Simrad HS65 GNSS Satellite Compass with Flat Mount

The Simrad HS65 is a GNSS satellite compass that gives your boat accurate, dependable heading without any of the headaches a magnetic compass brings. Instead of reacting to nearby metal, speakers, and wiring, the HS65 derives heading from satellites overhead. That means no deviation table to fuss over and no magnetic interference to account for, just clean heading data your autopilot, radar, and chartplotter can trust. If you've ever chased a wandering heading sensor around the dash looking for a magnetically quiet spot, you'll appreciate what this compass solves.

Accuracy is where the HS65 really shines. It delivers heading accuracy of better than 2 degrees RMS at a fast 10Hz update rate, which is exactly what autopilot and MARPA radar target-tracking applications need to work well. The unit also reports pitch and roll to within 1.5 degrees RMS and heave to within 30cm RMS, so systems that care about vessel motion get the full picture. Startup is quick too, with a cold start in under 90 seconds so you're not sitting at the dock waiting for a fix before you can get moving.

The HS65 tracks multiple satellite constellations, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS, with 2-channel SBAS tracking for WAAS and EGNOS correction. Broad constellation support means more satellites in view and a more reliable fix, even when your sky is partly blocked by a hardtop or tower. Position accuracy is better than 1.5 meters RMS without SBAS, and the 10Hz position update keeps pace with a boat that's actually moving. Rate of turn is handled up to 500 degrees per second, so quick maneuvers won't outrun the sensor.

Smart features round out the package. If satellite data is ever lost, the HS65 keeps your heading alive through dead reckoning for up to 3 minutes, and it carries a backup magnetic compass rated to better than 3 degrees RMS as a further fallback. Time to a position fix is typically 25 seconds, and once you have position the compass locks heading in about 10 seconds. Those are the kinds of numbers that matter when you're leaving a slip and want your electronics ready right now.

Installation is refreshingly simple. The HS65 connects to your boat over NMEA 2000 with a Micro-C connector, and it draws just 1.6 watts on 9 to 16 VDC, so it's easy on your electrical system with a load equivalency number of only 3. It's isolated to the enclosure with reverse polarity protection built in, so a wiring slip won't cook it. A 640mm NMEA 2000 fly-lead and a T-joiner come in the box, and the flat mount is included so you can get it installed without hunting for extra parts. Simrad also offers flush, raised, and pole mount options if your install calls for something different.

Built for life on the water, the HS65 carries an IPX6 and IPX7 enclosure rating and operates across a wide temperature range from minus 25 to plus 70 degrees Celsius. It weighs just 0.85 kg without the mount, and its low-profile, sleek design keeps it from becoming an eyesore on deck. The compass-safe distance is a tight 0.5 meters, so it plays nicely near other gear.

Who's this for? Any boater running an autopilot, radar with MARPA, or a networked navigation system that deserves a proper heading source. On a sportfisher chasing offshore targets, on a cruiser running an autopilot across open water, or on a center console where a magnetically noisy dash has always fought the heading sensor, the HS65 quietly fixes the problem at the root. It's a genuine upgrade over a fluxgate sensor, and it's the kind of component that makes everything downstream work better. Better heading means a tighter-tracking autopilot, more stable radar overlay, and cleaner MARPA targets, so the whole system feels sharper. We ship the authentic Simrad HS65 with the flat mount included, and we're glad to help you plan the install or match it to the rest of your electronics. Reach out anytime with questions about your boat and we'll point you in the right direction.