Can you spot the monitor in this group of sonar/GPS units? The NBT Marine Electronics is similar to a regular unit but costs less.
Wait Till You See This Screen
by Brad Wiegmann
Anglers can save money by adding a monitor instead of an additional sonar/GPS unit.
Just when you thought your boat has all the electronic devices needed to go fishing, an electronics company comes out with something new. This time it’s an MFD (Multi Functioning Display) sonar screen display. In a nutshell, it allows the main brain of certain models of marine electronic sonar/chartplotter units to be controlled and navigated by an additional larger display.
Before diving into NBT Marine Electronics, let’s take a broader perspective view of how this could possibly change marine electronics. It’s seems logical that one sonar/chartplotter unit could serve as a main display while being able to see that display image on another. Even as I type this article, I’m using two monitors (called displays in the sonar world) with just one computer.
Currently, there are several marine electronics companies producing high quality, superior sonar/chartplotter units. The Humminbird Apex 19 MEGA SI+ Chartplotter and Lowrance HDS PRO around $5,000 are top-of-the-line sonar/chartplotters with features that are superior to other units, but are unable to pair with MBT Marine Electronics even at that price range.
It seems like it would be easy to connect to a sonar/chartplotter like those costly ones above to a monitor. For example the Lowrance HDS PRO already has a NMEA 2000 1-port Micro-C connector, NMEA 0183 1-port via the power connector, 2 Sonar 2 ports and Analog video port through the power cable and adapter cable ports. Why not a port to connect a sonar/chartplotter to a monitor?
NBT Marine Electronics has the technology and products to process the main unit’s brain to other MFD units. Of course, there is a catch to it. NBT Marine Electronics only currently work with Garmin 1243 or 1243SV (limitations), 8610 or 8610SV (limitations), 8612 or 8612XSV (best linked unit), 8616 or 8616XSV (best linked unit), 8700 Black Box, all 84XX series and the new 1643 and 1643XSV (best linked unit) sonar/chartplotters. Note that some units are limited to what they can actually do or communicate and, like other sonar marine companies, the cost for the best linked unit can be over $6,000.
Features of the NBT Marine Electronics MFDs include FHD (1920×1080) Resolution with optional Matte Anti-Glare for Garmin style display or Vivid HD Anti Reflective for Lowrance style Blue Display. NITS rated at 1,500 brightness equals vivid sunlight readability. These MFDs come with HDMI Cable, DC power cable and USB cable.
Installation with the NBT Marine Electronics MFDs is plug and play with compatible units. Each one comes with a gimbal mount and knobs. Most anglers will be purchasing a marine electronic mount to attach it to the boat.
These premium displays do offer an option for anglers wanting superior monitors. They currently are available in the 16-inch NBT Destroyer, 18-inch NBT Cruiser or 22-inch NBT Battleship displays. Similar to sonar/chartplotters, the cost for each one goes up with larger screen sizes. For anglers wanting the biggest and the best but at the lowest cost, these displays are a good option.
(Brad Wiegmann of Springdale, Arkansas is a fishing guide, podcaster, social media influencer, professional photographer, videographer and outdoor writer published in dozens of print and electronic media outlets across the nation. Every month, he provides CatfishNOW readers with the latest information on the ever-changing world of fishing electronics. Learn more at BradWiegmann.com.)
