I have a Garmin 1042 xs plotter. I am ready to add a radar dome. My question is are all the new domes instant on? Is there a big difference between the HD and the hxd antennas.
All of the fantom radars are solid state and don't require a warm-up time ...instant on ,as you call it. The conventional radars have a magnetron that needs to warm up & stabilize before transmit. I've never had an issue with a conventional radar because I most always have my radars in the standby mode but when in fog , waiting for a radar to warm up after an initial turn-on in the longest minute & a half or 2 minutes you'll ever experience!