Furuno FM4800 is a Marine Electronics "Multi-Tool"

Fm4800 Left

Camas, WA, August 13, 2018 – Safety at sea is a top priority, and Furuno's commitment to safety, performance and reliability is well known. When you're on the water and something goes wrong, every boater knows it's imperative that you have a reliable link to dry land. With the introduction of the FM4800 VHF Radio, Furuno is showing how seriously they take that commitment.

The Furuno FM4800 is a new all-in-one marine VHF Radiotelephone with built-in Class D DSC, GPS Receiver, AIS Receiver, and Simplified Loudhailer with intercom. The unit is waterproof to an IP68 standard, the highest waterproof rating for this class of marine electronics. That means it can withstand the IP's laboratory testing of full immersion for over 30 minutes, making the unit an ideal candidate for vessels with an exposed bridge, where it can be bracket or flush mounted, or even mounted overhead.

While its safety and reliability ratings are impressive, the extensive list of features is what makes this latest Furuno offering so spectacular. The FM4800 is not only a 25W VHF with built-in DSC, it also features a host of other built-ins that make it perhaps the most versatile VHF on the market.

With its built-in GPS receiver, the FM4800 does not require an external GPS source to enable its DSC functionality, and the unit can be used as a backup source of GPS positioning for other onboard electronics. Its built-in AIS Receiver can be used to overlay AIS targets with networked GPS Plotters or MFD's, such as Furuno's NavNet TZtouch and NavNet TZtouch2, or their new GP1871F/GP1971F combo units. You can also share GPS, DSC and AIS information via NMEA0183 or NMEA2000. What's more, when connected via NMEA2000 to any NavNet TZtouch2 MFD, DSC calling can be initiated directly from the TZtouch2 display by merely tapping on the AIS/DSC target and selecting [DSC Call]. Additionally, when MOB (Man Overboard) is activated on a TZtouch2 MFD, the FM4800 enters a special mode where you can initiate a distress call by simply pushing the rotary knob.

The FM4800 can operate as a simplified Loudhailer with 8 patterns of alert sounds. Loudhailer, Fog Horn and Warning Signal features are all available, enhancing onboard safety and communications while navigating in the dark or fog. When connected with the second-station handset, its intercom feature is available, allowing communications between the two devices. Additionally, the horn speaker can be used to collect external sounds and transmit them through the built-in speaker with a function called Listen Back. In this way, a person on the deck can easily communicate with the bridge, a particularly useful feature for a variety of fishing vessels and workboats. The Listen Back function can also be a useful tool on sport fishing vessels, allowing the horn speaker to collect the sound from fishing rods and lines when you get a strike. 

Safety, reliability and versatility have never before been wrapped up so perfectly in such a neat little package. If you're looking for the ultimate marine electronics "multi-tool" that offers more useful features than ever before, all in a compact and attractive package, look no further than the FM4800 VHF/DSC Radiotelephone from Furuno. To learn more about Furuno's new FM4800, or the complete line of Furuno marine electronics, see your local Furuno dealer or contact: Furuno U.S.A., 4400 N.W. Pacific Rim Blvd., Camas, WA 98607. Phone: (360) 834-9300.

By Ocean Navigator