New version includes upgrades around AIS, radar display, and greatly enhanced integration capabilities
Egersund, Norway – The latest Simrad® software update was released this month for its multifunction displays (MFDs), packed with the latest technology and visual enhancements. The updates include a series of radar interface improvements and features focused on safety, like Dangerous Target Alert, and enhanced integration with partners.
The new radar improvements make it easier to view, track and monitor vessels, and identify vessels that may be a risk to the user’s course. New icons for the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and symbols for radar tracked targets allow greater clarity of risks and can be combined into one unified view on the screen. In addition, several features in this release enhance connectivity, comfort and control with product integrations including the CZone® Control Bar for digital switching, SteadySteer™ support and Mercury Smart Tow for optimal tubing, water skiing and wake boarding speed – each easily integrated into Simrad MFDs.
“This latest software update has brought even more clarity to our Simrad product interface with updated icons and clearer symbology to go with the more vivid display for the radar range rings,” said Stephen Thomas, senior vice president of Product, Simrad Yachting. “In addition, we’ve added a host of new radar features around safety that continue to make the Simrad software offerings the leader in the marine world.”
One of the key safety updates is the new Dangerous Target Alert that warns the operator of dangerous radar and AIS targets according to the target parameters in “Settings” and “Tracked Targets”. The Dangerous Target Alert provides a simple diagram in a pop-up window that shows the range, the graphical bearing and heading of the vessel in relation to the operator’s vessel (Fig. 1).
And visually, the moving radar and AIS targets will now display a graduated trail (Fig. 3 – Close-Up Graduated Trails) showing the vessel’s post position history for enhanced situational awareness.
“This is a significant safety and situational awareness tool that not only alerts the user but guides them to the relative range and bearing of the dangerous target,” added Thomas. “By showing the historical target movement with clean trails, you get much less clutter on the PPI, the way you do with older, more traditional video trails.”
New icons for radar tracked targets and symbols for AIS targets also make for clearer viewing while the radar display’s new look includes a more modern Plan Position Indicator (PPI) with clearer numbers and a scaled boat icon (with set-up) for the user’s vessel.
Key highlights for the new software release, including a host of new integrations, are as follows:
- Radar interface improvements
- AIS improvements
- SteadySteer support
- CZone Control Bar integration
- ITC Lighting control bar
- Sirius XM FishMapping (NSS & NSO only)
- Mercury Smart Tow integration
- Honda Eco Mode instrument bar
- ActiveTarget™ support
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About Simrad Yachting: Simrad Yachting is a leader in the design and manufacture of world-class marine navigation, autopilot, radar, communications and fishfinding systems. The Simrad Yachting brand is wholly owned by Navico, Inc., a privately held, international marine electronics company.
Navico is currently the world’s largest marine electronics company and is the parent company to leading marine electronics brands: Lowrance®, Simrad Yachting, B&G® and C-MAP®. Navico has approximately 1,800 employees globally and distribution in more than 100 countries worldwide.