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Heading Sensor Recommendation for use with Garmin Chartplotters
Garmin recommends that customers use a heading sensor with a Garmin chartplotter. Garmin offers a few different options for heading sensors to be connected to the chartplotter over a NMEA 2000 network. Click on the link below for information about each specific heading sensor:
9-axis Heading Sensor (similar to the autopilot heading sensor)
By adding a heading sensor, the chartplotter will have the ability to provide a true heading at all times. Without a heading sensor, the chartplotter will rely on a GPS heading (COG) which will only be accurate when the boat is moving. With GPS heading only and while the boat is not moving, the chartplotter will be unable to determine its true heading.
If a Garmin Radar is being used with the chartplotter, and the heading sensor is added, the chartplotter can now use MARPA (mini-automatic radar plotting aid), which helps to avoid collisions.
1Fully compatible devices support heave data; currently those models are the GPSMAP® 84xx chartplotters | GPSMAP® 86xx chartplotters, and the GPSMAP® 7x3 chartplotters | GPSMAP® 9x3 chartplotters | GPSMAP® 12x3 chartplotters | GPSMAP® 16x3 chartplotters. Older models will have partial compatibility.