B&G
HALO20 (magnetron)
- TechnologyMagnetron compression
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V consumption35-50 W average
- Startup90 sec preheating
- DopplerNo
- IntegrationB&G/Simrad
2152 € HT
Pour qui : Offshore cruising 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, close-range detection (6-8 m vs 35-50 m).
- Magnetron not dead: 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, Quantum 2 for Raymarine retrofit on a budget.
- 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 power consumption20-25 W average
- StartupInstantaneous
- DopplerNo
- IntegrationB&G/Simrad
2530 € HT
Pour qui : Coastal and offshore sailing 35-45 ft, B&G ecosystem
View productB&G
HALO24 (Solid State + Doppler)
- TechnologySolid State Doppler
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V power consumption25-30 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
- StartupInstantaneous
- DopplerYes (MotionScope)
- IntegrationGarmin GPSMAP/ECHOMAP
2624 € HT
Pour qui : Offshore fishing + Garmin ecosystem
View productDetailed comparison table
2026 distributor prices, VAT excluded, France. Excludes wiring and installation labor.
| Criteria | HALO20 | HALO20+ | HALO24 | Fantom 24x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price ex-VAT 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 |
| Close-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 coastal sailing workshop standard. Solid State, instant start, consumption optimized for 200 Ah lithium bank. No Doppler but more than sufficient for day and night safety.
Radar + wiring + installation budget: ~ 2,800-3,200 € HT
View HALO20+Offshore night sailing
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 areas + offshore night navigation.
Radar + installation budget: ~ 4,000-5,000 € HT
View HALO24Offshore budget
30-40 ft sailboat — economical refit
The HALO20 magnetron remains suitable for offshore cruising on a budget: raw range in rough seas, €400 cheaper. Acceptable if the battery bank can handle the consumption (60+ W when transmitting).
Radar budget + installation: ~ 2,400-2,800 € HT
View HALO203 installation errors observed in the workshop — all brands included
- Undersized or uninsulated transmission mast.
A radar cable carries an Ethernet or proprietary signal — too small a cross-section or routing near a motor cable causes interference, frozen screens, and false targets.
- Network cable run parallel to a motor or windlass cable.
Inductive RF noise creates recurring radar artifacts. Always separate signal and power; cross at 90° if necessary.
- Antenna height incorrectly set relative to the boom.
If the boom passes in front of the radar, permanent masking occurs at the stern of the boat. Check elevation +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 — Choosing your marine radar
The most frequently asked questions in 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 up, detects targets at 24 NM, and you primarily sail offshore, the Solid State upgrade isn’t urgent. The switch becomes relevant when you sail at night in busy coastal waters (Doppler changes traffic interpretation), when your 12 V battery bank is under strain, or when the magnetron reaches end-of-life (typically 10–12 years).
What are the concrete differences between HALO, Fantom, and Quantum?
What are the concrete 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 color Doppler really highlight dangerous targets?
Does color Doppler really highlight dangerous targets?
Yes, but not exactly like an alarm. Doppler does not say "this target will hit you" but rather "this target is approaching relative to you" (red) or "moving away" (green). It provides relative speed information, not collision course data. On deck, the eye instantly picks up red targets against a green background.
What is the actual 12 V power consumption over 24 h during offshore cruising?
What is the actual 12 V power 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 % power saving for the radar load.
Does a Solid State radar replace AIS?
Does a Solid State radar replace AIS?
No. AIS receives the GPS position declared by other transmitting vessels. Radar detects what reflects its 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 on over 80 radar installations from 2022-2026. 2026 indicative distributor prices before tax.
