Interphase’s Chart Master 169CS

[dnej]

Interphase’s Chart Master 169CS
Looking at one of these units.Has anyone had any experience with this chartplotter unit. The unit can foreward look, and give depth warnings apparently.
It can also be attached to a black box, to operate a a sounder.
David

[Piscatory Pursuit]

Hi,
Interphase products are highly regarded here in the states. They established their reputation building forward looking sonar units and one of the few forward looking sonar manufacturers out there.

Yes you can add a black box sounder to the Chartmaster. the sonar will be strictly downlooking and not forward looking.

The feature you are talking about is called Guardian Anti Grounding Alarm. It is actually a feature that is part of the GPS and part of the C-Map MAX charting software. Without the C-Map MAX Charting software this feature will not work. Itis a great feature however. Combined with CMap charts you can set predefined depth and distance paramenters into the GPS and and anytime your vessel is on a heading that will take it into the predefined shallow waters you will see a red warning area on the display and if you get too close you will also hear an alarm warning you of the shallow waters ahead. Guardian Anti Grounding is actually a feature of C-Map and then Interphase adds the audible alarm. If you have a Cmap compatable plotter you will see the same red warning area on the display but you will no get an audible alarm unless the plotter specifically says it has the alarm.

You may want to do some research on the threads on this site. There was a great thread asking everyone what their favorite charts were, Navionics, CMap, Garmin etc. The clear winner was Navionics. I read some threads that Cmap wasnt as detailed as Navionics is. If you don't have good detail the anti grounding feature wont do you any good. Over here in the States Cmap is definitely the best but it does not sound like that is the case in Oz.

Good luck!

[on-one]

dnej, I'm curious did you find out any more about the interphase?

[dnej]

On - one,
Great in the states,but cannot find any support locally.Looks like a great unit .
Was nice to get a report from USA,about the units
David

[smaks]

Gents,

I know a bloke who has one on a yatch, they are brilliant for open cockpits as this thing has a quick release and it slides off the mount - no loose wires to worry about. This guy isn't an ausfish member but if you are interested send me a PM and I will get you his email and you can get some home truths from him. they are an impressive unit - 7 inch screen too.

[on-one]

I don't want to nick David's thread but I'm curious to know how he finds the forward facing sonar

[smaks]

Are you guys sure it has sonar. I know you can hook a black box up to it for a sounder/plotter combo but I think it might be that the warnings that dnej are talking about it is a grounding alarm that uses the contours on cartography and heading from GPS to provide alarms on shallow water etc. Interphase make some good stuff but to get a forward looking sonar for the sort of prices being asked for these units you could be trampled in the rush.

The offer stands though if you guys want to email a bloke who has one.

[death_ship]

hi
i have the new sitex 7" unit which is identical to the interphase, think they come out of the same place, it is an anti grounding feature that runs off the cmap max charts and gps not off the sonar, but you can hook a sonar up if you buy it. i like the unit and there is a guy in australia that sells and looks after the warranty. give me a yell if you want his email, i picked mine up for $1500 with cmap max all australia chart and the detail seems to be spot on.