Panbo

Waterproof Wrap-Radio

Arriva's Wrap-Radio looks a bit weird, but I guess it's a better, and more waterproof, solution than the CapRadio I wrote about before.

"No exposed wires increase durability. Flexibility allows for abusive use and storage without adverse damage. Best of all, the weave design fits any size head comfortably and securely. The "WRAP-RADIO" will NOT fall off. The design accommodates different "ear buds" and color specifications per your requirements. The headset can even be waterproof and is designed for use with a Cassette, CD or MP3 player when used with the stereo cord."

Multipurpose GPS Unit

If you would like to use your GPS unit when sailing, driving, but also when flying, have a look at Garmin's new multipurpose model.

"Garmin realizes that pilots are also motorists and many are active mariners, so the GPSMAP 296 is designed to move seamlessly between an aircraft, vehicle or boat. At the press of a button, pilots have access to the unit's Automotive and Marine modes."

"On the water, the GPSMAP 296 offers a worldwide marine database and U.S. tide data. When coupled with the optional Marine Kit (64-MB data card and MapSource BlueChart® CD), the unit displays such information as depth contours, inter-tidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navaids, port plans, restricted areas, cable areas, anchorages and much more."

And This Is Why We Need Rugged PCs

Cheyenne's record attempt is nearing a successful end, but this quote from one of the crew shows us why it is important to have the right equipment.

"For now the rain pours down, and we are happy to be maintaining 10kts of boatspeed. Any hour, the sky should clear, the north-easter fill, and the boat begin to pound into trade wind swells. The crew has profited from the downpour to shower and wash clothes between sail changes. Unfortunately, the humidity has killed the crew correspondence computer. Efforts are underway to resuscitate it, but I suspect a soggy motherboard."

Marine Satellite Radio

If real offshore sailing is not your thing, than satellite radio should be a consideration for on-board entertainment. Prospec has introduced a new Sirius-ready radio.

"Extending the range of its receivers, Prospec Electronics will be offering Sirius-ready JBL radios to OEMs for the 2005 model year. Boaters won't believe their ears as crystal clear, commercial-free streaming satellite radio pours out of the speakers wherever the tide takes them. Sirius, headquartered in New York, offers over 100 streams of digital quality radio transmitted across the continental US from three high-tech satellites. Along with offering a full spectrum of music genres, users can also listen to popular news, entertainment and sports channels."

Red Wine And Solar Cells

I have discussed the increasing efficiency of solar cells before, but here is great way to deal with the negative effects of bad spots. Just make sure you don't use your most expensive bottle...

"Solar cell efficiencies range from about seven percent for low-cost thin film materials to about 24 percent for high-quality silicon crystal. The University of Toledo method boosts the efficiency of the low-cost photovoltaic materials, which promises to make generating electricity from sunlight more cost-effective. Amorphous silicon solar cells are made by spreading a thin film of silicon on a surface. Some polycrystalline semiconductor materials can also be made into thin films. Such cells have bad spots because it's nearly impossible to uniformly manufacture such large areas -typically a square meter- of the material. The researchers fixed the problem by using red wine to cause electrochemical reactions where the currents are drawn to the bad spots that blocked those spots. A mixture of an acid, water and aniline also works, according to the researchers."

Hardened Laptops

Although there has been a lot of writing around Panasonics' Toughbook, there is another big player, Itronix, when it comes to deploying 'ruggedized' notebooks in the difficult military environment. It is also preferred choice for many boaters.

"The worst test (those with a sensitive disposition may want to skip this part) was to load up a Barney game on the machine and deploy them to kids at a pool. The tots actually played the program underwater and surprisingly the Itronix survived even though there were other (unnamed) notebooks in the test apparently that didn't."

Stylish Galley Greenhouse

For you liveaboards, this is the way to make sure you have fresh herbs all the time...

"Just when you think there is nothing more to invent for the kitchen you find out you are totally wrong. The Italian (where else) kitchen brand Smeg designed this inhouse, computer controlled, greenhouse for your kitchen. Which is quite handy, if you prefer fresh herbs."

What's On Board: 118 WallyPower

The 118 WallyPower is one of the most amazing designs I have ever seen for a motor yacht. recently it has won the MYDA, the Millenium Yacht Design Award dedicated to the "layout of the Third Millennium, a design that remarkably contributed to the development of the concept of the yacht layout." The cruising speed of the 118 WallyPower is 60 knots... Interesting to see what kind of electronics are on board this ship. Some of the highlights:

2x 33KW Kohler generators
Frigomar air conditioning
C-PLath Navipilot V-HSC autopliot
Furuno GP-80 GPS
Inmarsat-C Sailor satcom
Sea Tel TV
B&G instruments
Furuno FM-2721 VHF
Pathfinder Radome 48 Raymarine radar
3x 15'' & 3x 20'' Panasoci LCD TV
Linn hi-fi

Diving Without (Many) Hassles

For those of who love diving, but don't like all the hassle that usually comes with it, take a look at SurfaceDive's 12volt diving system. Also saves a lot of space on smaller boats, but still let's you explore great diving spots.

"There are reasons why this new system has gotten to be more popular, but also many reasons why it has not changed diving completely. One of the most obvious reasons is the depth limitation to using this type of "above-surface" diving equipment. The Powerdive's depth limitation is 26-33 ft, which loses to the true scuba equipment that can go much deeper. The limitation is not without a silver lining, since at this depth the US government does not require the divers to get a permit."

Solar Powered Notebook

While I was researching solar energy for use in a maritime environment I came across a product that has been around for a while, but that keeps improving since the efficiency of solar cells is increasing. It won't be hard to think of some inspirational use cases for this solution... By the way, I will have a more detailed overview on solar solutions later this week.

"If you're interested in getting more runtime from your laptop when you're away from the power lines, our Notepower portable solar module is just what you need. A pair of 10 watt PV modules provides enough power to run and/or charge most laptop computers. Anywhere you go, just unfold the solar array, put it in the sunshine, plug in the Smart Adapter or your own 12 volt DC lighter adapter and you're set. A 10 foot cord allows you to be in the shade (like under a tree at the beach) while the solar module is in the sun."

Outdoor wireless and omnidirectional antennas

Carl, who told me to about wireless anchoring solution, also pointed at eDigitalWireless, a company selling several outdoor wireless solutions. Amongst which the new SureShot, a 200mW NEMA 4X rated, ruggedized, weatherproof 2.4gHz radio solution. The reason Carl mentioned this company however, was because of their 12dBi high performance omnidirectional antenna. It performs great, or in Carl's words:

"This is simply awesome for picking up wireless networks - with the omnidirectional antenna you get a range of up to 1000M - it was working for me when I tested it in the middle of San Francisco bay."

A Complete Wireless Anchoring Experience

A couple of weeks a go I mentioned Ascend Marine's Deep Blue Marine's Anchor Alert, a wireless anchor monitoring system. To make the anchoring experience completely wireless (except for the anchor chain...), I got a tip from Carl Midson on Coastline Technology's Windlass Radio Remote. Carl claims it's brilliant if your shorthanded on board, so check out this review in Power & Motoryacht.

"Sometimes it’s easy to inadvertently activate foredeck-mounted windlass footswitches, and cabled remotes can restrict movement around the area and often need to be passed up through a hatch, which is inconvenient at best and can be dangerous under harsh conditions. The Windlass Radio Remote allows you to control your windlass from anywhere on your boat, no matter what you’re doing and regardless of the conditions."

Wearable Instrument Data Displays

Instead of, or in addition to, using LCD displays all over the boat to display relatively simple, but important, instrument data, why not use a fiber-optics jacket that is wirelessly connected to the boat network....? And since today is the day of revolutionary technologies, please make sure this jacket is powered by nanobatteries.

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."

Battery System Wiring Hookups

I know a lot of the high-end electronics that are being presented here require power. Lot's of it. So every time I come across an article or how-to-guide helping you to make sure this power is available, I will post it here. BoatFix.com explains battery system wiring hookups. Next to that, there is also a Google Groups discussion on 'wiring questions.'

"Below you will find information on marine battery system wiring hookups. We do not claim to be experts in all fields. Nor can we promise to be correct on all issues. Nor can we address the content of these pages. But, I hope you will find this page useful. We want to thank the technical service department of Guest Corp., for their technical assistance with this page. We recommend that if you are not fluent with electrical systems, you get assistance from a trained individual."

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."

Mainstream Rugged Notebooks And Tablet PCs

It's not because the are the best or the first, but the news that HP has introduced a rugged notebook (nr3600) and a rugged Tablet PC (tr3000) shows that these types of computers are becoming mainstream. And that's good news, from a pricing perspective, for the non-industrial users that would like to use them on a boat for instance...

"The computer giant on Thursday unveiled a rugged notebook PC and tablet PC designed to absorb punishment from vibration or shock, repel water during inclement weather--and keep on working. "After listening to customers in industries such as the public sector, government and law enforcement, we're responding to their needs by bringing rugged, mobile solutions into the mainstream.""

What's On Board: Cheyenne

Every now an then I will give you a glimpse into the electronic and communications heart of some of the most remarkable yachts in the world. Today we'll have a look at Cheyenne (former PlayStation), which is currently competing in The Jules Verne Trophy Round The World Record Attempt. Steve Fossett's design brief for this boat was pretty straightforward: "the best boat for racing fully crewed, non-stop, around the world, as fast as possible."

Inmarsat-C
Iridium Fixed Mount Unit
Inmarsat mini-M
Sailmail via ICOM SSB
B&G instruments
KVH Gyro
Furuno radar
Multiple VHF radios (at Amazon)
2 Sony Vaio notebooks(x2)
PACTOR-II modem
Auto Direction Finder (pdf) and Personal EPIRBS
Nobeltec charts software
Sailmath routing software

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).

Conquering The Skies And Seas

Having cheaper, faster and easier internet access at sea is what we all want. Boeing's announcement in January that they would launch their Connexion service (satellite-powered broadband connectivity for commercial airliners) for the maritime market as well was very much welcomed. Although there still aren't any further details available with regard to launch dates, pricing, etc, here you can read an article by a Boeing employee explaining why they are making this move in the first place.

"Vessels need to stay connected, no matter where they are in the world-close to shore or in the shipping lanes across the Pacific and other oceanic regions," said Connexion by Boeing President Scott Carson. The available maritime market could include as many as 35,000 ships worldwide, he added."

Bluetooth GPS Receivers

Since I was discussing Bluetooth-enabled devices already, here is a round-up of different Bluetooth GPS receivers currently available. Although the review is focused on the use of these devices together with PDA's with streetmap software installed, they are compliant with NMEA standards. This means they will work with your Pocket PC navigation software as well. Just beware of the fact that they are not necessarily ready for use in a (harsh) maritime environment.

There is definitely a benefit in using this type of solution over using something like Mitac's Pocket PC with integrated GPS: "The major benefit of a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver is that it doesn’t have to be physically connected to the Pocket PC. That eliminates a tangle of cables that dangle in your way while you are walking or driving. In addition, Bluetooth solutions let you position the GPS receiver for optimal GPS reception, and your Pocket PC separately for the best viewing. Bluetooth can travel around corners, and through clothing and other material."

Cellphone centric navigation

I've talked about the potential of radar and navigation capabilities on cellphones before, but in Japan it is already happening. Although currently meant for navigation in a city environment, it's a perfect example of how cellphones are becoming powerful enough to perform such functions. Combine that with the fact that both cellphones and marine instruments are becoming more and more Bluetooth-enabled, so they can communicate wirelessly, and you will realize that we don't need a dedicated navigation-PC anymore.... Just the monitor.

"Japanese firms Index and Jicoux have developed a navigation system application that runs on 3G GPS phones with digital compasses (which, at the moment, means KDDI's au service in Japan). It includes the ability to show a "radar display" of the location of nearby friends, places of interest, or bus and train stations useful in getting to your destination. There's also a B2B aspect to the service in that, as with most web-based map systems, it would be possible to pay to have your business location displayed on the radar."

C-Map launches C-Marina.com

I've been waiting for something like this, and I know I'm not the only one. To have easy access to a database with up-to-date and detailed marina information is a great step forward, especially when cruising in unknown areas. And it will just be a matter of time before innovative services will be offered as an add-on. I would not be surprised to see some community driven and/or open source alternatives very soon however.

"Coming soon to the site will be the ability to make slip reservations and other important arrangements right over the Internet, as well as direct to one's chart plotter. Users will also be able to store screen pictures and routes saved in the 'My Marina' section."

Plugging into the power of sewage

Now here's a great way of generating electricity. Forget about solar, wind or generators. The waste you flush down the toilet could one day power your equipment on board. And...."even better, the device breaks down the harmful organic matter as it generates the electricity, so it does the job of a sewage-treatment plant at the same time. Penn State's microbial fuel cell (MFC) harnesses chemical techniques similar to those the body uses to break down food - but diverts the electrons liberated in the reactions to produce electrical energy."

But, don't get to enthousiastic to soon since this system would produce only 51 kilowatts on the waste from 100,000 people....

A Very Mobile Radio

Definitely not the most inspiring gadget I have ever seen, but at a price of $20 I'm sure there are people that will see this 'very mobile radio' device and conclude that this is exactly what they were looking for....

"Smaller than the size of your palm, the CapRadio fits on the back of your cap, on your shoulder or on the collar of your shirt. The reception is about the same as any Walkman - obviously don't take it for lengthy offshore trips - but at the dock or floating around the bay you should be fine. When you walk, it doesn't jostle, and the tight-fit clip keeps it nice and snug up against your hat."

Why I Started This Weblog

Interview with Gizmodo.com about me and why I started this weblog four weeks ago.

"Yme Bosma's Panbo.com, the marine electronics and communications weblog, has quickly become a favorite here at Gizmodo, with its sharp focus and incisive writing. We're happy that Yme took the time to participate in the first in a series of 'Gadget Weblog Spotlights' that we'll be running throughout the next few weeks. Our hope is to draw your attention to some of the great gadget reporting that's being done out on the web."

Cabin Entertainment

The BBC is running a story on the advances of in-car entertainment. It's not difficult to see how all of this can be applied to yachts as well. Especially the smaller, multi-cabin, boats will benefit from the economies of scale that are being realized in the automotive industry. It's not difficult, nor very expensive (Amazon), to create a personalized entertainment set-up in every cabin. And in the cockpit or saloon as well for that matter. In case you don't feel like any roof-mounted displays, why not use Sony's new wireless Air Board (LF-X1) which is for sale as of last Friday.

One other nice feature that is discussed by the BBC article is voice-control over all these entertainment devices. Again, the development in the automotive sector will create a precedent for yachting. Voice-control can not only be applied to entertainment, but to navigation as well, even more since PC technology is making a strong entry into the maritime environment.

"We're also building in 20GB hard drives Now you can take your home movies, and potentially other DVDS, record them onto a disc, record them onto a unit and keep them in the car. Now you don't actually have to bring in the DVD or the discs."

"A lot of it is voice-controlled and voice-interactive as well, the navigation systems, for example. But voice technology is far from perfect, and a screen can also be a life-saver. A rear view mirror can be connected to a video camera on the back bumper, or simply show an image of the backseat, obviously of potential use for baby monitoring."

Seeing Everything Stable, Day or Night

I was reading about Geronimo's advances into the Roaring Forties in their attempt to break a record and win the Jules Verne Trophy 2004. The article mentioned that Geronimo could not go any further south because of reports of large icebergs, although they had sophisticated (Fujinon military) nightvision equipment on board. When I started looking into that, I found out that there's some pretty amazing gear for sale these days. For instance, have a look at the Fujinon Stabiscope Nightvision 3rd Generation. At a price of $16,750 it's not exactly cheap, but what you get is the best there is. And if that's too high a price for you, have a look at Amazon's Fujinon collection. These 'cheaper' binoculars incorporate some of the high-end technologies available in the high-end models.

"Fujinon Day & Night Stabiscope makes it possible to observe in the dark, from a moving car, a boat on heavy seas, or from an airborne helicopter. The image-stabilizing gyro system is incorporated in the binocular to get a steady image while observing from a vibrating platform. The image intensifier tube electronically amplifies very slight light 20,000-30,000 times so that you can see objects at night, too. It's compact, lightweight and waterproof."

The Sound of Antifouling

This product has been around for a while, but you might have missed it. And that's a shame because keeping the boat free of barnacles and growth is typically a high-maintenance job requiring yearly haul-outs and headaches. And all you need to prevent this is a sound.

"Barnaclean utilizes electronic resonators that emit low-frequency sonic waves to create a micro-thin layer of rapidly moving water over the hull, drive system or running gear. This movement makes it difficult for fouling organisms to attach themselves. To further protect, the low frequency mimics a predatory sound, creating a hostile environment for foulants."

More on NMEA-0183 and GPS?

If you'd like a more detailed view on things like NMEA-0183 and GPS, have a look at Peter Bennett's website.

"The NMEA 0183 Interface Standard defines electrical signal requirements, data transmission protocol and time, and specific sentence formats for a 4800-baud serial data bus. Each bus may have only one talker but many listeners."

"The National Marine Electronics Association has introduced the long awaited NMEA 2000 interface standard. The standard contains the requirements of a serial data communications network to inter-connect marine electronic equipment on vessels. It is multi-master and self configuring, and there is no central network controller. Equipment designed to this standard will have the ability to share data, including commands and status with other compatible equipment over a single channel."

Ruggedized digital camera

Yachting World is running a review on ruggedized digital cameras, but here's a new one from Minolta that should do the trick as well. Although originally developed for the construction business, it is waterproof and perfect for usage in a marine environment.

"From Konica Minolta, a new ruggedized digital camera that’s aimed at one specific market — the construction business. The 3.34 megapixel DG-4W meets the oh-so-strict (we’re assuming they’re strict) requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and is designed to absorb shocks and is both dust and water proof. We’re guessing that the camera also works at other places besides construction sites."

Cool Expectations

The Marine Maintenance Magazine features a how-to guide on keeping your drinks and food cold on board by correctly servicing your refrigerator. Lot's of tips and tricks that will save you money and frustration by preventing that things will fail to work...

"Most marine refrigeration systems are ignored until they fail. Provided foods remain cold and it's making ice, there's no great urgency for you to inspect the refrigeration system when there are so many other maintenance jobs calling your attention. Often systems are buried in a locker or under a berth - "out of sight, out of mind." The day will arrive, probably during a heat wave, when you open the icebox lid and are greeted with the nauseating smell of spoiled food. This might have been prevented had you added refrigeration to your maintenance log."

Yachting World's April Issue

Yachting World's April issue has (at least) two interesting stories, on radars and on rugged digital cameras. The articles are not available online, so get your copy at the news stand or subscribe to the magazine.

"All you've always wanted to know about radar: YW staffer Mike Kopman, himself a fully qualified superyacht captain, looks at the nuts and bolts of modern radar, examines the various functions and explains how they work - and their possible pitfalls. So, if you don't know your MARPA from your EBL then this is for you - plus a round-up of the latest sets."

"If your sights are set on simpler things, we've tested several water-resistant digital cameras and if you're new to digipix, there's a gentle introduction to the art of digital photography on board as well."

23.1" LCD Marine Monitor...

Came across a company, Kent Modular Electronics, supplying marinised multipurpose LCD displays. They have a new 23.1'' model. Great for displaying instrument data, but even better for watching "A Perfect Storm" in the cockpit when anchored in a nice and calm Caribbean bay... Not sure if it is an NEMA 4/4X industrial grade monitor, but if it isn't you can always go for Stealth's 21'' monitor, which is waterproof.

"KME has ruggedised a high resolution TFT panel and a versatile analog-digital converter board. A milled aluminium front plate gives exceptional stability to the construction. Brightness is dimmable for night operation by rotary control on the front plate. The AC power indicator (LED) luminance is controlled by a photo-diode for automatic dimming as the ambient lighting reduces. The Dimming Ratio is > 2000:1. Resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 pixels can be displayed with superb image quality. A multi-layer coated toughened glass panel gives contrast enhancement as well as protection to the TFT panel itself. The MP version will also display PAL/NTSC signals."

No land in sight, but GSM coverage everywhere

A company called Altobridge has a solution that will allow you to make a call, or send an SMS, with your regular cellphone (GSM or CDMA) anywhere at sea, all over the world. It requires you to have an always on internet connection, but that should be no problem if you're willing to spend $25K for using your favorite Nokia in the middle of the Pacific in the first place. Calls to and from your cellphone are charged to the to your normal 'home' account and appear on your bill like any other roaming call.

Oh, and if you're coming in range of land, remember to switch the GSM off. It might cause interference or adds to the terrestrial GSM signals, which the local operator will have probably paid large licensing fees for...

"Altobridge's basic shipboard GSM system will cost Eur 25,000; for a little bit more it can be expanded to also pick up 802.11 and Bluetooth, standard short range wireless networking protocols, and CDMA, another mobile phone system."

By the way, if you have an always on internet connection and you're not willing to spend this extra money to use your Nokia GSM, consider a Wi-Fi SIP phone.

Cordless

We talk a lot about wireless communications on board, but let's also look at some of the other cords that can be removed. Start with the vacuum cleaner.

"Take a cord out of your boating life with DeWalt's DC500. The cordless/corded DC500 is a fully-loaded vacuum cleaner designed for industrial-strength jobs. It can run on optional 12-, 14.4- or 18-volt batteries, and is compact enough to use around those hard-to-reach spots on-deck. The DC500 handles heavy-duty debris with its 2-gallon filter"

Yacht controller

Awarded by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), is Marelux's Yacht Controller. It's not cheap (think $5K), but it's a great 'gadget'. A do-it-all remote control for operating your yacht, even if you're not on board...

Marelux Yacht Controller allows an owner with minimum boating experience to use a small handheld device to totally control the movement of the yacht, and is especially useful for docking. "You can even step onto a dock and handle your own dock lines (though it’s probably a good idea to have someone onboard ready to take over if something goes amiss)."

Satellite seeks broadband re-entry

This article in CNET is not discussing the possibilities for satellite internet access at sea, but touches upon a couple of issues that might be relevant to it. Standards and scale. If both happen this will also have a positive effect on costs and innovation with regard to satellite internet at sea.

"Last week, Hughes took one step aimed at cutting satellite broadband costs, endorsing the Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS) standard, which sets a common language for devices and applications to work with a satellite broadband service. The hope is to rally support among manufacturers who make PC devices such as handhelds, Wi-Fi hubs and Net phones. If manufacturers all develop products based on those standards, then broadband satellite equipment will become cheaper, the thinking goes. Thus far, Hughes has not announced any manufacturers who have endorsed its standard."

LED Lights Illuminate For Miles

LED lights are making an entrance everywhere, replacing 'traditional' lighting technologies. They have many advantages, that can be even more relevant with boating requirements in mind.

"LEDs create powerful illumination using very small amounts of energy, and last much longer than standard bulbs. Innovative Lighting harnesses this power in its new line of Two-Mile LED Navigation Sidelights, rated for powerboats up to 65.6'. Innovative Lighting's LED Combination Deck Mount, Sidelight Deck Mount and Vertical Mount Sidelights operate using a 9-16 volt DC system and provide 50,000 hours of service life. The combination unit uses just 1 watt of energy, while the single sidelights use only 1/2-watt."

Stealth versus CAPAX: And The Winner Is...

Earlier this week I posted about two high-end marinized PCs that recently got on the market. Stealth's LPC-401X and Capax's IPC-2402-MARINE-P4. Since I had no experience with either one of them, I let the experts do the talking. Gizmodo tipped Stealth as the winner, and Glenn Ashmore provided a compelling case for this machine as well on Google Groups.

"The Stealth is an extremely ruggedly built industrial computer and with audio, USP and Firewire on the front panel and the back it is a lot more
convenient to use. While it is not IEC-945 certified it is desighed for mounting on machines in a factory environment and would meet the vibration and shock load test better than the CAPAX. The only question I would have is the requirement for 10 minutes of 2KV 2.5Khz pulses into the supply line. That spec looks like it is to test normal mains 120/240V filtered power supplies and would probably not be appropriate for 18VDC supplies."

"If you are on a 75' or larger mega yacht that otherwise qualifies for SOLAS, the CAPAX it may be worth it but for a typical 40-50' yacht constrained for space and power the Stealth would definitely be a better choice."

Using Seaside Wi-Fi Hotspots For Calling Home

With more and more marinas offering Wi-Fi internet access, and with many other floating hotspots all over the world, it starts to make sense to use Wi-Fi as a telephone backbone. So instead of having to deal with different types of networks (GSM, CDMA, UMTS, etc), and roaming between different operators or having to purchase pre-paid calling cards, why not use the WiSIP WiFi SIP Phone to call home. Make sure folks back home have a SIP number as well (and in the near future that won't even be necessary) and you've got one thing less to worry about.

"Basically, the idea is that anywhere there is a WiFi, you should be able to call anyone you can access via SIP. Just like a cell phone. Except... for free."

"It's a bit "prototypey" but it seems to work... Although I don't have anyone to test actual calls with. It comes with a Free World Dialup number, but I don't have any friend who use SIP. I heard that they are currently working on a deal with Vonage, which will let you receive your normal phone calls on it, but I'd rather have everyone using SIP. I got a few other friends to order them so I'll let you know how it works when I have someone to call. ;-)"

Got the whole world­ - in my hand

Boatsandplaces.com did a review of NDI's Pocket PC solution for handling electronic charts. They're pretty happy with it, a bit to their own surprise. Now combine this with Mitac's Pocket PC we saw yesterday which features integrated GPS and there you have a perfect solution.

"Chart plotters and computer software for e-charts are old news. What could possibly be new and startling in this field? How about a hand-held Personal Data Assistant ­PDA ­showing full raster charts with software that gives you all the features of a laptop?"

Wireless Underwater Viewing System

In response to the post about Reefmaster's Digital Dive Camera and my suggestion to 'Wi-Fi-enable' it, Joel Johnson made a comment:

"I don't know how well WiFi would transmit through the water -- there might be a better frequency than 2.4Ghz -- but, man, that's a great idea! Or maybe even a wireless videocamera that could broadcast back to the boat and display on a monitor."

So I tried to find out if 'something' like that actually exists, and it appears that it does. Altough not really perfect, it's a start. The Fishing-CAM. It even allows you to view underwater images on your mobile phone...

"The Fishing-CAM is highly water resistant and pressure resistant as Fishing-CAM camera (a product equipped with LED or infrared ray device to regular CCD/CMOS camera) goes through molding process during manufacture. The encased Fishing-CAM camera is attached to the sinker part of fishing rod. With Fishing-CAM camera, you do not need to dive underwater to see the scenes below! Has a frequency range of around 2.4Hz and transmits up to 500 meters."

Wireless Anchor Monitoring System

How often did you have a bad night of sleep because you were worried about your whether or not your anchor would stay in position? After finding that ideal spot, a boater just wants to drop the anchor and forget about it. Deep Blue Marine's Anchor Alert, engineered by Ascend Marine, offers boaters peace of mind through a new wireless anchor monitoring system.

"Unlike GPS units that can sound annoying false alarms from boat swing, Anchor Alert only signals a warning if the anchor moves. A GPS system sounds an anchor alarm if a boat travels farther than a specified distance. To avoid recurring false alarms, boaters often have to adjust this setting every few hours due to wind or tide changes. The only way to accurately gauge anchor movement is by attaching a movement detection device, such as Anchor Alert's transponder, to the anchor point."

Sail into the wi-fi zone

Not as inspirational as the Lake Dal project in India, but nevertheless this is a very welcome gift for commercial ships and private yachts travelling through the Van Starkenborghkanaal in The Netherlands. They will now have the possibility (in Dutch) to enter a wi-fi zone and as long as they're in it, free internet access is available so that email and the latest weather reports can be downloaded.

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Guide to shipboard internet

Although sponsored by Inmarsat, this is a nice guide to help you get the most out of your internet connection while at sea. I like the fact that they are specifically mentioning the use of instant messaging software as a very efficient means of communication.

"One particular application, familiar to most land-based Internet users, that becomes economically viable through MPDS is instant messaging software, available for free from companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo and Netscape, and for business functionality from eg. Mediachase (www.mediachase.com)."

Managing Multiple Types of Internet Connections

We've discussed least-cost routing and connectivity managers before, and here is another new (software) product from Fiberlink that will help you manage different types of internet connections. Besides these types of solutions, it is also very wise to understand how you can better compress data, or even prevent unnecessary data from being transmitted at all.

"With patent-pending technology called Active Transport Notification™, Extend360 scans a user’s current environment, dynamically detects the access modes available and supported by the enterprise – such as 3G, Wi-Fi, broadband and dial-up – and presents these options to the user in one, easy-to-navigate interface. Users can easily see their options and connect with all available access methods."

Touch-screen navigation

Maptech introduced a new product callled i3 which is basically a touch-screen interface to all important navigation data. It looks very good, and from a usability perspective this product is a nice example of a trend that will hopefully continue.

"If seeing is believing, then Maptech believes that just OneTouch of the i3 will introduce you to a totally new and exciting way to navigate. The i3 is an all-in-one solution that is built around OneTouch options. The sunlight viewable large marinized color touch-screen display lets you view and change charts and create a route and a lot more by just touching the screen."

Portable Spy Station: Grundig Yacht Boy 400

Gizmodo is reporting on the Grundig Yacht Boy. Not because it is such a special or unique device, it isn't, but because it can be used for things you might not have known about.

"The Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE is ostensibly a portable marine device for tuning in AM/FM and shortwave radio stations (as the 'Yacht Boy' moniker might have tipped you off to.) For those that want to explore the darker side of radio reception, however, the Yacht Boy becomes a indispensable tool for discovering and monitoring 'Numbers Stations', the shortwave radio stations that broadcast mysterious streams of five-figure number blocks throughout the night."

Compression and shipboard internet access

As long as real and flat-rate broadband satellite internet is not ubiquitous at sea, there will be a need to handle data traffic as efficient as possible. A detailed article in Digital Ship's February newsletter (pdf, p.8-13) looks at the various compression methods that are being used in order to optimize the throughput for satellite internet. There are different ways of doing it, and systems deployed by KVH, Inmarsat, Iridium, Seawave, Accelerator from Expand Networks and Globalstar are being reviewed and explained.

"Much attention is given to the compression of data, processing documents and image files so they use the minimum data possible, to reduce the ship shore communications cost. The choice is not whether to compress, but how well and how easily it can be achieved."

"While compression itself is important, preventing unwanted transmissions, repeat transmissions and making full use of available resources is perhaps even more important. Prevention coupled with superior compression remains the best approach to reducing costs."

It furthermore discusses the future of shipboard internet access as well, 'warning' Inmarsat that it will have to match its offering to that of the VSAT service providers. And, if that happens, we might be surprised about the market uptake of these services. Another development putting pressure on Inmarstat is of course the Boeing announcement that they will introduce their Connexion service to the maritime market.

"According to Worldlink, internet access onboard vessels will not happen with MPDS, but will only happen when VSAT like tariffs are available from Inmarsat. "If you consider downloading the CNN front page is 200-300 kilobytes that's about $12.0 at current going rates for MPDS," comments Asad Salameh, CEO of World-Link. "No compression or caching is going to reduce this number enough so that a crew member can relax on the internet."

Reefmaster Digital Dive Camera

For those of you that spent a lot of time in the Caribbean, this is a must have assuming that diving is your thing. The only thing I see it's missing is an underwater Wi-Fi connection to upload your pictures in realtime...

"Around here we like to say that 'There is nothing worth doing that can't be done more expensively,' so why skimp on a dive camera when you can have something like the Reefmaster (Amazon) DC310 Digital MAXX? The $1400 MAXX system has Sealife's so-so 3.3 megapixel camera with all the basic features you'd expect from a digital. The 8MB on-board memory is scant, but fortunately a 128MB SD card is included in the package. Even better, the MAXX package has plenty of extra accessories to get you started, like flash diffusers (more important underwater than on land), macro lenses, and of course, the two bug-eye external flashes. The entire rig can be taken to depths of up to 200ft -- well past recreational dive limits."

Garmin Vs. Si-Tex

Review over at Powerboat Reports. In short the conclusion is that if you’ve got the space, consider Si-Tex’s Dynamic Duo, a plotter and sounder with separate screens that sells for about the same as the Garmin 188C, which is perfect for boats with limited room at the helm.

"Chartplotter/sounder combo units take up less console space and usually cost less than separate pieces. But if the combo breaks down, you’ve lost two important instruments at once. Not good."

Pocket PC with integrated GPS

The world's first combined PocketPC with GPS is launched by Mitac. PDA Buyersguide has done an extensive review of the Mitac Mio 168.

"Palm OS users who wanted an integrated GPS had their prayers answered by the Garmin iQUE 3600 in 2003. Pocket PC users now have the Mitac Mio 168, introduced March 2004, as their all-in-one solution."

Small-boat autopilots

Trailer Boats Magazine points out that an autopilot can be a very useful instrument to have on a small-boat. Now that's probably nothing new, but the article explains how this can also be cost-effective, since it generally requires a relatively large investment.

"There is a widespread misconception that an autopilot is useful only on ocean-going vessels that are used exclusively for long-distance cruising. The fact is that an autopilot is useful in far more applications than just cruising. Like power steering on your car, autopilot owners soon find that the pilot is an essential accessory, and not simply a frivolous luxury. Primary applications are for cruising and fishing. But, when a pilot is combined with devices such as Loran, GPS, c-maps, and radar, a very sophisticated navigation system is formed that can often outperform the captain—particularly in adverse conditions."

Radar on your mobile

Unfortunately not yet by using a tiny chip, but there a number of mobile internet services and applications available that will help you keep an eye on the weather when you are (planning to be) at sea. However, some people point out that it would be a bit naive to just trust on services like these. Take a look at a discussion over at Google Groups if you would like to know more.

Jerre Lull:"If I had a radar and a crew member to study it constantly, I'd add it to the arsenal, but I have neither. Personally, I depend upon the weather warnings as THEY can keep their heads buried in their far superior radars while I handle the boat and
watch the sky."

THE WEARABLE WEATHER STATION

Instruments are getting smaller and smaller. Combine that with all developments in the wireless area, and it won't take long before we we stop using these LCD displays in the cockpit.

"This fancy watch will give you wind speed, temperature with wind chill calculation, barometric pressure with 9-hour history graph, and altitude as well as pinpoint accurate time, date, alarm, timer and stop watch. Data is expressed in MPH, KPH, meters/second, meters/feet, and C/F°. You can also detach the monitor from the wrist strap, and use the supplied lanyard to wear the weather station on your belt, bike, or backpack."

Little rugged PC

Stealth Computer has come out with a nice new small form rugged PC, named LittlePC. Perfect for an install in a small environment close to a navigation table. Specs look good, but I don't think it's tested according to the IEC 945 standard like the marinized PC we mentioned yesterday. But then again, the price probably isn't the same either.

"The LPC-401X is an Intel Pentium-4 based small form computer system that is part of Stealth’s growing family of LittlePC’s. Housed in a rugged extruded aluminum enclosure this powerful & versatile machine runs a screaming 3.2GHz Processor and yet it can fit into the palm of your hand. The LPC-401 measures out at only 10" x 5.8" x 2.8" (about the size of a hard cover novel) and offers features that have only been available in traditional bulky desktop PC’s."

Electric rules

It's not a first, but the news that another multihull company will make a electric drives standard in the production of new boats is a definite trend. Such a system has many advantages, and if you think it won't deliver enough power, well, think again. One of the features I like best is the fact that such a system even generates power when you're sailing.

"In heavier winds Waypoint often regenerated more power than she needed. When that happened, the crew drained off the excess electricity by turning on the air conditioning and water heater and running the motors faster, which increased their speed even more."

In With The New

Boating World has an overview of electronics that are revolutionizing recreational boating. 'Revolutionizing' is may be a bit overstated... The list appears to be a rather random selection of relatively new electronics.

"In the beginning there was a compass, a fishing pole and the wind. Look how far that got early mankind in boating. They thought the world was flat for centuries, could't catch a fish if their life depended on it and used bogus sea stories to predict when Mother Nature reared her ugly head. So much for the good old days. Embrace the new, and stay ahead of the curve with this new electronics gear."

Unwire and Unwind

Long article in Great Lakes Boating on the spread of Wi-Fi in marinas and on boats. The author makes a nice comment with regard to sailors and computers : "...and for the most part, people who are good with boats aren't necessarily good with computer science." He feels this is one of the reasons Wi-Fi isn't as widely spread as it could or should be.

"If your marina offers a Wi-Fi service, and you are not a computer nerd, I would recommend that you get a wireless network card, plug it into your computer, and see if you can see the Wi-Fi service. If you can, good. If you can't, remove the card and take it back to Best Buy and forget about the whole issue. Life is too short to hassle any further with it."

A PC that really fits the marine environment

Finding a PC that can be used in the harsh marine environment is already difficult enough. But to find a marinised PC that rivals the performance of most regular High-End PCs was supposed to be impossible. However, a specialist company called Capax has one on offer. The "IPC-2402-MARINE-P4 - 4U IEC 945 Marine approved computer". Sounds impressive, and it is. Up to 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 with 800 MHz bus, a 10000 rpm SATA HDD and up to 15 RS-232/422/485 com ports. More importantly it is tested, and approved, according to the IEC 945 standard (and the Lloyds ENV2 specification), which was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as a means of testing whether computers are able to function in the maritime environment. Apart from the obvious rocking of the ship, the computers must be able to withstand the vibration, power drops and power surges. It must be able to high humidity and condensation, and be resistant to radio disturbance from other electrical equipment nearby.

So far I haven't been able to figure out what the price of this machine is, so if anybody knows, drop me line.

Cheap and expensive LCD displays

Over at Google Groups a discussion is going on that focuses on LCD displays that are able display NMEA data.

dbp: "With the cost of instrument maxis (mast displays) so high, has anyone out there come up with a simple solution? It seems like it would be fairly easy to have a program to read and direct the NMEA sentence to a commonly available LCD display. Use a plam pilot or similar to run a selection of what to display and to direct the info to a display. Any ideas?"

Glen \"Wiley\" Wilson: "...Don't forget to get something seriously water resistant as well. At least one of my customers uses a standard external lcd dsplay with his laptop and my program. He uses a bracket to swivel the display into the companionway for viewing, and out of the way when not needed. It's protected from the weather and direct sun by the companionway hatch cover when in use. It should be visible from the helm on most boats. Whether the trimmers can see it or not depends on the boat."

Wireless 'voyage management system'

Interesting story in The Digital Ships' January newsletter (pdf) about the deployment of a 'Voyage Management System' that has a wireless (Wi-Fi) extension. This deployment is done on a large vessel, but some elements will definitely be useful on smaller (private) yachts as well. One of the more innovative features is that, via the handheld, the crew can check where passenger are in emergency situations using RFID tags. That, in combination with another feature mentioned below, makes it a great Big Brother tool...:

"The pocket computer can also show CCTV pictures from cameras around the ship, and history of where the ship has been and the alarms which have sounded. It can also serve as a trigger for the ship security alert system, so that seafarers anywhere on the ship can sound the alarm if the vessel is in an emergency. (Furthermore,) the wireless communications technology can carry voice communications, so the handheld device can effectively act as a radio."

Least Cost Routing

Came across SeaWave's Integrator 3.0 solution in combination with Inmarsat's Fleet 55. What I really like about this solution is that it provides 'least-cost routing' for all your voice and data traffic, depending on your location and availability of different (satellite) communication networks. Such a system can be created by anyone with enough expertise, but this one works out of the box. It does have some proprietary elements in it however, which makes the system somewhat inflexible.

"The Satcom Fleet 55 communications system automatically provides optimum performance at a minimum cost, without the need for a professional communications specialist. Those who enjoy the complicated process of managing communications may at first miss the romance of being the 'Sparks' on their yachts, but I suspect that romance will fade. After all, it's tough to beat the convenience of contacting anyone, virtually anywhere, at any time."

Electronic Navigational Charts

Fairly basic feature story over at the Boating Channel about the advent of electronic navigational charts (ENCs) and how they improve safety. Over a million the ENCs have ben downloaded so far. For a further explanation on how to use these charts, check out this Google Groups discussion. Amongs others, it points you to an ENC viewer from Fugawi and SeeMyDEnc from SevenCs.

"Often called 'smart charts', ENCs provide the nautical data that mariners need, plus vector map features and hydrographic data. They also include electronic compatibility features that paper charts lack. For instance, a mariner can integrate global positioning system (GPS) data, which tells a mariner his or her precise latitude and longitude, with ENC data. The mariner can also integrate data from geographic information systems (GIS), real-time tide and current data, and wind data to enhance the capabilities of the ENC. This information is especially important to large commercial vessels that must navigate through narrow areas."

Satellite radio looks to take-off

The BBC reports on the increasing demand for satellite radio in the US. At least Sirius is also planning to offer four video channels that can be received in the same way as the radio signal. More and more boaters are also using either Sirius or XM, although coverage is limited if you're really going offshore (+200 miles).

"We believe we'll be able to put four channels of video into the back seat, so you don't have to schlep your videos or DVDs and set up some gizmo for your kids to enjoy that long ride."

Gadget Junkie's Discovery

A BoatOhio reader (Don Hagan) recently discovered that the answer to boating problems is not always found in electronics...

"OK, I admit it.... I am a gadget junkie. I purchase Palm Pilots, a new cell phone each year, laptops, stereos, digital cameras, watches... anything new and improved. When I bought my Siren 17 sailboat, I had a new and wonderful reason to purchase gadgets. Stereo system, trolling motor, electrical panel; the one item I really wanted was a knotmeter, so that I can tell how good (or lousy) a sailor I am becoming. A search of the available products left me confused and concerned. Most of the electronic knotmeters required "through-the hull" transducers. To me, this meant a hole in the hull, and a possible leak! What's a gadget guy to do?"

Mixed Signals

Good article over at Boating World explaining the configuration of a good VHF set-up by detailing the workings of the different components. Do not focus too much on the radio itself, understand the importance of the antenna and cables. Click here for an overview of good, but more expensive, antennas at Amazon.

"The basic rule of VHF communication is to buy the best antenna that you can find and install it so that it provides the maximum range and reception for your boat. Dave's friend, on the other hand, had saved some money by taking a different approach. He bought a good but inexpensive VHF that had the channels and features he needed, and then he used the savings from that purchase to add a high-performance antenna and top-grade connecting wire. The result was good range at a reasonable price. It's about the best mix you can get for your VHF needs. So before you buy your equipment, you should take a look at some antenna facts to see how to get top performance."

A very big but small on board PC

If you are considering a PC for on board use, please have a look at the FlipStart Mini PC. Over the years there have been several attempts at producing such a small laptop, without giving up on performance. It looks like someone finally succeeded. It is a very portable one and allows you to connect wirelessly to any network, which is a huge advantage.

"Additionally, the unit will ship with MobileMail which "enables a more efficient email experience on low bandwidth connections while preserving battery life", and MiddleMan navigational software, which most likely refers to navigating on screen (scrolling and the like) which is aided by the scroll wheel on the right side of the unit."

Roaming Around the Marina

Today's Wall Street Journal discusses a problem many wi-fi users will recognize. Dead spots around you property where you can't get a signal. The same problem occurs at marina's offering Wi-Fi. Depending on your berth, you will or you won't get a signal. There are a couple of solutions to this problems, amongst which repeaters like this one and antennas like this one.

"But it turns out the popular Wi-Fi systems that beam the Internet throughout the home can have the same dead spots that drive cellphone users mad. "It's the wireless-network equivalent of 'Can you hear me now?' " says Doug Hagan, spokesman at Wi-Fi manufacturer Netgear. Now, computer companies are catering to this fixation with a new range of gadgets meant to stamp out those dead spots."

OpenSource GPS

Open source is spreading everywhere, and that includes the maritime industry. Although very much for techies at this time, this is a nice example of a marine related open source project. OpenSourceGPS allows for much more flexibility in the use of a GPS receiver. Again, it's not for everyone, but if you're interested... For some more examples do a search on SourceForge for any boating/sailing related key word.

"These days you can purchase OEM GPS receivers for under $100 - in quantity, even under $50. These OEM receivers are circuit boards with a GPS chip set on them and some kind of processor which runs the GPS chipset (although sometimes it's all just one chip). Along with the hardware, there's useually some custom, proprietary, closed-source software in the flash (so really it's firmware) which runs the chipset and produces the position estimate."

Newspapers direct to your yacht

Cruising the world but can't get away from what's happening at home? If you have a printer on board and a good internet connection, you can enjoy your favorite newspaper on deck in the morning sun wherever you are.

"NewspaperDirect has proprietary technology and compatible print stations that allow the recipient to receive on-demand newspaper service, which offers same-day delivery of complete, 11X17 print editions of more than 185 domestic and international newspapers directly to a luxury yacht."

Keep your eye open

Performance racing goes hand-in-hand with wireless communications. Ockham, a leading provider of instruments and software, introduced a PocketPC version of their software, which communicates with other instruments using Wi-Fi.

"Cost effective wireless instrument information and system control - Ockam
introduces OS4 EYE. Load Eye software on your PDA (Pocket PC) and your
Ockam connected WiFi PC. View multiple pages of instrument data, set cals,
averaging and controller functions, track trends on stripcharts, all in
your pocket. - hiking hard on the rail or monitoring performance from your
bunk!"

Wi-Fi PDA's

If you're thinking about using a Pocket PC on board that will connect wirelessly to other systems via Wi-Fi, have a look at this review over at ZDNet.

"Last year saw wireless tech's profile take a major jump. Hot spots popped up all over, and more and more Wi-Fi products hit the market. Want to score a Wi-Fi handheld that scored high with our editors? Here are five we love."

Dick Tracy Fishing

For you fishing fanatics who are looking for a simple, but smart, device to assist you, Boating Life has a short review of the Humminbird Smartcast wristwatch. Another, more extended, review can be found here.

"We thought this Humminbird Smartcast wristwatch fish finder was a schmaltzy gimmick when we saw it in the package. Then we saw it in action. Hook the green transducer to a rod and cast it where you think fish might be. It will transmit a bottom graph and images of anything in the water column right back to the wrist-receiver. Fish show up as, well, they look like fish."

A mouse on board?

Working with computers on board can be a bit difficult, especially if you want to use them in a too small navigation station. Or if you have a cockpit display connected to them. A new product solves at least a part of the problem. It's a wireless computer mouse that you can use in the air, so no more mouse pad required...

"The Gyromouse, by Gyration, is an ultra high-tech pointing device, and it's the best thing to happen to mice since wireless. In fact, it is a wireless (proprietary RF) optical mouse with little gyroscopes that sense your hand motion. You hold the trigger button on the bottom and wave the Gyromouse around to move the cursor. Sit it on the desktop, and it magically becomes an optical desktop mouse."

VDO launches 'four in one' navigation instrument

A new all-in-one analog/digital display from VDO which can be can be perfectly matched to any cockpit – ranging from sporty powerboats and the stylish old-timer to the luxury yacht. It is available with different dial variants and front rings, which means that there is a total of over 30 design variants to choose from.

"This leaves the limited amount of space available at the helm station free for further information, displays and additional systems," said VDO, noting that the new VDO Ocean Line Combi "is the only device available on the market to recognise information from NMEA and VDO sensors without the need for additional adapters." The new Combi instrument combines four devices that previously had to be mounted separately and groups them together in an integrated 85mm casing. "From this, in addition to the water depth, the skipper can also read off the most important navigational data," said the company."