Hello!
During browsing the SVB product page of the
Seatec NAV-6 (external GPS antenna) and same for
NAV-6i (internal GPS antenna)
SEATEC - Kartenplotter NAV-6 / NAV-6i ab 299,95 € | SVB Spezialversand für Yacht- und Bootszubehör GmbH
I found there 3 days ago the
new firmware 14-12-12, according to naming as of
12th December 2014.
It seems, this is the newest firmware available for Seatec/Onwa plotters.
On Onwa page and Aves
Marine you find today only 14-07-16.
In
Germany I beta-tested a bit for SVB the new firmwares for Seatec NAV-6, the 14-12-12 is good, the 1st official firmware since 13-12-26.
During summer 2014 I tested also the in-between firmwares of 2014.
Seatec NAV-6/6i is the model, which can display
AIS informations, received via NMEA 0183 from external AIS-receiver/splitter like example in-built (Furuno)
Radio Ocean RO 4800 VHF/DSC/ATIS/AIS.
Download of Firmware:
http://www.svb.de/media/content/pdf/...AV6-Update.zip
German Update manual:
http://www.svb.de/media/content/pdf/...av6_update.pdf
Some features / short test of firmware
14-12-12 :
Now every owner of Seatec NAV-6/6i can enjoy
quick zoom, obviously relatively stable.
I tried by zooming in/out, "driving" through East-Swedish archipelago Stockholm-south of Stockholm in
Baltic Sea on C-Map SD-card.
You can
select, if
more or less zoom steps.
Less zoom steps means: the scale factor nearly doubles at each step, which makes sense imo, better/more quick zoom behaviour.
More new features:
Odometer:
starts at 000,0 nm
nautical miles counter, easy to reset to 0 manually.
Freely configuration in which data fields odometer is shown.
VMG, TTG, ETA
VMG is correctly VMC.
VMG = velocity made good , VMC = velocity made course.
This Onwa-VMG is computed by formula: VMG/VMC = SOG * cos alpha
Angle alpha is difference between (bearing to target waypoint) and (COG).
TTG = time to go (to waypoint)
ETA = Estimated time of Arrival (at waypoint)
TTG and ETA are simply computed via distance to waypoint and VMG/VMC.
Obviously, VMG should display negative speed values, if
boat sails with an angle of more than 90° (up to 180°) wrong to bearing (to waypoint).
But 14-12-12 firmware shows positive VMG values, even if you drive backwards to waypoint and you increase distance to waypoint.
I have reported this wrong behaviour several times to SVB (which transmits it to Onwa programmer).
(Also the formulas for VMG/VMC, ETA, TTG, tcpa and cpa were sent by me to SVB).
The - Minus sign for VMG, if boat drives backwards, is not yet implemented.
So, if you drive in wrong direction, don't be too happy about your fast positive VMG speed.......
TTG and ETA will increase...
(TTG and ETA are computed and displayed correctly.)
I don't understand, why programmer uses a function like I VMG I or I cos alpha I,
because VMG is simply VMG = SOG * cos alpha,
because of cosinus function, the negative values should appear automatically correctly.
In
AIS menu you can let show
cpa and
tcpa , since longer time in previous firmwares.
cpa = closest point of approach (in nautical miles) (
shortest distance between your own boat A and other boat B
in future)
tcpa =
time of closest point of approach, (eg. minutes until cpa will happen)
I transmitted the formulas to SVB, and already during
summer 2014 tcpa was computed correctly.
But not cpa in summer 2014.
cpa was only shown as
current "distance of now" between boat A (with Seatec plotter) and the other boat B driving close.
Because my boat is not yet in
water, I cannot test cpa with this new firmware soon.
It would be very kind, if somebody else could have a close look on AIS with tcpa and cpa.
And please report here
Who uses his Onwa or Seatec NAV-6/6i first, receives AIS and looks for tcpa and cpa ?
Other ships, which move around and transmit AIS, should be around always...
I think, who owns an Onwa or Seatec plotter has much interest in correct AIS functions of the plotter.
Especially tcpa and cpa !
Please report soon, if possible, your positive or negative experiences !
So, that we can enjoy now the good functions,
or otherwise,
Onwa is pointed to another update, be it from Aves Marine or from SVB.
Me and many will be thankful!