What are your thoughts between Analog and Digital radar.

[Carl]

Subject line kinda says it all.

I have been looking to upgrade for awhile as my unit is a beast consuming power and space.

[Ironworker]

If you are buying a radar for fishing and looking for birds then get the most powerful old school radar you can afford. If its everything else then the new broadband radars have come a long ways and integrate very nicely with new electronics.

[Amberjack]

I believe the digital radar emit less radiation and would be better if located anywhere your head.

[Carl]

Doug, yes less or no radiation concerns with the digital. Not something that really concerned me much as mine is mounted in tower and display is in lower helm. If I’m up there I don’t have radar on. But heavy fog….having ears in bow, stern or tower when radar is going…

Rick- I dislike combining functions. It definitely works well when it works but when it doesn’t having multiple tools lost concerns me. I would go stand alone.
Finding birds and boats in the distance for fishing is somewhat important, but mostly boat traffic and navigation in poor visibility is my big want. The bigger reason for considering an upgrade or change is less power usage… my radar when drifting with motors off reminds me of a big block running wide open and looking at the gas gauge.

[Tony Meola]

Carl

What about open array vs dome. Open is more expensive but covers more of the bases.

Better separation of targets and better for bird spotting.

[Ironworker]

Carl,

Check out the new Broadband Radars. They are getting better and better and the power draw is less. The issue is though most of these are black box radars and need an interface such as a chart plotter or other screen.

[Carl]

Broadband, Digital and Solid State are what I was hearing about that use less power, instant startup, and in close has better target separation, detail plus the dead spot is greatly reduced over the pulse, magnetron units. And they don't fry body parts.

Lots of reading and searching it seems the newer units are now making good on those promises. I have yet to see one in action, or maybe I did and didn't take notice. Anyhoo I'll start asking around for an up close and personal demonstration.

That said I think Rick hit my new dilemma on the head, they all seem to be bundled in a multi-display, I wanted stand alone. I'm happy with the depth finder and Chartplotter I have, plus I already have a backup chartplotter. Why a backup...when I needed a new depthfinder the only one in stock around here during Covid was bundled with a plotter.

I think I'll buy new to me/used cables for my radar (no longer supplied from Furuno), get a larger capacity house battery (need one anyway) and use what I have till something dies. In the mean time I'll continue to look around.

Thanks