B&G
HALO20 (magnetron)
- TechnologyMagnetron pulse compression
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V consumption35-50 W average
- Startup90 sec preheating
- DopplerNo
- IntegrationB&G/Simrad
2152 € HT
Pour qui : Offshore budget, 30-40 ft sailboat
View product2026 Comparator
Marine Radar Comparator — Skysat
4 marine radars compared on the criteria that matter for a sailboat: technology (magnetron vs Solid State Doppler), range, 12 V power consumption, chartplotter integration. Workshop recommendation by program + personalized calculator.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Solid State Doppler = standard 2026: breakthrough in power consumption (20-40 W vs. 2-4 kW peak), instant start-up, close-range detection (6-8 m vs. 35-50 m).
- Magnetron not dead yet: raw range in rough seas (> 40 NM usable) + lower purchase cost. Still relevant for offshore budget.
- Doppler effect colors targets: red = approaching, green = receding. The feature that truly changes coastal use.
- Workshop verdict: HALO20+ for coastal sailing, Fantom 24 for offshore night sailing, Quantum 2 for cost-effective Raymarine retrofit.
- For more details: detailed comparison on our blog.
The 4 marine radars compared
B&G
HALO20+ (Solid State)
- TechnologySolid State pulse compression
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V consumption20-25 W average
- StartupInstantaneous
- DopplerNo
- IntegrationB&G/Simrad
2530 € HT
Pour qui : Coastal + offshore sailing 35-45 ft, B&G ecosystem
View productB&G
HALO24 (Solid State + Doppler)
- TechnologySolid State Doppler
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V power draw25-30 W
- StartupInstantaneous
- DopplerYes (MotionScope)
- IntegrationB&G/Simrad
2835 € HT
Pour qui : Performance sailing + IRC club-level racing
View productGarmin
Fantom 24x Doppler
- TechnologySolid State Doppler
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V power consumption22-28 W
- Start-upInstantaneous
- DopplerYes (MotionScope)
- IntegrationGarmin GPSMAP/ECHOMAP
2624 € HT
Pour qui : Offshore fishing + Garmin ecosystem
View productDetailed comparison table
Prices excluding VAT 2026, authorized French distributor, excluding wiring and labor for installation.
| Criteria | HALO20 | HALO20+ | HALO24 | Fantom 24x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-works price 2026 | ~ 1,800 $ | ~ 2,200 $ | ~ 3,200 $ | ~ 2,800 $ |
| Technology | Magnetron | Solid State pulse | Solid State Doppler | Solid State Doppler |
| Avg. consumption 12 V | 35-50 W | 20-25 W | 25-30 W | 22-28 W |
| Start-up | 90 s (warm-up) | Instantaneous | Instantaneous | Instantaneous |
| Doppler (colored targets) | No | No | Yes | Yes (MotionScope) |
| Short-range detection | 30-50 m | 8-10 m | 6-8 m | 6-8 m |
| Integration ecosystem | B&G/Simrad | B&G/Simrad | B&G/Simrad | Garmin GPSMAP |
Skysat workshop verdict — by program
Coastal sailing
30-40 ft sailboat — B&G ecosystem
The HALO20+ is our standard for coastal sailing workshops. Solid State, instant start-up, optimized consumption for 200 Ah lithium batteries. No Doppler but more than sufficient for day and night safety.
Radar + cabling + installation budget: ~ €2,800-3,200 ex. VAT
View HALO20+Offshore night
40-55 ft sailboat — IRC racing + cruising
The HALO24 or Garmin Fantom 24x add Doppler — immediate differentiation of targets by their relative speed. Essential in congested waters + offshore night navigation.
Radar + installation budget: ~ €4,000-5,000 ex. VAT
View HALO24Offshore budget
30-40 ft sailboat — economical refit
The HALO20 magnetron remains relevant for offshore cruising on a budget: raw range in rough seas, €400 cheaper. Acceptable if battery bank can handle the draw (60+ W when transmitting).
Budget radar + installation: ~ 2 400-2 800 € HT
View HALO203 installation mistakes observed in the workshop — all brands included
- Undersized or uninsulated transmission mast.
A radar cable carries an Ethernet or proprietary signal — too small a section or routing near a motor cable = interference, frozen screens, false targets.
- Network cable run parallel to motor or windlass cable.
Inductive RF noise creates recurring radar artifacts. Always separate signal and power; cross at 90° if necessary.
- Antenna height misaligned relative to the boom.
If the boom passes in front of the radar, permanent masking occurs behind the boat. Check elevation at +5° to +10° above the top of the boom.
Radar recommendation calculator
4 questions to identify the radar suited to your sailboat and program.
FAQ — Selecting your marine radar
Most frequent questions at the Skysat workshop.
Is it really necessary to replace a working magnetron radar?
Is it really necessary to replace a working magnetron radar?
Not necessarily. If the magnetron starts, detects targets at 24 NM, and you mostly sail offshore, Solid State radar is not an urgent investment. The switch becomes relevant when you sail at night in busy coastal areas (Doppler changes traffic reading), when your 12 V battery bank is under load, or when the magnetron reaches end-of-life (typically 10-12 years).
What are the actual differences between HALO, Fantom, and Quantum?
What are the actual differences between HALO, Fantom, and Quantum?
All Solid State Doppler. HALO (B&G/Simrad) = sailing-oriented, native H5000 and Zeus integration. Fantom (Garmin) = longest raw range (up to 48 NM) + highly readable MotionScope colored Doppler. Quantum 2 (Raymarine) = lowest power consumption (~17-20 W), most compact, unbeatable for retrofitting on existing Axiom.
Does Doppler really colorize dangerous targets?
Does Doppler really colorize dangerous targets?
Yes, but not exactly like an alarm. Doppler does not say "this target will collide with you" but rather "this target is approaching relative to you" (red) or "moving away" (green). It provides relative speed information, not collision route data. On deck, the eye instantly picks up red targets against a green background.
What is the real 12 V consumption over 24 h during offshore cruising?
What is the real 12 V consumption over 24 h during offshore cruising?
Over 24 hours of continuous navigation, a 4 kW magnetron typically consumes 600–900 Wh depending on the transmit cycle. A Solid State Doppler unit drops to 400–700 Wh, a 25–40 % reduction in radar power draw.
Does a Solid State radar replace AIS?
Does a Solid State radar replace AIS?
No. AIS receives the GPS position declared by other transmitting boats. Radar detects what reflects the waves: everything that floats, including non-AIS boats, drifting containers, coastlines, and squalls. The two systems are complementary.
Skysat distributes B&G, Garmin, Raymarine and Navico. Comparator based on manufacturer datasheets + workshop feedback from over 80 radar installations 2022-2026. Indicative 2026 distributor prices before tax.
