The Marine Electronics Hub
At the Miami Boat Show, NavSim Technology was showing some neat AIS plotting features, and yesterday I got them to send some illustrative screen shots. In the lower right “secondary chart view” above you can see how NavSim uses yellow, green, and red target icons to show moored, moving, and dangerous vessels (a full explanation of AIS icons here, and special Class B icons are coming soon). You can also see…
If I understand the timing correctly, about when Raymarine starts shipping its new AIS 500 Class B transponder in May, it will also offer software updates for A, C, E, and G Series MFDs that provide some AIS plotting improvements. On top of the list is “buddy tracking”, which I consider a valuable feature, though the term — used by several manufacturers — is a bit misleading…
Thanks to an angelic Panbot, I’ve now read pertinent sections of IEC 62288, a.k.a. “Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems – Presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational displays – General requirements, methods of testing and required test results.” It’s a hundred pages (preview PDF here) laying out in great detail the minimum requirements for how all new radars going on SOLAS ships will perform and present data. Perhaps most important among many mandated enhancements is the treatment of AIS targets, Class B included, putting them on essentially the same level of safety value as radar targets. I think these standards are good news not only for the bridge teams on big ships, but also us little guys who sometimes travel amongst them (despite the consternation that came up yesterday)…
I spent some of this weekend installing and trying out Coastal Explorer 2009, and was thoroughly impressed…
So Global Satellite USA has announced an interesting Iridium PBX box, but it won’t roll out until June and will cost $4,200 (with an outside antenna and 20 meters of cable)…
When I wrote about SafeLife in January, I didn’t realize that this full-on through-satellite EPIRB and PLB testing service wasn’t quite ready to go. In fact, it’s not trivial to put together the system...
Some of you may remember my enthusiasm for the GrandCentral, a free online voice mail, PBX, and one-#-for-life scheme with fantastic potential for cruising boaters (as well as mere mortals). In that March, 2007, entry I even hoped for/predicted the startup’s purchase by Google, which happened almost immediately. It remained functional, but very quiet, all these months. (I never did use it as a real contact number, because I like the Maine numbers I have, but did use its fabulous call recording abilities for tasks like testing the Cobra noise cancelling cell mic.) Well, finally GrandCentral has emerged as Google Voice, with several added features like…
I was surprised when Tim Flanagan went all Glen Beck on underwater lights last week. It hadn’t occurred to me that “no boat owner with an ounce of sense” would drill a hole below his or her waterline just to “make the water glow pretty colors”. In fact, senseless me has long considered going for the dramatic effect above (compliments DeepSea Power & Light) on Li’l Gizmo, which has become fairly reasonable and easy thanks to gear like OceanLED’s Amphibians…
Something I was very pleased to find on the ever more likely future Gizmo is extensive documentation on its DC and AC wiring…
Well, ain’t that a bitch! Thanks to the vigilance of Steve Roberts I now know that an online “store” called Discount Marine Electronics is posting Panbo entries as though “it” created them. Actually all they’re doing is putting up the same first picture and paragraph anyone can get via XML feed or email (see Subscribe button top right). But Discount Marine Electronics is cutting out the “read more” link, so readers really don’t get the whole jist of the entry but may be fooled into thinking that the diligent staff of Discount Marine Electronics is testing gear and writing about it on a regular basis.
Here’s the irony: I’ve spent the last two days surveying and test running the still maybe future Gizmo, and am so besotted that I don’t care if these rip off artists suffer consequences immediately, or just rot in hell at a later date. But I will be pleased if Discount Marine Electronics has automated the posting of my posts, and hence we might see this post go up on their site. If so, grab that screen! And don’t forget to buy all your marine electronics at Discount Marine Electronics.
