Owner`s manual

26 MAY 2011 WWW.PRACTICALSAILOR.COM
VALUE GUIDE
HANDHELD PERFORMANCE TOOLS
PRODUCT ROCKBOX
VELOCITEK
PRO START
VELOCITEK
SPEEDPUCK
$
VELOCITEK SCI
PRICE
$649 $600 $339 $600
SIZE/WEIGHT H x W x D)
5 in. x 7.5 in. x 2 in/
x oz.
4.7 in. 6.9 in. 1.6 in./
16 oz.
5 in. diameter x 1 in./ 10 oz.
6.5 in. x 5 in. x 2 in./
15.5 oz.
MAXIMUM DIGIT SIZE
2 ½ inch 1½ inch 1½ inch 1½-inch
MAXIMUM DATA BOXES
2 2 1 2
SCREEN TYPE
Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD
SPEED SENSOR TYPE
SiRFstar III chipset
50-channel U-blox
Lea-5M
16-channel U-blox Antaris
Lea-4A
16-channel U-blox Antaris
Lea-4A
GPS SPEED SOLUTION RATE
2 per second 4 per second 4 per second 2 per second
BATTERY TYPE
3 AA batteries 3 AA batteries 3 AA batteries 3 AA batteries
BATTERY LIFE
Approx. 24 hours 24 hours 40 hours 21 hours
ESSENTIAL MODES
Graphs, waypoints,
start line, special,
setup
Speed/Course,
Distance to line/
Countdown timer
Speed, course shift,
heading,
data logging
Speed, heading, VMG,
tactical compass, time-
to-line, countdown timer,
data logging
DOWNLOADABLE DATA
Yes Yes Yes Yes
WARRANTY
2 years 2 years 1 year 2 years
WATERPROOF RATING
Heavy splashing
(IPX6)
3 meters/30 min. (IPX8) 3 meters/30 min. (IPX8) 3 meters/ 30 min. (IPX8)
RATINGS
INSTALLATION
Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
SCREEN TEST DAY/NIGHT
Very Good/Good Good/Poor Good/Poor Good/Poor
EASE OF USE
Fair Excellent Excellent Fair
ON THE WATER TEST
Good Excellent Excellent Good
SOFTWARE TEST
Fair Good Good Good
Best Choice Recommended $ Budget Buy
rockBox
In the world of portable speed-tracking
devices, the RockBox is like a Swiss
Army knife, loaded with 34 functions.
Its most obvious difference is the
wireless remote that communicates
with the display unit. Another stand-
out feature is the option for extra-large,
2.5-inch-high digits. e RockBox also
has the common split-screen function,
allowing two types of data to be dis-
played simultaneously.
The Rockbox has a striking trans-
lucent box, allowing a full view of the
circuit board. To replace batteries or
plug in a USB cord, you need to use a
small screwdriver (provided) to remove
the back. is exposes the circuit board,
which is held wedged in place with cubes
of closed-cell foam. e design is a boon
for tinkerers who curse sealed boxes, but
it is more vulnerable in the hands of a
technophobe than the sealed ProStart.
Although the clear box allowed an
intimate view of RockBox’s electronic
guts, the means of operation is not so ap-
parent. How to turn on the unit (brush
your finger across an invisible touch
sensor on the side) is withheld until page
5 of the owners’ manual.
On the water, it took testers awhile
to get used to the built-in delay in the
remote. Users have to press and hold but-
Speedpuck
SC-1 ProStart
RockBox