Alright, well why not???

[ShaneC]

Random musings and thoughts are my specialty. I quite often sit out the back with a rum can looking at the boat planning, plotting and having a good hard look at myself.....

This has bothered me for ages, and I reckon if someone is smart enough to take it on board could probably make something out of it but I am incapable as I severely lack technological talent.

Why hasn't anybody released electronics with a pin code? Phones have them, computers have them, just about every other electronical thing can be secured with a pin code.

You could leave your boat to get serviced and not worry about someone pilfering your marks. You could leave your boat in the driveway the night before going fishing and not have to worry about your electronics. And best of all, you are taking an economy away from thieving dishonest folk, as there would be no point in stealing something that is password/ pin code protected.

It has bothered me for ages. Thoughts????

[PROS]

Pin doesnt really deter stealing in my opinion.
Most of them are opportunist; when they see an electronic component in easy reach at low risk environment, they will grab it without thinking of any locking.
They will either sell it or discard it later.
There is a market for even pin locked phones, parts, etc...

Back when I was working for IBM, all laptops were finger print locked and still some swiper managed to get up to a secure level and take away all unattended laptops.
This is when we forced all workers to chain all laptops to tables with stainless wire setup.

I think you are onto a good point though.
Why not manufacturers supply high end units with built in sim cards.
You can track the unit location anytime online.
In fact it can act as a boat tracker with great accuracy since all units have gps.
Even better it can complement epirbs and emergency service, especially if in phone coverage area.
May not be a good idea if taking the boat for overnighter and wife can track online as at local hooker shop instead though.

[Moonlighter]

New Simrad GO7xse has the option for a pin code. Saw it when i was doing the setup.

The thing is, some idiot will still steal it off the boat, then try to get it to work or whoever buys it from them will, it wont work.

Bit still, it remains stolen from you, and youve still got to replace it.

[scottar]

LOL....Why not - because a lot of punters can't remember how to use the things, let alone a pin number - even prior to consuming some of those rum cans you're partial to. I can hear it now - technicians phone rings - "my gps won't work and I'm lost in among the Barrier Reef" (Don't laugh - had this happen once through someone messing about with things they shouldn't have) - What's the problem - I got pissed and forgot my pin number -

At this point in the conversation there are two options

Option A - Well, you're f8#4ed then. Result - owner angry at manufacturer and tech through no fault of theirs.

Option B - Well I can talk you through a system reset that will bypass the code but you will lose you waypoints (the whole reason for the pin code to start with). Result - see option A.

If you are worried about having marks pilfered, become familiar with your units back up procedure - back them up and then delete them prior to putting your boat in. The other option is a key operated master switch purely for the electronics.

[ShaneC]

I go to the pub and the money machine always gives me money. I can remember my pin then, and I dont get nearly as drunk on my boat as I do at the pub......

[chocolatemoose]

focus groups, im sure all brands now have proposed this to selec clients and i guess the results have been negitive. having your system stolen doesnt make it magically appear. people steal phones and they have had pins for ages.
geotracking would be nice though. a kind of "find my gps" device.

[scottar]

I go to the pub and the money machine always gives me money. I can remember my pin then, and I dont get nearly as drunk on my boat as I do at the pub......

Not you specifically Shane and "getting pissed" was only used as an example. Also guessing you use your Auto teller card a lot more than a couple of times a year. Sure there are exceptions to every situation but a pin code could potentially be a nightmare. What do they do if you try and enter the wrong code a few times at Christmas after you've driven half the coast of Queensland to go on holidays and you have forgotten your code because the last time you used your boat was Easter - lock the unit totally unless it's returned to the manufacturer - which you can't find out about until they return after new year - back to option A with the result. The other issue with this sort of thing is that there has to be a procedure to get around the pin code ( just in case the above happens ) and in the modern internet age, invariably someone posts it up - pin code useless.

[Feral]

Like the codes for car radio's? - which I believe are useless for anything except annoying motorists who have had a flat battery!

[ShaneC]

I beg to differ to be honest. I personally believe that if you cannot put a password/ pin number into a machine and remember it, well it is truly frightening that you have the boat and electronics to justify it.

I do absolutely like the idea of the track function with electronics, an app on a phone that gets a message when a unit is turned on would surely make thieving somewhat less profitable...

[scottar]

Frightening is the right word for it Shane. I once attended a 6-7 metre rig to check a few radios - client wanted to make sure they worked as he and his mates "fished anything up to 40 miles offshore". All good - did the job and then when finished, out of habit, turned off the batteries when I left the vessel.

8am Monday - highly abusive phone call from client with respect to ruining his weekend because "I must have damaged something and his boat would now not start."

In reply, I simply asked if he turned the batteries on and all I got in reply was - click, beep, beep, beep...............

Yep - Frightening but they are out there.