Panbo

The Marine Technology Hub

Panbo News and Reviews

34

Wireless & Apps / Navigation

ActiveCaptain Community app support

On May 23rd Garmin shut down the old way of distributing ActiveCaptain (AC) data and turned on the new ActiveCaptain Community (ACC) servers.  All the mobile apps, charting programs and MFDs programmed to work with AC stopped updating unless they had been newly modified. In the table below you’ll see that the number of products currently able to display and edit ACC POIs is pretty small. Hopefully, more blue checks will soon be added, and that’s why this entry is definitely “subject to change.”

68

Wireless & Apps / Navigation

Garmin’s new ActiveCaptain Community site, what’s good and what’s not?

I am a long time fan of ActiveCaptain boating info. In fact, I’m pretty sure that my January 2007 Camden Public Landing review above was one the very first, as I was simultaneously writing about AC’s inception here. Now the AC database and user community are both huge, but many of us “captains” are struggling with Garmin’s very recent and complete rebuild of the service…

28

Editors' Blog / Good Gear (non electronic)

The quest for the perfect boat, month 14

Like many boaters, I’m always on the lookout for the right next boat.  Since joining Panbo I’ve written somewhat frequently about my recently completed trip around America’s Great Loop.  That trip provided my family and me with an amazing adventure as well as the opportunity to think about what makes the right boat for us.

13

Wireless & Apps / Handheld / Communications

Uniden MHS335BT handheld: VHF, GPS, DSC and texting!

When I first read Uniden’s MHS335B handheld VHF press release, the feature that really intrigued me was “Maritime Industry-First Private Text Messaging.”  The release was a little short on details and I was left with more questions than answers. But I was glad when Uniden kindly loaned me two radios to see all their VHF, GPS, DSC, and texting features hand’s on…

18

Editors' Blog / Wireless & Apps / Charts

SEAiq apps replace ActiveCaptain with Waterway Guide

Actually, as you can see above, SEAiq lets you overlay both ActiveCaptain and Waterway Guide info onto its chart display (and easily turn either or both overlays on and off). But as noted on the SEAiq website, the AC data will not be updated after May 23, though “We are considering updating SEAiq support for ActiveCaptain but do not have definite plans yet.”

12

Network & control / Entertainment / The future

Fusion Apollo Series, truly “The Sum of Audio Innovation”?

Even bolder than the advertising tagline quoted in my title is sentence two of the Apollo press release: “Building on FUSION’s industry recognized True-Marine design philosophy, the new Apollo Series will forever change the face of marine entertainment and set a new standard by which all others will be created.” And the Apollo name and logo even reference the classical Greek god of music. It would all seem immensely pretentious if Fusion hadn’t also gone big with design and audio goodness. But, by golly, I think Apollo delivers…

14

Wireless & Apps / Network & control / How-to

Configuring a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X for WiFi and cell internet on your boat

In my feature about marine internet, I referenced a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter as the “heart of our boat network.” It manages multiple WiFi and cellular internet connections to multiple computers, tablets, etc. around the boat, and is remarkably capable for its cost, but configuration is not for the faint of the heart. So this is the step-by-step guide…