OLATHE, Kan., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. , today announced the new 4kW GMR 18 - a space-saving 18-inch radar that is twice as powerful as most other radars in its price and size range. The product was introduced today at the 2006 Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in Amsterdam.
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"Garmin's latest radome is a breakthrough in marine radar design," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "With four thousand watts of transmit power and an unsurpassed range for its class, the GMR 18 represents the pinnacle of innovation. And with a small 18-inch footprint, it's easy to mount on almost any boat."
The GMR 18 features a 5-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, which allow for accurate target acquisition and separation. The GMR 18 has a best-in-class range of 36 nautical miles (nm).
With the GMR 18 all radar data is digitally processed within the radome via a digital signal processor, and is dynamically presented on a Garmin Marine Network(TM) compatible chartplotter/multifunction display (MFDs). Digital processing allows for more precise recognition, enhancement, and filtering of radar echoes - making the finished display easier to read and interpret.
The unit also supports MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) capability, which allow boaters to track the bearing, course, speed and predicted closest approach (by both time and distance) of multiple targets (number varies by MFD). MARPA functionality requires a Garmin Marine Network MFD and an optional heading sensor. The GMR 18 has radar overlay capability, allowing boaters to reconcile radar signatures with known objects on the chartplotter. Users can also configure a split-screen, dual overlay with a standard radar presentation.
The GMR 18 features automatic and manual sensitivity and tuning controls, including gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter - which allows boaters to spend less time tuning the unit and more time navigating. The units also boast selectable interference rejection, which mitigates the effect of nearby radar transmissions.
Like Garmin's other radars, the GMR 18 communicates with the Garmin Marine Network through a waterproof 100-megabit plug-and-play proprietary network - which affords users the ability to expand their boat's system as needed. A Marine Network cable connector kit is also included for customizing installation.
The Garmin Marine network can provide important situational awareness data like GPS, radar, sonar, and near real-time graphical weather data and audio channels directly on Garmin Marine Network compatible MFDs, through a subscription to XM WX Satellite Weather and XM Radio.
Garmin is also pleased to announce that it will begin featuring a two year warranty on all Garmin marine radar systems. The extended warranty comes at no additional charge and will be prorated from the date of purchase for all current Garmin marine radar customers.
The GMR 18 is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2007 for a suggested retail price of $999.99. See http://www.garmin.com/marine2007 for specifications.
Garmin International Inc. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. group of companies, which designs and manufactures navigation, communication and information devices - most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin is a leader in the general aviation and consumer GPS markets and its products serve aviation, marine, outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at http://www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin and GPSMAP are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries and Garmin Marine Network and GMR are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Anticipated product availability dates are based on management's current expectations and are not guaranteed.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company's future product introductions and expected product availability dates 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 31, 2005 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 http://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.
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