YB TRACKING RELEASES UPDATE FOR NEW BOAT TRACKING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
YB Tracking, the established manufacturer of Iridium satellite tracking and communication systems, has just released an update for its new fixed yacht tracking and messaging device, YB3i. Enriching the user experience for yacht owners and crew, the update provides even greater functionality when transmitting the yacht’s position, enhancements to the blogging feature, and a 10% improvement on battery life.
Designed for yacht tracking, mapping, and blogging, YB3i can be used by yacht owners and crew of yachts of all sizes and operates on a Pay As You Go basis with no annual contracts. To track the yacht, position data is transmitted from the YB3i at user-defined intervals and viewed using a Google based mapping and blogging system called YBlog.
As part of the new update, YB3i provides smart location transmissions as it will automatically change the regularity based on whether the yacht is moving or stationary. This allows for even more cost-effective tracking as it can automatically reduce the amount of data sent when the yacht is in the marina or at an anchorage.
Especially beneficial for race and regatta management or to give family members peace of mind, authorised users can now request an ad-hoc position report from shore, at any time outside of the normal transmission schedule to find out exactly where the yacht is at any given moment.
The YB Tracking YBlog comes as standard with YB3i and allows the yacht owner to show their route and current position on a dedicated web page. The owner or nominated crew members can create several routes to keep track of each trip or race, as well as upload diary entries. With its own web address, a yacht’s YBlog can be seen by family, friends and colleagues, and can also be embedded into another website.
An update for the YBlog system gives all YB3i users a streamlined blog design, which displays photos alongside the diary entries. When hovering over the entry, the tracking point on the map is highlighted, showing where the yacht was located during that particular blog entry. The blog is now also viewable on Android and iOS tablets and phones too, making it much easier for everyone following the yacht to view the latest news and position on the map.
YB3i also provides facilities for low-cost text messaging from anywhere in the world. Users can connect their own smartphones or tablets to the YB3i unit via Bluetooth and send messages using the accompanying YB-CONNECT App. As numerous allocated devices can be connected, without affecting the unit’s ability to transmit position, YB3i is an extremely low-cost way for superyacht and charter crew members to purchase their own credits for messaging on their own phones, tablets or laptops.
YB3i is normally powered from a 9-30v DC supply but should external power be cut, the device can run for over two weeks, thanks to a 10% improvement on battery power. If there is a loss of power, the YB3i can also transmit an alarm to i.e. someone back home, the home marina or race management company to alert them that something may be wrong.
In addition to cruising safety and security, there are multiple applications for yacht tracking with YB3i, such as sending current and historic track data via the YBlog, or pin pointing the exact positioning of yachts during races and regattas for rankings. YB3i can even be used during yacht transportation to track the yacht being moved from one region to another. Whilst built-in M2M (machine-to-machine) capabilities makes it a flexible solution for diverse applications such as anchor or burglar alarms.
The robust YB3i unit, which is just 13cm in diameter and 4cm high, is completely waterproof and has no moving parts. There are various options when installing, such as fitting on a rail, installing inside the yacht’s roof lining, and mounting on the flybridge. It can also be discreetly mounted out of view on board to maintain the style and lines of a yacht.
YB3i is ideal for seasonal yachting as it does not require an annual contract. The user only pays for the months the system is in use and pre-purchases credits to send & receive messages and transmit tracking positions. One month’s YB3i operation costs £15 and a single location transmission uses one pre-paid credit. Credits cost from as little as 4p, making the YB3i an inexpensive tracking, safety and communication tool.
With optional add-ons such as GSM and NMEA capability, users can choose to have an automatic switch from Iridium to GSM services when in range, allowing even lower cost transfer of tracking information and text messages. The NMEA interface enables data such as wind speed and weather to be sent back to shore and safety alert messages transmitted.
The YB3i update is free to download via the Firmware Update option in the app.
