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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - APRIL 2019
MARINTEC Dave James TIMEZERO technology cutting edge
PC Navigation systems have been around for years, and there are many options on the market, but I am only going to highlight one system because, while I usually try to remain agnostic and unbiased, this is a system I LOVE—and TIMEZERO Professional (TZ PRO) software is New Zealand’s most popular PC fishing software programme.
TZ PRO has long been desired by fishers for its 2D and 3D bathymetry; the ability to make and record your own seabed maps as you cover fishing grounds, and see them live or review later in 2D and 3D views. This is achieved by connecting to existing compatible vessel’s sounder and GPS technology.
TIMEZERO is so named, because the chart engine is very fast; there is no waiting for the system to redraw or catch up. TZ PRO is an excellent Navigation suite but is also actionpacked with fishing tools, but before we go into them in detail, they can be configured to your needs or application. What do I mean?
Another popular feature is the free weather service: weather reports are free, you just need an internet connection to download them. Forecasts can be completely customized and include data such as sea surface temperature, pressure, wind, altimetry, air temp, clouds, rain/snow etcetera.
How often do you buy complex technology and ask yourself, “I wish they had an easier model?” Problem solved: TIMEZERO can be customized.
Here at Marintec we can assist in configuring an appropriate level of functions to suit our clients’ specific needs—we can turn on/off options, which includes the tools, the modes, and the displays. But wait there’s more. We can even make ‘individual logins’ for the same vessel, so different users can have different configurations/settings to suit them individually (some like it simple, some like all the bells and whistles). Saves a lot of arguing!
TIMEZERO is half owned by Japanese powerhouse FURUNO, so it is no surprise that they collaborate very closely on codevelopment. This means there are a myriad of FURUNO sensors that can be integrated to the TZ PRO: RADAR, AIS, ECHOSOUNDER etcetera. FURUNO has even added a device (BBDS1) that can be interfaced to TZ PRO to show SEABED HARDNESS! What really has heads spinning is the ability to integrate to MULTIBEAM acoustic systems such as FURUNO DFF3D (medium resolution) and WASSP F3 (high resolution), which allow you to overlay high quality seabed mapping on the TZ PRO, either as a dedicated view or in an overlay on the plotter. The data is amazingly accurate (especially WASSP), and really allows fishers to target grounds like never before. Gaining popularity on larger craft is the integration of network video cameras and even thermal imagers. Up to four cameras can be added, and one of these can display augmented reality (camera with AIS/ARPA targets overlaid on the video feed).
I have not really focused on the TZ PRO Navigation basics here but, yes, you get AIS and ARPA target tracking capability. You have the choice of Jeppesen (C-Map), Navionics, S57 (Approved) and a myriad of other charts formats—and a ton of other features too numerous to mention in this brief article.
There was a time when TZ PRO was purely for the commercial fishery, but it is now much more common to see it being installed on leisure craft. The system does need a quality computer with a dedicated graphics card. Installation on smaller craft is no problem: Marintec can supply appropriate fixed fanless computers with solid state drives to handle the rigours at sea, or for the upwardly mobile, the TZ PRO system can be installed on suitable laptop too. TZ PRO is very powerful, and up to three display monitors can be connected if desired. Each display can be customized to show single, dual 3-way or 4-way split, as required. Marintec can easily convert and import data (waypoints/marks) from most existing conventional brands, making the migration from traditional plotter to PC easier. A function we like is the ability for clients to create keyboard shortcuts, which means you can perform a specific function at the press of a button. This is a very powerful tool if you don’t have the time to be going through
menus on the fly. You can use a regular keyboard, or Marintec also offer a custom 24key waterproof keyboard solution. On 16 April, TIMEZERO will release their keenly anticipated new Version 4.0— packed full of new features, including high resolution oceanographic/weather service, particle weather animation, automated cloud database backup service and many other new enhancements. The best just keeps getting better!
Yes, there is a lot to take in. That’s why we love the programme: start basic, and then add features and functions as you feel comfortable, and as budget allows. Marintec also provide an optional (paid) user training service. When we sell a package, we will usually include a few hours free tuition. Training can be provided over the internet via a programme called Teamviewer, so we can train you in the comfort of your own home/office/vessel, wherever you may be , provided you have a good internet connection. This allows users to get the best out of the package. Contact us at Marintec to learn more about TZ PRO or receive a demo. Happy Safe Boating!
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