New Touchscreen Chartplotters from Garmin
Garmin Australasia has announced the GPSMAP 5000 series of multifunction displays (MFDs) with “virtual” touchscreen buttons. The innovative design means the chartplotters are easier to use than ever, with an intuitive menu system and large display.
“The GPSMAP 5000 series combines style and substance,” says Garmin Australasia’s Marine Sales Manager Stuart Graham. “The pioneering touchscreen display and industrial design look elegant. The 5000 series is functional, versatile and extremely good value for money in marine electronics.”
The GPSMAP 5015 is Garmin’s flagship model, featuring an extra large, waterproof (IPX7) super-bright 30.7 cm diagonal XGA colour touchscreen display (1024 x 768 pixels). The touchscreen makes navigating menus simple because the “virtual buttons” change depending on the function. This allows boaters to intuitively see and select the information they want. The 5000 series’ sleek flat-screen design looks great flush mounted and also includes a bail mount for upright mounting.
To fully enable the capabilities of the 5000 series, Garmin now offers BlueChart g2 Vision technology – conveniently available on a pre-programmed SD card. In addition to high-resolution satellite imagery, g2 Vision features true “mariner’s eye view” which provides a true 3D map perspective above the waterline and “fish eye view” for an underwater 3D bathymetric contour perspective. The g2 Vision data card also enables auto guidance technology on compatible units searching all the chart attributes to suggest the best navigational course. BlueChart g2 Vision capabilities are only available when the optional card is loaded in a compatible chartplotter.
The 5000 series has all of the same networking capabilities of other multifunction displays within the proprietary Garmin Marine Network, a system that combines GPS, radar, sonar, and other data for unparalleled situational awareness. All 5000 series units are NMEA 2000 compliant. For maximum expandability, 5000 series units have three built-in network ports, four NMEA 0183 inputs, two NMEA 0183 outputs, one NMEA 2000 port, two video inputs for onboard cameras, and one PC monitor video output.
Garmin is also proud to announce the GPSMAP 5008, which offers virtually all the features of the GPSMAP 5015 in a smaller package. The 21.3cm diagonal colour touchscreen combines a VGA display for installation in tighter quarters.