Need Help Please Quality Radar for reasonable price

cvjarrod · Aug-24-2009, 08:49 AM

I use Garmin radar and it works really well, but was kind of spendy when I bought it.

A lot of people are converting to HD radar and a lot of really good used units are out there at a great price.

Make sure you ask the owner if he runs his radar all the time or only when needed. The domes will wear out after a certain number of hours.

Reel hip · Sep-09-2009, 10:12 AM

I use the Furuno and like it. It is easy to use.

slief · Sep-09-2009, 12:35 PM

Have a Garmin 4210 and Radar along with Garmin fuel flow, AP, XM weather etc. I love it! Nothing wrong with Garmin. The HD radar is as good as any radar on the market and its priced right. Their support is great too should you need it.

MPBent · Sep-10-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamezjos

Hello Guys, I would really appreciate if you can help me decide what to do, your opinions count...

I'm just finishing my boat and would love to put up a radar on it, I would have to buy the display too as I have a 900 series huminbird now (that's another story). Anyway I wanted a Foruno Navnet 3D system but with the economy I can't see that happening, I like Garmin but I'm not sure this is the best way to go, my boat is a 23ft pilothoutse, I think a 36mile range radar would sufice but you tell me, I have aroung 2k to spend and would not mind getting a used package if I can find it.

I want to replace my ffinder/gps/plotter (huminbird) with this package, so a good unit that would provide the infrastructure so I can later install a sounder, etc would be the best. This would be my first radar.

Thanks for helping me out.

Josh

Hello I'd love to help. Currently I belive West Marine has a deal going on on a C-70 and radar under 2000. If you can wait about a week I can get you something for less but requires land shipping. Perhaps a Furuno 1715 or if something better comes along? Anyway with the current deal at West marine and my Labor rate and time. Total cost for professional installation about 2500.00. If you wait for the 1715 it will be under 2000. The C-70 is color and the 1715 is monochrome.

Trayscool · Sep-10-2009, 09:56 PM

dont get a unit with radar/sounder/gps one one screen it will drive you nuts switching back.

DOMINATOR · Sep-10-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trayscool

dont get a unit with radar/sounder/gps one one screen it will drive you nuts switching back.

Only if you do not know how to use it, or can't walk and talk at the same time. Look at the Raymarine C series wide screen, get a radome, DSM300, and a 600 or 1000 watt tilted element transducer, you will be very happy. The bigger the screen, the pricier, but you will be pleased with the money spent on the larger screen. No need to buy seperate units, just more to deal with. Stay away from the Furuno Navnet 3D, it is too hard to use, and the technology is not at the level of the new Raymarine stuff. Just wait until you guys see the new E-Series, Unbelievable! Touchscreen PLUS softkeys!!

Trayscool · Sep-10-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOMINATOR

Only if you do not know how to use it, or can't walk and talk at the same time. Look at the Raymarine C series wide screen, get a radome, DSM300, and a 600 or 1000 watt tilted element transducer, you will be very happy. The bigger the screen, the pricier, but you will be pleased with the money spent on the larger screen. No need to buy seperate units, just more to deal with. Stay away from the Furuno Navnet 3D, it is too hard to use, and the technology is not at the level of the new Raymarine stuff. Just wait until you guys see the new E-Series, Unbelievable! Touchscreen PLUS softkeys!!

this is very true if you have a HUGE budget and can afford a wide screen with all the shit that foes with it. he said his budget is $2000 which means a smaller screen and the dome and we all know that switching between 3 different features is a PIA

DOMINATOR · Sep-10-2009, 10:34 PM

C90W, bigger than an old E80, very close to the old C120, better technology than the old E series, no need to switch, during the day you only need the sounder/plotter, so not even difficult for a 3rd grader. There is no decent unit on the market for under 2K that can do everything, let alone 2 or 3 units. Get the Raymarine, I have used both for a living and you can in no way beat the DSM sounder(Unless you have 5 grand to spend on a simrad). I can't say I don't like the Lowrance HDS series either, just don't know how well the broadband radar will work at distances greater than a mile, but the charting is great.

bobmoise · Oct-19-2009, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOMINATOR

C90W, bigger than an old E80, very close to the old C120, better technology than the old E series, no need to switch, during the day you only need the sounder/plotter, so not even difficult for a 3rd grader. There is no decent unit on the market for under 2K that can do everything, let alone 2 or 3 units. Get the Raymarine, I have used both for a living and you can in no way beat the DSM sounder(Unless you have 5 grand to spend on a simrad). I can't say I don't like the Lowrance HDS series either, just don't know how well the broadband radar will work at distances greater than a mile, but the charting is great.

i agree and with the raymarine (and i bet with the other plotters) you can have the radar overlay the gps so that eliminates one screen right there. and when you are under way you only need your gps for the most part and when your fishing all you need is your fish finder. just my opinion

MYNomad · Oct-19-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOMINATOR

Stay away from the Furuno Navnet 3D, it is too hard to use, and the technology is not at the level of the new Raymarine stuff.

Hard to Use? Really? I find it more intuitive than any previous Furuno product. What is the hard part? As for the technology, it was commonly recognized as the most advanced when it came out. I doubt that Raymarine (or anyone else) is ready to leap frog Furuno, but it could happen.

MYNomad · Oct-19-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobmoise

With the raymarine (and i bet with the other plotters) you can have the radar overlay the gps so that eliminates one screen right there.

Furuno does that too. The trick is having a very accurate heading sensor, or the ranges will be right, but all the targets will be skewed 5 - 10 degrees, and the amount of error will vary. Furuno solved this problem with a very accurate gps-based compass. It's expensive though. Personally, I don't use the overlay.