Is This A Sign Of Things To Come?

[+Rubberhead]

I've been looking at this for days. This is really great but expensive stuff.

 

http://www.garmin.com/marinenetworking/

 

I am in no position to afford such equipment, but I'm hoping that it is a sign of things to come as prices get cheaper.

[+rusty_tlc]

I've been looking at this for days. This is really great but expensive stuff.

 

http://www.garmin.com/marinenetworking/

 

I am in no position to afford such equipment, but I'm hoping that it is a sign of things to come as prices get cheaper.

That makes sense. The industry is stuck on RS232, so instead of moving to USB they head to ethernet.

 

The wheels of progress or slow but grind exceedingly fine.

[+Cadence]

Hmmm, for that price, why not make it Bluetooth?

 

Wireless. Makes it easier to conceal the wires if there aren't any!

 

Groan.

 

Todd - K7PKT

[+Rubberhead]

Hmmm, for that price, why not make it Bluetooth?

 

Wireless. Makes it easier to conceal the wires if there aren't any!

 

Groan.

 

Todd - K7PKT

Man, you should be working for Garmin.

 

[+JeepCachr]

Hmmm, for that price, why not make it Bluetooth?

 

Wireless. Makes it easier to conceal the wires if there aren't any!

 

Groan.

 

Todd - K7PKT

I wouldn't want to trust bluetooth or any wireless on my navigation system.

[+Rubberhead]

In any saltwater marine environment, I'd have to say that an epoxy encased bluetooth module would be more reliable than wiring.

 

Saltwater is tough on wiring and connectors and in rough seas everything takes a physical pounding.

 

Besides, by nature, its a GPS wireless?

[Vlad]

bluetooth (or some variant) might become a future standard for these types of devices but currently a hard-wired solution is probably most reliable and easiest to deliver.

 

not only are we talking about a gps receiver here, but also a sounder device (potentially with depth and temp) as well as weather, radio and a variety of other types of info. garmin is also talking about a future radar product to be integrated and undoubtedly (my guess here) will surprise us with some type of forward-scanning sonar in future (also found the composite inputs interesting - can i use my very expensive gps screen as a really low-res dvd player monitor? ).

 

this is a lot of bluetooth info to simultaneously receive and process and especially considering that this product is all about sharing info across multiple head units.

 

ethernet is fast, cheap and reliable.

 

that said, wireless will undoubtedly happen - it's just a matter of when and in what particular iteration.

Edited April 21, 2004 by Vlad