Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Questions about installing radar
Let us know how the networking with Raymarine goes. I've been thinking of doing the same thing you're doing but haven't done my homework on the NMEA 2000 between competitors stuff yet. Back when I was doing this for a living, the answer was always a qualified "maybe". NMEA 2000 promises a lot, and I'm still reluctant to say "oh sure!" when people ask if they'll be compatible. -------- Original message --------From: "NEWMAN d2… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Date: 5/1/2017 08:01 (GMT-08:00) To: Kris Jensen <cr… [at] att.net> Cc: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Questions about installing radar
Kris,
Thanks for the comments. I did end up cutting the cable end off. It would never have fit through the hole at the base of the mast where other cables exit.
I put a 16' extension ladder off the cabin roof against the mast. Then had on my rock climbing harness and some tubular webbing to sling the mast. Hung from that. I ended up drilling a 3/4" hole in the mast at radar mount location. I am mounting the radar so it will be sitting just below the spreader. That puts the radar more than 16' off the water. I dropped a string with a small sinker tied on the end down the mast. Then fished the string through the base hole with a bent coat hanger wire. Taped the network and power cables to the string. Then a friend pulled the string and I fished the wires. Got both down with no scratches to the sheaths. Then routed the power wire down the starboard side and the network the port side. Had to remove the oven so I could take up that base panel to get the network cable fished out past the hot water tank.
Power cable was plenty long and I got it routed up into the breaker panel. Still need to select a breaker for it. The network cable falls about 15 - 20 feet short of getting to the pedestal. I have ordered a Garmin network coupler and two of their cable end kits (kit comes with two cable ends), along with a 20' network cable. Will install new cable end, plug in the coupler and if I can't route this extension cable up the pedestal I will cut the end and repair once I get it to the GPS unit.
Could not complete the radar mount install. I forgot that Puffin's mast has a track up front, which requires an additional mount kit from Scanstrut to allow for the track. That is on order from Hodges Marine (they ship really fast).
I did get some of my NEMA-2000 trunk routed as well. My plan is to get the Garmin chart plotter and the Raymarine autopilot taking to each other. I think that the heading data from the autopilot will get used by the radar, if my reading is correct.
So, got some of the hard stuff done with getting the cables routed, but still have a bit of work left for this coming weekend.
LesliePuffin 1986 CAL 33
On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 10:30 PM, Kris Jensen <cr… [at] att.net> wrote:
Shoot, if it's a RJ-45, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to chop it off. (I have a $150 RJ-45 crimper in my kit. YMMV) How much would you save over the power plug diameter? Mast holes are always better smaller.
If you do chop it, leave enough sticking out of the old connector to be able to see the color code.
I see it's a Network radar so the signal cable is basically ethernet, nothing special about that. Looks like standard EIA/TIA T-568 color code. One side is A, the other side is B. (Confirm this by looking through the clear connectors on yours) You can probably trouble shoot these with a crossover patchcord from Radio Shack. You might buy the Garmin cable end kit though, they are only a few bucks on Amazon or from Garmin and you get a whole new strain relief, o-ring and nut.
Here's a link to Garmin's Network wiring instructions. http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/Marine_Ethernet.pdf
From: "NEWMAN d2… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>
To: "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>; Kris Jensen <cr… [at] att.net>
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 4:44 PM
Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Questions about installing radar
Kris,Thanks. Garmin connector is RJ-45, but sort of fat around it. I know I could crimp on another RJ-45 at one end (chart plotter end), but sort of didn't want to cut anything. Will determine the smallest hole I can drill and still get the connector through. If it still seems too large of a hole I'll snip off one end. Both ends are identical.
I'll report back how things go tomorrow. Leslie
On Friday, April 28, 2017, Kris Jensen cr… [at] att.net [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Nothing extremely close to the radome will significantly block the signal. Even the mast will not make a visible impact due to the array inside being wider than the mast. Also your vertical beam width is great enough that you can't get it high enough on the mast to cause a close in target issue. Think about the vertical beam width and what may be within or close to it. Will any stern rail mounted antennas be within the beam? It could interfere with those items if the antennae are constantly getting "painted" by the radar.
Height gains you horizon distance but it's really not significant in the distances and applications most of us use our radars for. Sure your calculated horizon may be at say, 11 miles but that's surface, the ship you're looking at is 120 feet high and you can see it for miles past the surface horizon. Same with that rain squall you're tracking, it will be visible at 18 miles regardless of where your radome is mounted.
Mount it where it fits best, is least likely to cause interference, and where the least likelihood of a sail snag will be. If your sail hits it every time you tack, you'll need a wear patch on the sail. (unless you mount it a spreader height and your spreader patches happen to match up) You may need a crash-bar to keep the sail off it.
Most installers can remove the cable fitting by pushing out the pins with a special tool and then reassembling it after passing through a much smaller hole. I've not seen what the Garmin connectors look like but if they are only slightly bigger than cable diameter, you could drill minimum size to fit the connector and then use a rubber grommet in the hole to protect the cable from the aluminum.
Kris
From: "NEWMAN d2… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>
To: ca… [at] yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 11:15 AM
Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Questions about installing radar
I think I figured out all my answers. The hole in the mast will only need to be about 1". I am going to run the radar cable directly to my GPS unit.Seems the best height for a radar is around 15' from water level. Going way, way high doesn't gain you hardly anything and puts the weight higher. Plus too high means close in detection is compromised. You want it high enough to get adequate long distance without sacrificing close in. And high enough so that people are not hit by the microwave beam.
So I will see where my spreader is, and the steaming light and put the radar above the steaming light and make sure it doesn't get blocked by the spreaders.
Leslie
On Thu, Apr 27, 2017 at 9:35 PM, NEWMAN <d2… [at] gmail.com> wrote:
I purchased a Garmin GMR 18 HD+ radar. Also bought a Scanstrut mount. Arrived today. Installation instructions generated questions.
1. How high should I mount it up the mast? Looks like minimum safe distance is 9.5 feet.
2. Do I drill the 1.5 inch hole in the mast to route the cables? Garmin states I should not cut the end off the cable. But they do sell a 'field kit' if you do need to cut the cable. Seems like a large hole to cut onto the mast.
3. I am installing a NEMA 2OOO network. Should I run the radar to the network or directly to the Garmin chart plotter?
What else am I missing? Help appreciated.
Thanks, Leslie Puffin 1986 Cal 33