GROUP TEST
THE PRODUCTS
TOP PERFORMER
PREMIUM
BUDGET BUY
IMRAY £29.95 (NO, THIS ISN’T A MISPRINT!)
PRODUCT
BEST BUY
FIRST LOOK
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
RECOMMENDED
T
he Raster charts are very clear, but suffer adjustable range rings.
like all Raster images when you zoom For tides click on tidal diamonds
out to view the whole chart, as the words to open a dialogue box of tide
1
become too small to read. data or you can pay £17.95 (less
The software is supported with chart if you buy the tide package when
corrections for two years. New in 2008, it cost buying the chart software) for a
£59.95, including all the charts of the English more detailed tidal package called
Channel area. But, as we are now in the UK Tides, which includes real-time
second year of its cycle, the operating system tidal stream data, plus the ability
and all the charts cost only £29.95, which is to allow for tides automatically in a
an amazing bargain. Monthly chart corrections, route. (3)
which automatically appear on the chart The chart can be locked to the
in use, can be downloaded from the Imray vessel, so your boat remains in the
website free of charge. centre of the display.
In 2010 you will need to buy a new package This program is very similar to the UKHO/
if you want to continue to receive the chart RYA package in many respects, although,
corrections, though the software will continue unlike the latter, the Imray system has the
2
to work without them. benefit of AIS plotting.
The Imray system is easy to use, with 28 Initially I found the AIS a little flaky with
single-click icons in addition to drop-down targets constantly appearing and disappearing.
menus. Route planning is intuitive. The line Then I discovered the default time-out was
showing the active route is a bit narrow, set to one second for some reason. After
but the bearing and distance between each changing it to a sensible 30 seconds, AIS
waypoint is clearly shown in a box (see worked beautifully.
diagram) midway along the leg. (1) The package we tested, ID20, covers
It is possible to allow for tidal set and drift the English Channel on both sides. Other
in the route, but the values have to be entered packages are available for the East Coast
manually and there can only be one set of including Scotland and the West Coast
3
values for the whole route. The console on the including Ireland.
left can be switched off if you want full screen
width for the chart. (2) Summary
As to features, we particularly liked the Fantastic price. Easy to use. Good AIS.
The only PC plotter with free monthly
chart corrections for up to two years.
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ST147 Group Plotters_RTG.indd 46 15/5/09 10:05:19
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