 1/16th of a mile (330') so at this point I was well within 100 yards of the opening. It appears in the picture that the purple shaded areas (the radar image) are slightly offset from the shoreline. That's because the boat is moving forward and the next radar sweep has not happened yet.

One advantage to having a heading sensor is the electronics will always know which way you're pointed. Without one, if the boat is pointed north and drifting south (due to wind and/or current) you will have conflicting information on the MFD.

 

[ZZ13]

Thanks to all of you. Each one of you gave me very helpful information and observations. I would love to be able to go buy the latest wizbang system, but not enough benjamins in the account right now. I will have to learn off of what I have and maybe next year I can upgrade (oh, wait - that's the replace the manifolds/risers/elbows year). Henry, you made me laugh. I has hoping I might see you on this thread after all the good help you gave me with my NMEA connection issue.

 

[tdschafer]

In line with the OP's questions, I have one myself. I have a Garmin 3006c and it seems every time I tried to overlay my radar on the gps they were at different scales. That just totally messed me up. Is there a way to set up the unit so that when I zoom in or out the radar follows the chartplotter?

 

[AKBASSKING]

Cool post Firstclass thanks!

 

[mainstream]

In line with the OP's questions, I have one myself. I have a Garmin 3006c and it seems every time I tried to overlay my radar on the gps they were at different scales. That just totally messed me up. Is there a way to set up the unit so that when I zoom in or out the radar follows the chartplotter?

Hello
Im not shure about your piece of equipment but with my Raymarine 120 it zooms together with chart plotter as you zoom in and out you might want to check your set up in your equipment I also can have my range rings change as I need them it always defaults to my last setting good luck

 

[Gunn]

In line with the OP's questions, I have one myself. I have a Garmin 3006c and it seems every time I tried to overlay my radar on the gps they were at different scales. That just totally messed me up. Is there a way to set up the unit so that when I zoom in or out the radar follows the chartplotter?

I had the Garmin 3210 and now have the Garmin 4008 and when in overlay mode, both would be at the same scale, automatically. I never had to do anything. Not sure if your's got set to a non-default, but there should be a setting to allow them to have the same scale.

Tom

 

[Alex F]

In line with the OP's questions, I have one myself. I have a Garmin 3006c and it seems every time I tried to overlay my radar on the gps they were at different scales. That just totally messed me up. Is there a way to set up the unit so that when I zoom in or out the radar follows the chartplotter?

Todd,

In RM units to make it work you need to do the following (it's called synchronizing the chart with radar): Presentation -> Chart Mode and Orientation -> Radar Sync [ON / OFF]....this is where you choose "ON".

I know you have Garmin unit, but the menu items should be some what similar. When the system is in sync mode, there should be a label somewhere on the screen (for RM ‘Sync’ is indicated in the top left-hand corner of the chart window).

 

[tdschafer]

Guys,

Thanks for the input. That will be one of my priorities this spring. I picked up a 3205 also to network with the 3006c. Hopefully I can get them both working properly!

OP,
Sorry for the mini-hijack! :smt024