Archive for September 2008

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• 28 September 2008
  New WIB2D Portbale NAVTEX Available From MES
  

  Marine Electronic Services Ltd has introduced the new WIB2D portable Navtex.  Smaller than a pack of cigarettes, it incorporates a sophisticated dual channel Navtex receiver and built-in LCD display to show weather and navigation information available from the free of charge Navtex system.  There is no need for an external antenna and it has a built-in rechargeable battery which can last up to three days.  It can also be connected to a PC, and the data viewed on screen or even printed out onto hard copy.

  Both the 490KHz (for inshore forecasts) and the 518KHz frequencies are monitored simultaneously so you will never miss a message.  Its portable format is ideal for charterers or for grabbing the latest weather and nav information whilst at home or in the office prior to setting sail.  It is priced at £399 including VAT and is available from Marine Electronic Services Ltd.

• 25 September 2008
  New AIS Splitter, the SPL250, from Digital Yacht
  

  Digital Yacht, maker of the popular AIT250 AIS transponder, has added an optional VHF antenna splitter to its system.  This allows the transponder to connect to an existing VHF antenna so that there is no need for a second antenna for the AIS transponder.  Splitters have been available for some time for AIS receivers, but this is one of the first available for a transponder.  The unit also uses some sophisticated technology to ensure that the main ship’s VHF always has priority. 

  Called the SPL250, it comes complete with pre-made cables to allow easy fitting into an existing VHF installation.  The unit has an additional output for a car radio allowing the main VHF antenna to also be used for an AM/FM reception.  The unit is designed to work with any AIS transponder or AIS receiver.  It is priced competitively at £159.95 including VAT and is available now from Digital Yacht.

• 25 September 2008
  Garmin introduces touchscreen multi-use nüvi 500 series – great for boating, and a whole host of other activities
  

  Garmin announces its first touchscreen multi-use nüvi portable navigation device (PND) dedicated to boating, walking, cycling, motorbiking and driving, in one rugged easy-to-use unit. The nüvi 500 series comes equipped with the latest technology from Garmin including NavTeq sophisticated mapping data and the ability to accept different types of mapping including BlueChart cartography for marine use and TOPO for outdoor navigation.

  Clive Taylor, Garmin’s UK Director of Product, said, “The nüvi 500 series is a true chameleon in the gadget world, it extends the use of GPS across the range, from boating to driving, walking to cycling. It’s ideal for individuals or families who want to go and explore the great outdoors in every way they can. With the built-in compass and integrated Wherigo™ and Geocaching player, the sat-nav’s use is extended beyond just navigating: users can enjoy the fun of the many family treasure hunts and adventures available online.”

  The new waterproof nüvi 500 series combines the latest Garmin navigation technology including Hotfix™, detailed NavTeq mapping, millions of points of interest (POIs) and traffic avoidance compatibility for the times when sitting in a traffic jam is not an option. In addition, the nüvi 500 series comes standard with Garmin’s popular “Where am I?” safety feature. At any time, with a single tap of the car icon, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations and recovery service telephone number.  In addition, with Garmin Connect Photos, users can choose from millions of geo-located images provided by Google’s Panoramio to photo-navigate on land or water.

  With one touch, the nüvi 500 transitions between boating, walking, biking, or driving mode.

  Boating
  When loaded with optional BlueChart® g2 Vision marine cartography, the nüvi 500 series is great on the water, providing detailed chart-specific information, spot soundings, inter tidal zones, wrecks, port plans, restricted areas and more. The nüvi 500 is ideal for the occasional boating enthusiast who wants one navigational device for foot, car, bike or boat.

  Walking and outdoor pursuits
  Ready for the great outdoors, the nüvi 500 models display shaded digital elevation mapping on the 3.5” waterproof touchscreen.  This series comes standard with a compass page, track log and a removable, rechargeable battery for extended outdoor use. The integrated Wherigo™ and Geocaching player means the nüvi 500 series is ideal for getting the family to enjoy the great outdoors with the many downloadable ‘adventures and treasure hunts’ available online.  Optional TOPO mapping will give additional detailed maps.

• 25 September 2008
  AIS Watchmate offers Anti-Collision Solution for Yachts
  

  AIS (the buzz word for automatic identification system) has become the yachtsman’s technology ‘to have’ for 2008.  Part of the problem with the popularity of the system is that interpreting target data on an already crowded electronic plotter screen can be difficult.  Bristol-based Marine Electronic Services Ltd has come up with an ingenious device called WatchMate, which connects directly to an AIS receiver or transponder and displays an easy-to-interpret list of targets that are within range.  More importantly, it calculates the closest point of approach (CPA) and time to closest point of approach (TCPA), as well as prioritising the target list with a series of user-definable parameters and alarms – the closest target may not necessarily be the most dangerous!  In addition, it will also bring up other information from the AIS transmission, such as the vessel’s call sign, MMSI number, name, destination, size and other static data transmitted over the AIS system.

  The system consumes just 1.2W of power and measures just 208×135x76mm.  It is waterproof and sunlight viewable, so can be mounted in the cockpit where it is most needed.

  AIS offers lots of benefits in that it can often operate where radar cannot function, such as seeing around bends on a river or estuary, or even where bad weather may obscure a radar display.  The system can track up to 128 targets and picks up signals from both Class A and Class B (leisure) transponders.  The price is £299 including VAT.   All the system requires is connection to an onboard GPS and a suitable AIS receiver or transponder.

  Email: sales@mesltd.co.uk
  www.mesltd.co.uk

• 25 September 2008
  Garmin broadens instrument range with ‘super smooth’ Wind Sensor
  

  Garmin is introducing its first wind sensor for its marine networking range of instruments. The GWS 10 Wind Sensor is a modern new wind vane that not only monitors wind speed and direction but also provides barometric pressure and air temperature data – in effect, a mini weather station suitable for sailing boats and power craft.

  What’s more, its fast, 10Hz wind direction output creates the smoothest graphical needle movement on the market, making the GWS 10 Wind Sensor ideal for those who need to interpret wind shifts quickly and accurately.

  Designed to be linked to Garmin’s GMI 10 Marine Instrument Display and other NMEA 2000 multi-function displays, including any Garmin Marine Network Chart Plotter with a NMEA 2000 port, the GWS 10 Wind Sensor is a ‘smart’ transducer that is easily integrated into the NMEA 2000 data bus.  Also, when linked to the GMI 10, it will graphically track wind speed and angle, barometric pressure and temperature, enabling the user to view trends over a variable time base.

  Highly accurate at low and high wind speeds, GWS 10 can precisely monitor winds from zephyrs to hurricanes. It provides the essential data of apparent wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature which, when combined with other sensors and a GMI 10 instrument display, can be used to calculate true wind angle and speed, wind VMG (boat speed made good to windward), tack heading, pressure trend and tidal set and drift.

  The GWS 10 Sensor has an external, waterproof connection at the masthead to ease installation. The NMEA 2000 backbone cable is lead directly to the GWS10 and preserves the NMEA 2000 bus should the sensor be removed from the system. Whenever the NMEA 2000 system is operational, the GWS10 provides wind and weather data throughout the network.

  Other sensors in the Garmin Marine Networking series include fuel sensors, NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 intelliducers (depth transducers) and the GPS17X high sensitivity receiver/antenna.

  Technical details
  Wind speed range: 0 – 99 knots
  Input voltage: 9 – 16 Volts

  Recommended Retail Price
  GWS 10 - £449.99 including VAT
  GMI 10 - £399.99 including VAT
  Garmin ‘bundle’ of GWS 10 and GMI 10 - £799.99 including VAT

• 25 September 2008
  New compact, technology-packed units ideal for open cockpits and centre consoles
  

  New compact, technology-packed units ideal for open cockpits and centre consoles

  Raymarine’s new A Series range of chartplotter/fishfinders combine all the technology and performance of the company’s top of the range multi function displays in a brand new compact unit.  The five new models, on public preview at this year’s Southampton Boat Show and available later this Autumn, have been well received by boat owners keen to harness the latest developments in technology migration.

  Features arousing the most interest include the strikingly clear high-resolution screen, embedded Navionics Silver-level cartography and brand new engine interface.   The integral high-sensitivity GPS antenna makes for a neat and compact profile, and the innovative quick-release swivel-mount bracket means that the unit can be quickly fitted and easily removed for security.  Keen fisherman have found that patented HD Digital fishfinding technology is easily accessible on the D–suffixed units; the data unit is enclosed within the product itself leaving only the power cable and the depth transducer to be plugged in to be up and running.

  Available in 3 screen sizes and a range comprising 2 chartplotters and 3 chartplotter/fishfinder combinations, the A50, A50D, A57D, A70 and A70D offer more than just navigation.  Users selecting the A Series can choose multiple options based around the core fishfinder and chartplotter system to accept input from communication and safety products including AIS, Navtex, DSC, engine monitoring and data, and autopilot interface using Raymarine’s SeaTalk and SeaTalk2/NMEA2000 inputs,

  The compact A series units are built for strength and durability.   The waterproof, submersible construction makes these multi function displays the perfect choice for centre consoles and open cockpits.  A one-size quick release tilt and swivel bracket enables easy installation, with units easily removable for portability and security. 

  The bracket provides cable management to ensure a professional looking, fully water-tight installation, or users can choose the optional flush mount kit.

  Designed to be used in open cockpits or in the full glare of the sun, the high visibility, low profile A series LCD displays are available in a choice of 5”, 5.7” and 6.4” sizes and come with fully customisable pages and window configurations for ease of operation.

  Raymarine’s TFT high clarity colour display uses 256 colours for paper chart like clarity and adjustable backlighting optimises performance in any lighting condition. An integrated anti-reflective screen filter offers the best visibility and unrivalled detail, even in bright sunlight, ensuring a clear image of the chartplotter or fishfinder details, from a distance or at an angle.

  Screens can be split in two, three or four window combinations and a choice of displays can be paged through with an active key providing easy navigation between window applications. Each display has direct access hot keys on the front enabling the user to move quickly and easily between inputs and displays.

  Using all the same technology available in Raymarine’s top of the range E and G series, the patented HD Digital™ fishfinder technology in the A series provides Auto Adaptive control of sensitivity, ping rate and transmit power with fully automatic ‘hands off’ operation.  By constant automatic adjustment of transmitter and receiver parameters, HD Digital analyses and synthesizes fish, adapting to all bottom and sea conditions to produce a crystal clear display, in shallow water, at high speeds or in choppy seas. Individual fish can be distinguished and the structure and contours of detailed bottom structures such as wrecks are clearly visible. Clutter is reduced to an absolute minimum.

  The A Series comes pre-loaded with worldwide cartography from Navionics with highly accurate position input from the built in high sensitivity GPS sensor. This detailed mapping shows navigation charts, 3D topography, aerial photographic views of ports, port data, animated tides and currents. Charts for entire geographic regions are loaded on the A series internal hard drive.

  Easy to operate, the compact, stand alone and affordable A Series will enhance the safety, success and enjoyment of many sport and leisure fishermen and boaters.

  The A Series is available through Raymarine’s global network of dealers and distributors and the price for the A50 excluding cartography is £599 (€760) ex VAT and £699 (€887) ex VAT including the Navionics cartography.

• 21 September 2008
  Less than 10 days to Vote
  

  There is less than 10 days to vote for your dealer and product of the year.  Simply click on the link to make your vote.

  http://www.bmea.org/bmea-dealer-and-product-of-the-year/

  Winners will be announced at the BMEA Conference on 8th October 2008.

• 18 September 2008
  Milestone celebrations for Active Research!
  

  Actisense, the market leading marine electronics brand from Active Research Limited is celebrating the manufacture of its 100,000th product.

  Actisense have built an enviable world-wide reputation for supplying smarter marine electronic solutions including NMEA interfaces (multiplexers, buffers and gateways), depth sounders and cables. All Actisense products are unique in the marine marketplace for their high quality and sophistication.

  Having taken just five years to reach the 50,000th product milestone back in July 2006, the Actisense team has now reached the manufacture of the 100,000th product just over two years later. The growth in demand for the product range reflects how the reputation of the Actisense brand has spread throughout the marine industry.

  With unique features including Opto-Isolated inputs and ISO-Drive outputs, Actisense products are designed for use with all NMEA 0183 input and output types. Reliable and strong, all products surpass the NMEA 0183 specifications and provide the best solutions with today’s technology.   

  As NMEA 2000 progressively becomes the standard serial data communications network to interconnect marine electronic equipment on vessels, the Actisense team is now focusing on introducing further versatile NMEA 2000 products to their range both for today’s market and the future.

  Phil Whitehurst, Managing Director, Active Research said, “Reaching our 100,000th product is a superb milestone for us as a small company, and reflects the hard work that is put in by our skilled and dedicated team of employees. With new product introductions and increasing workforce, I am confident that we will be reaching the next milestone even quicker!”

• 15 September 2008
  New! - Yacht Controller EVO from Duncan Yachting, Wireless Remote Control For all Boats Using Electronic Engine Control
  

  Winner of the National Marine Manufacturers Association “Best Technological Innovation 2004″ at the Miami Boat Show and with more than 2000 installed units on more than 90 different brands of yachts, DUNCAN YACHTING Ltd is pleased to announce the release of the NEW Yacht Controller EVO! in the UK.

  The new wireless transmitter YACHT CONTROLLER EVO, with its amazing design, in metallic grey and blue colours, is the next generation of YACHT CONTROLLER that has achieved outstanding success in the nautical world. 
  YACHT CONTROLLER EVO introduces new silicone membrane levers that replace mechanical switches and with an even higher-efficiency of electronics. The controller with its stylish ergonomic grip offers increased power and signal quality with IP68 protection that makes it resistant to immersion in water and totally floatable. 
   
  With YACHT CONTROLLER EVO it is possible to operate by yourself, from any position on your boat, the port and starboard engines, the bow thruster, the stern thruster and/or the anchor winch, constantly maintaining total control of the yacht. 
   
  The solution to all the problems of mooring and manoeuvring your boat in confined spaces and restricted visibility.  With YACHT CONTROLLER EVO you can freely move from bow to stern checking and correcting your boats position in complete safety and in the most complicated of manoeuvres. 
   
  With the help of YACHT CONTROLLER EVO, the commotion leading to wrong manoeuvres from difficulties with communication between the helm and the crew can finally be eliminated! 
  By yourself, you can check the distance from the other boats, you can verify the possible presence of anchors, and you can easily follow the buoy mooring line, handling lines or fixing them from the stern, picking up buoys or lost overboard items. 

  To operate YACHT CONTROLLER position the engine electronic controls in their “neutral” position, turn on YACHT CONTROLLER switch placed on the bridge and turn on the YACHT CONTROLLER transmitter. And the system is operating. 

  To operate the engines forward and reverse, to operate the bow or the stern thrusters, it is only necessary to keep pressing the forward, the backward, the right or the left of the corresponding levers to the desired direction.  
  At the moment on which you release the lever on the transmitter, everything will return to the “neutral” position.  
   
  For more information go to www.yachtcontroller.co.uk  or www.duncanyachting.com

• 5 September 2008
  BMEA Conference Day 2008, Sponsored By Victron Energy
  

  The prestigious 2008 British Marine Electronics Association Conference will be taking place on 8th October at the Novotel Hotel, Southampton. The annual event provides an opportunity for all sides of the marine industry to get together not only to discuss topics of mutual interest but also to create and build beneficial business relationships.
   
  The conference includes a number of presentations by distinguished speakers. Among the subjects that will be covered are;  ‘Navigation – The Future’ by James Findlay of the MCA; ‘Investing – The Ideal World’ by Martin Hurll of St James Place Capital and ‘Marine Electronics in the USA – can we learn a lot?”  by Nick Heyes of Marine Electronic Services Ltd. The final speaker is Tamzin Matthew from the BMF who will present an overview of the proposed streamlining of the Federation.
   
  Several members of the BMEA committee will also be making presentations at the Conference. Introduced by Paul Holland, BMEA Chairman, Derek Gilbert from Raymarine and Julian Coleman from Boat Electrics and Electronics Ltd will update the delegates regarding the progress of the BMET Certification scheme. Ian Lockyer from Icom UK will present the audience with marketing opportunities within the Association.
   
  After a full day of conferencing, the Annual General meeting and the Dinner, the day ends with the announcement of two major awards. ‘The BMEA Waterside Dealer of the Year sponsored by Garmin’ and ‘The BMEA Product of the Year’ sponsored by Boating Business.
   
  This year members of the general public have taken part in the voting for their favourite product and BMEA Dealer. Ian Lockyer (BMEA Website and Marketing) said, ’this year we have opened the voting up to the most important people in the industry… our customers. They will have the opportunity to choose the industry’s Dealer and Product of the Year by simply going to http://www.bmea.org/bmea-dealer-and-product-of-the-year/ and voting.’
   
  Ian Lockyer said, ’we simply wanted to give the customer a choice and add extra validity to what are already prestigious awards. We believe that giving our customers this opportunity will further raise the profile of our association’.
   
  The Conference is open to all in the marine industry - and is free for up to 2 delegates from BMEA member companies; additional delegates, and non-BMEA members will be charged £35 per person - to include entrance to all the presentations, coffee, lunch and dinner.
   
  Any non-BMEA member interested in attending should contact Tony Johns, Secretary of the BMEA by email (secretary@bmea.org).

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