Garmin Cortex® H1P portable VHF/AIS display

The Garmin Cortex H1P is a wireless portable combined unit designed to extend the capabilities of the Cortex M1 and V1 VHF/AIS systems. It provides a complete interface for VHF communication, AIS data management, and boat monitoring, all from a portable device.

The Cortex H1P handheld unit offers a range of essential features for navigation and safety at sea:

VHF radio: Clear and robust communication with Push-To-Talk (PTT) functions and direct access to channel 16.SmartAIS: Integrated with M1/V1 displays, it provides collision-avoidance alerts, AIS target information, and risk management.Anchor watch: Monitors boat position and alerts in case of anchor drag, depth change, or wind shift.Instrument display: Shows NMEA 2000 data (depth, COG, SOG, heading, wind, etc.) received from the display.DSC call: Enables selective digital calls directly from the touchscreen.Man Overboard (MOB) function: Quick access to the MOB function for crew safety.

Yes, the Garmin Cortex H1P is equipped with a 4-inch multi-touch display. The screen has a resolution of 640 x 800 pixels and uses a 24-bit Si TFT LCD panel. It is also protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass, making it robust and resistant to harsh marine environments.

The Cortex H1P enhances safety at sea with several key features:

SmartAIS collision avoidance: It continuously calculates collision risk by combining the boat's GPS data with AIS data from other vessels, and alerts the user with audible or voice alarms.AIS target display: It allows visualization of AIS targets, their critical information (position, speed, time to impact), and navigation light sectors for better anticipation of situations.Anchor monitoring: The Anchor Watch function alerts in case of anchor dragging, ensuring mooring safety.DSC calls: The ability to quickly initiate DSC calls to other vessels or in distress situations.MOB function: A dedicated button and function for man-overboard situations.

Yes, the Garmin Cortex H1P functions as a full VHF radio. It allows clear voice calls, channel selection (including dedicated channel 16), and transmit power adjustment (High or Low). It features a Push-To-Talk (PTT) button for easy use.

Yes, the Cortex H1P supports the Anchor Watch function. Once activated, it continuously monitors your boat's position relative to your anchor. If it drifts outside the configured guard zone, or if significant changes occur in wind speed, wind direction, or water depth, an audible alarm sounds on the display to alert you.

The Cortex H1P can display a variety of marine instrument data received via the Cortex M1/V1’s NMEA 2000 network. These data include depth, course over ground (COG), speed over ground (SOG), heading, speed, apparent wind, true wind, ground wind, water temperature, coordinated universal time (UTC), and position. Instrument fields are customizable.

The DSC (Digital Selective Calling) call function is easily accessible on the Cortex H1P. You can initiate an individual DSC call by selecting an AIS target on the chartplotter screen or directory, then pressing the call icon. The handset will guide you to confirm the target vessel’s MMSI number and the desired channel. A dedicated "CALL" button also provides quick access to the DSC menu.

The Cortex H1P, via the smartAIS system, provides sophisticated collision-avoidance alerts. It calculates the Closest Point of Approach (CPA) and Time to Closest Point of Approach (TCPA). Alarms are triggered if a vessel poses a collision risk (low, moderate, high), with visual notifications (orange targets for warnings, red for high risk) and audible or voice alerts. The device also allows filtering targets and selecting alarm profiles suited to different situations (offshore, coastal, harbor, etc.).

Yes, the Cortex H1P can display AIS targets on its screen in the "Plotter" view. It uses the smartAIS system to filter and present targets, highlighting those that pose a collision risk. You can view detailed information for each target, such as its name, range, bearing, speed, and heading. The system also includes a heading sensor to more accurately predict potential collisions.

The H1P display intelligently manages collision alarms. When a potential risk is detected, an alarm sounds and a notification appears on the screen. The alarm escalates until acknowledged. Selecting the alarm opens the collision avoidance screen, displaying details of the target at risk. The ship icon changes color (from red to gray) once the risk is no longer present.

Yes, the Cortex H1P integrates a Man Overboard (MOB) function. It has a dedicated MOB button on its keypad for quick access in an emergency. This function is designed to aid in the rapid recovery of a person who has fallen overboard by marking their position.

Yes. In addition to its multi-touch screen, the Cortex H1P features several physical buttons for intuitive and quick operation, even in harsh conditions. These buttons include:

DistressUp/Down VolumePowerPush-To-Talk (PTT)MenuScroll wheel (Click-wheel)BackVHF (VHF radio key)Channel 16CallEnterMan Overboard (MOB)

The Garmin Cortex H1P handheld unit is specifically designed to extend the capabilities of the Cortex M1 and Cortex V1 VHF/AIS units. It connects wirelessly to these units to provide all of their features.

The Cortex H1P itself does not connect directly to an NMEA 2000 network. However, it displays NMEA 2000 data that the Cortex M1 or V1 central unit receives. The M1 hub has NMEA 2000 connectivity, allowing it to collect data from various onboard instruments and transmit it to the H1P display via WiFi.

The Cortex H1P interacts with mobile applications via the Cortex M1 or V1 central unit. The Cortex Onboard (via onboard WiFi) and Cortex Monitor (via cellular coverage, with premium subscription) applications allow you to monitor and control the Cortex system, including Anchor Watch alerts, from a smartphone or tablet. The H1P combined unit is the direct physical interface onboard, but the applications extend the monitoring range.

To connect the Cortex H1P display to your Cortex M1 central unit, follow these steps:

Power on the Cortex M1 central unit by activating the vessel’s batteries.Power on the H1P display by pressing and holding the power button for 2 seconds.On the display, select the WiFi icon in the status bar.Identify and select the M1’s WiFi SSID from the list (it is identified by the M1’s serial number, e.g., CORTEX-95211616).Enter the WiFi password provided on the label with your M1.Select “CONNECT” to save the connection. The “connected” text will confirm success.Select the “Back” key to close the WiFi status.Note that if you have the Cortex V1 pack (M1+H1), the display is usually pre-configured.

No, the Cortex H1P portable handset does not have its own VHF antenna. It functions as a wireless extension of the Cortex M1 or V1 VHF/AIS main unit, which is connected to the vessel’s main VHF antenna. The H1P uses WiFi to communicate with the main unit and access its VHF and AIS capabilities.

The Cortex H1P product, Portable AIS Transceiver, is from the Garmin brand. Originally developed by Vesper Marine, the Cortex range is now marketed under the Garmin brand.