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 Comparison
Marine radar comparison — Skysat
4 marine radars compared based on the criteria that matter on 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 = 2026 standard: 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 yet: raw range in rough seas (> 40 NM usable) + lower purchase cost. Still relevant for offshore budget cruising.
- 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 passages, Quantum 2 for Raymarine retrofit on a budget.
- For more details: detailed comparison on our blog.
Four 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 & 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 + club-level IRC racing
View productGarmin
Fantom 24x Doppler
- TechnologySolid State Doppler
- Max range48 NM
- 12 V power draw22-28 W
- StartupInstantaneous
- DopplerYes (MotionScope)
- IntegrationGarmin GPSMAP/ECHOMAP
2624 € HT
Pour qui : Offshore fishing + Garmin ecosystem
View productDetailed comparison table
Prices before tax 2026, authorized French distributor, excluding wiring and installation labor.
| Criteria | HALO20 | HALO20+ | HALO24 | Fantom 24x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ex-works price | ~ 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 |
| Startup | 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 standard for coastal sailing workshops. Solid State, instant start-up, power consumption optimized for 200 Ah lithium packs. No Doppler but more than sufficient for day and night safety.
Radar + wiring + installation budget: ~ €2,800-3,200 ex. VAT
View HALO20+Offshore night
Sailboat 40-55 ft — IRC racing + cruising
The HALO24 or Garmin Fantom 24x add Doppler — immediate differentiation of targets by their relative speed. Essential in congested areas + night offshore navigation.
Radar budget + installation: ~ €4,000-5,000 VAT excluded
View HALO24Offshore budget
Sailboat 30-40 ft — economical refit
The HALO20 magnetron remains relevant 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 VAT excluded
View HALO203 installation errors observed in the workshop — across all brands
- Undersized or uninsulated transmission mast.
The radar cable carries an Ethernet or proprietary signal — undersized section or routing near a motor cable = interference, frozen screens, false targets.
- Network cable run parallel to a motor cable or windlass.
Inductive RF noise causes 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 at the rear of the boat. Check elevation between +5° and +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
Most frequently asked questions at the Skysat workshop.
Does a working magnetron radar really need replacing?
Does a working magnetron radar really need replacing?
Not necessarily. If the magnetron starts up, detects targets at 24 NM, and you primarily sail offshore, the Solid State upgrade is not urgent. 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 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) = optimized for sailing, native integration with H5000 and Zeus. 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 course data. On deck, the eye instantly detects red targets against a green background.
What is the actual 12 V consumption over 24 h during offshore cruising?
What is the actual 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 transmission cycle. A Solid State Doppler drops to 400-700 Wh, a 25 to 40 % power saving on the radar system.
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 from over 80 radar installations 2022-2026. Indicative 2026 distributor prices before tax.
