The following products were reviewed:

Lightmaster GPS Tutorial

While most users can operate their GPS, many are unaware of the underlying way in which it works, and the real dangers of getting it wrong. This tutorial shows the fundamentals of operation and how to use your GPS as a safe tool to assist with navigation. All the simple ‘tricks of the professionals’ are detailed, with animations to show how to use them. Excellent for learning how to get the best from your GPS set. This tutorial software can be run from the CD or installed on your hard drive.

Lightmaster Radar Plotting Tutorial

It’s a legal requirement that if you have radar fitted and operational, it must be used for collision avoidance AND you must know how to use it. Ideally, you’ll attend an RYA Radar Course, but you can get some excellent practice on your own using this tutorial. There are excellent animations of the various facilities, such as ARPA, SART recognition and collision risk, plus you can also practice plotting. The only thing you can’t do is set up the radar itself.

Lightmaster Radar Simulator 2: "Recommended"

The new simulator is streets ahead of the Mk1 version, which served very well in its time. You can choose either a CRT display, or LCD display, modelled on Raymarine sets. Firstly you can practice setting up the radar for best results, and then you can practice the many exercises which can have a number of different ships, buoys, moving weather, sea clutter and rain clutter. You can also select ARPA and warning zones. You can even construct your own exercises if you wish. This is a very powerful tool and you may become so absorbed with it that you forget you are not on an actual boat. Bought as a package with the tutorial for £69.95, this has got to be a good buy.

Lightmaster VHF DSC Tutor

In order to use your DSC set unsupervised you must hold a Certificate of Competence, which can be obtained by direct examination or by attending an RYA DSC course. This tutorial will teach you how to use a VHF/DSC set. All operations, such as the use of squelch, generating a distress alert, and so on, are all demonstrated while explaining both incoming and outgoing functions. It is a bit like reading an animated book and at the end you should be able to answer the examination questions. This is excellent preparation for the Short Range Course.

Radio Simulator

This simulator allows the choice of two different Simrad radios, but don’t let that put you off if you have a different make. The very different logic design of these two radios can help you to appreciate how the generic content of the teaching can be applied to any set, whatever the make or model. Using the menu system on a DSC radio often deters users from using their DSC at all. You can make and receive all the different types of DSC call and, importantly, you can press and hold the DISTRESS ALERT button to see what happens on your set and also what the receiving sets’ displays show. The simulator also allows you to set up calls on a remote DSC to see what happens on your own set when these alerts are received. If you need to learn what the controls do, press F1. This is a good way to gain confidence in using the DSC functions of your radio. Practicing with both the tutor and the simulator (bought together as VHF DSC Tutor Plus at £29.95) will make your Short Range Radio course easy, or if you’ve already got the Certificate the simulator will keep you up to speed.

To read the full article, click here.