However, the extent of information you can "push" up to your chartplotter depends on the capabilities of that chartplotter. We've already mentioned the new hardware needs for multidimensional displays such as 3D perspectives, bathymetrics or aerials. Similarly, the software and hardware constraints of your chartplotter dictate the number of waypoints and/or routes you can export. For example, a C-Series display is limited to 1,000 waypoints and 100 routes; the E-Series is limited to 1,200 waypoints and 150 routes. If you cruise extensively, you can overcome this limitation easily by grouping waypoints into subsets and uploading each set as you need it.
Importing waypoints and routes to RayTech RNS, such as from another vendor's software application or device, is trickier. Although in theory Raymarine can accommodate Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for data entry and ASCII text files for import/export, the process needs a helper application such as GPSBabel. This utility, available as a free download (see link below), translates your data into a format read by Raymarine and facilitates any non-native import or export.
RayTech RNS also includes several advanced sailing navigation and tactical tools as part of its basic package. The polars and pre-start features are great free inclusions for club racers. These features are comparable to those in Nobeltec or MaxSea sailing packs, each requiring an additional purchase.
RayTech's tools also include DataTrak which, when connected to your boat's instruments, can record and display collected data as a time-based graph. This is useful for looking at trends, averages, real-time data and comparing instrument data. You can create graphs to display course and speed over ground, sea temperature, depth, apparent and true wind, and other data useful for route optimization, advanced weather routing, creating sailing polars, or race pre-start calculations.
RAYMARINEUnlike many standalone PC charting and navigation applications, RayTech RNS is designed to be part of an existing extensive network of sensor data.INTEGRATING YOUR ELECTRONICS
RayTech RNS is designed to be part of a fully-networked Raymarine electronics installation (see photo). This is an important distinction. With most laptop-based charting and navigation applications, you plug devices into the PC, such as a GPS or autopilot. In other words, you tell the PC which external sensors are now part of the system. With RayTech RNS, you plug the laptop into an existing network of sensor data. In this application, you tell an existing Raymarine network that a PC with RayTech RNS is now part of the system.
This difference creates an important distinction between what RayTech RNS does by itself and what it does as a repeater node on the vessel network. For example, the engine panel feature is an excellent illustration of how your RayTech-loaded PC is an extension or node on your existing system. With your laptop connected to a Raymarine E-Series chartplotter, which is connected in turn to a NMEA 2000 engine interface, you can display engine instrument data on your PC screen. The software is not generating any information. Rather, it is repeating the data sent by the engine via the E-Series network.
RayTech RNS is designed to really shine when used in conjunction with a Raymarine E-Series multifunction display. With version 6.0, your PC running RayTech RNS connects to an E-Series chartplotter with a simple, single Ethernet cable between the PC and a Raymarine SeaTalk network switch. Unfortunately, E-Series units are a bit of an investment, ranging from $3,200 for the E80 (with an 8.4-inch display) to $4,600 for the E120 (with a 12.1-inch display). RayTech RNS also integrates with Raymarine's C-Series, but these units are more limited. For example, they cannot accommodate multidimensional image sharing.
Obviously, nearly any NEMA or Raymarine device can be part of this extensive network. The only exception is noted on Raymarine's website stating that RayTech RNS 6.0 does not currently support Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking. Raymarine hopes to include support for AIS in a future release. Collision avoidance is currently supported through a MARPA-equipped radar. Note that a networked heading sensor is required to use any MARPA function or radar/chart overlay. A GPS sensor alone does not provide accurate enough data.
Because your PC is configured as an additional display, it is important to understand the extent to which data can be shared or repeated across the network. For example, relatively "smaller bandwidth" images, such as radar, vessel data or charts, can be repeated to both PC and chartplotter.
Multidimensional data, such as 3D perspectives, bathymetrics or satellite photos, can be repeated only to the more capable E-Series devices. Video, a notoriously high bandwidth data stream, can only be transmitted directly to your PC – there is simply too little bandwidth to repeat this data to a chartplotter display. However, as a standalone device, RayTech RNS can display up to four video inputs on your computer screen.
RAYMARINERayTech RNS World Tides and Currents data is provided by Navionics.
ADDITIONAL DATA AND HARDWARE
RayTech supports many additional data features such as street and map data and satellite, topographic and aerial images. These databases are not included with the software. It's assumed the consumer will purchase upgraded Navionics Platinum cartography for these additional features.
The software includes built-in worldwide tides and currents data provided by Navionics. (RayTech Planner also includes tides and currents data, but only for the U.S.) This data, part of a co-marketing agreement between Raymarine and Navionics, is top quality. The data is extensive and displayed in an easy-to-use format.
Weather data is obtained from downloading GRIB weather files. We were particularly impressed with RayTech's animated weather forecasts. This feature lets you pull down a seven-day GRIB file and fast-forward the display minute-by-minute. This smooth replay lets you follow isobars as they expand or contract, or wind barbs as they clock or back.
