Riddle me this....16x9 aspect ratio

[Baker]

What is the deal with chart plotters going with the widescreen format versus a regular ole square??? I have a tendency to want to know what is in front of me...and less so beside me. And that is what is sacrificed on these units(assuming track up which is the way I roll....don't try to convince me otherwise... ) What is the purpose???...or is there one???? I see no redeeming value in having more real estate to the side and less out front???

 

[psneeld]

I agree it stinks...they should be vertical...maybe video related or touch screen requirement for interfacing?

 

[Moonstruck]

+1

On this boat and my last boat, I had two screens for displaying functions of choice ie: plotter, radar, bottom scope. Since speed and depth are displayed in boxes, I sometimes put the chart up at two scales. One close for detail, and one to see what is coming up. It is a great feature.

 

[Portuguese]

Baker
I have asked that myself but kept quiet because I was an "electronic dumb" with a stupid question...YES I want to see ahead, not far on my port/starboard

 

[AusCan]

The only plus with a wide screen would be if you want to run a split screen; with depth sounder, or engine, wind parameters etc

 

[Codger2]

What is the deal with chart plotters going with the widescreen format versus a regular ole square??? ....... What is the purpose???...or is there one????

I can't say for sure but the wide screen leaves more room for "graphic" presentations while it also enables "soft key" screen instructions. I like it!

 

[Parmenter]

The only plus with a wide screen would be if you want to run a split screen; with depth sounder, or engine, wind parameters etc

If using a nav package on pc (inside helm) is there any reason why you cant orient the screen like so?
Radar etc could still run in the bottom bit

A land based program I run on my tablet allows me to rotate (pinch and squeeze) my screen and direction of travel in any direction I want, I wonder if navionics does the same? (outside helm)

 

[timjet]

John, I've wondered that myself. My old Ray RL80C with something like an 8x10 ratio was great and the only reason I can think that the manufactures are going wide screen is that it fits better on some helms. I was able to split the screen vertically and it was a lot better than splitting the current wide screen's horizontally.

 

[Tom.B]

On the Neuse, North-Up solves the problem

 

[MC Escher]

It's about industry standardization.

Not the MARINE industry, the ELECTRONICS industry.

The original 4:3 standard we grew up with was actually based on compatibility with movies shot on 35mm film.

Things change and 16:9 has become dominant to the point where it's the de facto standard and nobody wants to spend the money on production capacity for an older, less-than-popular standard that has essentially become this generation's Betamax.


On the bright side, 16:9 lends itself well to having two display images in a single screen because it's like a doubled 8:9, which is like having an old fashioned 4:3 with 50% more height.


I say on the bright side, because soon enough I suspect you'll be seeing large 16:9 displays completely displacing multiple smaller monitors.


I used to use multiple monitors both at home and at work, which was a pain for a variety of reasons.

NOW I just use a single 27" monitor and I'm actually considering going to a 32".

That sounds absurdly large but the screen is actually only a bit over 13" tall and 23.5 inches wide.

Even a 37" screen would only be about 18" high and 32" wide.

Don't be surprised to see electronic display interfaces to start looking like huge versions of the tablets and smart phones that are already popular, allowing you to shuffle various applications around at will and display them in the manner than makes you happiest.

That stuff that was movie magic just a few short years ago is nothing more than another commodity now.

 

[psneeld]

split screen helping? not really....The older vertical screens could be split too and you were no worse off than the current screens....but with a single display up...horizontal wide has no benefit in my experience because most manufacturers still display data on top and bottom instaed of using that valuable real estate for main presentation.

just about every single function display has always been oriented vertically to maximize the orientation of data/display...sounders, Radars, plotters,....

 

[MC Escher]

split screen helping? not really....

Your criticism, while valid, assumes that the display wouldn't be customizable by the user.

 

[psneeld]

Your criticism, while valid, assumes that the display wouldn't be customizable by the user.

whether you split most available vertical or horizontal screens...the result is more of a square presentation rather than a taller , narrow screen presentation as the OP and I prefer...

 

[ranger58sb]

I can split mine into fours windows... although I rarely use that.

A single side-by-side split is usually enough for us, usually with either different charts (raster/vector), headings (NU/HU), and/or scale in each window.

Otherwise engine data, weather, camera display, etc can go in 3rd/4th windows...

-Chris

 

[MC Escher]

whether you split most available vertical or horizontal screens...the result is more of a square presentation rather than a taller , narrow screen presentation as the OP and I prefer...

I understand and agree with your reasoning on the subject, but I think I am failing to do a good job of explaining myself. Probably because I expect everyone to be as big a nerd as I am and I'm surprised when they aren't.


You know how on your computer you can open multiple application windows and form them into any Height/Width configuration you want? (Within the confines of the screen of course.)


THAT'S what I'm talking about. You'll be able to have any rectilinear shape you want for each application. (Radar, Sonar, etc)
Tall & Narrow, Short & Squat, perfectly square, etc.

You'll also be able to shuffle them around the screen at will, having several apps open and displayed at the same time, sized the way you like them; or just one app displayed across the entire screen.

In other words, your display will be more like a big iPad or Windows 8 touchscreen display than a traditional fixed display.


The technology is already here. It's just in the process of filtering out to all the different possible niches.

 

[markpierce]

I usually run with dual displays: left side plotter, right side radar. Perhaps a wider screen would be worthwhile then.

 

[psneeld]

I understand and agree with your reasoning on the subject, but I think I am failing to do a good job of explaining myself. Probably because I expect everyone to be as big a nerd as I am and I'm surprised when they aren't.


You know how on your computer you can open multiple application windows and form them into any Height/Width configuration you want? (Within the confines of the screen of course.)


THAT'S what I'm talking about. You'll be able to have any rectilinear shape you want for each application. (Radar, Sonar, etc)
Tall & Narrow, Short & Squat, perfectly square, etc.

You'll also be able to shuffle them around the screen at will, having several apps open and displayed at the same time, sized the way you like them; or just one app displayed across the entire screen.

In other words, your display will be more like a big iPad or Windows 8 touchscreen display than a traditional fixed display.


The technology is already here. It's just in the process of filtering out to all the different possible niches.

I understand totally...don't think other professions can't understand yours too...

But we aren't talking custom or PC based nav systems...we are talking plain old, what you se is what you get from the marine store.

If I want to discuss unlimited budget and tech...(having worked for a marine electronics firm as a tech/sales/installer)...I could blow probably even your mind for a wowza nav station.

\But alas...were we are talking why basic marine electronic manufacturers have lost their minds and are selling systems sideways instead of what makes sense to experienced , hands on navigators.

 

[psneeld]

I usually run with dual displays: left side plotter, right side radar. Perhaps a wider screen would be worthwhile then.

actually that's not a bad setup...the radar pic is actually taller than wide...but it would be a lot better to have it even more so on most nav displays so look ahead or depth presentation gave better detail where it is needed.

 

[Codger2]

I've been running a NorthStar 6000i that came with the boat and I love it! It was discontinued when Simrad bought out Northstar. The replacement is called a Simrad NSE 12 which I've seen and played with but not enough improvements for me to cough up $4,595.00. Both are super intuitive.

 

[MC Escher]

PS -

I was actually afraid that I was doing a poor job of communicating, not that anyone else was doing a bad job of understanding. So, no offense intended.

In regards to discussing unlimited budget, that wasn't my intention.
I was pointing out what is coming to the wider market in the near future, not referring to what can be had now for people who insist on "bleeding edge" stuff.

Not just the Marine market either...
Everything from Navigation displays in automobiles to home entertainment displays. Everything is moving towards touch-screens and high levels of customization.


As far as blowing my mind...
Please do. Seriously.
I tend to be a late adopter, but I love looking at bleeding edge "Tech Porn".

 

[Moonstruck]

Hey, I'm 2 or 3 generations behind, but still can't find a reason to upgrade. Yeah, the MFDs are nice, but with my two 10" vertically oriented screens and a 72 mile radar it all works for me. Yeah, I can split the screens, but why? The radar will overlay the chart, depth and speed is displayed in boxes where I want them. When fishing the HD bottom module puts me on the fish. It's good to have the ability to put any on either screen. Two charts at different scales is a really nice feature.

 

[psneeld]

Hey, I'm 2 or 3 generations behind, but still can't find a reason to upgrade. Yeah, the MFDs are nice, but with my two 10" vertically oriented screens and a 72 mile radar it all works for me. Yeah, I can split the screens, but why? The radar will overlay the chart, depth and speed is displayed in boxes where I want them. When fishing the HD bottom module puts me on the fish. It's good to have the ability to put any on either screen. Two charts at different scales is a really nice feature.

other than being slow compared to todays systems..those Ray displays and the way they were oriented and showed what you needed were just fine in all the thousands of miles I cruised with them factory and personally delivering early 2000's Sea rays

 

[Peter B]

What is the deal with chart plotters going with the widescreen format versus a regular ole square??? I have a tendency to want to know what is in front of me...and less so beside me. And that is what is sacrificed on these units(assuming track up which is the way I roll....don't try to convince me otherwise... ) What is the purpose???...or is there one???? I see no redeeming value in having more real estate to the side and less out front???

I agree John, and was not sorry my now superseded Lowrance GPS/Sonar combo has a portrait shaped screen, rather than landscape/widescreen, (which later models now have), which I love, as I like track up function as well. For upstairs I just use the iPad/Navionics, and that turns the screen like an iPhone anyway you want. I like landscape for planning, and portrait for actual track up navigating.
Then, when at anchor, I have my books on it for reading, and once again, landscape is the way to go. I love it.

 

[timjet]

Don (Moonstruck) you are correct, no reason to change. You have the HSB2 software which is a big improvement to the ver 1 I had but I think the display orientation is superior to the wide screen produced by most manufactures today.

I sold my RL80C plotter and radar and replaced with current gen Ray equipment. The current plotter is faster but no better in any other aspect. The digital radar is better but not so much that knowing what I know now would have convinced me to upgrade.

I have as mentioned current gen ray equipment and a current gen 7" garmin touchscreen. I use the garmin for nav and the ray for radar. I really don't like the ray for navigation and much prefer the Garmin even though the ray has a bigger screen.

I think Don would be disappointed in the new gen stuff, so keep the money for fuel and booze, better- booze and fuel.

 

[psneeld]

Don (Moonstruck) you are correct, no reason to change. You have the HSB2 software which is a big improvement to the ver 1 I had but I think the display orientation is superior to the wide screen produced by most manufactures today.

I sold my RL80C plotter and radar and replaced with current gen Ray equipment. The current plotter is faster but no better in any other aspect. The digital radar is better but not so much that knowing what I know now would have convinced me to upgrade.

I have as mentioned current gen ray equipment and a current gen 7" garmin touchscreen. I use the garmin for nav and the ray for radar. I really don't like the ray for navigation and much prefer the Garmin even though the ray has a bigger screen.

I think Don would be disappointed in the new gen stuff, so keep the money for fuel and booze, better- booze and fuel.

I agree with everything except...I think I'm liking the touchscreen/hybrid on my new raymarine...I'll know in 2 months after a couple of weeks of travelling

 

[timjet]

I agree with everything except...I think I'm liking the touchscreen/hybrid on my new raymarine...I'll know in 2 months after a couple of weeks of travelling

You will like the touchscreen and ray does allow you to use buttons if you prefer that.

My beef with ray is mostly software related.
50 waypt max when creating a route
No way to display time or dist to destination on the main screen when navigating a route.
Garmin software seems more intuitive to me.
Ray's PC software doesn't hold a candle to Garmins.

 

[psneeld]

You will like the touchscreen and ray does allow you to use buttons if you prefer that.

My beef with ray is mostly software related.
50 waypt max when creating a route
No way to display time or dist to destination on the main screen when navigating a route.
Garmin software seems more intuitive to me.
Ray's PC software doesn't hold a candle to Garmins.

I'll mainly use it as backup and primary radar till I buy a transducer and also have depth.

No chartplotter I ever used has held a candle to OpenCPN on a laptop for interior use and strictly chart plotting (having worked for a marine electronics place and stay in touch)...plus being a delivery capt...I can't think of too many I haven't played with)...can't wait to start using it on a touchscreen tablet/laptop.

 

[Baker]

I have an RL70c that I really thought I was going to be able to be okay with. A seven inch screen in portrait orientation. BUT, it was so extremely slow while redrawing the maps(ie zooming) there was no way I could do it. So I got the little G740. I didn't necessarily care for the touchscreen or the sounder part....BUT, I like the touchscreen a LOT more an I thought I would. It makes many tasks a lot easier and quicker!!!

Also, I had a Furuno sounder and I have learned that I can get an adapter and use the transducer so I will delete the Furuno sounder from my panel and use the sounder on the Garmin.

 

[timjet]

Also, I had a Furuno sounder and I have learned that I can get an adapter and use the transducer so I will delete the Furuno sounder from my panel and use the sounder on the Garmin.

John, I have a ray depth transducer that came with the boat. I was able to port the info from the transducer to both my new Ray MFD and my Garmin 740 via NMEA 0183 and Sea Talk. Since I use my Garmin for navigation having depth there is a big plus.

Incidentally I found my G740. I misplaced it in my wife's car thinking it was in my car. Fortunately I had not reported it stolen yet.

We splash Friday with the new reman engine.

 

[Moonstruck]

We splash Friday with the new reman engine.

Capt. Tim,

If you have posted updates to your engine saga, I have missed them. Bummer! Sounds like you took good care of the problem. Hope you are back in business so to speak. Are you planning to go back to the Abacos? I am looking at a trip in May. It would be nice to meet up for a little cruising over there.