GPS Puck placement in boat

[Goose]

Is anyone finding that it is better to get the GPS receiver puck away from any electronics in the boat for the best performance?


Goose

[stevefellegy]

It's common to mount the module on one of the back corners of the boat. For easier wiring, on a console boat, the drivers side, backcorner. Tillers on the portside, back corner. Mount where it is least likely to get bumped, stepped on or influence fishing as in netting or rodholder placement.

[SnellTier]

Steve,

Do you find that magnetic fields cause interference when you run the GPS puck alongside VHF antenna wire or the typical manufacturer wires when wiring the starboard side of a console boat?

I am going to soon be wiring up a Global 1600 I just bought and based on your note above, I will put the GPS antenna where you recommended it. The problem is, my marine radio antenna is located next to the driver's seat on that same gunnel. I appreciate your advice.

tomd

[Phil T.]

The editors of Trailerboats magazine would urge you to locate the GPS antenna far from the marine band radio antenna. There is a little (fragile) amplifier in the GPS antenna unit, and 25 watts of transmit power nearby will fry it. Years ago, they killed four GPS antennas before they realized it was the marine radio transmissions doing the damage. Even boating electronics editors make mistakes.

[stevefellegy]

Only my opinion now....and my experiences. I truly don't believe you will have any problems mounting the radio antenna next to the windshield and the gps module 8 or more feet away, toward the back corner. Fact is, that if you mount it on opposite sides, the actual distance between them, will most likely be the same. And running cables across and under the transom area is a disaster. I wouldn't recommend running the cables inter-twined however. A little separation is best. I would mount the radio antenna just a few inches ahead of the windshield as this will not interfere with a rodholder next to the steering wheel, and not interfere with netting from the front seat or the rear sides. The two cables will not be running together this way. You're lucky....I have to go through this rigging a new boat every spring and it is always a pain.
Have fun!