knot enough (7/13/2009)Pardon my ignorance; I know you said "Comes with: Power cable, SeaTalk cable, Sun Cover, Manuals, and of course the E-80." If I bought this to put on my boat I would also need what to go with it to make it work? thanks.
What you add to the E-80 depends on what system you desire. By adding a GPS signal you would have a chartplotter, or add NEMA 2000 signal from your engines for engine data.
The E-80 if a great "base" for building a system or as an addition to an existing sytem. The system on my current boat is:
Two E-80 (one of which I am selling)
Radar
Fast Heading Sensor
DMS-300
1000 kw transducer
ST-1000 Auto Pilot
RayMarine VHF (DSC)
RayStar GPS
interfaced with LowranceNet LMF-200 and LMF 400 Gauges
LowranceNet Fuel Level Sensor,
Speed/Water Temp Sensor (I use the water temp but prefer to compute speed from GPS data)
interfaced with two Suzuki Engine Interface sensors
The completed systems exchange data signals with each other. I am able to set the auto pilot from the auto pilot control on the E-80. It will track to a waypoint picked on the E-80 chart, The engine interfaces allow me to monitor my fuel flow, range, engine psi, temp, rpms, hours, and any warning at the E-80. (No lights to count blinks to try and figure out there meanings). The radar coverage will overlay onto the Chart to let me see were something is in relationship the the boat's postion. The DSM-300 no only shows me what on bottom, but will show any waypoint that I marked on the chart. It is capable of allowing you to watch video that you receive from your camera. Additionally you can download real time weather, waves, water temp via Sirus. It is AIS compatable. The screen will allow you to split from one screen to two, three or four different screen shots at once. I have mine setup with a three screen split. I have the sonar on the bottom, in the upper left I run a chart w/ radar overlay, and in the upper right I have the engine or waypoint information.
You can start with just a DMS 300 and a tranducer if you want a sonar. Or you can start with a RayStar GPS and have a chart plotter. Were you start is going to be up to you. Were you stop is going to be up to your wallet and your desire.
In short it is going to be a stepping stone to however advance system you want.
Hope this answer some of the questions.
BBob