GPS Gone Wild

By Dan Fales

 
High-tech position-finding technology is thriving, and migrating from proven marine applications to specialty products. Here's a look at what's out there.

Buying a GPS is no longer a matter of deciding which fixed-mount position finder is right for you. These days, you can choose from a basic inexpensive handheld or a more elaborate fixed-mount combination GPS/ electronic chartplotter. Or you can select high-tech, multifunction units that integrate fishfinder, radar and chart overlay technology.

This year, the real surprise is the increasing number of specialty products hitting the market. Uniden leads the way with its new Mystic—a VHF handheld radio bundled with a GPS and chartplotter. Then there's the new Simrad CA34 with its 7" screen that can show the position of another vessel on its chart when attached to a VHF radio with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and GPS inputs. Standard Horizon has had this type of feature on its chartplotters for a year now, and Raymarine is about to announce one in its new C-series plotters.

Humminbird has entered the gee-whiz arena with its new Matrix series of fishfinders with GPS chartplotters. The new Matrix 97 is Humminbird's first full-color combo unit. Like the rest of the Matrix line, the 97 is a serious piece of gear, but with a fun-filled option—a SmartCast wireless sonar link. With this unique feature, you cast out a tiny, remote transducer housed in a bobber-like float. Wireless presentations of fish targets and bottom contours are broadcast back to the Matrix unit.

And speaking of wireless, Nobeltec's new remote touchscreen nav display ($1,999) is a portable monitor that you strap to your hand. Now, you can wander about your boat and have a full navigational data stream right at your side. GPS position data, nav charts and radar displays are all presented on this 8.4" portable screen. The system is called Wireless Nobeltec Display (see "Editors' Choice Awards in this issue). All the data is gathered from multi-sensor inputs by your onboard computer and then transmitted through a wireless LAN card to the screen. Nobeltec is also coming out with a GPS/WAAS sensor antenna.

Last, but by no means least, are the personal digital assistants (PDAs) from Garmin, Maptech, Magellan and Navman that can be loaded with nautical charts and street maps. Based on Palm or Compaq PDAs, these units are ideal as backup marine and automotive navigators. If you have no need for a PDA, land and sea navigation is standard on many GPS handhelds from Garmin and Magellan, as you'll read later.

While most of us find these leading-edge instruments fascinating, their appeal is strongest to navigators with special interests. What every cruising boatman needs is an affordable, reliable GPS integrated with a readable chartplotter—like those from Furuno, Garmin, Lowrance (GlobalMap series), Navman, Raymarine, Si-Tex and Standard Horizon.

New from Garmin this year is the GPSmap 172C ($680) with 4.5" color screen and either an internal or external antenna—a new trend among GPS/chartplotter manufacturers. External antennas are desirable when ceilings, T-tops or other obstructions may block GPS signals. Units with internal antennas are better suited for open cockpit or bridge applications. The 172C is a stand-alone unit, but it is also fishfinder-ready, just in case you decide at a later date to purchase and plug in Garmin's GSD-20 black box fishfinder.

For most fishermen, a combination GPS/chartplotter and fishfinder is mandatory. Here, you have a slew of choices from Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird, JRC, Lowrance, Navman and Raymarine. Garmin's new GPSmap 176C with single- or dual-frequency transducer is one such unit. All the units in Humminbird's Matrix series are combos, too. Then there's Navman's new Track Fish 6600 with GPS and transducer included, as well as Lowrance's award-winning LCX 104C.

For the must-have-it-all skippers, the multifunction, full-featured combinations are most desirable. Furuno, Northstar, Raymarine and Simrad offer exceptional units that include the works—GPS, chartplotter, fishfinder, radar and radar overlay technology. All of these manufacturers either have or are developing networking capabilities that allow you to plug into onboard Internet communications systems to download weather reports and e-mail or even capture on-screen video. This year, Northstar blew the socks off everyone with the new 6000i series. This all-in-one combo comes in three different screen sizes—6.4", 8.4" and 10.4" measured diagonally. Simrad, too, is offering similar technology in its CR44 and CR55, as well as with the brand-new CA34 just entering the market with a 7" color screen.

Finally, we have the portable, handheld GPSs. Some, like the GPS100 from Cobra ($100), are position-only instruments, while Garmin's new GPSmap 60C ($450) and 60CS ($500) with barometric altimeter even offer automotive tracking. These two can be loaded with nautical charts as well. Magellan's new Direct Route software can add turn-by-turn map routing to the Meridian Marine and SporTrak Pro.

Be they stand-alone position finders or multifunction navigation and fishfinding units, all the instruments mentioned above have one thing in common: They are uniquely designed to withstand the rigors of the marine environment and can for the most part be viewed in direct sunlight. They can take bumps and poundings and, in some cases, even be submerged in water.

There is another kind of GPS navigation system that's developed for use only with computers—laptops or desktops—brought aboard. Fugawi, Maptech, Nobeltec, Raymarine, The Capn and Transas offer navigation programs that allow the user to boot up nautical charts from a host of different sources. The programs make it possible for you to manage radar, fishfinder and onboard vessel management data—including engine operating details—if your computer is equipped with appropriate USB or other input ports.

Companies like C-Map, Navionics and Nobeltec have inexpensive "planner programs that let a user work with electronic charts at home to plan out cruises with routes and waypoints. This data is downloaded from the home computer and then uploaded to navigation equipment on board.

If you read the specs of all this equipment, you'll notice references to GPS/ WAAS. As you probably know, GPS is a satellite-based positioning system that provides position accuracy to 60' or better. WAAS, or Wide Area Augmentation System, is a satellite differential scheme that provides 9' accuracy. Though primarily an aviation system, WAAS obviously has both marine and automotive applications. Right now, it's not classified by the FAA as "operational. It is, however, certified as usable aboard airplanes when flying above 250 feet. Ground obstructions presently limit its usefulness to aviators below that altitude, but for the mariner, this means you have access to a highly accurate satellite system. You may also have access to a Coast Guard differential system (DGPS) that uses terrestrial transmission sites to produce position correction to provide about 30' accuracy.

The choice of a GPS is yours. Making your selection means defining your boating needs and the heft of your wallet, of course. But whatever your selection, there's sure to be a GPS combo unit in this year's crop of new models that will make your boating more enjoyable.

For more information, contact: (866) 626-2846. www.motorboating.com/motorboat/productinfo.

©Motor Boating Magazine, February 2004
 

Other New Electronics featured this month:

• The Benefits of Integrated Navigation Suites
• Now Playing
• Sound Machines
• Big Easy
• In the Wind

Electronics Archive

• More Electronics from past issues.