Thread: Internal GPS vs External GPS?

I am researching ff's and I am not clear on what the differnce is between units that have internal GPS and those that have external GPS....
Can someone 'splain that to me?

The internal have the antenna built into the unit so you do not have that little puck to mount to your boat. Some say the internal signal reception is weaker than the external but I have not seen this. I have external and partner has internal and they both seem to work equally on the lakes we fish.

The internal or external just refers to the GPS receiver/antenna as being inside the unit or as a separate unit apart from the graph itself.

With the external GPS if something goes wrong with the GPS unit one could still keep and use the graph while the GPS was being repaired. With internal GPS if something need fixed with the GPS the whole unit goes in and you don't have use of your graph during that time.

With the external GPS I have seen where the receiver module was stuck on the back end of the boat while you are in the front of the boat using your graph and GPS. I always felt like the receiver needs to be right up there with the graph while hovering over brush piles you are working.

Originally Posted by LBM

With the external GPS I have seen where the receiver module was stuck on the back end of the boat while you are in the front of the boat using your graph and GPS. I always felt like the receiver needs to be right up there with the graph while hovering over brush piles you are working.

I have my external antenna mounted right above my transducer. This way, I have better accuracy to locate using both the gps coupled with the sonar.

If you have a thick head, use an external antenna. After all, these are milliwatt radio signals from heaven and will bounce off rocks and other deterrents. MOAO.

The closer your antenna is to the transducer the more accurate the position is when coming back to the location from a different angle. HB has a external high accuracy antenna that is supposed to be correct within approximately around a foot versus the approximately 3ft with the normal antenna.

I doubt the one foot accuracy. But, my name is Thomas.:rolleyes:

Maybe I should have emphasized the supposed in that.

If you were referencing meters as the unit of measure of accuracy, the I suppose you could be somewhat correct in assuming the accuracy of the new GPS.

Originally Posted by Crappieawlogist

I am researching ff's and I am not clear on what the differnce is between units that have internal GPS and those that have external GPS....
Can someone 'splain that to me?

I have found on the Humminbird units, NO difference in performance, you just have to have the units mounted in the open so the antenna can see the sky.