February 9th, 2010 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
I wrote a little bit about this last week while covering the Seattle Boat Show. Now the press release comes out, complete with a little note: A C-Pod Security System will be on display at the Cobra Marine booth #1610 at the Miami International Boat Show, February 11-15 in Miami, Florida.
Gosh, and to think I saw it at Tim and Marya’s North Pacific Marketing booth at the Seattle show a week ago! Anyway, on with the press release…
When boaters are away from their vessel, it’s important for them to know their investment is safe and sound. Giving owners peace of mind, the C-Pod Security System offered by Cobra Marine, a division of Cobra Electronics, monitors and manages any vessel through the internet or a mobile phone. Notifications are sent instantly via the web or by text message, if events, such as battery shortages, unauthorized movement, high water levels, intrusions or fires, occur on board.
The C-Pod can also be used to remotely switch on equipment, such as AC, heating or a refrigerator, and accurately serves as a GPS tracking device. All communication setup is controlled through mycpod.com and users can choose the recipients of the alarms and warnings, ensuring they’re never missed. Owners can also log on via the internet to view updated information regarding boat position, speed and status.
Equipped with GeoFence, an alarm is triggered if the vessel is moved more than 820′ without authorization. The C-Pod is monitored using a Heartbeat function, which sends out a signal at regular intervals. If a Heartbeat fails, such as if the system is disabled, a warning is sent to notify the owner.
Easy to install, the system is plug-and-play capable and utilizes up to 12 optional sensors. Sophisticated accessory options include a two-way remote control, smoke detector, high water sensor, high gain antenna, motion detector, connection hubs, siren and 12 or 24V remote switched relays.
The C-Pod system from Cobra Marine retails for $499.95 and comes with the C-Pod communication unit, GSM and GPSantennas, 33′ of power cable, 20′ of USB cable, remote activation button with status LED, magnetic intrusion alarm, manual and a three-year warranty in the USA. Activation requires a $24.95/month service fee and a two-year service contract. All GSM communication is included in the monthly fee. The service includes free international roaming to ensure optimum security in case of theft.
The C-Pod Security System consists of a monitor and GPS tracker you install on the boat, out of sight. If your boat leaves home, or if the battery voltage falls outside preset limits, or if a motion sensor is triggered, you’ll know about it.
It uses the cellular grid to communicate vessel status, so that’s a limiting factor if your boat is outside a service area. The unit costs $495, and requires a $25 monthly service contract for the communication part.
There’s more to it than I’ve described here, but Cobra doesn’t have a page up for this product yet! They only recently aquired the product line, as I understand it, so you can find a lot of information at the existing C-Pod website. Also, you can see a sample and get the lowdown from Tim Groseclose at North Pacific Marketing (C2113, upstairs).
January 25th, 2010 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
Seattle’s on the map! No offense to all those wonderful east-coast boat shows, but SOME east-coast manufacturers seem to think the only boat show worth hyping is one in Florida.
I beg to differ. Seattle has a lot to offer a manufacturer trying to make an impression on influential recreational boaters. Seattle has long been home to many innovative manufacturers (in marine as well as aviation and info-tech industries), so naturally the region is home to quite a lot of forward-thinking boat owners interested in technology.
It’s refreshing to see a Florida-based manufacturer talk up its presence at the upcoming Seattle Boat Show. I’ve written a bit about Paradox Marine’s Nav-Tracker product line in the past. Paradox Marine has a reputation for creating high-end vessel tracking and monitoring systems.
If you want the best, but you don’t have the propeller-headed über-geekiness to build it all yourself like Steve Roberts (and even in Seattle, few of us have), then Paradox Marine’s booth (2317) at the 2010 Seattle Boat show ought to be on your list.
On with the press release!
FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA (USA) – Boat security systems supplier Paradox Marine will feature its Magellan Insight GPS DVR and Nav-Tracker 2.0 GPS tracking systems at the 2010 Seattle Boat Show, January 29-February 6 at the Qwest Field Event Center, concourse booth 2317.
Insight includes all the components necessary to help protect a boat and keep an eye on exactly what is happening onboard at all times. The system sends emails and text messages when events occur and saves a snapshot or video clip to the user’s account which is accessible on any computer or mobile phone with internet access. The owner sees what the camera sees when motion is detected and it also allows the owner to login and view streaming video off the boat on their computer or cell phone.
“When you get to the boat, the Harpoon disarms itself. When you leave the boat, the system arms itself again, with no action on your part. Easy!”
Not to be outdone, the go-anywhere, monitor-anything Nav-Tracker from Paradox Marine has just added a similar feature. The press release tells the tale:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) – Boat security systems supplier Paradox Marine has enhanced its Nav-Tracker 2.0 wireless boat location and GPS tracking system with SmartKEY, which automatically disarms the system when the vessel operator boards the vessel and re-arms it when the operator disembarks.
SmartKEY uses RFID technology that allows for ‘no touch’ arming and disarming of the Nav-Tracker 2.0 system. There are no buttons to push or keys to turn. With a SmartKEY in range, Nav-Tracker 2.0 is disarmed. When a SmartKEY is out of range for more than 60 seconds or is turned off, the system will re-arm itself.
How SmartKEY Works
The Nav-Tracker 2.0 SmartKEY is comprised of a state-of-the-art wireless 2.4GHz Active RFID technology with a transmitter paired with a receiver packaged inside of the Nav-Tracker 2.0 control unit operating on a proprietary frequency. The SmartKEY transmits 10 data packs per second when turned on. When it is in range of the Nav-Tracker 2.0, the SmartKEY disarms the system, and it will remain disarmed until it stops receiving the data packets for more than 60 seconds. This provides an extremely high level of security by automatically arming and disarming the system when the operator arrives or leaves the vessel – there’s no more need to remember to arm or disarm the Nav-Tracker 2.0.
April 17th, 2009 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
[This was the Navagear spotlight over at MadMariner a couple weeks back. Enjoy! —Tim]
What the heck is “real-time asset management”? Isn’t that something my stock broker does? Oh wait, I fired my stock broker. No, this is something different.
Think of it as LoJack for your boat. Imagine a device that combines GPS technology with some form of low-power RF communication to let you know where your boat is, all the time – even if your kids, friends or some uninvited guests decide to take it for a spin.
Sure, it’s “Big Brother” – but you get to be the big brother.
Vessel trackers have become small enough, and inexpensive enough in some cases, that a system can be had for virtually any boat, even a PWC or dinghy.
This overview is not exhaustive – there are many solutions on the market – but it should help you better understand the extremely broad range of features, coverage and range options and prices you’ll encounter as you shop.
PARADOX MARINE’S NAV-TRACKER
One of the most-expensive systems is also one of the best. Wireless boat-security system supplier Paradox Marine produces the Nav-Tracker, which uses Inmarsat’s satellite network to provide tracking and monitoring anywhere in the world. The system monitors a boat’s location and, if it escapes its predefined “geo-fence,” notifies up to 10 people by e-mail or text message every 15 minutes with the vessel’s latitude and longitude, speed and heading.
See, if anybody is qualified to argue for a "home-brewed" alternative to commercial vehicle security, tracking, and monitoring services, it would be Steve Roberts. He was doing this with his bicycle back when LoJack was a pretty neat idea that might or might not catch on. Read on to see what he had to say about Nav-Tracker. —Tim]
Cool tracker tech there, though it is worth appending the fact that there is a free amateur-radio alternative that works well when cruising within range of shore stations (it is not satellite-based, although there is some HF capability that is fiddly but useful in a pinch).
It is called APRS, and is a flavor of packet radio that transmits position reports at any specified interval (with minimal provision for added telemetry). Three or four sites now exist to display the resulting track in real-time on Google maps… here is a piece of the track from my cruise last fall, with the red dots indicating actual reports that made it and were forwarded on to a server in Finland:
March 10th, 2009 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
[Information provided by manufacturer. —Tim]
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) – Wireless boat security system supplier Paradox Marine has collaborated with EMS Satamatics, a leading provider of telematics, asset tracking and monitoring services, to launch their new web site Nav-Tracker.com. The web site, hosted by EMS Satamatics, allows users of Paradox Marine Nav-Tracker GPS Tracking, Security & Monitoring Systems to manage their onboard systems remotely via the World Wide Web and track their vessel over an advanced Google Earth interface.
EMS Satamatics – a leading IsatM2M provider and a division of EMS Technologies inc. – an innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions – provide Nav-Tracker systems with the core modem technology and the required ground earth stations. These in conjunction with Inmarsat’s Satellite Network, provide asset tracking and monitoring capability globally. The system monitors a boat’s location and notifies up to ten people by email and/or text message every 15 minutes with the latitude/longitude, speed and heading if it is moved outside of its predefined “geo-fence”. Nav-tracker system options include 3 daily status reports and alarm notification reports if security sensors or bilge pump sensors on the vessel are tripped.
November 15th, 2008 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
Our neighbors at the FJM Security up in Lynnwood, WA, have a clever product designed for vehicle with typical 2″ trailer hitch receivers.
This looks like a great product for folks who need to leave a set of keys with a vehicle. It’s not impregnable, certainly, but I like the fact that the weather-resistant covers helps the HitchSafe “hide in plain sight”.
I can imagine lots of outdoor recreation scenarios—hiking, fishing, kayaking, surfing—where this could be a valuable tool, but would this be useful for boaters? I’m just not sure. How often, in a boating context, do you leave your tow vehicle someplace WITHOUT the trailer attached?
Tell us how you imagine using this in the comments!
Oh, and in case you’re having trouble visualizing how this unit is secured into your 2″ trailer hitch receiver, here’s the video:
When boaters are away from their vessel, it’s important for them to know their investment is safe and sound. Giving owners peace of mind, the C-Pod Security System offered by Cobra Marine, a division of Cobra Electronics, monitors and manages any vessel through the internet or a mobile phone. Notifications are sent instantly via the web or by text message, if events, such as battery shortages, unauthorized movement, high water levels, intrusions or fires, occur on board.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) – Boat security systems supplier Paradox Marine has enhanced its Nav-Tracker 2.0 wireless boat location and GPS tracking system with SmartKEY, which automatically disarms the system when the vessel operator boards the vessel and re-arms it when the operator disembarks.
One of the most-expensive systems is also one of the best. Wireless boat-security system supplier 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) – Wireless boat security system supplier Paradox Marine has collaborated with EMS Satamatics, a leading provider of telematics, asset tracking and monitoring services, to launch their new web site 
EMS Satamatics – a leading IsatM2M provider and a division of EMS Technologies inc. – an innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions – provide Nav-Tracker systems with the core modem technology and the required ground earth stations. These in conjunction with Inmarsat’s Satellite Network, provide asset tracking and monitoring capability globally. The system monitors a boat’s location and notifies up to ten people by email and/or text message every 15 minutes with the latitude/longitude, speed and heading if it is moved outside of its predefined “geo-fence”. Nav-tracker system options include 3 daily status reports and alarm notification reports if security sensors or bilge pump sensors on the vessel are tripped.
