Meet the Simrad HS65: The Next Generation of GNSS Heading
Accurate heading data is the quiet backbone of everything your marine electronics system does well. The Simrad HS65 GNSS Compass makes sure it's never the weak link.
Simrad has officially introduced the HS65 GNSS Compass — a next-generation heading sensor designed to replace the long-running HS60 and bring a cleaner, more capable, and easier-to-install heading solution to recreational and light commercial vessels. It's not a flashy product. It doesn't have a touchscreen or a sonar mode. What it does is deliver precise, satellite-based heading and position data to every system on your boat that depends on it — and it does that job better than what came before.
What the HS65 Actually Is
At its core, the Simrad HS65 is an all-in-one GNSS-based heading and position sensor. That single device replaces what used to require two: a magnetic compass and a separate GPS receiver. Mount it, connect it to your NMEA 2000® network, and your chartplotters, autopilot, and radar all get what they need from one compact unit.
The "GNSS-based" part matters more than it might seem. Traditional magnetic compasses — fluxgate sensors — are vulnerable to interference from onboard electronics, metal structures, engines, and electrical wiring. That interference introduces heading errors that quietly degrade autopilot tracking, radar overlay alignment, and chart orientation. The HS65 bypasses all of that by deriving heading from satellite signals rather than magnetics, delivering consistent accuracy regardless of what's running below deck.
Key performance specs:
- Heading accuracy: less than 2°
- Position accuracy: under 1 meter
- Dead reckoning: maintains heading data temporarily if satellite signal is lost
- GPS update rate: high-speed, for smooth and responsive tracking
- Connectivity: NMEA 2000®
- Design: modern low-profile form factor with improved cable routing
Why Simrad Built It
The HS65 exists because the HS60 — a solid, widely-used product — was showing its age. As Simrad chartplotters, autopilot platforms, and radar systems have grown more capable, the demands on heading sensors have grown with them. Features like radar overlay, MARPA target tracking, and advanced autopilot course-keeping all depend on heading data being fast, accurate, and interference-free.
Simrad developed the HS65 in direct response to feedback from customers, dealers, and installers in the field. The result is a heading sensor built around two priorities: better performance where it counts, and a simpler installation experience that doesn't create headaches for OEMs, dealers, or owners fitting it to an existing vessel.
What It Powers Onboard
The HS65 feeds heading and position data to the systems that need it most:
Autopilot — Precise, real-time heading lets the autopilot maintain course with far less hunting and correction. Clean satellite-derived heading means the autopilot isn't fighting compass noise.
Radar overlay and MARPA — Accurate heading is essential for aligning radar returns correctly on a chart and for MARPA to track targets reliably. A heading error of even a few degrees throws those features off in ways that matter.
Chart orientation and navigation accuracy — Your plotter's chart view, vessel orientation, and routing all depend on knowing exactly which way the bow is pointing. The HS65 delivers that with sub-2° accuracy.
Situational awareness — Everything from AIS target positioning to overall vessel control gets more reliable when the heading data feeding those systems is solid.
Simrad System Integration
The HS65 is designed to work seamlessly across Simrad's current platform lineup. It supports both NOS and NEON™ OS operating systems, covering NSO®, NSS®, and NSX® multifunction displays. For boats running a Simrad ecosystem, this is a plug-in solution — not a workaround or a compromise.
Who It's For
Simrad positioned the HS65 for a wide range of vessels:
- Recreational cruising boats — reliable heading for nav systems and autopilot without overengineering the install
- Sportfishing vessels — accurate radar overlay and chart alignment when you're working structure offshore
- Light commercial vessels — consistent performance in working environments where reliability matters
- OEM boat builders — a heading sensor designed with installation simplicity in mind, ready for new builds
- Dealer and installer upgrades — a straightforward HS60 replacement that improves performance without adding complexity
The Bottom Line
The Simrad HS65 is the kind of product that doesn't get the attention of a new chartplotter or a sonar breakthrough — but it's the kind of product that makes everything else on your boat work better. Heading data that's accurate, interference-free, and tightly integrated with your Simrad system is the foundation that radar overlay, autopilot, and navigation accuracy are built on. The HS65 gets that foundation right.
If you're running an HS60 or planning a new build or refit with a Simrad electronics suite, the HS65 is the upgrade that quietly makes a real difference.
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