Still, it would be more straightforward if they were praised and got an
award for what's good about RNS 6.0

1. For example, the user interface while still supporting toolbars and
other windows-XP controls defaults to a mode where RNS operates much
like the E-80 chartplotter. Once you know the chartplotter, which is
very easy actually, you know the GUI for RNS 6.0. At times when you
want to jump more directly to what you need, then there are toolbars
across the top.

2. Without dwelling on what you should already know from using the
charplotter, the manual gets right to the point, and with a short
amount of reading conveys how to use the additional features of RNS
that are not on the chartplotter.

3. Standard ethernet interface. When the PC is in my boat, it
interfaces via standard ethernet cable, and will can get the
cartography over the network from the E-80 just as if it's local in the
PC.

4. I happen to have a second charplotter at my nav station. If I had
not, RNS 6.0 makes your PC effectively into a remote chartplotter (e.g.
you get radar, sirius weather, and seatalk / nmea instrument data) via
standard ethernet. It would seem (I have not tried it) if you take the
extra step to setup a wireless lan on your boat, then bingo, your PC is
a wireless chartplotter and instrument console.

5. I will do this next season, if just for the convienance of changing
my crusing route based on current weather conditions without the risk
of getting seasick down below (RNS 6 will recommend a route based on
boat performance and weather download files).

.... still, they have much room for improvement. The chartplotter is
more difficult then it should be for creating a route, and that same
difficulty comes thru in the RNS 6 software emulation of the
chartplotter. They should improve it on both. Also, if I setup a route
and waypoints from home, it should be easier for me to bring them onto
the boat (and leave my PC behind). I just like my E-80 alot, and would
rather leave my PC at home after I have planned a route. And a third
suggestion while I am at it, would be that a purchase of the charting
software would also give you a copy you can use at home, without
needing the PC-card.

Dan










b393capt wrote:
"RayTech RNS 6.0 Navigation Software has been honored with the Best in
Show Award 2006 from the National Marine Electronics Association
(NMEA)." - Raymarine Web Site.

"Raymarine's RayTech RNS 6.0 Navigation Software offers boaters the
most comprehensive set of navigation software tools available today."
- Raymarine Web Site.

Most comprehensive set of navigation software tools available today -
Huh?

I use 6.0 in combination with my E-80. It's not bad, but award winning,
no, can't be. Maybe I am too spoiled with how easy it is to build and
play with routes and waypoints in my 2005 version of Garmin's MapSource
product line, that I believe that any product missing similiar
functionality is far from begin a "comprehensive set of navigation
software tools". Also RayTech RNS 6.0 does not allow you to import
tracks from your E-80. It is also very difficult to move routes and
waypoints between the two products via the memory card, and it's also a
pain in the neck to bring the cartography home with me so I can do
pre-planning on my home PC and bring the waypoints/routes back to my
E-80.

I hope Raymarine does not let this award go to their head, there is a
lot of things that they can do much better with RNS 6.0