BMEA

Garmin the global leader in satellite navigation is proud to announce the VHF 300i flagship marine radio, with premium features including multi-station support, a space-saving black box configuration and options such as an integrated dual-band AIS receiver.

Nigel Craine Marine OEM Manager for Garmin said: “With the VHF 300i Garmin is targeting the installation of larger, high-end boats at the OEM level.

“Since the VHF 300i’s industrial design complements the rest of the Garmin Marine Network, boat builders will find Garmin an increasingly attractive option when outfitting their helms.”

The VHF 300i has 25 watts of transmit power and has both NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 connectivity.  Because the black box can be mounted anywhere out-of-sight, the VHF 300i saves important space on the helm. 

The VHF 300i is operated via the GHS™ 10i handset, which is included with the unit.  This handset features a crisp 2-inch LCD display, dedicated rotary key for frequent tasks, built-in speaker and three soft buttons for dynamic controls.  The VHF 300i also supports up to two additional GHS 10i stations and is supplied with a four-inch active speaker with volume control.  When multiple stations are installed, the system can be used as an on-boat intercom.

The VHF 300i also features Class D Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability and Position Tracking, which allows a mariner to locate and keep track of up to three other boats.  The radio is compatible with a third party two-way 30-watt hailer or fog horn for communication with other boats or deckhands.  The helmsman can also replay up to 90 seconds of the last incoming voice transmission at the touch of a button.

For those wanting to take advantage of Automatic Identification System (AIS), Garmin has the new VHF 300i AIS, which combines all of the features mentioned above with four built-in receivers. The VHF 300i AIS receives both Class A and Class B signals simultaneously, ensuring that no critical information is lost.

The VHF 300i AIS also benefits from an in-built splitter allowing the use of a single VHF antenna to receive AIS transmissions.

The VHF 300i AIS is part of an integrated system – Mariners can make an AIS target position appear on their Garmin electronic chartplotter and can even initiate a DSC call directly to the AIS target at the touch of a button.  Users may also select an option that draws a heading line from the target in the direction of travel, as well as a graphic representation of turn direction and rate of turn (when applicable).

For specifications and more information, visit www.garmin.co.uk, the VHF 300i has a Recommended Retail Price of £599.99, the VHF 3001 AIS has an RRP of £799.99. Additional GHS 10i handsets can be purchased at an RRP of £129.99.