New Simrad Navigational Tools

Simrad threw an unusual product introduction recently when a smattering of European dealers and some 45 boating writers from around the world gathered at the Royal Yacht Club in Majorca, Spain. At the dock were half a dozen boats that sported a full complement of Simrad navigation products, providing an unusual opportunity to see and operate the entire Simrad line side by side.

Central to the event was the announcement of a new navigational system dubbed the NSS, which stands for Navigational System Sport. The system boasts a new processor and a user interface that combines a rotary knob, a few buttons and a touch screen hybrid operating system. This is Simrad's first touch screen model, and quite a bit of thought went into it.

In addition to debuting the NSS system, the company used the event to demonstrate the delineation of Simrad products into three distinct product lines: NSO, NSE and NSS.

Here's how the newly reorganized systems break down in terms of what they offer boaters.

The Navigational System Offshore, or NSO, is the daddy rabbit in the lineup. "The 45-footers and up are the boats for this one," says Simrad's Louis Chemi. "This can be configured any way you want with any number of large screens. The big-boat guys like a big piece of glass at the helm. Screens of 15 to 19 inches are typical." Simrad packages a system with a 15-inch screen, but there's really no limit to how large a screen can be connected to the stand-alone black box and keypad control head.

In the middle of the product range is the Navigational System Explorer, or NSE. It has an integrated processor and Northstar-style fast keys across the bottom of the screen, which endeared this line to a lot of skippers, as has the superfast functioning and redraw rate. The NSE is available in three sizes, NSS7, NSS8 and NSS12, starting at $1,895. The target is the 30- to 50-footer, whether it's a near-shore weekender or a coastwise cruiser.

What helped position these two series as the large and medium choices is the development of the aforementioned NSS line. While the NSS is positioned for installation aboard smaller boats, it's available with screens of 6.4, 8 and 12 inches, which is hardly diminutive. The operating system is based on a new processor that addressed the twin Simrad goals of simplicity and integration.

The system's touch screen functionality is designed for operating under calm conditions or setting up the network at the dock. In conjunction with a rotary knob and three switch pads of two dual-function buttons each, everything you need to do while under way is available with the touch the rotary knob, the buttons or both. A lot of care and thought has gone into eliminating multiple steps to activate any of the modules ? radar, sonar, plotter, audio, StructureScan, engine management, auto pilot ? and the starting menu is always one button-push away. Even the most detailed operations, like configuring the color scheme or display options such as multiple overlay customizations, are at most two menus deep.

The touch screen is perfect for quickly placing waypoints, marking fish and acquiring radar targets. The rotary knob is most effective for controlling proportional functions such as zooming, adjusting radar gain, managing the autopilot or operating an iPod or iPhone inserted into the Sonic Hub stereo system. Between the three control choices ? button, touch and rotary ? there is considerable overlap, which allows more than one way to do most things.

The entire NSS series is self-contained with an internal GPS, and the NSS7 and NSS8 also feature an internal echo sounder. Granted, it is the original BBS-1 sounder, but all three models are also compatible with Simrad's new Chirp sonar module, the BBS-2. This new system is a true broadband sonar that generates a modulated pulse across multiple frequencies for unprecedented fish finder performance.

The NSS series is also fully compatible with the other two Simrad series, so any of the NSO or NSE units can be networked. It's a simple process to link an NSS in the tower or upper station with a primary NSO system at the helm station. With nine models in three series to select from, there is no shortage of installation options.

Third-Generation Radar
Also unveiled this spring was a new 3G Broadband Radar from the Simrad Navico group. This product reflects a complete reworking of the original hardware and software in Navico's Broadband Radar. "We have increased the processing algorithm to give us better definition and better target discrimination and improved the hardware to eliminate noise and improve signal return," says Chemi.

The 3G has the same attributes as the original ? extremely high resolution and detail for close-in situational awareness ? but the resolving software has been improved and the range at which the Broadband Radar outperforms traditional magnetron radar has been stretched an additional 30 percent. The low-power close-range concept suits a lot of near-shore and cruising needs. "Radar today is not used to find land," says Chemi. "We have GPS for that. Radar is used to avoid collisions."

Since most collisions occur at relatively short range, the usefulness and advantage of radar with exemplary close-in performance is undisputable. "We have increased the processing algorithm to give us better definition and better target discrimination in terms of hardware, eliminated noise and better signal return," says Chemi. "We have beefed up both the far range and the close range, so it is even better at close range and as good as regular radar at 10 to 24 miles."