Instead of using magnetic fields to detect their orientation, satellite compasses use multiple antennas to determine the smallest time stamp differences from the transmissions received from the Global Navigation Satellite System. This information is then used to calculate heading.

New

FURUNO SCX-20 and SCX-21 Satellite Compass has four GNSS antennas (GPS, QZSS, GLONASS, Galileo) for reliable and perfect accurate heading information.

Furuno's SCX-20 ( NMEA 2000 compatible) and SCX-21 ( NMEA 0183 compatible) satellite compasses use four internal antennas to determine heading information down to 0.5 degrees while eliminating signal reception problems.

GNSS satellites transmit a radio frequency signal that is received by the compass. The compass can detect partial wavelengths of the signal and determines the timing differences between when the signal arrives at the different antennas. The compass knows where its antennas are, and it knows where the satellites are, so it can calculate the time difference, which is about a billionth of a second. This allows it to determine the course.

Only two of its antennas need to receive the signal to determine its course.

Local obstructions used to be the biggest problem with satellite compasses. If the compass was not mounted high enough, the signal would bounce off the superstructure and cause multipath interference. That is why four antennas are used in these satellite compasses which creates a multiplication effect and gives us six ways to calculate the heading because of the baselines between the antennas.

The biggest advantage of these Satellite Compasses is the accuracy of the heading. You will use less fuel when sailing from point A to point B, both manually and on autopilot, because you have a heading system with almost no errors. This information can be applied to all navigation, from autopilots to radar, to chart displays and sonar. They all need accurate heading information.

The compass provides speed and heading information, and the six-axis inertial measurement unit provides pitch, roll, yaw and heave information. It can determine which direction the boat is pointing when stationary.

You will receive the following data with great precision:

• High Resolution Heading
• GPS position
• Rate Of Turn (ROT)
• Pitch and Roll 
• SOG
• Transverse Speed 
• Follow-up rate for stabilizing Radars
• Excellent Heave Compensation algorithm for Fish Finder and Sonar stabilization
• 3-axis speed
• Perfect for NavNet TZtouch MFDs, NAVpilot-300 and WASSP installations
• Air temp/pressure
• Time
• Lightweight, only 1 kg
• The SCX-20/21 is small - 9.8 x 7.6 x 2.9 inches
• 4x GPS antennas accurate to within 1 degree
• Rolls, sway and pitch
• Course / compass
• Can be darkened or blocked at certain angles
• It also uses solid-state components, which optimizes efficiency

The upper part is the compass itself, the mounting base is at the bottom. The standard mounting base is used most. Easy and usable. But you can also go for other possibilities.

The bottom has an information sticker with an arrow indicating the direction in which the compass should be positioned, and the NMEA 2000 connector and connection points for the screws that secure it to the mounting base are included.

The Assembly

The SCX-20 Satellite Compass is easy to install and connects effortlessly to existing Furuno navigation equipment, it is even suitable for very small boats, from 6 meters and even for placement on steel boats that need a good reliable heading it is very suitable. There are a number of ways to set up and configure the SCX-20. You need to specify the location of the compass in relation to the rest of the boat. I dare say without a doubt that this is the best GPS and compass we have ever put on board a boat. The SCX-20 is both as a compass and as a GPS more accurate than many others, and that is logical. The Satellite Compass SCX-20 has more GPS receivers and software to combine them and display the best results.

See here a comparison with our fellow competitors.

The roll and pitch of the compass are impeccable and even more accurate than its competitors. Amazingly, even when the SCX-20 Satellite Compass is mounted at the highest point of the boat, it still gives rock solid results.

The SCX-20 is the perfect solution for complex ship installations where the view of satellites is sometimes obstructed. Interference is caused on some ships by signal blocking. This is not possible with the SCX-20 satellite compass, even under bridges you will receive the correct signal.This information can be applied to all navigation, from autopilots to radar, to chart display and sonar. They all need accurate heading information for your navigation network. as much as 1.0 degree heading accuracy and 0.02 degree speed accuracy.

As for the price, there is no reason that every boat should not have an SCX-20 Satellite Compass. In the past, these compasses were prohibitively expensive for most of us, required other equipment to function which was also expensive, and had many limitations with mounting. The SCX-20 appears to have overcome all of these barriers, is in a compact, easy to mount package, and can be configured and commissioned in a number of ways.

The accuracy is absolutely amazing. Roll and pitch are perfect, and the compass and heading data is so good that it surpasses radar imaging and other products in their accuracy. Add to that you have 4x GPS sources that are constantly being checked against each other, and you have a hyper accurate GPS source.

If you happen to have a more modern Furuno radar, you really should have an SCX-20 Satellite compass. It improves the quality of navigation data so much, both for the coastline and for targets, that it is worth the investment for that alone. But also other makes of radar can be connected to this compass if they have NMEA 2000 connection. Also for autopilots the SCX-20 is a good and accurate source. The installation connection via NMEA 2000 is really very easy.

One thing I should mention is that both SCX models also feature highly accurate atmospheric pressure and air temperature sensors. There’s even a magnetic heading sensor built into the design. This is currently used to speed up initial satellite heading calculations on start-up, but Furuno plans to provide “a simple software upgrade that will provide full magnetic auto-backup in the event of 100% GNSS blocking!”

This new technology delivers much more than comparable sensors and has a very attractive price with a lot of installation flexibility. I would recommend the SCX-20 Satellite compass without reservation to anyone looking for a good reliable GPS / Satellite compass

The SCX-20 Satellite Compass with four separate GNSS antennas is built for fast, reliable and accurate heading. Also for your navigation network. up to 1.0 degree heading accuracy and 0.02 degree speed accuracy.

Need advice?

If you can't find what you're looking for here or if you have additional questions about our products, don't hesitate to contact SAIL360 at 0252-544772 or send us an email [email protected] .

Suitable for: Recreational Boats from 6 meters

                           Fishing Vessels

                           Work Boats