Si Tex has a new marine electronics offering, the Vector 3D GPS heading compass. This unit shouts out heading data to NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 compatible electronics including autopilots, radar, fishfinders, AIS, chartplotters, and even on-board PCs.

Measuring just a hair over16 inches, low profile Vector 3D is the smallest GPS compass on the market. And it’s innards are all solid-state, so it’s virtually maintenance free. It provides 90 degree rate of turn info, along with heave, pitch, and roll information for three-dimensional (latitude/longitude/altitude) positioning. WAAS and differential info are used to attain accuracy to less than one meter.
 The ability to track heave is unusual for a satellite compass in this size and price class, and it gives the Vector 3D some interesting advantages. Feed your fishfinder with this data, for example, and it’ll help eliminates the hilly-looking bottom readings you get in rough seas, created by the up and down motion of the boat. 

With integrated gyro and tilt sensors, the Vector 3D provides initial start-up in less than 60 seconds, delivers heading fixes in less than 10 seconds, and reacquires satellites in less than one second. The Vector 3D provides position and heading update rates at a standard 10Hz (pr an optional 20Hz optional), with multiple baud rates.

As one might expect, a GPS compass with features like these doesn’t come cheap: the Vector 3D MSRP’s at a price of $2,499. Check it out at www.si-tex.com.

The Si Tex Vector 3D is sleek, and low profile.