Simrad’s New NSS 4 Multifunction Display
The Simrad NSS 4 is notable for its glass-to-edge display.
Courtesy Simrad
Back in 2016, I was in Amsterdam at the annual Metstrade show when Simrad unveiled its NSS evo3 multifunction display. Previous NSS displays had been around for years, but the evo3 set a new standard for Simrad’s fish-finding and chart-plotting capabilities. Then, in 2020, Simrad unveiled the NSS evo3S with a faster processor and a sharper display. In fact, the evo3S worked so well with Simrad’s sensor ecosystem that the company turned its R&D efforts to other projects—including the NSX (2022) and NSX Ultrawide (2024)—for the next five years.
Now for anyone who has been pining for better glass within Simrad’s NSS series, the wait is over.
Years ago, electronics manufacturers released new MFDs on an annual or semi-annual basis. But today’s faster processors, heftier RAM, higher-resolution displays and improved networking capabilities extend shelf lives, allowing manufacturers to further refine, rather than constantly replace, MFD offerings.
Simrad’s NSS 4 sports an eight-core processor, dual Ethernet ports and an optional dual-channel chirp sonar.
Courtesy Simrad
Simrad’s NSS 4 is an example of this evolution. While the NSS 4 is aimed at anglers, its eight-core processor, polished user experience, interface options and dual Ethernet ports make Simrad’s newest displays versatile workhorses for a wide range of yachts and tricked-out tenders.
Simrad’s NSS 4 is available in three screen sizes: 10 inches (from $2,600), 12 inches (from $3,800) and 16 inches (from $5,800). It’s also available with two chart-package options, and with an optional 1-kilowatt dual-channel chirp sonar. Each NSS 4 comes with a Qualcomm 8 processor and high-definition screen. The 10- and 12-inch displays sport 1280-by-800 resolution; the 16-inch screen has 1920-by-1080 resolution. All the screens have in-plane switching to enable high-sunlight readability. Additionally, all NSS 4 models have NMEA 2000 and Wi-Fi connectivity, dual microSD card slots and a 10-hertz global-navigation-satellite system receiver.
Visually, the most striking difference between the evo3S and the NSS 4 is the latter’s clean glass-to-edge display and its streamlined hard-button controls. The NSS evo3S family has seven hard buttons, a rotary knob and a cursor controller, while the NSS 4 has seven hard buttons (the 10-inch display has six) and a single rotary dial that collectively provide three user-interface options.
Simrad NSS 4 Multifunction Displays | No Sonar
This setup is designed for “ease of operation in any situation,” says Adam King, Simrad’s product manager of digital systems. “The most noticeable difference between the generations is panning, which is now touchscreen-only.”
The NSS 4 also has a hideaway activity bar (think PC docks) that runs vertically on the screen’s right side. Users can touch the screen to trigger a pop-up window that allows them to set waypoints quickly or to create routes.
Additionally, the NSS 4 has custom keys (two on the 12- and 16-inch models, one on the 10-inch version) that allow long-press and short-press options for quick, customizable access to frequently used apps and features.
In terms of cartography, users can select Simrad’s preloaded base map, or they can upgrade to C-Map’s Discover X or Reveal X charts, which add shaded relief and satellite imagery to the navigational mix. Users also can buy or update charts directly from their display, provided they have connectivity. And with dual onboard microSD card slots, customers can use one chart set to navigate and another for fishing. (The NSS 4 supports third-party cartography.)
Anglers can optionally spec an embedded 1 kW dual-channel chirp sonar. All NSS 4 models play nicely with downstream Simrad sonar modules, such as the S5100, S3100H or SonarHub, and they can simultaneously display four different sonar feeds. Users can customize the sonar’s color palettes, a feature especially handy for anyone—myself included—who suffers from red-green color blindness.
Simrad NSS 4 Multifunction Displays | With Sonar and Chart Package
Waypoint tagging is a new feature that Simrad is rolling out with the NSS 4. Here, anglers can mark honey holes with icons of species they’ve caught there—say, bluefin or salmon. “This tool is incredibly useful for visualizing where various species have been found,” King says. “By digitizing this process, the NSS 4 makes it easier than ever to track and analyze fishing patterns.”
Waypoint fish tagging can be used in conjunction with SiriusXM Marine’s Fish Mapping service, which can help anglers identify other similarly target-rich environments.
Finally, on the fishing front, all NSS 4 models support Simrad, Rhodan and MotorGuide trolling motors.
Ethernet ports might not be the NSS 4’s sexiest feature, but they provide important capabilities. All NSS 4 models come with two Ethernet ports: a yellow five-pin legacy port that hustles data at 100 megabits per second, and an X-Coded M12 GbE port that transfers data at 1 gigabit per second. This speed also allows the NSS 4 to integrate with and simultaneously display up to four IP-enabled daylight or thermal-imaging camera feeds.
“This multifunction display is particularly well-suited for center-console boats, both large and small, as well as bay boats, which represent the largest segment likely to adopt this technology,” King says. The NSS 4 “targets a segment of the market that demands high-performing, all-in-one displays with built-in sonar capabilities while also being cost-competitive.”
While one can envision the NSS 4 contributing to big hauls at fishing tournaments, the displays could also fit in aboard Simrad-equipped tenders and side rides.
So, if you cast or cruise with Simrad equipment and are interested in new glass, the NSS 4 could be your ticket. And if Simrad’s history of releases is any guide to its development road map, early adopters, in particular, can expect strong future (sonar) returns on their investments.
Play It AgainSimrad’s NSS 4 has waypoint tagging, which allows anglers to mark fertile casting grounds with icons of the species of fish that they have caught there. This new feature can be used with SiriusXM Marine’s Fish Mapping service.
Trickle-Up DevelopmentsSimrad’s top-of-the-line navigation system, the NSO evo3S, is now a generation astern of the NSS 4. While Simrad’s spokesman wouldn’t confirm the development of an NSO 4, he did say that asking was “a reasonable question.” So, if you’re hoping for an updated Simrad flagship system, watch this space for announcements in the future.
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