"That allowed you to see and control your Raymarine MFD from your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet. "We first developed our own apps to utilize Wi-Fi," said Raymarine marketing manager James McGowan.
It's built into all of the company's late-model series (going back to the 2011 release of the e7 and e7D models), and Raymarine also offers the Wi-Fish Wi-Fi add-on unit for use with smartphones and tablets on small, open boats. Raymarine was the first major marine-electronics manufacturers to integrate Wi-Fi into its MFDs. It may provide a bridge that allows connections with specific services, between devices on your boat, or with specific mobile apps each offering needs to be carefully vetted to make sure it meets your personal needs. Even if your system is a year or two old, most major electronics manufacturers offer some form of black box or add-on that allows you to bring Wi-Fi into the mix. Many new MFD units include built-in Wi-Fi and can easily turn your boat into an information hub. In many cases, adding limited Wi-Fi to your boat can be as simple as upgrading your electronics system. The bottom line? The farther from civilization you get, the more it'll cost you. If, that is, you're willing to pay for it. Luckily, in this day and age, you can get one virtually anywhere on Earth. What many of us are really after, of course, is the complete connection. The data you've gathered can then be shared with the rest of the world when you return to port and get reconnected to the rest of the world. Cartography updates, for example, can take place on your multifunction display (MFD) screen in real-time by tethering your plotter, fishfinder, and your Navionics app wirelessly. And some systems can be set up to operate both locally and in a broader context. For example, you could use your phone as a chartplotter repeater or to change the settings on your fishfinder. Both have their own purposes.Įven if your boat can't communicate with the web while at sea, a local Wi-Fi network will allow you to integrate the devices on board it. Many marine Wi-Fi systems are essentially local network devices that simply integrate several devices on your boat, while others network your boat with the World Wide Web. With benefits like these, Wi-Fight it? Division Of Laborīefore this conversation gets too confusing, we should differentiate between local Wi-Fi networks and those that connect to the rest of the world.
The enhanced communications offers both convenience and security the ability to communicate with the cloud allows for effortless marine-electronics software and cartography updates and the ability to integrate your boat's brain with your phone or tablet makes for easier operation. But do we really need or want Wi-Fi aboard?ĭespite the downsides of cost, complexity, and ceaseless badgering from the outside world, the answer for most of us is a resounding "Yes." Getting your boat connected has some huge advantages.
It's in our homes, our workplaces, and our cars. Wi-Fi has invaded just about every aspect of our lives.