We interrupt Panbo’s regular NMEA 2000 programming for some video side experiments. Seen above is what you get if you plug a DVD player into a Garmin 5212’s RCA “video in” port. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a multifunction display that could show video completely full screen (correction: with the exception of Standard Horizon, which can purportedly go to every edge when fed the right aspect ratio). But neither have I seen one that used quite as little of the available screen as this Garmin is doing; on the other hand, the 5212's’s video image is really sharp and rich, there are lots of controls (as shown), and if you put it into a quarter screen window it does fill its whole width.
Given yesterday’s Fusion stereo discussion, how about another new iPod-friendly marine system, from Alpine. This time we’ve got a lot of online detail on units like this iDA-X100M. But I’ll note that it is HD Radio “ready” though honestly I’m not really up on what means yet (and I’m out in LD boonies).
I’ve been keeping an eye out for the new Fusion marine stereo systems since the prototypesimpressed me at METS. Well, they’re not only official as of yesterday’s announcement, but at least the MS-IP500 model above, and bigger here, is already available at West Marine, which apparently has a U.S. exclusive. And the details sound even better than what I heard in Amsterdam.
The neat thing about putting satellite TV on your boat is that if you already have the service at home, most companies will let you put it on the boat for just the monthly cost of another receiver. The problem, though, is that the stabilized antennas start around $3,000 and even the small 14” ones can spoil a handsome boat’s profile. Enter the VuQube, which King Controls was showing at the Fort Lauderdale and NMEA shows.
It’s still in prototype, “but close to done”, and close enough that I’m sure this entirely new Fusion marine stereo design is going to make some boaters very happy. Particularly those of the iPod orientation. This stereo doesn’t just work with the iPod’s stereo jack; as you can see below it has a complete iPod dock tucked away behind the faceplate, where your precious player will be safe from spray and bumps. Should you want a model with a CD player in this spot, then a separate weatherproof iPod dock will be an option.
Thanks to Richard’s sleuthy comments to the earlier G Series entry, here are some low res images of various G Series system components beyond the monitors. They’re snitched from an online price list (PDF) put up by French Raymarine distributer SD Marine. The text is in French, and not detailed, but I gather that the “Processeur” GPM400 above has a hard disk pre-loaded with Navionics Platinum charts for one large region—you choose U.S., Europe, or ROW (rest of world)—and Gold charts for the others. It also has dual DVI monitor outputs (1280x1024 pixel), two NMEA 0183 i/o ports, a SeaTalkNG/N2K port, and a 100mb SeaTalkHS/Ethernet port.
If a 14.5” stabilized dish can look, and work, fine on my 25’ Ralph, most anyone who wants satellite TV on board can have it. But there are a lot more choices since I tested KVH’s great little TracVision M3 in 2006. In the August PMY, I detailed SeaTel’s Coastal 14 and King Control’s Sea-King 9815–RJ, and how KVH had met this competition by rejiggering the original M3 into the M3st, M3dx, and M2 models. The battle was rejoined last weekend when King introduced the Sea-King 1500-HD.
I’m working on an article about universal remotes, the bane of many yachts (and households). Specifically I’m testing a Logitech Harmony 890, and so far am finding it an amazing solution to just about every problem I’ve had with previous “universals” (lots). If you’re not familiar with the Harmony design, they all have USB ports which you use along with dedicated software and Harmony’s Web site to program the thing for all the devices you want to operate. You can teach it individual commands, but Logitech has thousands of devices already databased, including my particular TV, surround sound system, DVD player, VCR, and Media Center laptop. I’ve checked and know they also have the dedicated receiver in the KVH M3 system. What else should I look for in the lists?
At METS, the DAME awards electronics category was deservedly won by KVH’s M3 satellite TV system, a product that impressed me big time when tested last summer. But the little M3 now has a competitor worth noting, the King Control Sea-King 15” Saltwater Dish at right. It’s the same size, claims the same tracking abilities, but, unlike the M3, can receive HD and local DirectTV, even work with other service providers. It also has dual LNBs making it easier to feed two TVs, and it’s significantly less expensive. On the other hand, the M3 comes complete with a 12v combined controller/receiver (you provide the receiver in a Sea-King system), and a Panbo reader reported today that a KVH tech assured him that they’re working on a retrofitable HD/local M3 upgrade. Game on!
By the way, KVH did a great job blogging METS, which I got a particular kick out of as it was a certain KVH exec who—years ago, at a big Miami trade party, in almost classic “plastics!” fashion—advised me that blogging might be a great way to capitalize on my marine electronics obsession. I’m grateful for his encouragement (I think). Here’s wishing everyone here in the States a fine and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.
Here’s a novel idea seen at METS: a marinized, 9–28v digital projector (front or back) meant to show multifunction nav data in the cockpit or—just swing it around—a big screen movie in the salon. The potential simplicity, not to mention lack of wires and weight, is intriguing, but I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering if any projector can overcome direct sunlight. (Plus, you know the kids are going to make wolf & bunny shadows on your plotter). My sense was that Optea has not yet put the XLMulti into full production, possibly awaiting investors or partners. Your move!
Thanks to Richard’s sleuthy comments to the 
At METS, the 
