Review Furuno DRS4W Radar 4 iPad

[seacap]

I may look at going this route. Rethink my system. Wanted something I could have charts, AIS and Radar on something small and efficient like the iPad. Something I could operate from the helm, and not have to go below to my chart table.

Thanks for the idea.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by seacap

You have to have an iPad to run it. Bumps the price up another $800

No, because you have to have an iPad... it means you already have it for other reasons. Only when someone, for some weird reason, does not have an iPad yet, then you can buy a brand new, latest generation iPad for $279.-

Edit: a link to support the $279: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-10-...lver/758559855

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No, because you have to have an iPad... it means you already have it for other reasons. Only when someone, for some weird reason, does not have an iPad yet, then you can buy a brand new, latest generation iPad for $279.-

Edit: a link to support the $279: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-10-...lver/758559855

Exactly. The target market is the person with minimal electronics who is already using an iPad for nav and wants to add a low cost radar to the setup.

[laissezfaire]

thank you Seacap for the review of the Furono DSR4W.. I like the idea of a simple inexpensive radar but collision avoidance and an ability to track weather are pretty important reasons for having a radar unit at all.
so I'll take your recommendation and keep looking
does anyone have experience with the SI-TEX MDS-8R .. similar in price as the Furuno but uses Nobeltec and Windows based PC. ?

[Trekka]

Originally Posted by laissezfaire

does anyone have experience with the SI-TEX MDS-8R .. similar in price as the Furuno but uses Nobeltec and Windows based PC. ?

I am also interested in this radar. But I see some listings for it with Nobeltec software and other listings with P-Sea software?

I have a weatherproof panasonic toughbook I am setting up as my navigation platform.

[laissezfaire]

Hello Trekka
I called Furuno.. this unit is discontinued ..some are still available .. but I could find not one single review so I'm not sure..
still looking.. if you get one can you post a review. ?
good luck

[Trekka]

Originally Posted by laissezfaire

Hello Trekka
I called Furuno.. this unit is discontinued ..some are still available .. but I could find not one single review so I'm not sure..
still looking.. if you get one can you post a review. ?
good luck

Furuno or Si-Tex? It is the Si-Tex MDS8r I am interested in.

[laissezfaire]

yes .. I called both.. same deal.. can't find any reviews on the Si Tex.. there is a post on CF about the Furuno and it was mostly negative from a seasoned sailor. Si Tex is discontinued. but I like the concept. from what I remember it is not wifi connected.. needs an ethernet cable I believe.

[Trekka]

The Si-Tex is available on Amazon, and even WalMart online.

[laissezfaire]

yes ..they're available and you can buy them but they are a discontinued item .. Si Tex still have some and I guess they will still offer some support .
just not making any more. the fact that you have to connect to the computer with a cable might be a hassle. ?

[tkeithlu]

You don't need a new generation iPad to run the Furuno radar. I bought a refurbished earlier iPad 2 for $100 and it works fine. From the owner's manual, anything from iPad 2 up and anything from iPhone 5 up.

By the way, I bought it over two years ago after many years of using Furuno 1715s. It's superior to the 1715, although it gives you a bit less in the way of manual adjustment. I have not managed to tune it to plot segulls.

[artisthos]

I need the DRS4W to work with OpenCPN. I have an email to Furuno with this question.
Otherwise we need to get the simplest radar for OpenCPN.
Thanks for a great group. Click here for Beer.

[Rockinar]

This is the only negative post I have seen from anyone on this radar.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by laissezfaire

does anyone have experience with the SI-TEX MDS-8R .. similar in price as the Furuno but uses Nobeltec and Windows based PC. ?

Originally Posted by Trekka

Furuno or Si-Tex? It is the Si-Tex MDS8r I am interested in.

Originally Posted by Trekka

The Si-Tex is available on Amazon, and even WalMart online.

I bought one Si-Tex product...a depth sounder. It did not work well from day one. Erratic readings. Their first excuse was the silt under the water where I was using it. After a month of calls, I was sent a new readout. Still the problem. A few months later they told me it was probably the transducer...duh...what else was there? But they could not warranty it but could sale me one at cost. I told them that it never worked from the beginning. That never seemed to play into it. I'll never buy from them again.

[seacap]

Originally Posted by Rockinar

This is the only negative post I have seen from anyone on this radar.

Probably because most people are not trained radar operators.