Electronics

Furuno’s New Radar: More Powerful and Precise at Both Short and Long Range

By Peter Janssen on February 22, 2017 Cruising Life, Electronics

Long a leader in providing sophisticated radar for commercial users, Furuno has just introduced two new features to improve the performance of their X-Class radar units on cruising powerboats as well. By extending the maximum pulse length from 0.8 to 1.2 megaseconds, Furuno has increased the performance in both long- and short-range applications. This means that you can see land masses, for example, in great detail at long range, while you can detect many different targets, clearly and precisely, at short range. The two new features are for Furuno’s NavNet TZtouch and TZtouch2 units, and they’re called DRS12AX and DRS25AX.…

Stay in Touch, Anywhere in the World, With Garmin’s New inReach SE+

By Peter Janssen on February 5, 2017 Electronics

Now you can stay in touch with your family and friends, no matter where you’re cruising, for a reasonable price with Garmin’s new inReach SE+, a handheld two-way text messaging device that sells for $399.99, with satellite plans starting at $11.95 a month. The Garmin inReach SE+ uses the Iridium satellite network for pole-to-pole coverage anywhere in the world, giving you, and your family at home, some peace of mind when you’re cruising. And you don’t have to worry about running up large air time bills. The two-way text messaging connects with cell phones, computers and other inReach devices around…

Simrad GO9 XSE: Radar and SiriusXM Weather Radar on a 9-Inch Display

By Peter Janssen on February 1, 2017 Electronics

Simrad’s new GO9 XSE brings radar and SiriusXM Weather radar to one 9-inch multi-touch display in an integrated system designed to expand the navigation capabilities of cruising boat owners. The new display is built for plug and play with Simrad’s broadband and Halo Pulse Compression radar systems, and it can connect with SiriusXM weather radar. The unit comes with built-in GPS, WiFi and NMEA 2000 connectivity. You can also connect the display with your tablet or smartphone, control the onboard sound system and even monitor engine data. For a look at how all this works, see the video below or…

NOAA Report: EPIRBs Accounted for 300 Rescues in America Last Year

By Peter Janssen on January 26, 2017 Electronics

If you’re thinking of going offshore without an EPIRB, don’t. As emergency distress signals, EPIRBs are an absolutely major safety item that could save your life, and the lives of everyone else on board. And they work. In fact, NOAA just reported that EPIRBs were responsible for more than 300 rescues in America last year, an enormous number. For more, read this: http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/epirb-signals-contributed-to-300-rescues-in-2016

New Navionics Video Shows How They Can Take You Where You Want to Go

By Peter Janssen on November 30, 2016 Electronics

Here’s a great new video showing all of Navionics’ charting and sonar capabilities. I’ve been using a Navionics Boating app on my iPhone for several years, on the East Coast, West Coast and Great Lakes, and it’s a perfect navigation backup or even planning tool. At this point, I wouldn’t leave home without it. Take a look at what Navionics can do today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmW8m_MUDY8 http://www.navionics.com

New Smaller Garmin Touchscreen and Keyed Chartplotters

By Peter Janssen on November 15, 2016 Electronics

Designed for people who don’t have a lot of space at their helms, Garmin just introduced at the Fort Lauderdale show a series of smaller, less expensive touchscreen and keyed chartplotters and combo units. The new models are additions to Garmin’s popular GPSMAP series and are 7- to 12-inch plotters available with or without built-in sonar. The new units are GPSMAP 7×2 and 9×2 touchscreen chartplotters and GPSMAP 10×2 and 12×2 keyed chartplotters. Dan Bartel, Garmin’s VP of worldwide sales, says the new units “are designed for the budget-conscious customer who desires premium features typically found only in a higher-end…

Brand-New Simrad Radar, GPS, Fishfinder Package for Smaller Cruising Boats

By Peter Janssen on November 1, 2016 Electronics

Simrad has just announced its new GO9 XSE 4G radar bundle with the company’s TotalScan, fishfinder and chartplotter, all in a user-friendly, multi-touch 9” display for smaller cruising boats. The new package has plug-and-play support for Simrad Broadband Radar and halo Pulse Compression radar systems. The bright widescreen has built-in GPS, GoFree Wi-Fi and standard NMEA 2000 capability. You can connect it to smartphones and tablets, control the sound system, monitor engine data and choose from an array of built-in sonar technology to catch the fish you want. The FMCW radar has Simrad’s Broadband 3G radar but with more features,…

New ICOM Handheld VHF Floats, Flashes and Has GPS and DSC

By Peter Janssen on October 31, 2016 Electronics

It seems that the new ICOM M93D handheld VHF radio does just about everything but drive the boat for you. It has an integrated GPS to tell you where you are and where you’re heading, built-in DSC so you can check in with other boats (or sound a distress), a special feature that sounds a buzz while it drains water away from the speaker, and a red LED light that turns on automatically (even if the radio is off) if you drop it in the water. And if floats. By the way, it’s also a state-of-the-art VHF. Slender and easy…

Furuno and Garmin Win Big at NMEA Awards

By Peter Janssen on October 5, 2016 Electronics

The National Marine Electronics Association named 16 winners at its annual expo, giving its annual Technology Award to Furuno’s DRS4D-NXT Doppler solid-state radar (pictured above), plus 15 “Product of Excellence” awards to other companies. Garmin was the big winner overall, being named the NMEA’s Manufacturer of the Year for the second straight year. Here’s the NMEA’s official statement. NMEA NAMES 2016 PRODUCT AWARD WINNERS AT CONFERENCE & EXPO NMEA Product of Excellence Award presented in 16 categories Garmin repeats as Manufacturer of the Year-Support Furuno Doppler radar wins NMEA Technology Award SEVERNA PARK, MD—The marine electronics industry honored several manufacturers…

Prize-Winning Garmin GPSMAP Shows Engine Data

By Peter Janssen on September 20, 2016 Electronics

The new Garmin GPSMAP 7600 chartplotter with J1939 connection now provides engine information and is so easy to use and install that it just won the Best New Electronics award at the Newport International Boat Show. The judges, all industry experts, said the new unit “has a very intuitive user interface. Sensor data is served up very nicely and the custom setups are easy to understand and can be built in as little or as much space as needed. It has all of the features and capabilities needed and is extremely easy to use.” The new unit is a redesign…

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