A new satellite navigator receiver that makes a significant breakthrough in terms of cost, performance, and size of Sat-Nav equipment was announced recently by Racal-Decca Navigator Limited. The Racal-Decca DS4 uses signals from the U.S. Navy Navigation Satellite System (TRANSIT), and provides all the global Sat-Nav position fixing facilities required by the professional mariner. Its low cost, compact size, and high performance make it ideal for every type of vessel from fishing craft to supertankers.
Graham Coles, Racal-Decca Navigator's marine marketing director, commented: "By breaking the 3,000-pound $7,200 price barrier for a full-capability receiver, we have opened up a much wider market for marine Sat-Nav equipment. This, together with support from the well-established Racal-Decca international service organization, will enable us to obtain a significant share of an expanding worldwide market."
Wholly British designed and built, the DS4 provides full accuracy of the TRANSIT single channel system to within 0.05 nautical miles. It displays simultaneously lat/long, time, date, heading, and speed. The user can also call up the latest satellite fix; the next 100 satellite passes for voyage planning; course and distance to 10 waypoints; elapsed DR (dead reckoning) time, distance, and course made good from the last satellite fix; set and drift.
For further information on the Racal-Decca DS4 Sat-Nav receiver,
Write 85 on Reader Service Card