Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Category: Communications

Gizmo’s antenna mast 2013: FLIR, Rogue, Wilson & more 24

Communications / What's on board...

Gizmo’s antenna mast 2013: FLIR, Rogue, Wilson & more

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I’ve heard it said that if you heeded all the manufacturer advice about antenna placement, you’d need a boat 100-feet long with four or five masts. I’ve been meaning to ask Panbo readers about how to best use Gizmo’s single (though beefy) antenna mast, but instead I went and rejiggered everything last week and your advice will have to wait for the next revision. What mainly drove the change is the long term loan of a FLIR M-Series camera system, which certainly deserves the premier masthead position…

MIBS 2013 Raymarine: Dragonfly, gS-Series, Evolution AP & much more! 41

Navigation / Communications / Electrical & Engines / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

MIBS 2013 Raymarine: Dragonfly, gS-Series, Evolution AP & much more!

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Raymarine was a little slow getting their Miami press releases out, but then again they have a LOT to talk about. And even with the six releases you’ll find at that link, they left out what I think is a significant move: the coming-soon Lighthouse 6 software release for a-, c-, e-Series — as well as the new gS glass bridge MFDs — will include support for Empirebus NXT digital switching and distributed power technology…

Navico: new GPS/Heading sensor & VHF/GPS handheld 80

Navigation / Communications / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Navico: new GPS/Heading sensor & VHF/GPS handheld

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Whether it’s called a Simrad GS50 or a B&G ZG100 or a Lowrance Point-1, it does not seem to be just another NMEA 2000 high-precision, high-refresh-rate GPS/Glonass sensor. Also integrated in is an “e-Compass/Gyro” heading sensor “that ensures access to stable and smooth vessel orientation” and “when used with a compatible” Navico display “greatly enhances navigational information by providing accurate course over ground (COG) data at any speed and enabling radar overlay on charts.” I’ve quoted the press releases heavily because I’m not yet sure that the sensor actually outputs Heading data, but I do know that whichever brand you buy, this souped-up overlay-enabling GPS is just $199 retail, and that sounds good…

Did Briartek “invent” two-way distress beacons? 17

Communications / Safety & SAR / The Trade

Did Briartek “invent” two-way distress beacons?

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I really enjoyed being part of Trawler Fest last week. It was inspiring to meet relatively new cruising enthusiasts who are working to expand their skill sets, and trying to explain and demonstrate currant technologies rekindled some of my own enthusiasms. I hadn’t turned on the DeLorme inReach in months, for instance, but it located itself and paired with my iPad for easy backup navigation, tracking, and two-way messaging no problem, even though I was standing in front of an audience under a large aluminum-framed tent. Plus I got to see the entirely new User and Map Share web pages DeLorme recently developed for inReach, and they are sharp. However, I was also reminded of a disturbing behind-the-scenes patent issue that may hobble all SENDs (Satellite Emergency Notification Devices) and will likely tax consumers no matter what happens in court…

Icom IC-M73 Plus with ‘rewind’ & more in VHF 8

Communications

Icom IC-M73 Plus with ‘rewind’ & more in VHF

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Icom is just about to release a new version of its IC-M72 pro-level handheld VHF and it includes a feature that really caught my eye (and ear). As suggested by the audio tape and REC(ord) icons on the screen above, the M73 Plus model will have a 60 second recording function so you can “rewind” a call you didn’t quite understand the first time. If you only half listen to your radio, or a possibly important call is broken, this can be very handy. Meanwhile Cobra is updating its VHF handheld that has a similar feature, Standard Horizon is offering a sharp-looking pair of low-end handhelds, and Icom is also adding a basic black box fixed radio…

VHF radio recalls, not to worry? 47

Communications

VHF radio recalls, not to worry?

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A Panbo reader sent this recent photo of empty VHF shelves at a West Marine in Florida along with a store manager’s report that Standard Horizon and Uniden had called in their inventory for a software upgrade needed to meet an FCC regulation. Yikes? The reader wondered if this had something to do with Class D VHF mandates and worried about same model radios that had already been bought and installed. My head hurts from the research involved but I’m pretty sure that the answer is “no worries”…

Wilson marine cellular, the testing begins 17

Wireless & Apps / Communications

Wilson marine cellular, the testing begins

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I probably made the PR guy’s day!  He called out of the blue with two questions — did I think that many boaters care about cellular boosters and had I heard of Wilson Electronics? — and my reply was not only “heck, yes” on both counts but also a report on how pleased I already was with the Wilson amp I installed on Gizmo last September. The company may have just decided to pay attention to the boat world, but I was more than ready to test the box of Wilson gear that recently showed up at Panbo HQ…

Simrad RS35 & Lowrance Link-8: DSC VHF + AISrx + N2K = YES! 112

Communications / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Simrad RS35 & Lowrance Link-8: DSC VHF + AISrx + N2K = YES!

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It would be interesting if the new Simrad RS35 VHF and its optional HS35 wireless mic could actually work different channels simultaneously, but I think that the suggestive product image above is just a Photoshop mistake. However, this radio and its Lowrance Link-8 sibling bring together a unique feature set that’s much more valuable, I think. These radios include a two-channel AIS receiver, like the very successful Standard Horizon Matrix AIS line, but they add a NMEA 2000 interface and that should add up to all sorts of plug’n’play goodness…

Gizmo south leg 1: offshore, online & inReach 23

Wireless & Apps / Communications

Gizmo south leg 1: offshore, online & inReach

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Cape May, NJ:  So far, so good except that I obviously haven’t yet integrated Panbo writing into my delivery/cruise routine. Sorry about that, but I’ll get back in the groove now that we’ve slowed down and also now that Gizmo and I have our sea legs back. It’s been a while for both of us!  Moreover, I’ve had a chance to test electronics in demanding conditions — like two night time entrances to unfamiliar harbors — and that’s really sharpened my thoughts about what works well and what doesn’t. Today, though, I’m going to discuss my tracking and staying in touch with home strategies…

Iridium Extreme & AxcessPoint, they work as expected 7

Wireless & Apps / Communications

Iridium Extreme & AxcessPoint, they work as expected

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In July I tested the Iridium 9575 Extreme satellite phone and the AxcessPoint WiFi hotspot accessory that we first discussed here a year ago. Why haven’t I written about it sooner? Well, this summer went by in a flash thanks the PBR, family, and my efforts to prepare boat and home for Gizmo’s southern sojourn (starting this weekend!). Plus I wasn’t really wowed by this gear, though in retrospect I wonder why…