Although the Raymarine brand has only existed a short time, boaters are long familiar with the name of its founding company, Raytheon. Following a management buyout in 2001, and a subsequent rebranding of all products, Raymarine has become an established leader in electronic equipment for recreational and light commercial boaters, including radars, chartplotters, fishfinders, autopilots and more.

Less well known are Raymarine's two navigation software systems, RayTech Planner and RayTech RNS, both intended to supplement their hardware product line.

RayTech Planner is well named: it is a planner, not a full-featured charting and navigation application. The software is essentially a subset of the licensed full-featured RayTech RNS package, distributed either as a free download through Raymarine's website or as a disc bundled with a Raymarine/Navionics USB card reader. Designed as an "at-home" tool, Raytech Planner cannot connect to GPS devices or live instruments. It is suited for viewing charts and creating and exporting waypoints and routes to a Raymarine C-, E-, or G-Series chartplotter using a CompactFlash memory card.

In contrast, RayTech RNS is a full-featured charting and navigation application. The newest version (6.0) was the recipient of a 2006 Best in Show Award by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). However, in many ways, RayTech RNS is very different than the PC-based applications we've reviewed so far. Most noticeably, RayTech RNS uses an interface that mimics a chartplotter, rather than a PC interface. The network application is also different. With RayTech RNS, your PC becomes another node in a networked system of (presumably Raymarine) devices, rather than the center of a collection of attached devices. These differences, and others we will discuss, are consistent with Raymarine's emphasis on providing an integrated system of marine electronics.

The result is that, for those who make heavy use of Raymarine electronics, the RayTech software package may make a great deal of sense. It is not cheap, but the cost is relatively small in the context of a larger Raymarine network. But for a boater who is not already using Raymarine hardware, it's possible other charting and navigation packages may be better suited.

GETTING STARTED

RayTech RNS is available as a boxed set directly from Raymarine's website or for retail purchase from the hundreds of authorized Raymarine dealers in the U.S.

This very professional set includes two discs, a User's Guide, and two hardware items. The first disc, a CD-ROM, includes the software application, SoftChart Coastal Planning Charts, C-MAP NT+ Worldwide Planning Charts, and Navionics Worldwide Tides and Currents data. The planning charts (which are not suitable for navigation) and the tides/currents data install automatically with the software. The second disc, in DVD format, includes a complete set of NOAA U.S. Raster Navigational Charts.

The hardware items are a Navionics USB Multicard Chart Reader, which connects directly to a PC and provides an interface to display Navionics cartography, and a GPS 9-pin serial data cable that allows you to wire your vessel's GPS to your PC.

Given that Raymarine includes a Navionics Multicard Chart Reader with its software, it's safe to assume that Raymarine expects users will purchase proprietary vector cartography from Navionics. Note that the chart data contained on a Navionics CompactFlash chart card is encrypted to prevent piracy and the Navionics Multicard Chart Reader has special circuitry that decrypts the charts for RayTech RNS. You can also read older C-Map NT or NT+ charts with RayTech RNS, but only with a C-Map USB C-Card Reader (not included).

The package also includes free raster charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but Raymarine's DVD included chart editions dated back to December of 2005. If you rely on raster charts, we suggest installing the latest BSB chart files, which are available as a free download from NOAA or as an entire 1000-plus chart catalog for under $50 from many NOAA-certified chart distributors.

Unfortunately, the chartplotter-like interface of RayTech RNS affects some features that would be considered standard on a PC application. Most notably, just like a chartplotter, RayTech RNS does not have a printing feature. If you want to print your chart images you must purchase screen capture software such as SnagIt for $39.95 (see link below)

LOOK AND FEEL

Installing RayTech RNS was straightforward. Chart installation was also trouble-free. It took about 15 minutes to install the 907 files from a Maptech Region 65 DVD (Block Island, Rhode Island to the Canadian Border), which includes BSB, photo and topographic files.

Connecting a USB GPS sensor was our only installation stumble. Although there is a Startup Wizard, RayTech RNS doesn't include a Port Wizard. Instead one must check the Window's Device Manager for an occupied port that suggests a GPS, then select that communication port in RayTech RNS. We wondered why, in 2007, a software application wouldn't include a Port Wizard. But, in fairness, the RayTech RNS target configuration is connecting the PC to an integrated marine electronics system rather than a standalone, non-Raymarine device.

Most of the charting and navigation packages we've reviewed so far strive for a Windows application interface. In fact, occasionally we dinged a manufacturer if its interface deviated from this standard. RayTech RNS takes a completely different approach, designing a hybrid interface that partially mimics a chartplotter display.

RAYMARINERayTech RNS utilizes a hybrid interface, part chartplotter and part PC Windows.This choice is partly demographic-driven (they note older, less PC-savvy users as customers). But it also follows the networked design of a Raymarine system, where the PC is intended as another multidimensional display node amid a collection of marine instruments that center on a chartplotter display.

In Raymarine's way of thinking, the PC is not the center of your world, but simply a (portable) component allowing you to plan at home and then conveniently transfer information to your boat's network via card or by plugging the laptop into the network while aboard. For example, icons are shaped and shaded to look like the physical buttons on other Raymarine displays. Data is keyed in and entered as if your screen is a touch-sensitive chartplotter (see photo).

For boaters who are more comfortable with chartplotters than computers, RayTech RNS will be a welcome interface. However, boaters who grew up on PCs may find this interface a bit clumsy and outdated. Personally, we started out not liking the chartplotter look, but grew to like it and understand its purpose within the Raymarine gestalt. However, given an independent choice between the two formats, we still prefer a more flexible, contemporary, streamlined computer user interface.

One downside of a chartplotter interface is the loss of chart display area. The large Soft keys across the bottom, the Databoxes on the left side, and the Pathfinder panel on the right side all create wide margins that compromise available chart real estate. Although you can choose which buttons, tools or data to include, wide gray margins remain. You'll wish for a more streamlined interface and/or a larger display screen.

RayTech's interface is also not as customizable as a typical Windows interface. Although you can choose which options to display, it is inconvenient or impossible to customize elements such as icons, fonts or screen placement. In fact, we couldn't even customize weather data to display Fahrenheit rather than Celsius. (Raymarine, a British company, acknowledges this limitation and has it slated for improvement.)

Conveniently, Databoxes can be quickly moved and re-sized, which is useful for many chart layouts. For example, to efficiently display long, narrow strip charts of the coast or ICW, you can arrange data horizontally across the top, leaving a large landscape area for the chart.

WORKING WITH CHARTS

Raymarine, with Humminbird and Northstar, was one of the early adopters of Navionics Platinum cartography, designing its hardware devices to handle the higher demands of multidimensional data. These types of files--including 3D displays, aerial and satellite navigation photos, and bathymetrics--require new hardware designs with more memory and faster processors. Raymarine's hardware (such as its C-, E-, and G-Series multifunction displays), and its RayTech RNS software, support these advanced Navionics features.

However, in terms of traditional chart files, RayTech RNS is largely a raster chart or proprietary vector chart program. It does not support standard format S-57 vector charts – which includes NOAA ENCs (vector coastal charts), U.S. Army Corps IENCs (vector inland charts), and standard international vector charts. Raymarine hopes to include support for S-57 vector charts in a future software release. In the meantime, vector charts must be purchased from proprietary vendors, such as Navionics or C-Map.

To summarize, RayTech RNS 6.0 is compatible with the following cartography: Navionics HotMaps, Silver, Gold, and Platinum charts; BSB raster charts, which include NOAA RNCs and equivalent products from Maptech, NDI, and SoftChart; Maptech topographic charts; Maptech aerial photos (which RayTech RNS converts to their own format); and the older C-Map NT and NT+ cartography.

In addition to S-57 vector charts, RayTech RNS is not currently compatible with Nobeltec Passport Charts nor the new C-Map Max or MaxPro cartography.

We tested RayTech RNS using both Navionics and Maptech cartography and a GlobalSat Technology BU-353 USB GPS. Charts displayed promptly and the program was very responsive. A nice touch for chart viewing customization is the ability to turn quilting off when displaying raster charts. This displays the raster chart in its entirety, letting you read any chart notes or visually check chart editions and correction dates.

RayTech RNS was not as smooth as other applications when it came to panning and scrolling over a chart. Unfortunately, there is no "hand-grabber" in their chartplotter-style display. In general, one cannot pan over a chart to move the display. Panning is only enabled when you are creating a route. Otherwise, one must click on a point on the chart, which re-centers the display to that point. Panning over a large chart area requires zooming out, clicking on the new geography, then zooming back in to the working scale.

RayTech RNS has two screen configurations to provide the maximum view of your information: a split window display and a somewhat unique tabbed window display.

In the split window environment, several displays can be viewed at one time. For example, you can show four windows simultaneously, such as a chart display, a perspective view, your radar image, and sonar data (see photo). Any of the split windows can be quickly enlarged to a full window presentation by clicking on an icon. The same action collapses it back to the split window format. Although a common metaphor, RayTech's split window functionality is the cleanest of any application we've reviewed.

RAYMARINEA four-way split window showing (clockwise from upper left) a perspective view, radar display, sonar display, and Navionics vector chart.

RayTech RNS also incorporates a "tabbed" window function (see photo). This display metaphor is reminiscent of Microsoft Excel, which navigates through multiple open "sheets" using tabs at the bottom of the screen. This is a great utility, letting you "tab" through full-sized windows of important information rather than using small split windows.

RAYMARINESimilar to Microsoft Excel worksheets, RayTech RNS allows you to access multiple pages in a tabbed interface, such as the sonar page selected here.In addition, RayTech RNS utilizes a feature called "chart layers," letting you superimpose one type of cartography over one or more others. For example, a vector chart, raster chart, topographic chart, aerial photograph and radar image can all be overlaid. Optional subscription data, such as sea temperature or plankton, can also be added. The presentation of any layer combinations (except Navionics and C-Map vector charts) can then be adjusted using a transparency control.

RayTech RNS also includes many improvements on practical bread-and-butter features. For example, their ruler tool to measure distance and bearing allows multiple rulers and allows you to pick up and move both the origin and destination points. Their latitude/longitude grid was the most sensible we've seen so far, using clean whole number values (such as W 70 10.0') rather than forcing a display grid (with values such as W 70 09.334'). These small details give RayTech RNS the feel of a professional, competent marine package.

WAYPOINTS AND ROUTES

Working with waypoints and routes was a mixed experience, stemming in part from RayTech's chartplotter interface and hurdles with the import and export of data outside of the Raymarine "family."

Waypoints and routes are easy to create, but the process is not as user-friendly as some applications utilizing a PC interface approach. Yet the creation and management of waypoints is very robust in RayTech RNS. The only inconvenience we encountered was the inability to have a waypoint in more than one folder or to transfer more than one waypoint at a time to a new folder. For example, if you want to transfer a collection of Coconut Grove waypoints from your Intracoastal Waterway folder to your Florida Keys folder, you must move each waypoint individually.

As one would expect from a chartplotter interface, there is no mechanism to scroll or flip from the waypoint or routes list to the appropriate chart. To go to a waypoint's chart location, you must search for the appropriate chart by going back to the planning chart overview display.

RayTech's strongest waypoint and route feature is its exportability to other Raymarine devices. If you use a Raymarine chartplotter, the data seamlessly transfers using their SeaTalk protocol over an Ethernet cable, which plugs into your PC's Ethernet port.

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.

We've already mentioned several Raymarine hardware devices – in particular the C- and E-Series displays – that are designed to optimize the power of your PC running RayTech software. We will mention one more here: Raymarine's proprietary specialized keyboard (see photo).

RAYMARINEThe optional Raymarine keyboard removes many RNS buttons and toolbars from your PC screen, recovering more space for the chart display.As we pointed out earlier, because of the layout of its buttons and toolbars, RayTech RNS has only moderate viewable chart real estate. One solution is to use the PC in "RNS mode" with Raymarine's handheld keyboard device. This $500 accessory clears the screen of many of the data entry buttons, reclaiming valuable chart viewing area.

Like many other marine software vendors, Raymarine also offers subscription services. Two fishing data features, sea surface temperature and ocean plankton data overlays, are available by subscription through Raymarine's website.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Raymarine's customer support for RayTech RNS focuses on two resources: a User's Guide and a detailed "solutions database" available on the company website.

The packaged set includes a 208-page spiral-bound User's Guide. Unfortunately, although the manual looks meaty, it's thin on software features and functionality, and heavy on connections and wiring. In addition, much of the manual is dedicated to networked features (such as radar and sonar) that come with their own documentation. Additionally, the manual could use an index; it was often difficult to locate topics using only an expanded table of contents.

For detailed information on troubleshooting, system specifications, chart compatibility and network hook-up, Raymarine maintains one of the best FAQs we've seen (see link below). Their 37-page "solutions database" lets you search by product, category, phrase or search text. An impressive 54 topics were listed for RayTech RNS version 6.0. Even better, you can click a button to be emailed automatically when that topic is updated.

Although their website drives you to the extensive knowledge base, you also can send email requests or call technical support at the number provided in the User's Guide. The online protocol is to register a "Raymarine Insider Account," which gives you access to "Raymarine Insider Only" features and benefits. You then log in to contact the customer support team.

ASSESMENT

As we have mentioned, RayTech RNS is a bit different than the other PC applications we've reviewed so far. It functions less as a free-standing PC application that connects to external devices, and more as an additional portable node in an existing, extensible network of Raymarine devices. This creates important distinctions in both its user interface and how it is intended to be used.

In its intended configuration, your PC is not the center of a marine network, but is an additional mobile or mirrored display. It allows your PC to be another display down below or at the helm, as well as a convenient and mobile way to do waypoint and route planning at home.

Because of this, RayTech RNS is best suited as part of a Raymarine networked package – ideally including a powerful E-Series display. If you want a fully integrated system, or have recently purchased a new Raymarine chartplotter, RayTech is a logical addition. The added display and flexibility to your system is a small relative cost and gives you all the convenience of PC charting and navigation with an incredibly easy Ethernet or CompactFlash connection.

Capt. Mark Doyle and Capt. Diana Doyle are authors of the Managing the Waterway cruising guide series, and their work has appeared in numerous publications. They also produce CDs and DVDs of NOAA and USACE charts.