Standard Horizon GX6500 VHF

$799.99; www.standardhorizon.com

Standard Horizon 6500 VHF is a commercialgrade communication system that has a built-in Class B AIS transponder, a 66-channel WAAS GPS receiver, and a NMEA 2000 hookup to facilitate sharing of its sensor data along an entire network.

an oversized rotary channel knob, the VHF is simple to program and control, thanks to an easy-touse menu system to access its functions. Dedicated GPS status, waypoint, and GPS compass pages mean the user can always find navigation information—key for communication. A GPS antenna is included.

radio operates as an expandable system, with up to two optional wired remote microphones, or one wired and four wireless mics. The GX6500 has a three-year waterproof warranty.

integrated voice recorder provides two minutes of playback of received audio to help decipher garbled transmissions.

BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Adding AIS and GPS to a VHF is A-OK: It simplifies communication and safety, without requiring wiring to an outside GPS source, a stumbling block for many boaters.

Garmin Fantom 18 Solid-State Dome Radar

40-watt, solid-state radar is available in 18- and 24-inch domes and uses the Doppler effect to determine the relative motion of targets over ranges from 20 feet to 48 nautical miles. The system then highlights the targets with different colors to aid in collision avoidance and decision making.

radar uses pulse compression to provide high-resolution data while simultaneously using maximum energy to enhance target detection and identification, according to Garmin.

it doesn’t use magnetrons like traditional pulse radar, Fantom needs no warm-up time and doesn’t suffer from a delayed start. Garmin systems allow the user to select between two onboard radar systems.

processing features, including dynamic gain and seafilter settings, automatically adjust to optimize performance, while built-in MARPA tracks up to ten targets simultaneously.

BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Adding a solid-state radar system can increase a boater’s situational awareness—and that’s always a good thing.