Vesper Is Putting The Power of AIS, VHF, And Vessel Monitoring In The Palm Of Your Hand
Published: Thursday, November 21, 2019
By: Jordan Balbresky
Vesper Marine has developed a hard-won reputation as innovators in marine electronics. They have made a name for themselves focusing on tackling real-world problems with solutions that are intuitive and easy-to-install and use. That focus has resulted in an award-winning product line that dominates the AIS space. The Vesper team sees their technology as vital to making boating safer.
With that in mind, in September 2019, they launched the revolutionary Vesper Cortex. Including a built-in Class B SOTDMA smartAIS transponder 
and remote vessel monitoring, Cortex puts all of your communications, collision and anchor alarms, and onboard sensors in one sleek, intuitive device. The world’s first radio with wireless touchscreen handsets, even the design of Cortex will change the way you will look at your VHF. Cortex immediately turned heads. This technology was such a groundbreaking achievement, that it has already been selected as the 2019 NMEA Best New Product and the IBEX 2019 Innovation Award winner in the safety equipment category.
Cortex provides unparalleled safety by alerting boaters of collision risks, providing key information about the potential threat, and making it easy to communicate with the other vessel. The touchscreen handset makes typically complicated functions easy to use. For example, touching a vessel onscreen and pressing “call” makes a direct DSC call. Cortex continuously shows crossing situations, navigation light sectors, and even allows trial maneuvers while a boater talks on the VHF radio. Pressing the dedicated man overboard (MOB) button activates a track back mode on all handsets and marks the MOB waypoint on NMEA 2000® connected multi-function displays (MFDs).
Cortex incorporates Vesper Marine’s award-winning smartAIS technology. An active system with smart alarm logic, smartAIS proactively alerts boaters of potentially hazardous situations. It combines navigation sensor data such as wind speed, GPS, and AIS information with intelligent alarm management that prioritizes alerts for the most urgent response. Cortex continuously calculates crossing situations and generates collision alarms for critical action, alerts the crew of anchor dragging, and activates MOB alarms for immediate retrieval. Instead of ambiguous bells or tones, Cortex sounds the alarm with voice alerts that escalate until acknowledged.
Cortex combines built in sensors and NMEA 2000® connectivity with free basic monitoring. Using cellular connectivity, boaters can view twice-daily updates of power, location, wind, depth, bilge level, temperature, and more on their smartphones. The Cortex Monitor Premium subscription unlocks real-time vessel status, alerts, and device control for boat systems like refrigerators, icemakers, lights, or heaters.
Whether sleeping onboard at night or away from the boat, Cortex gives owners the confidence that their boat is safely anchored. Onboard alarms are available on Cortex handsets and WiFi connected smartphones. While ashore, Cortex sends alerts to a smartphone via the Cortex Monitor app. As well as anchor drag, Cortex can alert on changes to wind speed, wind direction, and water depth.
As of the writing of this article (Oct. 2019), Cortex Onboard and Cortex Monitor Apps will be made available for download for both iOS and Android soon; check your app store for availability. Cortex Onboard will provide onboard monitoring and alert functionality on mobile devices, sending safety data and alerts directly to a smartphone or tablet via WiFi. When away from the boat, Cortex Monitor will provide position, sensor, and anchor watch monitoring and alerts.
Engineered for marine durability with a submersible IPX7 rating, the wired H1 and wireless rechargeable H1P handsets feature a generous 4-inch Gorilla Glass multi-touch display. Wet and glove capable, the touchscreen is optically bonded for wide-angle and sunlight viewability, even in the harshest midday sun. The Cortex M1 is enclosed in thermally conductive plastic and is also sealed for an IPX7 rating. It includes an integrated no-loss splitter so a single VHF antenna can be used for Cortex and another VHF radio. All ports are galvanically isolated to protect from corrosion, electrical surges, and ground loops. The Cortex M1 is also available separately and is a full-function Class B SOTDMA AIS that offers remote monitoring and control and is VHF-ready. Simply add Cortex handsets to access full VHF communication functionality or purchase the Cortex V1 package which includes the M1 and H1 handset.
Networkable via NMEA 2000®, Cortex integrates with leading marine MFDs, sharing AIS positioning information and boat sensors. A five-channel input offers control and monitoring of sensors connected directly to the device for a cost-effective vessel monitoring solution.
I was able to see Cortex at IBEX in Tampa this October, and I was very impressed. The handset fit my hand perfectly and felt like a solid, well-built piece of hardware. The screen was easy to read and the interface was intuitive. If you are thinking about a long-range cruise, taking on the Great Loop, or have recently upgraded to a new boat and want to add AIS, a new VHF, and vessel monitoring devices individually, Cortex is certainly for you.
Visit Cortex at www.VHF-reimagined.com.
About Jordan Balbresky
A former public relations practitioner serving the high-tech and consumer electronics industries, Jordan Balbresky returned to the agency world following a decade of hands-on marine experience. Living in the Caribbean and working in all aspects of the marine industry — from boat building, restoration and maintenance, to charter captain and delivery crew of sailing and motor yachts — Balbresky has a first-hand understanding of the outdoor and maritime markets. Fully immersing himself in the industry, he is a licensed scuba instructor, as well as master mariner and has lived on-board a custom-built schooner while skippering charters on boats of all sizes in the US Virgin Islands.
tags: Electronics, safety, Smart Technology, Software & Apps
