posted 11-16-2012 09:02 AM ET (US)        

Lowrance LINK-8

SIMRAD RS35

SIMRAD Wireless Handset

posted 11-16-2012 09:49 AM ET (US)            

As you know, as I know, as the United States Coast Guard knows, a VHF Marine Band radio with digital selective calling features according to Class-D specificiation--the only fixed mount radio you can legally sell or buy in the USA--requires that the radio be interfaced to a source of position data (such as a GNSS receiver) in order to be useful for sending a distress message with position information, and the connection of radios with a NMEA-0183 interface has been a complete failure across the general boating public. The USCG reported an amazing statistic that 90-percent of the distress calls they received via DSC did not have a position sent with the distress call. The Coast Guard even went to the rather unusual step of writing a formal letter to NMEA to ask them if they could help out in getting better results in the interconnection process. The USCG was correct in asking for this, because the NMEA-0183 standard was not very good in regard to setting standards for the wiring connections. Every vendor provided the connections in a different manner, using different color codes, different signal names, and different connection devices. What a confusing mess!

By moving to a NMEA-2000 interface on the radio there is an expectation and great hope that the interconnection of the radio to the boat navigation system will become much simpler for the average boater. With the arrival of these new radios from NAVICO companies that have NMEA-2000 interfaces, we are seeing the new generation of affordable radios with these features.

I have long had a preference for Standard-Horizon VHF Marine Band radios, but that fine company has been slow to come out with a NMEA-2000 radio, and so, it seems, has Icom, another major radio brand. On the other hand, Lowrance has had a lot of experience with NMEA-2000. Lowrance was one of the very first marine electronics companies to become certified with NMEA-2000 products, and they really have led the way, at least led the way in affordable products with NMEA-2000.

The big question now for me in regard to the Lowrance LINK-8 VHF radio is its performance as a radio. A NMEA-2000 interface is great, but the primary mission is still to be an excellent radio. In this regard I don't have any experience with Lowrance, and I'd say that Lowrance has not established a significant track record in marine radios. The LINK-8 will have to establish its reputation as radio first, then as a radio with NMEA-2000 next.

The MSRP is $300, which should mean a selling price of perhaps as low as $250. That is a decent price for a radio with some features, but not a sale-of-the-century-deal.

posted 11-16-2012 09:57 AM ET (US)            

I just realized that the new Lowrance LINK-8 radio also has an AIS receiver! Wow, that is amazing. The LINK-8 is fantastically situated in the present marketplace of VHF Marine Band radios:

--DSC Class-D

--NMEA-2000 interface

--AIS receiver

--retail $300 price

--speaker-mic

posted 11-16-2012 10:13 AM ET (US)            

quote:

---

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992, announced today its new fixed-mount, 25-watt Digital Selective Calling (DSC) VHF radio, the Lowrance Link-8. Equipped to receive Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel data, the new VHF has an NMEA 2000® interface and is Class D compliant for global use. The Lowrance Link-8 combines reliable performance, a best-in-class LCD display and an unparalleled feature set—all at an exceptional price.

Designed to enhance safety on the water, the Link-8 includes a built-in, dual-channel AIS receiver that displays critical collision avoidance data from AIS-equipped vessels in range. Accessible information includes vessel name, type, call sign, MMSI number, IMO number, and draft and size, as well as vessel position, speed over ground (SOG), course over ground (COG), rate of turn, heading, status, destination and ETA. When connected to a compatible Lowrance multifunction display, the Link-8 enables an exclusive “Track Your Buddy” feature that connects DSC position polling via the NMEA 2000 network for GPS location display of up to three boating friends. Additional advanced capabilities include GPS navigation and Man Over Board (MOB) functionality.

“The Lowrance Link-8 delivers our signature reliability with advanced features for superior performance at a great price," said Louis Chemi, chief operating officer, Navico Americas. “Providing AIS functionality for enhanced safety and an NMEA 2000 interface for networking, the Link-8 VHF is the ultimate on-the-water communication device.”

The Link-8 VHF radio has a large, easy-to-view, 128 x 256-pixel LCD measuring 1.3 x 2.6 in. (3.3 x 6.6 cm) with adjustable backlighting, plus a large 57mm built-in speaker with 4 Watt output that allows for the connection of additional speakers. Delivering all USA, Canadian and International marine channels, the system provides easy access to all DSC functions. Designed for quick access to functions especially when safety is a concern, the new radio’s has an intuitive and efficient interface with a large rotary knob for simple channel changing, menu navigation and setting control. A best-in-class microphone offers six quick keys for simple and reliable helm operation, features an easy-grip rubber molding cover for secure holding and operation and also has an additional speaker. The VHF is also equipped with an extra large Channel 16 key, dedicated volume and squelch knobs, weather keys, selectable Dual and TriWatch modes, local and distant functions, and three user-selectable channels.

The Link-8 logs up to 10 distress calls and 20 individual DSC calls. DSC control keys include (priority) 16/9, WX, 3CH/+/- for quick channel changing, CALL, EXIT, SCAN and MENU. Additional system features include a rotary volume control with power on/off, hailer horn output with listen back capabilities, auto and manual FOG, all-channel priority and memory channel scans, 20 user-programmable names with MMSI, 10 weather channels with a 1050 Hz tone alert, RS232 and RS422 output and a second receiver for Channel 70.

The Lowrance Link-8’s ultra-rugged waterproof chassis complements the color and styling of award-winning Lowrance HDS® multifunction displays. Offering selectable 25/1-watt transmit power and NMEA 2000 and 0183 compatibility, it is waterproof to the IPx7 standard (submersible) and comes with a flush-mount kit and a sun cover. The Lowrance Link-8 radio is protected by a 2-year limited warranty, and is supported for an additional three years by the Lowrance 5-Year Advantage Program, which allows customers to upgrade to the latest technology, at a discounted price, in the unlikely event that a product fails or needs repair.

Available February 2013, the Lowrance Link-8 VHF can be purchased from authorized dealers and distributors throughout the United States and Canada

---

posted 11-16-2012 10:38 AM ET (US)            

"Ahah! I can get the position of the factory that made the radio from those coordinates!"

I plotted the coordinates on Google Earth and was very surprised to see where they led. Open Google Earth and paste into the "Fly to" box the following coordinates:

36 45.299 N 174 42.492E

posted 11-16-2012 03:07 PM ET (US)            

If the radio is nicely integrated with a NAVICO chart plotter it would be very cool. For example, if you see an AIS vessel and want to call it. Will the LINK-8 be able to make a call by hitting a button on a NAVICO chart plotter? That would be the best sort of integration. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens when you have a LINK-8 connected to a NAVICO chart plotter, say a Lowrance HDS series device, and the radio gets a DSC call.

posted 11-21-2012 10:22 AM ET (US)            

The attraction of the RS12 is its NMEA-2000 interface. Connecting the RS12 to your chart plotter and your GNSS receiver will be very simple if those devices are also NMEA-2000 devices. One possible drawback to the RS12 is the main channel control knob. There is no rotary knob, but instead there are UP-DOWN arrow buttons. These controls will also be used for the user interface. In some instances use of a rotary knob for these functions will allow for faster and possibly easier user input.

posted 11-21-2012 10:27 AM ET (US)            

RS12: NMEA-2000, no AIS = $239

LINK-8; NMEA-2000, AIS = $299

posted 11-22-2012 09:00 AM ET (US)            

--dedicated AIS Channel 1 (87B)

--dedicated AIS Channel 2 (88B)

--dedicated DSC Channel (70)

--regular VHF Marine Band channel as selected or being scanned, or VHF weather broadcast channels as selected

There is a lot happening under the hood in a modern VHF Marine Band radio!

Also, many new VHF Marine Band radios are fitted for compliance with the European ATIS or automatic transmitter identification system. ATIS operation requires its own ATIS callsign, somewhat like a vessel's MMSI, which is generated from the vessel's radio callsign by a numerical encoding. It is used on inland water ways in Europe in certain countries. At the end of every voice transmission from the radio, the ATIS numerical callsign is appended and transmitted in a short burst of frequency-shift keying. This positively identifies the source of the transmission.

The ATIS is an outgrowth of the Regional Arrangement on the Radio-communication Service for Inland Waterways or RAINWAT. See

http://www.rainwat.bipt.be/component/attachments/download/652

for more details. I mention the ATIS feature to demonstrate the complexity contained in these new radios. They contain features for global use. We are already familiar with the three sets of different band plans contained in the radio, allowing compliance with USA, Canada, and International band plans, and now a new layer of regulatory compliance, ATIS for inland water ways in Europe has been added. This in addition to the DSC receiver and demodulator, and the DSC encoder and transmitter. And don't forget the AIS receiver and demodulator.

I remember using a nice Motorola VHF Marine Band radio that was a crystal-controlled set. It only transmitted and received voice, and it only worked on a few channels. You had to buy a new crystal for each channel you wanted to add. That was VHF Marine Radio technology in the early 1980's. Today the radio technology is amazing and much more complex--and the radios cost less than they did 30-years ago!

posted 02-01-2013 12:11 PM ET (US)            

NAVMAN, a New Zealand electronics company, was making a line of marine electronic devices, including radios, GPS receivers, chart plotters, and SONARs. They were a relatively small company, privately owned, and situated in New Zealand. The Brunswick corporation was on an acquisition spree, and thought that they might want to own a marine electronics company. Brunswick formed a subsidiary, Brunswick New Technologies (BNT), and bought NAVMAN in June 2004.

NAVMAN went from being a small start up, begun in a garage in 1986, to being a part of a global corporate conglomerate, Brunswick. There apparently was a huge culture clash from the very start of this merger. In 2006, about two years into the Brunswick corporate ownership, most of the senior executives and senior engineering talent from NAVMAN resigned. A year later NAVMAN was no longer profitable, and Brunswick changed course, selling off NAVMAN, at the same time reducing Brunswick New Technologies to just a few other holdings.

While Brunswick owned NAVMAN it was common to see Brunswick's boat builder house brands, like Boston Whaler, use NAVMAN as standard or optional electronic equipment on their boats. For a couple of years, around 2005 to 2006, the NAVMAN radios, sounders, and chart plotters were offered as factory installed options.

When BNT tossed NAVMAN overboard, the NAVMAN marine electronics operation was acquired by NAVICO, and some models continued to be sold for a short while under the NAVICO brand NORTHSTAR. NAVICO had also acquired LOWRANCE, and decided to consolidate their marine electronics brands into just three marques: Lowrance, Simrad, and B&G.

posted 02-02-2013 12:22 AM ET (US)            

--for smaller boats, particularly freshwater fishing boats, they make the LOWRANCE brand;

--for larger boats, ocean-going boats, they make the SIMRAD brand; and,

--for sailboats, they make the B&G brand

In this consolidation process a couple of brand names were lost, but not the technology or achievements of those brands. Those attributes were just rolled into the appropriate products in the remaining brands.

posted 02-02-2013 01:02 PM ET (US)            

By moving to a NMEA-2000 interface on the radio, the radio can be connected to a boat's NMEA-2000 network backbone, where typically there is a source of vessel position information available. This greatly simplifies the interconnection, because the NMEA-2000 standard removes about 90-percent of the roadblocks to making the physical, electrical, and logical connection. This should make it easier to integrate the radio with the position finding source, which is typically a receiver for the Global Positioning System (GPSr). With position data from a GPSr, a modern VHF Marine Band radio with digital selective calling to Class-D specification can include the boat position in digital radio transmissions. These transmission can be just routine messages sent to other boats, or they can be emergency alerts of distress. How much more useful to send a distress signal and include the boat's precise location! NMEA-2000 facilitates this.

Of course, one might say, how can we be assured the typical boat will have a NMEA-2000 network. You can't, but, it is becoming much more common to have NMEA-2000 networks on even small boats. A NMEA-2000 network only costs about $50 to build, and it engenders all sorts of advantages. Because all modern outboard engines of all brands except Mercury are now NMEA-2000 capable, and even those that aren't can be adapted by specialized gateway devices, it is becoming standard practice to have a boat's outboard engine connected to a NMEA-2000 network so that engine data can be displayed on multi-function gauges. On a boat that already has a NMEA-2000 network, the cost of adding a NMEA-2000 radio is not particularly high. About all that is needed is an additional Network T-Connector or an open port on a multi-device connector, and perhaps a short drop cable. Some of those components may already be in the box when you buy a radio that has NMEA-2000 capabilities.

posted 02-05-2013 09:21 AM ET (US)            

Lowrance:
LINK-8 should be in stock around February 22

posted 02-24-2013 10:02 AM ET (US)            

As far as I can determine, neither Icom or Standard-Horizon introduced any new VHF Marine Band fixed-mount radios with a NMEA-2000 connection at the boat show. This is a disappointment for me.

In the case of both Standard-Horizon and Icom, it may be understandable that they did not have a new fixed-mount radio to reveal. The past several years have not exactly been boom years for boating. All manufacturers had to stop making older model VHF Marine Band radios that did not meet the FCC mandate for GMDSS DSC Class-D compliance. Most of the engineering effort probably went into revamping their product line to meet that requirement.

Standard-Horizon has pioneered the huge innovation of building an AIS receiver into their VHF Marine Band radios. This probably was the main focus of their engineering and development the past few years.

In the case of Standard-Horizon, they have undergone two changes in ownership in the past several years. The Standard-Horizon brand was part of VERTEX, which made land-mobile commercial radios. Vertex was acquired by MOTOROLA in 2008. Vertex and Motorola used to be competitors in the land-mobile radio market. After just four years under Motorola ownership, Motorola announced it was selling the Marine Radio segment of the Vertex operation to Yaesu Musen in 2012, while Motorola would retain the Vertex land-mobile operation. With all of this corporate change in ownership going on the past several years, I can imagine that planning the operation of the Marine Radio division has become something of a lower priority. I think Standard-Horizon, now that it is back under what looks like a stable corporate parent, will be able to return to its innovative ways in the VHF Marine Radio segment. They have introduced a lot of new products in the hand-held segment.

posted 02-24-2013 10:39 AM ET (US)            

To acquire all the engineering skill and knowledge to make a successful NMEA-2000 product may take a while if you plan to just grow that skill and knowledge organically in your own engineering personnel. For something specialized like this, it might be expedient to hire an engineer or designer with experience in the discipline. That could be difficult for relatively small electronics firms to do in the past three years of general decline in recreational marine sales.

I really don't know the exact costs, but I would not be surprised if NMEA-2000 testing and certification cost $100,000 to achieve. This is another impediment for smaller companies to enter the NMEA-2000 market.

posted 02-25-2013 07:50 PM ET (US)            

http://www.simrad-yachting.com/en-US/Products/VHF-Radios/ RS12-VHF-Radio-en-us.aspx

posted 02-26-2013 09:44 AM ET (US)            

I used to think that the incorporation of the receiver for the commercial FM Broadcast Band (88-MHz to 108-MHz) was related to the lack of Class-D rating. A Class-D rated radio must have a dedicated receiver that is always monitoring the DSC channel (former Channel-70). Since the USA version of of the LVR-880 had the FM Broadcast Band receiver, I presumed they had used some facility of the radio for that band instead of for a dedicated Channel-70 DSC receiver. But just a day or two ago, someone mentioned they had an LVR-880 European version and it had the FM Broadcast Band receiver and Class-D rating. Perhaps the real hurdle with the radio's rating in the USA was getting it certified with the FCC.

The FCC is not the promulgator of the DSC recommendations. The DSC recommendations seem to be set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). See

ttp://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/m/R-REC-M.493-11-200405-S!!PDF-E. pdf

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) appears to be the ultimate authority on digital selective calling. DSC is part of the General Maritime Distress and Safety at Sea (GMDSS). GMDSS is a set of internationally agreed upon procedures to enhance safety at sea.

The FCC has issued regulations which require that VHF Marine Band radios imported, sold, or installed in the USA have to meet the specifications of the ITU recommendation. See 47 CFR 80.225(a)(4):

http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/80.225

However, in December 2011, the FCC then changed its mind and issued a clarification and modification, which said that by January, 2013 (i.e., this year), VHF Marine Band radios imported, sold, or installed in the USA would have to meet a newer recommendation of the ITU, the REC-M.493-13 version. The -13 version of the recommendation was issued in October 2009. See

http://www.fcc.gov/document/maritime-vhf-dsc-waiver-and-clarification-pn

The -13 specification is available from

http://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/m/R-REC-M. 493-13-200910-I!!PDF-E.pdf

This January at least two manufacturers recalled product from the selves of retailers in order to verify the firmware in the radios matched the -13 version. The irony of the present situation is the ITU Committee that is making the recommendations (which the FCC turns into legal requirements in the USA) is not completely satisfied with their work in the -13 revisions, and they are apparently planning to remedy some errors and issue a -14 revision.

There is a recent, long, and very interesting discussion of the regulatory minutia on Panbo. See

http://www.panbo.com/archives/2013/01/vhf_radio_recalls_not_to_worry. html

posted 02-26-2013 10:00 AM ET (US)            

The reason for my strong interest in VHF Marine Band radios with NMEA-2000 is their ability to be easily connected to GNSS receivers and chart plotters, which these days are almost universally provided with NMEA-2000 network connections. The use of NMEA-2000 on both the radio, the GNSS receiver, and the chart plotter makes the connection of the three devices much simpler for the average boater to perform.

Among the many boating discussion forums there is a constant, unstoppable, and endless flow of inquiries from boaters seeking technical assistance in wiring a connection between their GNSS receiver and their radio using NMEA-0183 interfaces. At a much lower frequency of occurrence there are similar questions about wiring the radio to the chart plotter. These inquiries are usually answered by well meaning responders who provide conflicting answers, leading to more discussion. These discussion go on and on, with cryptic suggestions like "connect [some random wire color] to [another different random wire color]." All of that confusion is avoided by having a NMEA-2000 radio, a NMEA-2000 GNSS receiver, and a NMEA-2000 chart plotter.

posted 02-26-2013 11:11 AM ET (US)            

There seems to be a remarkable congruence in wire colors and movie-script bomb makers, as they always use the same colors in making explosive devices. My first thought about the movie-bomb-makers: how nice of them to employ a variety of different wire colors when making their bomb. These evil geniuses apparently never had the notion of using the same color wire for all the circuits. That would be too clever. No, no, let's adhere to the standard, make the detonator wire that stops everything always be a certain color. As for the one bomb maker in five who goes against the standard, our movie bomb-de-fusing expert will detect that abnormality in the bomb-maker's personality and intuit that on his bombs we must cut the BLUE wire.

But it seems rather odd that among movie bomb makers there would be a consistent adherence to a color code wiring standard. That movie-goers are apparently willing to accept the notion of a color code standard in bomb fabrication seems to suggest that as a general belief, most people expect the color of a wire's insulation to communicate something consistent about its function. And so it must be with NMEA-0183. People expect that a wire color is supposed to reflect something about its function, and wire color codes ought to be used in a consistent manner.

posted 03-25-2013 09:59 AM ET (US)            

LINK-8 Owner's Manual:
http://www.lowrance.com/Root/Lowrance-Documents/ Link-8_OM_EN_988-10254-001_w.pdf

LINK-8 Installation Manual:
http://www.lowrance.com/Root/Lowrance-Documents/ Link-8_IM_EN_988-10249-001_w.pdf

From reading the owner's manual, I get the impression the "Track Your Buddy" feature is implemented by setting the radio to automatically make a remote position poll request to a particular MMSI at a predefined interval of 15, 30, or 60-minutes. The ability to make a remote position poll request to another radio is part of the normal DSC radio feature set; the ability to set the radio to do this automatically at certain intervals is the unique Lowrance "Track Your Buddy" feature.

The owner's manual also mentions that in regard to AIS vessel display, the distance shown will always be in nautical miles.

Lowrance also shows great detail about the data the radio can send or receive via its NMEA interfaces. I excerpt this below:

LINK-8 NMEA-0183 Interface
RECEIVE: RMC, GGA, GLL, GNS
SEND: DSC, DSE, AIVDM

LINK-8 NMEA-2000 Interface
127250 Vessel Heading
127258 Magnetic Variation
129025 Position, Rapid Update
129026 COG, SOG, Rapid Update
129029 GNSS Position Data
129033 Time, Date
129038 Class A position report (Rx, Tx)
129039 Class B position report (Rx, Tx)
129040 Class B extended position report (Rx, Tx)
129041 AIS Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Report
129283 Cross Track Error
129284 Navigation Error
129285 Navigation Route, Way Point Information
129792 DGNSS Broadcast binary message (Tx)
129793 UTC and date report (Tx)
129794 Class A static and voyage related data (Rx, Tx)
129795 Addressed binary message (tx)
129796 Acknowledge (Tx)
129797 Binary broadcast message (Tx)
129798 SAR Aircraft Position report (Tx)
129799 Radio Frequency, Mode, Power
129800 UTC Date enquiry (Tx)
129801 Addressed safety msg (Rx, Tx)
129802 Broadcast safety msg (Rx, Tx)
129803 Interrogation (Tx)
129804 Assignment Mode Command (Tx)
129805 Data LInk Management message (Tx)
129807 AIS Group Assignment
129808 DSC Call Information
129809 AIS Class B "CS" Static Data Report, Part A
129810 AIS Class B "CS" Static Data Report, Part B
130074 Route and Way Point Service, Way Point List, Way Point Name, Position
130842 AIS and VHF Messages (SIMRAD proprietary for AIS Class B "CS")

The above suggests that there is good integration of the AIS information over NMEA-2000. Some recent postings by early users of the LINK-8 seemed to suggest there were problems with this functionality in the LINK-8. It looks to me like the LINK-8 is quite capable of sending the necessary PGNs on NMEA-2000 for AIS display on a linked chart plotter. Perhaps the chart plotter being used was not ready to obtain the data from NMEA-2000 sources. This is a requisite part of integrating the radio and chart plotter via NMEA-2000 as compared to the more established method of using NMEA-0183 connection.

posted 04-20-2013 10:15 AM ET (US)            

Also, there have been a few first-hand reports about the LINK-8, but in general it seems like the early buyers and installers are a group of dullards that can't figure out much of anything about the radio other than how to turn it on. They have reported some rather inexplicable and unusual problems, which, if these problems were actual defects in the radio, would mean the device was completely worthless and fraudulently represented. I tend to discard those reports and ignore them, on the basis that those buyers must be generally clueless or otherwise lack sufficient sophistication to evaluate the radio.

posted 05-02-2013 08:16 AM ET (US)            

I bench test everything before I install so there are no holes or vacant gimbal mounts.

posted 06-02-2013 10:50 AM ET (US)            

In addition, other users who have received working LINK-8 radios have reported (in various discussions elsewhere) problems in the inter-operation of the LINK-8 with other DSC radios. The entire notion of DSC is that all devices must comply with the international standard, and radios of all brands must be able to inter-operate. These anecdotal reports of the LINK-8 failing to work with other DSC radios are also extremely discouraging. It is hard to judge if the reported problems are due to the operators involved or the radios, but in at least one case it was noted that other non-LINK-8 radios were tested and worked properly.

posted 06-16-2013 11:26 AM ET (US)            

I installed the Link-8 yesterday, and was able to turn it on, program in my MMSI, observe receive channel changes on the screen, and listen to weather broadcasts. I was under a metal roof, so no GPS fix was obtained, but both my Lowrance HDS-7 and Link-8 informed me of this.

I'll try more next weekend when I'm out on the water.

Dennis

posted 06-23-2013 11:09 PM ET (US)            

I had the boat out for several hours this weekend, and had a chance to play with more of the features. I was able to listen to a rescue effort directed by the Canadian Coast Guard out of Victoria, British Columbia while I was south of Orcas Island, Washington.

I also set up the AIS. Pretty neat. It directs the received vessel information to my HDS-7. Looking on the CHART screen, I see AIS-enabled vessels located. Moving the cursor over the icon and selecting takes you to a screen showing all of the vessel data being sent.

I believe having both the Link-8 and HDS-8 from the same manufacturer increased the likelihood of them playing nicely together.

posted 07-01-2013 12:18 PM ET (US)            

Dennis

posted 07-26-2013 11:32 AM ET (US)            

http://www.panbo.com/archives/2012/11/ simrad_rs35_lowrance_link-8_dsc_vhf_aisrx_n2k_yes.html

The comments seem mostly about the SIMRAD RS35 radio, but they also seem to be in regard to the Lowrance LINK-8 radio, too. The gist of the remarks seems to be that NAVICO has just recently issued a significant firmware revision for their VHF Marine Band radios with NMEA-2000 interfaces that is intended to fix a lot of bugs.

I think I am going to wait a few more weeks for the radios with new firmware to get into the distribution channel, and then give the LINK-8 a try.

posted 08-19-2013 09:13 AM ET (US)            

On the basis of these reports and others (see above), I think I am going to sit out this boating season with my current radios. Perhaps by next spring all the bugs will be found in the radio firmware and a new, just out-of-the-box radio will work flawlessly.

posted 08-25-2013 03:23 PM ET (US)            

At this point in time, I am very pleased with the radio and its interoperability with my HDS-7.

posted 11-25-2013 09:56 PM ET (US)            

I have not upgraded firmware, nor do I see new firmware available on the Lowrance site.

I paid $280 for it.

posted 11-25-2013 11:39 PM ET (US)         

My only other question is.. How nice does this radio plays with other brand chart plotters , specifically Garmin? I know the nmea2000 network data "should be" universal and the brand shouldn't make a difference but the above posts make it seem that this is not necessarily the case.

posted 11-26-2013 10:16 AM ET (US)            

Each device should provide a list of the NMEA-2000 parameter groups that it can send or receive. If a device says it can send a particular NMEA-2000 parameter group, and a second device on that same network says it can receive that parameter group, it is reasonable to assume that the first device can send that data to the network and the second device will receive it from the network.

There are many, many NMEA-2000 parameter groups, including ones that are specific to an individual manufacturer.

In the case of a VHF Marine Band radio with DSC and NMEA-2000, the radio should list the parameter groups it can send or receive.

posted 11-26-2013 01:27 PM ET (US)            

HDS NMEA-2000 Parameters; NMEA-0183 Sentences
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003271.html

The NMEA organization also has a recently publication outlining some problems in the implementation of PGN's for digital signal calling (DSC) radios. See

posted 11-26-2013 01:32 PM ET (US)            

http://www.nmea.org/Assets/ july%202010%20nmea2000_v1-301_app_b_pgn_field_list.pdf