Standard Horizon

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

The reason is that the whole unit is IPX5 but when flush mounted the front panel is waterproof.

So if the unit lets in water via the front end it get replaced.

Ta Jon
It is flush mounted so I hope not to be in touch.
TVM for your prompt response to my email.

JW
Nothing waterproof about the box, except perhaps the printing.

[Julian]

Hi All,

In my opinion there are only 2 makes to buy

1. Garmin
2. Raymarine

Just my input and Ive used both with no problems at all.

Thanks

Julian

[NautiAndNice]

Originally Posted by Julian

Hi All,

In my opinion there are only 2 makes to buy

2. Raymarine

Julian

Noooo - not Raymarine (for anything handheld anyway...)
My RAY101E handheld (~6months old) is now refusing to charge via the mains adaptor and my RC400 chartplotter (~8months old) literally gobbles batteries.
Je suis not happy with Raymarine.

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by NautiAndNice

my RC400 chartplotter literally gobbles batteries.

duz itt ownly doo batterries?

gArf

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by NautiAndNice

Noooo - not Raymarine (for anything handheld anyway...)
My RAY101E handheld (~6months old) is now refusing to charge via the mains adaptor and my RC400 chartplotter (~8months old) literally gobbles batteries.
Je suis not happy with Raymarine.

Can you charge the batteries outside the unit?

And what sort of batteries do they take? IF they are say AA type you can buy higher capacity ones.

[NautiAndNice]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

duz itt ownly doo batterries?

gArf

Well I wish it would "do" something other that batteries - would be a lot less time and expense for me

[NautiAndNice]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Can you charge the batteries outside the unit?

And what sort of batteries do they take? IF they are say AA type you can buy higher capacity ones.

Yep - take the batts out of the unit and charge them seperately. Have bought higher capacity batteries also - still crap. The performance seems to be getting worse too ... charged it up on Fri night and by Sat pm it wouldn't even power on ... pretty rubbish, bearing in mind that this is my backup and wasn't being used on Sat.

[Jon Brooks]

Sorry to say this is not the first time I have heard this.
Try it with non rechargables.

Geonav do the same chart plotter for less money.

The batteries in both are Nimh as standard and like ni-cads need looking after.

Whilst I agree that Garmin kit is great I would not touch anything with the Raymarine badge on it IMHO.
I have used both in anger many times and the Garmin wins hands down everytime.

Regards

[jyasaki]

NiMH need a lot less care than NiCad's; don't have that dreaded memory effect, either.

That said, there are a couple of things to avoid with NiMH cells: Heat and Shock. Drop a cell on concrete (or other hard surface), and it's quite likely to be damaged. Allow a "fast" charger to overheat it, and ditto. They also don't like to be run down to nothing.

In some cases, a full (or nearly full) discharge, followed by a slow charge will recondition the cells; in other cases, toss them and replace. A pulse load tester goes a long ways in weeding out good from bad. One such tester is here: http://www.thomas-distributing.com/z...ery-tester.htm

The one thing you need to watch in NiMH vs alkaline is the cell voltage: Alkalines are typically a tad over 1.5V, NiMH (and NiCad's) are somewhere right around 1.2V. Some equipment will run fine on the 3V alkalines provide, but refuse to run on 2.4V.

That said, most late build NiMH cells will far outlast alkalines in use; but are not for long-term emergency equipment. NiMH cells self-discharge at a rate of about 10%/month (as I recall), so if you pop them in your handheld VHF, and throw that in your console for a few months, well, you're going to be doing a lot of talking to yourself when you need help.

HTH;

jky

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

NiMH need a lot less care than NiCad's; don't have that dreaded memory effect, either.

That said, there are a couple of things to avoid with NiMH cells: Heat and Shock. Drop a cell on concrete (or other hard surface), and it's quite likely to be damaged. Allow a "fast" charger to overheat it, and ditto. They also don't like to be run down to nothing.

In some cases, a full (or nearly full) discharge, followed by a slow charge will recondition the cells; in other cases, toss them and replace. A pulse load tester goes a long ways in weeding out good from bad. One such tester is here: http://www.thomas-distributing.com/z...ery-tester.htm

The one thing you need to watch in NiMH vs alkaline is the cell voltage: Alkalines are typically a tad over 1.5V, NiMH (and NiCad's) are somewhere right around 1.2V. Some equipment will run fine on the 3V alkalines provide, but refuse to run on 2.4V.

That said, most late build NiMH cells will far outlast alkalines in use; but are not for long-term emergency equipment. NiMH cells self-discharge at a rate of about 10%/month (as I recall), so if you pop them in your handheld VHF, and throw that in your console for a few months, well, you're going to be doing a lot of talking to yourself when you need help.

HTH;

jky

Sounds like a lot of looking after to me

Best regards

[SOLENTER]

This is turning into a intresting debate for anybody wishing to buy new
electronics my self included

First Tim what are you useing now and how do you rate them

Second Jon are your new GX1500 going to be competitive with the 421
i am sure you wont be bias

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by GRUMPY

This is turning into a intresting debate for anybody wishing to buy new
electronics my self included

First Tim what are you useing now and how do you rate them

Second Jon are your new GX1500 going to be competitive with the 421
i am sure you wont be bias

Grumpy

As un- bias as I can be..here goes.

Price will be better on the GX1500.

Size of units is very close, GX1500 is a tad bigger

Warranty the same.

Display is bigger on the GX1500, same as that on the VM3500, so some size as M505 and M601.

Rotary knob for channel change on the GX1500, M421 has up/down buttons.

GX1500 will have a second station option which the M421 does not.
Whilst this is not a big factor for the rib market I have seen a number of ribs, from 6m up, use this option.

GX1500 has NMEA in and out, so with a compatible plotter can show DSC calls (distress and potion request) M421 can not do this.

GX1500 also has GPS repeat so lat/long, COG, SOG are shown on the radio.
Again the M421 does not.

That kind of covers the main bits.

Hope that helps.

Best regards.

[SOLENTER]

Thanks for that Jon

And now to the contentious question barring the obvious and i will try to word
this to save you any embarrassment which plotters are thay not compatible
with

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by GRUMPY

Thanks for that Jon

And now to the contentious question barring the obvious and i will try to word
this to save you any embarrassment which plotters are thay not compatible
with

I don't blush easy

The only plotters I know for def that have DSC built in are any of the Standard kit and the Garmin kit.
Don't think any others do but I stand to be corrected on that.

Best regards

[tim griffin]

Originally Posted by GRUMPY

This is turning into a intresting debate for anybody wishing to buy new
electronics my self included

First Tim what are you useing now and how do you rate them

Garmin Plotter very easy to use so may stick with this.
and Silva S 15 screen fades all the time now on number 7 radio why don't some manufactures supply a cover .
May fit Icom or Standard Horizon VHF DSC

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by tim griffin

Garmin Plotter very easy to use so may stick with this.

I would never knock the Garmin kit.
It is what I have used all through my boating life and has never let me down.
Their service is second to none.

Best regards

[tim griffin]

I like then too
But am taken by the idea of having both from the same manufacturer .
You say the VHF is IPX 7 but am confused on the plotter IPX 5 unless you flush mount it then are you saying it is rated to IPX 7 also the stories of condensation / Fogging was this a problem with the older units or is this an assembly problem that needs to be looked at.

[Jon Brooks]

A few years ago a lot of VHF were like this, the Icom M59 springs to mind.
Only splash proof unless flush mounted.

I think but not sure that a number of plotter are like this too.

I am not sure how much of a problem this really is with the SH plotters, will do a bit more checking over the next few days.

The new CP180 seems to be holding up very well and at SIBS was going for £229!!!

Regards

[tim griffin]

Can you let us know Jon How do manufacturers road test their units before putting them on the market and giving them their IPX rating


As if it is rated IPX 7 when flush mounted I may be tempted to go for both if not will stick with Garmin .
Thanks Tim

[SOLENTER]

Have found the new GX1500 for £189 on web no pics though
the3500E looks a sound bit of kit to it would be nice to no what Mod VHF our Canadan freind is useing

Question why are colour plotters so damed expensive are we being screwed or is it just a case of manufactures cashing in while thay can on new technology
which brings us back being screwed