Meet Orca Core 2 with Radar support

August 11, 2023 • 3 min read

Orca Core 2 – the most powerful Core yet.

Radar is an excellent tool for navigation that help in many different situations.

In heavily trafficked areas, you can use it as a collision avoidance system. If a storm is brewing, you can use it to track rain showers. And in poor visibility – such as at night, or in foggy conditions – it helps you spot obstacles and dangers that would be impossible to see otherwise.

For many boaters, radar is an essential part of a navigation system – and since the very start of Orca, radar support has been one of the most requested features. 

Supporting radar is not straightforward as it means supporting a new on-boat communication protocol.

While most boat sensors use NMEA2000 or NMEA0183 for communication, modern radars generate far more data than what a traditional NMEA network can handle. This is why modern radars use high-speed ethernet or WiFi to transfer radar data to a chartplotter.

This is Orca Core 2

Radar support is available in Orca – with Orca Core 2.

Orca Core 2 is a truly next-generation Smart Navigation Hub. It has been completely redesigned to support high-bandwidth boat networks – while keeping all the great functionality of the original Orca Core.

Core 2 comes with a waterproof D-coded M12 ethernet connector, which allows it to connect to other chartplotters, network switches, and directly to ethernet devices such as radars.

Orca Core 2 retains the iconic design of the original Orca Core, while the internal components of the Core have been completely redesigned.

Short-term, this means Orca Core 2 will receive a lot of exciting new functionality. Long-term, Orca Core 2 is pushing the industry forward toward a more modern boat network. With high-speed ethernet and an industry-standard M12 connector, Orca Core 2 is ready to support OneNet, the future standard of NMEA.

The first feature built on top of high-bandwidth ethernet is radar – and the first supported radars are Quantum 1 and 2 by Raymarine. We’ve worked closely with Raymarine to ensure the radar experience you’ll find in Orca brings the best out of your Quantum radar.

Using radar in Orca

Radar is shown as an overlay on top of your Orca Charts. Orca Core 2’s built-in GPS and compass align the radar overlay perfectly with the chart. Advanced processing algorithms deliver a crisp and detailed radar image, ensuring that every small detail your radar picks up is visible in Orca.

Controlling your radar is incredibly easy with Orca. Your Radar Controls live inside the Control Center, which you open from the top right corner of your chart.

Orca gives you all of the core radar controls you expect, from changing between standby and transmit to sensitivity and noise reduction. Adjusting controls is fast, and your changes are instantly applied to the radar overlay in the chart.

All changes to radar controls in Orca will also affect your other radar-capable devices, such as a Raymarine Axiom or another Orca device. For more information about radar controls and which radar functionality is supported, see the Radar Controls guide.

Connecting a radar to your Orca Core 2

Connecting Orca Core 2 to your radar is incredibly easy – because the Core 2 can connect to your Quantum radar in multiple ways: Connect directly, via a switch, or through an Axiom chartplotter.

Connection via an ethernet switch allows Orca Core 2 to control Quantum radars together with a Raymarine Axiom.

No matter how you connect, Orca Core 2 will automatically detect your radar and give you instant control. There is nothing to configure or set up. For information about how to connect Core 2 to your Radar, see the Radar Connection guide.

Getting the most out of your radar

Orca Core 2 is a truly next-generation Smart Navigation Hub. It brings the most advanced functionality of a chartplotter into an incredibly compact, smart, and future-proof device. 

Core 2 is a fantastic extension of your radar, giving you complete access and control via all your mobile devices. Order yours from the Orca Store today.