When it comes to getting between here and there one of the most lauded marine electronics is that of the GPS or Global Positioning System. Just as the early mariners used the stars, the GPS network is based on a constellation of satellites (24 to 32). They are kept in a medium orbit and transmit precise microwave signals which GPS receivers can interpret to determine exact location, time and velocity. These electronic devices were first used by the military and over time have come to be every day devices in our cars, planes, ships and even wrist watches and cell phones.

Each type of transport faces specific challenges when it comes to GPS usage, but maybe none more than marine travel. The marine environment, even on a nice day, is hard on any type of marine electronics and GPS is no exception to the rule. Seawater is highly corrosive and additionally the rise and fall of sea going vessels create challenges of vibration, shock and constantly changing attitude.

So a GPS receiver at sea has to be marinized or ruggedized so that the units can still receive the satellite information needed to give proper coordinates, but so that water and humidity are kept out of the unit and the unit is protected from shock and vibration. The first is usually managed by creating a rugged housing which is impervious to sea water and keeps humidity to a minimum while staying cool and allowing for readouts to be easily gathered. The second can be accomplished in many fashions, but rotates around keeping the GPS unit isolated from the motion of the ship either by mounting on isolation brackets or a gimbal.

No matter the method used for ruggedizing a GPS, it is a vital part of ship navigation as we know it and must be kept protected from the elements in order to better serve sea going men and women. Like early travelers we still look to the skies, but using modern marine electronics we do so with confidence to go safely into deep waters.

Since this blog is going to have a focus on the world of marine electronics it made sense, at least to the brain beyond the keyboard, to define what marine electronics are and why they’re any different from any other electronic device. The straight forward definition is the obvious one. Marine electronics are electronic devices which are made to be used in a marine (oceanic) environment. Most of the time this term relates to electronics mounted on a sea going vessel, but it can also relate to electronics on stable marine platforms.

So what makes marine electronics special? It comes down to environment. As beckoning as the ocean is, as anyone who has spilled a Diet Coke on a computer keyboard knows, electronics do not play nicely with water. Even more so electronics do not play nicely with salt water which causes quick corrosion and destruction of devices. Because of these environmental factors marine electronics must be fully encased in waterproof containers all without losing high level functionality and readability, or other data output. It sounds pretty straight forward, but each device presents specific difficulties in achieving these aims.

Common marine electronics devices include the following:

• GPS
• Radar
• Sonar - Military, Scientific and Industrial
• VHF radio
• Ship compass
• Ship chart plotter
• Satellite television

This is only a small sampling of possible devices, but some of the most often used and the examples we’ll take a closer look at in both form and function and how they are used by various military and civil agencies.