Garmin® Expands its xHD Radar Offerings with New 4kW Open Arrays
Singapore/ November 29, 2010 - Garmin Corporation, a unit of Garmin Ltd., the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced two new xHD open-array radar models, which will give mariners high-definition picture quality in a robust yet affordable package. The GMR™ 404 xHD and GMR 406 xHD complement the powerful xHD family of open-array radar scanners, which now offer the same high performance in a 4-, 6- or 12-kilowatt scanner.
“The detail-rich GMR 404/406 xHD scanners are ideal for the budget conscious captain who demands more performance than a radome can provide,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “These new scanners bring premium high-definition digital technology to today’s more discerning marine market, and do so at an appealing price.”
With four kilowatts of power output, these dual-speed scanners combine 72 nautical mile maximum range with advanced video technology that yields nearly eight times more signal processing bandwidth than predecessor designs. With this high-end performance, mariners can count on improved resolution and target separation, plus better detection and presentation of small or distant returns that might go undetected on traditional analog radar systems. The powerful 6-foot GMR 406 xHD features a 1.1-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, while the 4-foot GMR 404 xHD focuses energy with a 1.8-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth.
For increased situational awareness in all environments, these new radar units also incorporate a Dual Range feature that allows a Garmin network-compatible multi-function display (MFD) to display two ranges simultaneously, so users can see both close and distant targets on one display. Like other Garmin radar devices, these new units also support MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) collision avoidance capability, which allows mariners to track the course, speed, and predicted closest approach of multiple targets (with optional heading sensor).
These new xHD scanners transmit data over the Garmin Marine Network™, a 100-megabit plug-and-play proprietary network that allows the user to expand the boat’s system as needed. When installed with Garmin’s GPSMAP® 6000 or 7000 series network multifunction displays, the GMR 404/406 xHD can display images in full color using a multi-hued spectrum to indicate radar return, and you can overlay the xHD radar image on the chartplotter’s map page as an aide to locational awareness.
All Garmin radar units come standard with a full two-year warranty. These new xHD units are expected to be available in first quarter 2011. For more information, visit www.garmin.com/onthewater.
About Garmin Corporation
Garmin Corporation, is a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, Bluechart, City Navigator, Colorado, Foretrex and Oregon are registered trademarks and Dakota, is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
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This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2008, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.