Multifunction Displays

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seeray96

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Looks like Raymarine and Garmin are both introducing some interesting products. I've been using Raymarine for years, but maybe it's time to look around. Any comments?
 
Both are excellent not Furuno quality but very close.
I prefer Garmin and I really like that Garmin has adopted NMEA2000 communications standard for all but their radar. My vessel has as displays, the 6212 (primary high end for Garmin unit), 740S, 4210 and the GMI-10 (small display). They all communicate over the NMEA2000 buss with the exception of the radar and current sonar which use the Garmin network protocal and cables (basically marinized shielded CAT5). I have a variety of sensors and converters mostly Maretron on the NMEA2000 buss.
Bill
 
like Lowrance simple plug and play nema 2k system had it the first pc. over 2yrs and have added to it the past 1 yr and a half and have never had anything but good luck from CS hot-line..
 
One nice feature I really like about Garmin is software upgrades on the MFD's can be done by installing a simple program they provide for free on their website and downloading the updates to an SD card. Then you simply insert the SD card in the MFD and it finds every device connected to that MFD and upgrades the software. This is for the upgraded features and interoperability of devices. The maps need to be updated in a similar way but the map upgrades are not free.
Bill
 
One positive for Raymarine if you are thinking about getting a FLIR unit the controls for the FLIR will operate through a Raymarine MFD it mut be one of the newer versions. I use a FLIR on my Garmin system but it has it's own joystick control box. I simply feed the video to the MFD's video input.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

One nice feature I really like about Garmin is software upgrades on the MFD's can be done by installing a simple program they provide for free on their website and downloading the updates to an SD card. Then you simply insert the SD card in the MFD and it finds every device connected to that MFD and upgrades the software. This is for the upgraded features and interoperability of devices. The maps need to be updated in a similar way but the map upgrades are not free.
Bill

Click to expand...


Bill:

I have to disgaree - Garmin and simple should never be used in the same sentence.

No knock on their quality, but I find their interface and usability to be confusing, and poor at best.

I will admit that I don't have much experience with Garmin products, but this is a result of my own choosing not to have to perform mental gymnastics to use a device.
 
quote:
Originally posted by In the know

quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

One nice feature I really like about Garmin is software upgrades on the MFD's can be done by installing a simple program they provide for free on their website and downloading the updates to an SD card. Then you simply insert the SD card in the MFD and it finds every device connected to that MFD and upgrades the software. This is for the upgraded features and interoperability of devices. The maps need to be updated in a similar way but the map upgrades are not free.
Bill

Click to expand...


Bill:

I have to disgaree - Garmin and simple should never be used in the same sentence.

No knock on their quality, but I find their interface and usability to be confusing, and poor at best.

I will admit that I don't have much experience with Garmin products, but this is a result of my own choosing not to have to perform mental gymnastics to use a device.

Click to expand...

ITK what unit and vintage Garmin are you using? The new Garmin units are very easy to operate. If you think Garmin is difficult the other major brands in my opinion require a higher degree of input from the user. I find the Garmin high to middle end MFD's require little knowledge to operate and maintain upgrades on including their OS.
Operation simplicity started with the 4200 series for high end MFD's and the newer 500-740S for the middle of the road plotters the 740S isn't quite an MFD it has no video inputs and can only read radar if you use a Garmin radar hooked directly to it. I think for a few extra bucks Garmin should have given a Garmin network port in place of the radar port, although it does have a NMEA2000 port.
Bill
 
Bill:

I forget the specific unit, but my last Garmin experience was ~2002/2003 time frame. I just don't like them - don't find them intuitive at all. To each their own I guess. I currently run all Lowrance, well except for the Furono radar which will be replaced with a Lowrance HD unit this year.
 
Those units of that era I would agree thumbs down, Garmin has completely revamped the GUI, Graphic User Interface on the newer units after the 3200 series. Even the 3200 series is nice but starting with the 4200 series they really improved.
I would urge you to check the new Garmin units out at your local WM store.
I wouldn't purchase a Garmin from them however.
Bill
 
ITK remember we are talking about Multi Function Displays not just plotters in this thread.
Bill
 
This may be a stupid question but why has there not been a shift towards computers or other sasftware based systems? For some one like Bill you would need a 30" wide screen monitor (j/k), but for the rest who only have radar, chrt plotter and sounder it would seem to make sense since you can input all of those through a common network bridge. I had Google maps running on my Droid phone last summer in the ICW and it showed my position just as accurately as my chartplotter, - the noaa maps. Anyway, I figure there has to be a reason, I just don't know what it is.
 
Actually at the dash I have a pair of Merc System View 5000 engine displays, a Garmin 740S, a Garmin 6212MFD and a small Garmin GMI-10. The layout is nice and the 12" MFD is fine. I can't fit anything larger. It's easy on the eyes and my wife has much better eyesight then me so she is the spotter. It works out great not a single analog gauge on the all glass panel.
Bill
 
If you look in the classified section you can see 2 pictures of the split custom helm on my boat.
Bill
 
The problem with moving towards computer based software is the on boats with open helms enclosed with soft enclosure the hardware is just to fragile (rain) and too hard to read in broad daylight. Traditional computers with keyboards and mouse/pads are not very easy to use at most helms

I think that as the market expands enclosure for tablets will improve making them a viable option

Now on larger boats with enclosed helms as a plotter a laptop is great. But I ll keep my radar on a dedicated display, it's just too much of a critical piece of equipment to risk having the data on computer only. I m obviously talking about running in conditions (typical New England fog) where radar is mission critical

As to multifunction displays, I just don't care for them if you have room for dedicated radar and plotters and most boats over 35 have (or should have...) I never overlay, for one I rarely use the same range on the plotter and radar. I like my sounder on a separate display so that if the main screen goes down, at least I still have depth!

I was on a newish 60 footer the other day with Ray MFDs, 2 upstairs, 1 downstairs. It s a lot more complex than needed and some options were too hard to find and set. Overall the system did not provide any benefit over something more simple. And then there was the matching VHF with no power switch on the handheld gizmo!!! Took us a while to turn it on... How s that for safety equipment? Ray didn't bother putting a power icon next to the 16/9 key!
 
I think there are some good points to a computer-based system, including non-proprietary architecture and the resultant low cost of components, but I have had to re-boot my work laptop and my iphone every once in a while and I haven't had to reboot my MFD, yet. This would be a serious concern for, as Pascal put it, mission-critical systems.

- Ed
 
I have found the FLIR to be much better then conventional radar in pea soup close in fog. Now broadband radar maybe a different story. Garmin currently only has HD radar which I can dedicate to the plotter/display as needed with or without overlay. I can split screen the FLIR with the radar on the 12 inch display. MFD's depending on size can handle up to 4 screens at one time or overlay and they are very basic to set up. The word I would use is intuative. The Garmin VHF200 radios and AIS integrate directly with the MFD's via NMEA2000 and yes they have a conventional on/off switch on the volume control and even the Garmin remote RAM stlye mike has a simple on/off dedicated control feature. Also with Garmin modern systems you can set them to auto power up so when you hit the breaker the MFD/NMEA2000 radio, RAM & AIS transponder will power up automatically.
Bill
 
I think you need to really play around with the various MFD's, if possible, before purchasing. I used Garmin gear for years and upgraded to 2009 MFD for a short while. Bought another boat that has a 12" and 9" Raymarine setup and while the quality of the unit and display is great I still can't do simple things on those units. I suppose if I went online or read the manual a few more times it would all make sense but currently I'm disappointed. Just my two cents
 
I just purchased a Chetco Seasmart E-NET to NMEA2000 interface unit. It takes NEMA2000 data and outputs IP CAT5/USB & WiFi so I can use my Droid based Motorola for remote monitoring even while in the head. Actually even about a few hundred yards from the boat or over the internet depending on how I set it up. More on this feature when I install the interface and launch in the early Spring. The latest Raymarine MFD's have this WiFi feature already installed in the unit.
Bill
 
I like both but prefer Garmin up to this point. The auto pilot Garmin uses is very cool requires no rudder wheel potentiometer. It disengages if you simply grab the wheel release the wheel it's back on. I am not an auto pilot fan. I have found with my latest Garmin/Maretron set up that playing with the unit exceeds reading the book, it really is that simple to set up to 6 custom screens and the boarder information. I keep going back to one word to describe the user interface "intuative". My wife who is no electronics expert can work all the functions with ease. The units power up automatically in my primary configuration to my primary configuration.
The radar is good but not Furuno quality or broadband radar quality. I'm waiting for Garmin to release a broadband low power radar unit. Their close in range I'm talking about 25 to 50 feet in front of the boat and definition is unreal with Simrads Broadband radar (patented) it doesn't use high voltage it's only negative is beyond 3-5 miles then you need conventional high definition radar. But I know my limitations and running at anything but a crawl in a souped in harbor with traffic is plain crazy. So between the FLIR and the HD I am quite comfortable. One often overlook piece with Garmin is you need a heading sensor this way when you are crawling, lose GPS tracking or drifting it always shows the proper relation of the bow of your boat on the radar or MFDs plotter really slick when approaching docks in total darkness, heavy fog or cruising a narrow passegway. I use a Maretron heading sensor (relabeled by Garmin) on the NMEA2000 buss.
Many modern MFD's are really small computers with all the processing going on just more reliable then say Microsoft on a modified marinized computer. I have never had to reboot the system and it has never locked up. I did have problems with the Garmin GMR24HD radar but I recieved one of the 1st units before they were released to the general public. They eventually made it right but I had already switched to the GMR18HD which never had any known issues.
Bill
 
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