my present unit has an external gps antenna. the hummingbird 900 series has a built in or internal antenna. is the signal strong enough ?
1334291
Yes... the antenna has been fine on my boat. Be warned, this unit has a weak processor and suffers when zooming in and out on detailed maps from the SD card.
1334292
The built-in antenna works fine. I have a 700 series external antenna and the 597cidi combo with an internal and notice no difference. I like the internal antenna- no mounting.
958415
I believe it always needs a GPS signal to operate properly. My recollection is that the GPS antenna comes plugged in, inside of a cover on the unit. If the unit is by a window and has a good view of the sky, its possible it can consistently obtain GPS reception. If the unit is away from a window, the GPS antenna could be removed from the unit and there was a cable that can be used to connect the GPS antenna to the unit. The antenna could then be by the window for reception, while the unit itself is further away from the window.
1955227
Hi, you will need to buy the Antenna, - I'm Not sure where to get one. I did look for one but could not find one. *** GPS works good, DVD works good, Radio Works good, SD Card works Good, Rear Cam not easy to install and will not automatically engage when in reverse, Remote control sucks, Bluetooth- works ok but people on the other end are not able to hear you well, Installation on a Yaris was very easy, no need to buy adapters, just a Phillips screw driver. Radio may not fit exactly in place but very close. All in all, its better than the stock radio. Take your time installing it and youll be ok. any other questions please contact me at Uthscsa_guy@live.com Hi, you will need to buy the Antenna, - I'm Not sure where to get one. I did look for one but could not find one. *** GPS works good, DVD works good, Radio Works good, SD Card works Good, Rear Cam not easy to install and will not automatically engage when in reverse, Remote control sucks, Bluetooth- works ok but people on the other end are not able to hear you well, Installation on a Yaris was very easy, no need to buy adapters, just a Phillips screw driver. Radio may not fit exactly in place but very close. All in all, its better than the stock radio. Take your time installing it and youll... » Read More Hi, you will need to buy the Antenna, - I'm Not sure where to get one. I did look for one but could not find one. *** GPS works good, DVD works good, Radio Works good, SD Card works Good, Rear Cam not easy to install and will not automatically engage when in reverse, Remote control sucks, Bluetooth- works ok but people on the other end are not able to hear you well, Installation on a Yaris was very easy, no need to buy adapters, just a Phillips screw driver. Radio may not fit exactly in place but very close. All in all, its better than the stock radio. Take your time installing it and youll be ok. any other questions please contact me at Uthscsa_guy@live.com « Show Less
1222034
Antenna is built-in, there is no external port. Save your $$$$. There are several hundred different better GPS is in this unit. This is old technology. Get a garmin.
227633
No. Has no affect on gps signal. A phone case made from metal or aluminum will affect the signal the most. I use a UAG case and the combo is perfect.
1530618
For the GPS to work it needs a GPS antenna connected to the GPS port on the back of the head unit, the GPS antenna is supplied.
2136206
You may need a car kit, the GPS antenna comes with the car. I live in California and did the Installation at a Fry's electronics.
326942
Gday Keith. The included GPS Antenna connects to one of the USB Ports on the back on the unit. Hope this answers your query.
1616048
898C HD SI does not have an internal antenna - 899 does. The 898C bundle comes with an external GPS antenna. I hear that external antenna provides more accurate positions.
1023670
I think you don't need a super strong signal, but definitely need a signal. When I return home from my rides (bike), and enter my garage, my GTU 10 reports a lost GPS signal, as I might expect (it also reports entering a fenced area I defined as my house, so that I can have the system email my wife so she knows I got back). However, it does this from my home which is in a spot with what I would call weak cell coverage. So, somehow it is getting a data connection and sending the updates. So from that, I would tell you that it can do ok in a weak cell area (although I don't know whether it retries when it can't get any signal, or just waits until the next ping or requested report). I think you don't need a super strong signal, but definitely need a signal. When I return home from my rides (bike), and enter my garage, my GTU 10 reports a lost GPS signal, as I might expect (it also reports entering a fenced area I defined as my house, so that I can have the system email my wife so she knows I got back). However, it does this from my home which is in a spot with what I would call weak cell coverage. So, somehow it is getting a data connection and sending the updates. So from that, I would tell you that it can do ok in a weak cell area (although I don't know whether it... » Read More I think you don't need a super strong signal, but definitely need a signal. When I return home from my rides (bike), and enter my garage, my GTU 10 reports a lost GPS signal, as I might expect (it also reports entering a fenced area I defined as my house, so that I can have the system email my wife so she knows I got back). However, it does this from my home which is in a spot with what I would call weak cell coverage. So, somehow it is getting a data connection and sending the updates. So from that, I would tell you that it can do ok in a weak cell area (although I don't know whether it retries when it can't get any signal, or just waits until the next ping or requested report). « Show Less
1495662
I have no idea about the built-in antennae, but I've noticed no change in reception from the one that came with the Garmin. Everything works perfectly.
501529
Yeah I agree with Danny, but with some creative engineering you can still boost the signal distance. The only way to boost the signal of something like this would be to utilize the interrupt pin and have it trigger from a read on the external antenna, Which would actually be pretty interesting to code and build. Hope this helps!
2085983
I suspect this questioner is talking about a "straight" telescoping antenna. I believe that there is no external antenna connections on the receiver. If that is the case, then this antenna is not the solution to the "static and poor reception"..
347901
The SBG-190 receives the GPS signal whith its external antenna and reradiate/retransmits the GPS signall with the transmitting antenna inside THW car. So it dies not matter what GPS device you are using. Its very good. I could no Mord drive without this Whig THW tinted Glas.
1429497
Specifically, I bought two of these units and due to poor design (plugin nut not tightened) I twisted an internal wire and broke it.I am not using the other unit. A signal declines over the distance it travels in a cable. I have 150' (2 75') of cable with two 22dB amplifiers on a HD antenna and it works for me.
1616047
The internal antenna I feel is a little bit better than the external antenna. In 2013 I had a brand new boat set up with a new 898/external antenna, every time i backed off the boat lift it was searching for a signal, that boat was destroyed in a building collapse over winter. so I now have a new 2014 boat set up with an 899 and a 999 with internal antennas the "searching for signal" rarely comes up and I fished the exact same lake all this past season. I think you will enjoy your new unit.
2235974
So Sorry, I can not answer this question as we do not use an antenna with our Garmin. I can tell you we travel by Motorhome and really love this Garmin since we can program it with the length, height and width of our unit. it keeps us off roads where we do not belong and even suggest routing options when we are approaching a traffic jam