Simrad has launched two new, Inmarsat Fleet based, satellite communication systems. The MS55 would be a perfect solution for larger ships, whereas the other, Simrad's MS33, is especially useful for smaller private yachts. It provides an (MPDS) always on internet connection, so you'll never have to be offline again with your AIM, Yahoo or MSN messenger...
"The MS33 is designed especially for small and medium sized fishing vessels and motor and sailing yachts. This cost effective communications package requires a small, light antenna and features 'plug and play' below deck interfaces (PC, fax, telephone). This makes installation of the MS33 so simple that boat owners can do it themselves, saving the costs of a specialist installation engineer."
A story on MariTrack, another solution to meet new requirements for ship security alerts and vessel monitoring. Although it primarily focuses on commercial vessels for the moment, I'm sure some of these solution will come to the private yachting market as well.
"It includes a Ship Security Alert System, which can transmit a distress message with a ship's longitude, latitude and the time of day. The alert system is designed as a defense against piracy, which is still a huge problem in some parts of the world, Romey said. MariTrack also has a Vessel Monitoring Service, to track ships' locations in specified waters. Not yet mandated but included in MariTrack is an automatic system that identifies ships as they approach one another, and a long-range system that tracks where ships have been since they left port."
SAIL Magazine highlights some new gear, amongst which a couple of new devices from Standard Horizon.
"Standard Horizon's RAM+ Mic becomes a full-function remote station unto itself when connected to the company's new Matrix or Quantum VHF radios. The Ram+ boasts all normal functions and one-button DSC distress calling, and it has advanced DSC functions like buddy calling, position polling, and nav-data display."
Some advice on how to choose, install and upgrade you boating electronics, from sonar units to marine batteries. The article focuses on anglers, but some of this advice is relevant to all boaters.
"The most frequent upgrade for fishermen is a new sonar unit. Like computer companies, every year makers of sonar fish-finding equipment introduce more colorful and feature-filled units. To make them work properly the position of the unit's transducer which sends out and receives a sonar signal to mark fish, the structure and the lake bottom below the boat must be exact."
Simrad has launched two new, Inmarsat Fleet based, satellite communication systems. The MS55 would be a perfect solution for larger ships, whereas the other, Simrad's MS33, is especially useful for smaller private yachts. It provides an (MPDS) always on internet connection, so you'll never have to be offline again with your AIM, Yahoo or MSN messenger...
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SAIL Magazine 
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