Practical marine-electronics

CAN YOU KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES?

The advances in marine-electronics systems over the last 10 years have been nothing short of spectacular with the world of marine communications and navigation destined to a total reliance on satellites.

The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) service is fully operational, with a European system coming. GPS equipment prices have dropped to consumer electronics levels, you can get a GPS at West Marine for under $100. The weather forecasts are available through NAVTEX in many areas. INMARSAT has most commercial and large pleasure vessels equipped with satellite communications, IRIDIUM and other systems offer satellite communications options. You can email via HF radio or use satellite to take your emails.

For entertainment there is satellite television and radio systems such as Sirius. Boat instrumentation including radar, fishfinders and plotters are now running on networks, and fiber optics are used, as well as leaps in computing power enable the operation of split screen radar and chart plotters. All of these new systems and useful information to using them are explained in this website along with my books for sailing and motor boats. Looking for my book and equipment? West Marine- America's Favorite Boating Supply Source

ALL ABOUT GMDSS AND SMALL BOATS

GMDSS has transformed the maritime communications area, and many smaller boats and cruising yachts are still trying to get plugged into the international standard distress system. Click on this link for important details on GMDSS

ALL ABOUT VHF RADIO

GMDSS has changed a lot of things, with DSC radios now almost standard on smaller boats, and cell phones getting widespread if not contraversial use. Click on the link for more useful information on communications, VHF and cell phones

ARE YOU USING HAM ON YOUR CRUISING YACHT? THOUSANDS ARE!

Ham has become a logical choice now that GMDSS has virtually eliminated HF/SSB voice communications. Click on this link for all useful maritime mobile frequencies and HAM net informationyou will ever need to go cruising.

GPS AND SPACE WEATHER

Part 1 of this 3 Part Series on the Space Weather and GPS, and Marine Communications Click on this link to go to Part 1 of 3 Parts on the affects of space weather on marine communications and GPS

Part 2 of this 3 Part Series on the Space Weather and GPS, and Marine Communications Click on this link to go to Part 2 of 3 Parts on the affects of space weather on marine communications and GPS

Part 1 of this 3 Part Series on the Space Weather and GPS, and Marine Communications Click on this link to go to Part 1 of 3 Parts on the affects of space weather on marine communications and GPS

THE MARINE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL

Do you want to expand your knowledge and learn a lot more about marine electrics and electronics? I run the Marine Electrical School from this site with 10 main course modules and one special course for fishermen

CLICK ON THE MARINE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL LOGO to go to the course syllabus and enrollment.

ARE YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE CHANGES?

No change comes without other changes,. One outcome of all this change is that HF/SSB shore stations have largely ceased operations in most main western countries, along with Morse. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is now operational with far reaching ramifications to all boat owners. Many systems only affordable or suitable for large commercial vessels are now coming on the market packaged for smaller vessels. Typical examples of this are DSC VHF radios. get your radio at West Marine- America's Favorite Boating Supply Source

Part 1 of this 3 Part Series on RFI and Interference problem solving on your GPS, radios and marine-electronics. Click on this link to go back to Part 1 of 3 Parts on RFI and Interference on GPS and radio equipment

Part 2 of this 3 Part Series on RFI and Interference problem solving on your GPS, marine-electronics and radios. Click on this link to go to Part 2 of 3 Parts on RFI and Interference on GPS-unit and radio equipment

Part 3 of this 3 Part Series on RFI and Interference problem solving on your GPS, marine-electronics and radios Click on this link to go to Part 3 of 3 Parts on RFI and Interference on GPS-unit and radio equipment

KEEPING MARINE-ELECTRONICS FAILURE TO A MINIMUM

The single greatest cause of marine-electronics problems is that of improperly installed equipment. While most equipment is effectively plug-and-play, the routing and installation of cables is critical to performance. Interference and performance problems are frequent due to poor installation. Another common problem is selection of equipment unsuited to the application, and a typical example is the installation of incorrectly rated autopilots. Making the correct choices is crucial to safe and reliable boating. Marine-electronics manufacturers such as Raymarine and leading suppliers such as West Marine offer good support information for making the correct decisions, use them and choose wisely and save money. Get yours here, I did and bought a Raymarine model West Marine- America's Favorite Boating Supply Source

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF IT ALL STOPS?

Modern marine-electronics are now very cheap and reliable. The one inherent danger of course is that many boaters are sailing away without the knowledge to maintain the equipment, understand how to use it properly, and worse still without the skills to cope when the systems do fail. All these high technology marine-electronics systems are in the end only aids to navigational for use in conjunction with properly corrected charts, good seamanship and a seaworthy vessel. Always maintain a plot on a current navigation chart. Double check your navigation receiver fixes with compass bearings on coastal passages. This site is full of useful information to make your boating safer and more enjoyable.

Go to the magazine site with the best sailing and cruising publications. Motor Boat and Yachting - Motor Boats Monthly - Practical Boat Owner - Classic Boat - Yachting Monthly - Yachting World, great forums and good up to date information. Go to some really great forums and lots of useful marine-electronics information

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