Furuno SC-701 Sensor Unit for SC-70 SC-130 Satellite Compass

The Furuno SC-701 is the sensor unit built for the SC-70 and SC-130 Satellite Compass systems. Rather than relying on a spinning gyro or a magnetic element that drifts near steel and electrical noise, a satellite compass reads signals from GNSS satellites across several antennas and calculates the vessel's true heading from the geometry between them. The SC-701 is the piece that gathers that data. Paired with the rest of the SC-70 or SC-130 system, it turns raw satellite signals into the precise directional information a modern bridge depends on.

Heading is only the start of what a Furuno satellite compass delivers. Because it tracks the boat's attitude in three dimensions, the SC-70 and SC-130 system also outputs rate of turn, pitch, roll, and heave. That's a rich stream of motion data, and it feeds far more than the compass display. Radar overlay, chart plotting, autopilot steering, stabilized sonar, and satellite communications antennas all work better when they know exactly which way the vessel points and how it's moving. On a commercial hull, a serious sportfisher, or a long-range cruiser, that accuracy translates directly into safer, smoother operation.

The big advantage over a traditional magnetic or gyro compass is freedom from the things that plague them. There's no magnetic deviation to swing and correct, no influence from nearby metal or DC current, and no lengthy gyro spin-up before you get a usable heading. A satellite compass isn't affected by the boat's own magnetic signature, so you get consistent, repeatable heading whether you're tied to a steel wall or steaming across open water. It also doesn't wear out the way a mechanical gyro can, because there are no moving parts inside doing the sensing.

The SC-70 and SC-130 system this sensor serves is engineered for demanding accuracy, with heading resolved to a fraction of a degree and a fast follow-up rate that keeps the reading honest even through hard maneuvers. It tracks multiple satellite constellations, so it holds a solid fix in a wide range of conditions and sky views. For the navigator, that means the number on the display stays trustworthy when it matters most, coming into a tight harbor, working a rip in a current, or holding a heading in a following sea.

• Sensor unit for the Furuno SC-70 and SC-130 Satellite Compass systems
• GNSS-based heading with no magnetic deviation and no gyro spin-up
• Outputs heading, rate of turn, pitch, roll, and heave to connected equipment
• No moving parts in the sensing element for long, low-maintenance service life
• Feeds radar, plotter, autopilot, sonar, and satcom systems with accurate motion data

It's important to understand what this part is and isn't. The SC-701 is the sensor component of a larger system. It's not a standalone plug-and-play compass on its own, and it needs to be installed as part of a complete SC-70 or SC-130 configuration with the matching processor and interface hardware. If you're building or servicing one of those systems, this is the genuine Furuno unit you want, and matching Furuno parts is the surest way to keep the whole compass performing to specification.

There's a real payoff to that accuracy in everyday use. A stabilized radar picture holds steady instead of smearing as the boat yaws, an autopilot holds a tighter line and works the rudder less, and a satellite TV or communications antenna stays locked on its target through the roll. Every one of those systems leans on the heading and motion numbers this sensor helps produce. Mount and wire it according to Furuno's installation guidance, give the antennas a clear view of the sky away from obstructions and other radiating equipment, and the system will reward you with heading data you can rely on. For any vessel where a steady, accurate heading is non-negotiable, the Furuno SC-701 is a core piece of a proven, professional-grade satellite compass solution.