Marine Radar Scanners are optimized for clear definition.
Press Release Summary:
Effective over 36 and 48 nautical mile ranges, respectively, GMR(TM) 18 HD and GMR 24 HD marine radomes identify precise location of targets. Both models utilize DSP, offer 4 kW of transmit power, and have 25° vertical beamwidth. While GMR 18 HD has 5° horizontal beamwidth, GMR 24 HD has 3.6° horizontal beamwidth and selectable (24 to 30 rpm) rotation speed for navigating tight quarters. Both models also offer sensitivity and tuning controls as well as selectable interference rejection.
Original Press Release:
Garmin® Goes High-Def With Its Marine Radar Offerings
OLATHE, Kan., Dec. 28 -- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), today announced improvements to its two most popular marine radomes -- the GMR(TM) 18 HD and GMR 24 HD -- providing better target separation and clearer definition, particularly at close ranges.
"These new radar scanners process up to eight times the information of their predecessors, which helps take the guesswork out of identifying the precise location of targets," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "And unlike many competing products, these new units are completely backwards compatible with the current Garmin marine lineup."
Both radomes also offer a full 4kW of transmit power. The GMR 18 HD features a 5-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, which allow for accurate target acquisition and separation, and boasts a best-in-class range of 36 nautical miles (nm). The GMR 24 HD features an industry-leading 3.6-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, and has a maximum effective range of 48 nautical miles. For navigating in tight quarters, skippers can switch the GMR 24 HD's rotation speed from 24 RPM to 30 RPM for rapid target updates.
Like other Garmin radar, these new units process signals within the radome via a digital signal processor, and is dynamically presented on a Garmin Marine Network(TM) compatible chartplotter/multifunction display (MFDs). Digital processing allows for more precise recognition, enhancement, and filtering of radar echoes -- making the finished display easier to read and interpret.
The new units support all of the following features when paired with the appropriate Garmin MFD:
-- MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) collision avoidance capability, which allows boaters to track the course, speed, and predicted closest approach (by both time and distance) of multiple targets. Requires an optional heading sensor.
-- Chart overlay capability, allowing boaters to reconcile radar signatures with known objects on the chartplotter.
-- Split the screen between standard radar presentations and radar overlay.
The GMR 18 HD and GMR 24 HD feature sensitivity and tuning controls, including gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter -- which allows boaters to spend less time tuning the unit and more time navigating. The units also boast selectable interference rejection, which mitigates the effect of nearby radar transmissions.
The radomes communicate with the Garmin Marine Network through a waterproof 100-megabit per second plug-and-play proprietary network -- which affords users the ability to expand their boat's system as needed. A Marine Network cable connector kit is also included for customizing installation. Like its counterparts, these new scanners come with a full two year warranty. The GMR 18 HD has a suggested retail price of $1199.99, and the GMR 24 HD is available for $1999.99. Both units are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2008. See www.garmin.com/ for more information.
About Garmin
Garmin International, Inc. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) group of companies which designs, manufactures, markets, and sells navigation, communication and information devices and applications -- most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin is a leader in consumer and general aviation navigation and its products serve the automotive/mobile, outdoor/fitness, marine, and aviation markets. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin and GPSMAP are registered trademarks, and Garmin Marine Network and GMR are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
CONTACT: Ted Gartner of Garmin International Inc., +1-913-397-8200, media.relations@garmin.com
