Marine dome radars are becoming more powerful and sophisticated with each new system iteration thanks to evolving solid-state technologies, which include safety features such as Doppler tracking, dual-range capability and high-speed refresh rates. Here are two of the latest radome systems in this overachieving class of radars.
The new Garmin GMR Fantom 18x and 24x solid-state radars with compact 18- and 24-inch domes, respectively, offer greater output power for extended range and better target detection. Equipped with Garmin’s signature MotionScope Doppler technology, the radomes can highlight moving targets in different colors and provide vessel-position information for greater safety in limited-visibility situations.
With 50 watts of peak output power, the Fantom 18x and 24x systems offer a broad range of target detection from just 20 feet and out to 48 nautical miles. The systems deliver this performance in both fog and rain. The new Fantom domes also offer rotation speeds up to 60 rpm for quick refresh rates that can better detect movement, including other boats approaching at high speeds.
Thanks to a new power-save mode, boaters can choose when to use full energy or conserve power. In addition, timed-transmit mode lets captains specify active and inactive times down to the second to reduce power consumption.
Read Next: 2022 Marine Electronics Guide
The new radomes offer a number of features to help boost situational awareness, including true echo trails that depict a historical train to identify moving targets, dual-range capability to see both close and long views, a dynamic sea filter that automatically adjusts gain depending on sea conditions, bird mode for finding flocks of feeding seabirds and fish, and radar overlay to place radar images on the chart plotter’s screen.
The new GMR Fantom radar systems come with dome-color options in either white or black to better match boat-color themes. Suggested retail prices range from $2,199.99 to $3,099.99; garmin.com.
