Category: Communications

The Garmin Marine Network: How Not To Get Lost At Sea

Engadget discusses Garmin's new plug-and-play systems (GPSMAP 3010C & 3006C) that put GPS, weather, sonar, radar, and other important data at boaters� fingertips. It also highlights Garmin's proprietary Marine Network, yet another alternative to NMEA 2000, the standard that somehow takes a long time to mature. One of the advantages of the Garmin approach is that it uses ethernet as a backbone. Since ethernet cables can be used for powering devices as well, this will make a supposedly plug and play boat network a lot less complicated in terms of wiring...

"From Garmin, a couple of new waterproof GPS handhelds designed specifically for seafarers. The GPSMAP 3010C (pictured above) has a 10.4-inch color LCD screen, while the GPSMAP 3006C has a smaller 6.4-inch screen. Both of them work with the Garmin Marine Network, Garmin's new line of peripherals that you can attach to the handhelds. The first two to be available will be the GDL 30, which connects to XM's satellite weather service and can download real-time graphical weather data (there's another version, the GDL 30A, if you want to tune into satellite radio, too), and the the GSD 20, for adding sonar. A marine radar attachment should be ready sometime next year."

VHF In Collision Avoidance

Never mind VHF radios with buddy lists, there is still a lot of room for error when using VHF equipment. The latest Ocean Navigator newsletter looks at the role of VHF communications in a collision avoidance context.

"Warnings continue to surface periodically about the dangers inherent in VHF communications as used for avoidance -- most because of the uncertainty of who is talking to whom. One master commented (in discussing the explosion of electronics, etc., available to the bridge) that sometimes it�s necessary not to forget to look out the window!"

Uniden's VHF/GPS Mapping Marine Radio

Great to see that more and more marine electronics and communications functions are being integrated. Not only on a hardware level, but definitely also on a software level. What I really like about Uniden's MYSTIC, a full VHF/GPS Mapping Marine Radio, are simple functions like having a buddy list. Product design that starts with user needs is something we don't see often enough.

"Uniden is making an emphatic comeback with its new Mystic, a strikingly original and well-executed marriage of a full-on Magellan hand-held WAAS-GPS plotter and the first portable DSC-VHF radio with advanced functions like buddy lists. The two work together, plotting the origin point of incoming DSC calls and including your position with your outgoing calls (for fun or in distress). In my testing, the submersible unit demonstrated long battery life and solid performance. It comes with U.S. street and buoy maps and supports Magellan's full-detail BlueNav charts. The Mystic, which is 13" tall and lists for $699, is not a trivial gizmo to clip on your belt, but -wow!- is it capable."

Send And Receive

The BBC discusses a simple set up for sending and receiving email at remote locations, in this case the Solomon Islands. Key to this solution is WaveMail, software that is being used by sailors as well since it is especially developed with low bandwith situations in mind.

"The system runs on software called WaveMail, which works with the HF radios in villages. "We are using old technology but it is robust," said Mr Rausi. "This laptop is quite old but it does the work. In the end we have to look at what is affordable in villages. The People First Network is not about the technology. It is about improving the standard of living of people in rural areas. "The social side is more important than the technology.""

Ship Gateway

If your communications, networking and securtity needs are extensive you'd might consider Virtek's CommBox. It combines a router, email server, least cost route switch, and lot's of other features in one box. Altough developed with large vessel requirements in mind, increasingly private yachts will be equiped with these types of solutions as well.

"CommBox is designed not only for today's data communication requirements, but also with the future in mind. Anything that can communicate through the Internet can communicate through CommBox. CommBox supports all standard mail clients. It can run as a stand-alone e-mail server or as a mail relay server to enhance the performance of existing mail systems. CommBox utilizes dedicated black box technology for superior stability compared to software solutions. Configuration is easy as any user with privileges can control CommBox from any computer in the network with a web browser. CommBox supports all dial-up connections, MPDS and leased line."

Rugged Cellphones

When I was going through the log-files of this website I noticed that many people come here searching for rugged cellphones. Fortunately, Siemens unveiled the ruggedised M65 this week. Not sure if it's really rugged up to the level you would require in a marine environment, but it is a start.

"The splash, dirt and shock resistant M65 sports a 2.1in 132 x 176, 16-bit colour display, backed by a 640 x 480 digicam for video and still photography. Stills can be edited using on-board software, with special effects filters built in too. The handset supports 40-voice polyphonic ringtones, a customisable user interface, Java games - four titles are bundled with the phone - and instant messaging. The tri-band GSM/GPRS handset comes with a 750mAh lithium ion battery - enough, said Siemens, for five-and-a-half hours' talk time and 300 hours' standby time."

Boeing's VSAT Offering Suitable For Smaller Boats?

A detailed look (pdf) at current VSAT offerings by bdp1 Consulting, triggered by Boeing's Connexion announcement. It is very much focused on the off-shore and cruising industry, but at the end comes a very important statement for the owner of yachts that can not be characterised as megayachts...

"Part of the (Boeing) vision includes overcoming a frequently heard objection to VSAT -the size of the onboard footprint- and will be offering users an antenna that is approximately 0.6 Meters in diameter, in contrast with the more typical 2.4 M sizes."

"Boeing will be offering what it calls a �seamless global VSAT network� to the maritime industry, according to Mr. Sean Schwinn, Vice President of strategy and Business Development, one which will use the same satellites serving the international airlines. With continuous worldwide coverage, Boeing expects to be offering what it describes as �Bandwidth upon demand,� as contrasted with a fixed size of presently available VSAT links. The bottom line will be a service available to the main mass of the maritime market at price points that maritime industry users of Inmarsat are already accustomed to."

Automatic Packet/Position Reporting System

Tony Gutierrez pointed me at APRS, an Automatic Packet/Position Reporting System. ARPS is a real-time tactical digital communicatons protocol for exchanging information between a large number of stations covering a large (local) area. As a multi-user data network, it is quite different from conventional packet radio. There are many APRS applications, and I will get back to that later. First, here's what Tony uses it for:

"I dont believe I can afford satellite internet, but I was psyched to find that I could use my amateur radio licence to broadcast my position to a web page map, and to recieve and send email while at sea. The position broadcasts are tracked by a site called findu.com which allows you to use your own web page to access numerous scripts that create a map of your boat's position for your web page visitors."

YachtMama's YachtSpot

The concept of marinas offering Wi-Fi internet access will by now be clear to most. Fortunately, more and more service providers are popping up, all over the world. YachtMama's YachtSpot is the latest, so check out whether you're lucky enough to be able to get your email on board very soon.

"Providing a dependable Internet connection at a marina and surrounding areas is similar to the wireless internet in your home or office. This system allows slip renters and visitors access to your private connection. Our systems are capable of extending the signal at up to 1+ miles out to sea. Users can easily check email, news, weather, stock performance, or nautical maps while mooring on their boat."

Also today, D-Link has introduced the AirPremier DWL-2700AP, the first weatherproof 802.11b/g (2.4GHz) wireless access point for use in marinas or on large yachts.

"With a die-cast watertight housing and a built-in heater, the 11-by-6-inch inch device can withstand rain, snow, sleet, humidity and even a lightning strike, the company says. It draws power through an Ethernet network cable and is compatible with the latest network management and wireless security protocols. It has a range of nearly 2,000 feet, and available antennas can extend that even further."

AutoPilot+, DARPA's next Grand Challenge?

A company called Marine Robotic Vessels (MRV) International has developed the Ghost Guard. This brilliantly named vessel (an Unmanned Surface Vessel or USV) uses some technologies that will hopefully be available to all of us very soon. It will give 'push-button sailing' a whole different meaning...

So what's next? The boating equivalent of DARPA's Grand Challenge for autonomous ground vehicles?

"Almost any hull can be configured by MRVI as a Ghost Guard� to function as an affordable method of mounting water-borne surveillance in all weathers and by day and night. The heart of the Ghost Guard system is MRVI's new generation software, which comprises remote command and control, navigation, route planning/re-planning, event and crisis management, full onboard diagnostics and dial-up diagnostics. COTS-sourced integrated systems, including camera and vision systems, will provide surveillance that could not be mounted in any other way. Using a launch and recovery system, Ghost Guard can be deployed, operated and recovered from vessels underway." Click here to download the Ghost Guard video (62MB, .avi).