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The Marine Electronics Hub

Category: PC & peripheral

Maretron IPG100, the missing link, sort of? 29

Wireless & Apps / PC & peripheral / The future / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Maretron IPG100, the missing link, sort of?

Maretron_IPG100.JPG

Wow, Maretron just released the IPG100, an “Internet Protocol Gateway” that can take all the NMEA 2000 PGNs on a backbone, turn them into TCP/IP data packets, and serve them out an Ethernet port.  Which means of course that the data can then be routed by cable to a vessel’s local network of computers (and other fixed Ethernet gear) and by WiFi to an infinite assortment of onboard mobile tablets, apps phones, etc.  Obvious too is that an IP gateway could also be adept at sending data off a vessel, and vice versa, for remote monitoring, troubleshooting, and more.  And Maretron’s IPG100 consumes only 0.5 amps of N2K backbone power at most and its $595 price tag includes much more than I’ve already described.  Or much less, depending on your point of view!…

PolarView, ready for prime time? 36

Navigation / PC & peripheral / Charts

PolarView, ready for prime time?

Polarview netbook.jpg

I took a peek at PolarView NS charting software about a year ago, but didn’t write about it because I wasn’t especially impressed (and there’s a certain randomness to what I cover anyway).  But times change and software develops, and I’m here to tell you that PolarView 1.5 (video introduction here) is pretty darn impressive.  Given its app-like $40 price tag, it’s a remarkably powerful program that runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems.  The screen above shows PV running on my little ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10-Inch netbook
with live NMEA 0183 data coming from the lab’s N2K network via a Maretron USB 100.  PolarView is quite unusual in that it uses a sister program, called PolarCOM, to do all its data interfacing and instrument displays… 

Standard Horizon CPN Series, the first Internet MFDs? 36

Wireless & Apps / Navigation / PC & peripheral / Entertainment

Standard Horizon CPN Series, the first Internet MFDs?

Standard_Horizon_CPN1010i.JPG

At first glance Standard Horizon’s new CPN may look like a fairly standard multifunction display, but note the “turn page” screen graphic at lower right, the small (but purportedly powerful sounding) stereo speakers, and the “Multimedia Chart Plotter” designation.  The 7- and 10-inch CPNs have touch screens not only to help manage charting, optional radar, and so forth but also to select audio and video entertainment stored on front or back connected USB sources, or streaming over WiFi.  And, yes, there is a Web browser in there too!

Nobeltec VNS & Admiral 11, the preview 5

Navigation / PC & peripheral

Nobeltec VNS & Admiral 11, the preview

Nobeltec_NavView_Fuel.JPG

Real time fuel range — as when it’s calculated using actual fuel flow and tank levels — is darn useful information; for instance, it should let you instantly see the effects of RPM or sea state changes not only on your MPG but also on your ability to get somewhere without a forced stop.  Which is why it’s neat that the Nobeltec 11 preview screen above shows the value as a number, as a circumference from your present position, and even as a distance along your active route.  And there’s an implication to this screen that I’m sure many of you will welcome (and may have already figured out)…

RAPC Nautilus, toughest marine PC yet? 16

PC & peripheral

RAPC Nautilus, toughest marine PC yet?

Bob_Hilliard_RAPC_cPanbo.JPG

This is my favorite sort of show and tell.  The guy doing the showing, Bob Hilliard, is the chief engineer involved, and the location was the nav station of the 105-foot ketch Apache, which will be a beta site for Bob’s creation, the RAPC Nautilus marine PC on the chart table.  I admit to being a bit dazzled by the boat, which you can gander in this old charter listing, and the Pinot Noir, but I’m thinking that’s the most bullet-proof boat computer I’ve ever seen…

Datalux Tracer police car computer, good on a boat? 43

PC & peripheral / Zany

Datalux Tracer police car computer, good on a boat?

used_Datalux_Tracer_PC_in_good_company_cPanbo.JPG

My search for Gizmo’s navigation PC has taken a strange turn — as you can see above, posed around a Furuno MFD12 — and I’m blaming a Panbo commenter who recently crowed about scoring a 12v, fanless all-in-one Datalux iPix on eBay.  I’m close to crowing myself — and maybe a few of you will join me, as there are three left — but I could use some geek help to better understand what’s under the hood of this particular Datalux Tracer police car computer…

Simrad BR24PC, Free Range BroadBand Radar #2 34

PC & peripheral

Simrad BR24PC, Free Range BroadBand Radar #2

Expedition with Navico Broadband Radar.GIF

We had a false start in December when we first saw the PC charting program Expedition interfaced to a Navico BR24 radar, but as of last night this interesting possibility, and many like it, seem to be official.  Read the full press release here.  I think this means that Expedition and some other charting programs may soon be able to run a Broadband Radar, with or without a Simrad (or Lowrance?) mulitfunction display involved, but there are a few details of the plan and implementation that I’d like to know more about…

Low power PCs #1, & Farallon Electronics 15

PC & peripheral / What's on board...

Low power PCs #1, & Farallon Electronics

Open_40_boat_PC_courtesy_Farallon_Electronics.JPG

I’ve been trying to search out a low-power 12v PC for Gizmo, though I might give up for this season — I’m so behind project-wise — and it may not be such an issue once I install a decent solar panel or two.  But it’s certainly a dynamic subject, and one way to keep up is to watch the folks who are truly obsessed with power efficiency (and low weight)…offshore racing sailors. The photos of that unusual PC in the spartan interior of an Open 40 above were sent along by system designer Eric Steinberg, founder of Farallon Electronics, along with a few details…