Reviews - SeaBits

Furuno SCX-20 Satellite Compass

I've been using the Furuno SCX-20 Satellite Compass and am impressed. It has a super accurate GPS, compass, roll/pitch/yaw, and all in a tiny package.

Projects

Isolating AC power

You may notice that this article is quite short. After a few comments (scroll down) and a number of email discussions on the side, I decided to remove the content of this article and replace it with this info.

Internet

Peplink MAX HD1 Dome

I am testing the CAT18 version of the Peplink MAX HD1 Dome and SIM Injector against the MAX Transit with Poynting OMNI-402 antennas, and recorded an overview video as well.

Internet

More router testing and initial results on the OMNI-496

I have been testing a lot of different LTE router and antenna combinations this year from Peplink, MikroTik, Teltonika, Poynting and more.

Internet

GL-X1200 Amarok Dual LTE router

The GL.iNet GL-X1200 Amarok router is a great dual-LTE device with lots of hardware, dual-band WiFi, and OpenWRT-inspired software.

Reviews

New routers & antennas under test

There has been a lot going on lately, and I wanted to provide an update on what I am working on and testing. My primary focus has been on internet connectivity aboard which has become even more important with the current world situation.

Internet

WiFiRanger Converge

WiFiRanger has been around a long time providing connectivity solutions for RVs and boats. Their new platform is called Converge, and is a mix of different components that can provide a whole solution for internet aboard.

Reviews

Wakespeed WS-500 regulator review

The Wakespeed WS-500 regulator is super programmable, has a ton of features, and can be used for dual engine, LiFePO4 banks, and smaller engines very effectively.

Reviews

Victron GX now sends NMEA 2000

Victron has had a lot of impressive connectivity products, but one area they have had challenges with is in getting all of that data onto NMEA 2000. In their recent v2.40 release, that has changed for the better.

Internet

Poynting OMNI LTE antennas

I'm always on the lookout for new LTE antennas that could help improve my signal while on the water. Poynting has a couple of interesting marine antennas...

Reviews

NMEA 2000 network troubleshooting tools

NMEA 2000 networks are part of any connected boat, and can be problematic by nature of their design. Troubleshooting an N2K network can be done very easily.

Reviews

Furuno FM-4800 VHF Radio

Furuno released the FM-4800 VHF radio in late 2018, and I have been using it since then, and really like it as my primary boat radio.

Internet

weBoost Drive Reach cellular amplifier installation and testing

weBoost released the Drive Reach recently which is a more powerful and refined version of the venerable Drive 4G-X, the gold standard for cellular amplifiers since 2014. I have been using mine for a few months, and have some observations

Internet

Best boat Internet systems

These are my recommended system designs for getting high quality Internet on your boat. There are several different choices depending on your budget.

Reviews

NaviSafe dinghy lights

NaviSafe dinghy lights are easy to add to your dinghy or other small boat. They run a whole season on one set of batteries, and can be configured in many ways.

Internet

Managing internet usage on your boat

Managing your internet data usage on the boat is important both for a quality experience, and because of limited WiFi and cellular networks.

Projects

Seaview - more than just mounts

As part of the project to update Rendezvous electronics, I planned on replacing the older Furuno open-array radar, which required looking for a new mounting solution on my arch. I started searching for mounts, and came across a lot of solutions.

Reviews

Furuno NavPilot 300 unboxing and initial installation

One of the most important pieces of technology on any boat I own is the autopilot and systems that drive it. Rendezvous came with a partially functioning autopilot that I was not able to rely on, so I started searching for a new solution.

Reviews

Monitor your engine with the Actisense EMU-1

Your engine is a critical part of your boat. Monitoring it with the Actisense EMU-1 gives you peace of mind and better visibility.

Reviews

Portable low-power espresso on the boat with Nanopresso

Wacaco Nanopresso is a great way to make espresso on a boat without using tons of power. You can even get an adapter to use Nespresso pods which makes for easy cleanup!

Reviews

LunaSea navigation lights

Navigation lights on older boats are a great target for an LED upgrade. Recently I found LunaSea festoon LED bulbs and replaced mine.

Internet

MikroTik Groove step-by-step setup guide

Setting up the MikroTik Groove to boost WiFi on your boat can be daunting. With a few quick steps you can get the Groove up and running quickly on your network.

Reviews

Conquer seasickness with a ReliefBand

Since as long as I can remember, I've gotten motion sick on airplanes, in cars, and on boats. I have tried many different solutions to help reduce how sick I get, and the one that has worked for 15+ years for me reliably and easily is the ReliefBand.

Internet

Modular, cheaper boat internet solution via Netgear and MikroTik

I've written a lot about my boat network, and in particular, Peplink products that offer a ton of functionality and features. For the last 6 months, I have been playing with configurations and hardware that cost less, but still provide flexibility and features that more expensive solutions offer.

Reviews

SailBits and Panbo team up for Marine Electronics Forums

For the last year or so, I have wanted to build a community focused on marine electronics, networking and technology on boats. In recent discussions with my industry peers at Panbo, and we thought it would be great to collaborate on a dedicated community forum for this purpose.

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