It is important to note that the existing tidal stream database being used with Easy/TurboWin has ceasd to function since the 1st of January, 2020. Customers who wish to continue using tidal streams will have to upgrade to the new v9 program with new database. The new tidal stream database will be functional for ten years.

While being visually identical to the existing v8 that customers are familiar with, the v9 has many important changes ‘under the hood’. The list of improvements includes:

–  Program has been recompiled with better memory management. This results in faster performance.

–  Program can now run in Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 64-bit.

–  Improved folder management with the use of subfolders. This allows you to keep fishing data from another vessel seperate to your own.

–  New Proudman v3 tidal stream database giving current for both surface and seabed.

–  External alarm for WGS84 datum and anti-grounding.

–  Floating AIS list window.

Further details, prices and release date can be found by contacting Barry Electronics Ltd.

MaxSea TimeZero Professional v4 has now been released. This now has a very powerful oceanographic display. In addition to the standard (free) weather downloads, it is now possible to subscribe to oceanographic data such as sea surface temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, phytoplankton, etc. The values of these can be ‘tuned’ to display suitable fishing areas. In addition, if a vessel has a good catch, the conditions at that location can be saved and the system will show other locations with similar conditions.

In addition to the above, TimeZero Professional v4 also has new Furuno DDF3D and WASSP modules and can now accept hardness data from a large range of sounders. It can also be supplied with a Marport module which will show the position of the trawl doors.

Further details are available here.

If you have an older Furuno GPS product, there is a possibility that it may behave erratically after the 17th March 2019. This is due to something called GPS week number rollover. If you experience problems with your GPS position after this date, go into the menu of your device and execute a cold start. If you are unsure how to do this, please contact Barry Electronics Ltd. and we will help you. Please note that after a cold start, it will take about ten minutes for the GPS to acquire a fix again.

The above solution should rectify any problem with the GPS position but it will not resolve the fact that the GPS date will be incorrect. In most cases, this shouldn’t be a problem, but if the GPS is feeding critical items such as GMDSS equipment, AIS, etc., it will have to be replaced.

Some of the more common equipment affected includes:

Felcom-12 Inmarsat-C (with built-in GPS).

GP-1600/1810/1610C/1650/1850/280/3210/380/680 GPS plotters.

GP-31 GPS navigator.

We regret the inconvenience caused – please feel free to contact us for advice.