Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Yearly Archive: 2020

15

Editors' Blog / How-to / What's on board...

Inventor of Ethernet confused by his new Garmin marine electronics!

Bob Metcalf doesn’t deserve this entry’s title, but he’s a good sport and I wanted to get your attention. Plus, I did indeed spend a morning helping the Ethernet’s inventor get more comfortable with his extensive new Garmin system, and got reminded of several marine electronics truths in the process: Current systems can be dauntingly complex no matter who you are (or who designed them), Smart guys like this one are usually adept at…

5

Press Releases / Network & control / Electrical & Engines / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K / Monitoring & Tracking

Veratron Debuts NMEA 2000 Intelligent Battery Monitor

Batteries are essential for engine starting and operating onboard utilities. With Veratron’s new Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), it’s simple to monitor their status and health in real-time. The system works with any OceanLink, AcquaLink or NMEA 2000-networked display, and is compatible with the latest glass cockpit systems.

18

Mobile Apps / Electrical & Engines / Monitoring & Tracking

Victron SmartShunt: easy install, networked, all-in-one battery monitor

I’ve found Victron’s BMV battery monitors to be simple, reliable, and easy to understand. Now, the new SmartShunt combines the BMV’s shunt and electronics into a single unit barely larger than the regular shunt with Bluetooth and Victron’s VE.Direct networking built-in. In my testing, the SmartShunt works just like a BMV. And I don’t miss the little gauge display because there are so many other ways to see and use SmartShunt battery data, suitable to boats large and small (and RVs).

8

Press Releases / Wireless & Apps / Gadgets / Monitoring & Tracking

Siren Marine Introduces Siren 3 Pro Connected Boat Device

Siren Marine today unveiled the Siren 3 Pro — the next generation
Connected Boat® product that will fundamentally enhance the boat ownership experience while
providing the boating industry with critical data needed to provide better products and an entirely new approach to service opportunities and customer support.

0

Press Releases / Network & control / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Veratron LinkUp brings vessel data to the NMEA 2000 era

The new family of Veratron LinkUp single function gateway modules provides an easy method to convert vessel and engine information to NMEA 2000. Available in five variations, they deliver all the speed and benefits of the latest plug-and-play communications standard, without the expense and time expenditure of replacing old networked devices.

10

Network & control / Communications

GL.iNet AR750 travel router, a low-cost boat router option

Regardless of how you get internet connectivity onboard your boat, I’m a big advocate for using a dedicated boat router. There’s nothing inherently special about a boat router; it could be a cheap router designed for use at home or a sophisticated system designed just for use on megayachts. The options cover a broad price range and I’ve recently come across an inexpensive, relatively easy-to-use, feature-rich router that seems like a good option.

12

Editors' Blog / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K / Monitoring & Tracking

FloatHub 2020: LTE cellular, web widgets & more

For me, the boat monitoring features of FloatHub started well and have continually improved since I first reviewed the relatively inexpensive hardware/service system when it was a 2017 Kickstarter campaign. So when I stripped the chaos of redundant test electronics off Gizmo last fall with a plan to put together a more normal “pick of the litter” system, FloatHub was going to part of it. But actually I just installed a new LTE cellular model and that, along with some nifty new sharing features, prompted this update…

11

Editors' Blog / Panbo & misc.

Panbo adds a land yacht to our test fleet

There’s been a lot written recently about the strength of the boat and RV markets. I’ve struggled at times to understand why, especially with the uncertainty looming around all of us. But, I also understand the escape that a recreational vessel or vehicle can bring. In fact, I understand it so well that my wife Laura and I decided to add an RV to our fleet of mobile residences — the fleet now sits at two with the RV.

1

Press Releases / Fishing & Sonar / Charts

Humminbird Launches CoastMaster Charts, Giving Saltwater Anglers the Ability to Better Target and Catch More Fish

Humminbird announces the release of the all-new CoastMaster chart, providing highly accurate chart coverage for all U.S. coastal waters. With complete coverage for all East, West and Gulf coast waters on a single card, CoastMaster delivers all saltwater captains the information and features they need to fish and navigate with confidence…