Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Yearly Archive: 2011

Simrad Broadband Radar 4G, hand’s-on #1 41

Navigation

Simrad Broadband Radar 4G, hand’s-on #1

Simrad_NSE12_w_4G_radar_Camden_Harbor_cPanbo.jpg

I’ve looked forward to testing Simrad’s new 4G Broadband Radar since I saw it demoed in Fort Lauderdale. And how timely that I got out with it and the rest of Gizmo’s test radars over the weekend. Tonight I’m reprising my Seven Sea’s University radar webinar, and now I’ve got fresh material!  (No hard sell meant, but Panbo readers can get the SSCA discount by using the code “Gizmo” and note that you can watch the webinar any time in the next few weeks even if you can’t make it tonight). Plus it’s been weirdly warm here for early December, so I had a pleasant cruise even if almost all those finely targeted Camden Inner Harbor floats are empty in anticipation of what is surely coming…

DeLorme inReach hand’s-on #2, text me! 16

Wireless & Apps / Communications / Safety & SAR

DeLorme inReach hand’s-on #2, text me!

DeLorme_inReach_web_portal_cPanbo.jpg

Following up on inReach hands-on #1 — which attempted to be both an overview and a close look at its associated Android app Earthmate — let’s check out the Internet side of the system. The screen above is the user’s web portal at explore.delorme.com, which DeLorme developed in partnership with GeoPro. Given that GeoPro builds its own pro-level Iridium handhelds, like its new $1,200 SHOUT Nano, it’s no surprise that the portal let’s you thoroughly view and manage inReach communications. It could even be used by, say, a fleet manager to keep an eye on multiple inReach units…

DeLorme inReach, hand’s on #1 10

Wireless & Apps / Communications / Safety & SAR

DeLorme inReach, hand’s on #1

SatMessengers_inReach_CerberLink_Connect_cPanbo.jpg

Click on this photo for a close look at the new age of satellite messaging, tracking, and distress handhelds, or at least three of the early contenders. I was cautiously keen on the DeLorme inReach when it first surfaced, but then I had to bite my tongue. Though I was experiencing its reasonably fast and affordable two-way global messaging back in August, I couldn’t discuss it because of the beta testing NDA. Fair enough, as the inReach system evolved substantially during the beta process. Plus I’ve now had a chance to compare it with the less expensive Spot Connect, whose one-way custom messaging via Globalstar was discussed here in January. Not to mention the pro-oriented BriarTek Cerberus system, which also appeared here last January and uses the same Iridium 9602 data modem as the inReach. The news is pretty much all good for anyone who boats (or hikes, or whatever) beyond cell service, but it’s going to take several entries just to lay out what I’ve learned so far…

ActiveCaptain route sharing: dangerous, useful, or perfection? 43

Navigation

ActiveCaptain route sharing: dangerous, useful, or perfection?

ActiveCaptain_route_share_cPanbo.jpg

When I first heard about ActiveCaptain’s plan to enable route sharing amongst it users, it was via a group email from a very experienced bluewater cruiser “in absolute shock that a boat owner/skipper navigating a boat through unfamiliar waters would use somebody else’s waypoints.” I posted the whole note for discussion in the Forum, but only AC developer Jeff Siegel and I participated. Well, now route sharing is fully enabled at the ActiveCaptain site, as illustrated in the screen shot collage above, and I still don’t understand why anyone would object, particularly given AC’s careful implementation…

AC34, Garmin & the support fleet 4

What's on board...

AC34, Garmin & the support fleet

AC34_extreme_ribs_camera_boat_cPanbo.jpg

Given that the Golden Gate Yacht Club — home club of Larry Ellison and his team BMW Oracle Racing — couldn’t confidently start on America’s Cup 34 until they won the much-litigated AC33 in February, 2010, it’s pretty amazing that they got the new World Series program running last August. Besides the raft of new behind-the-scenes technology discussed here recently, the organizers put together a large fleet of support vessels and a core shore infrastructure that could all travel around the world packed into a cargo ship. And the AC34 folks do not seem to do anything halfway. For instance, click on the photo and see how the ACRM (Race Management) containers were stacked and accessorized on the San Diego Navy Pier to make a two-story Base with decks and awnings (and even wheelchair access). Consider too the sleek camera-toting power catamaran Cambria…

America’s Cup 34, a tech overview 5

What's on board...

America’s Cup 34, a tech overview

ACWS_Stan_Honey_tech_conference_cPanbo.jpg

Stan Honey has not always been grinning during the San Diego session of the AC World Series, but it’s staggering what he and the many tech teams behind the scenes have already accomplished. As I had hoped. In fact, while I came mostly to see the technology, I’ve become enthralled by the racing itself, which — almost ironically, and a far cry from previous AC’s — is all about sailing skills rather than competing design and gear technologies. The fleet of AC45 catamarans is nearly pure one design (they have some latitude over the “soft” sail designs) and I understand that the only racing electronics the crews are using are GPS speedos. What all the gadgetry and software supports are remarkably agile race management, fast and fair umpiring, and phenomenal audio video broadcast coverage…

METS 2011, a Kees Verruijt report 8

AIS / The Trade / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

METS 2011, a Kees Verruijt report

METS_marine_trade_show.jpg

Today I {Kees Verruijt} did a one day tour of the 2011 Marine Equipment Trade Show in Amsterdam. I knew before I started that it would be a hopeless task to cover everything so this is just my own take on things… This year is the first year that Ben had introduced me as the official Panbo representative and I was surprised at how much ‘clout’ I was carrying. This turned out to be both positive (people take you seriously) and a negative — some manufacturers clearly stated that some things were under embargo and they did not care for publication just yet…

Today I {Kees Verrujit} did a one day tour of the 2011 Marine Equipment Trade Show in Amsterdam. I knew before I started that it would be a hopeless task to cover everything so this is just my own take on things… This year is the first year that Ben had introduced me as the official Panbo representative and I was surprised at how much ‘clout’ I was carrying. This turned out to be both positive (people take you seriously) and a negative — some manufacturers clearly stated that some things were under embargo and they did not care for publication just yet…

The DAMEs: DY iAIS, the iThing onslaught & more 7

AIS

The DAMEs: DY iAIS, the iThing onslaught & more

So this morning Digital Yacht’s iAIS won the DAME award in the electronics category, but the thing I noticed is that four out of the six nominees chosen by the judges involve the integration...

EarthNC: routing, NEXRAD, & Baron XMWX 11

Wireless & Apps / Navigation

EarthNC: routing, NEXRAD, & Baron XMWX

EarthNC_routing_cPanbo.jpg

I use the iPad version of EarthNC fairly often because I still like how it can overlay and detail NOAA weather buoy and forecast info, a feature it had when I first tried it. I also like how the quilted NOAA raster charts look on a pad (but then again I’m an old guy). Now EarthNC has added a pretty full featured route-making routine to its iOS version, as I tried to illustrate above by laying out the San Diego America’s Cup course I’ll be seeing up close later this week (I’m so excited). Note how I was able to easily type in waypoint names, and what you can’t see is how easy it is to move one, or delete it, or add a new one along a track line…