Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Yearly Archive: 2019

15

Wireless & Apps / Communications / AIS

Raymarine Ray90, a full featured black box VHF radio with wireless handsets and Bluetooth audio

I believe that VHF radios from the big four MFD manufacturers are primarily offered so that boat builders and customers can put a single brand of electronics at the helm, and thus my normal advice is to consider VHF radios (and AIS transponders) from specialist manufacturers who may offer fuller-featured, better-performing equipment.  Testing the new Raymarine Ray90 makes me reconsider that recommendation…

2

Editors' Blog / History

My Walker taffrail log, designed centuries ago and still working

I certainly agree with DownEast magazine’s choice for a top 10 iconic Maine image. Heck, I still remember relishing this photo of Captain Lincoln Colcord grinning his way around the Cape of Good Hope at the turn of the 19th century about 72 years later. It’s stirring stuff, and so maybe is that navigation gadget spinning off the miles on the hunky taffrail…

8

Editors' Blog / Network & control / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Raymarine adds easy STng-to-N2K adapter plugs and a SeaTalk NG alarm

With the introduction of the Axiom MFD line Raymarine moved away from their proprietary SeaTalk NG cable/connector system and joined most other manufacturers offering standard DeviceNet cabling for NMEA 2000 networking.  Now they’ve introduced a helpful line of adapters to make that transition easier, and the little adapters above can solve a lot of installation headaches…

13

Editors' Blog / Cabin & deck gear / The future

Scheiber’s kinetic Light Air Switch kit, with Marinebeam assist

Scheiber is a substantial French electronics company that provides sophisticated systems to large boatbuilders like Beneteau and Lagoon, but it’s now offering its lighting control technology in a retail kit form that means a local installer or DIY could use it for refits or custom builds. Moreover, the $350 Light Air Switch is distributed and supported in the U.S. by the crack team at Marinebeam, and what technology it is!

4

Editors' Blog / Navigation / The future

Starlight LED helming guide, plus Autonnic’s unusual A55 “analog” instrument displays

One of my METS show highlights was the Starlight LED Helming Guide introduced by Autonnic Research. While the concept is somewhat hard to grasp from ashore — even with an animation — I think it’s a great example of how electronics can be fashioned into a unique and useful tool that connects intuitively with the natural world of boating. While “a star to steer by” sounds lovely, I’ve observed many a helmsman…