Installing Raymarine AIS650 AIS - Advice?

[Tim Good]

Ok so Raymarine said their AIS650 would be a good option to link up to my E80 Plotter which has only one NMEA 0183 port. In the email they said:

"It also has a multiplexor built in so if you are currently using the NMEA port on the E Classic you can still have the connection, you just move it to the AIS650"

Can anyone help me out with what I'll need for this installation? Am I right in saying:

- New Antenna goes into AIS650 unit.
- Cable that did go into the NMEA port on the plotter not goes into the AIS650.
- New cable goes out of AIS650 and into the NMEA port in plotter.
- Plotter displays AIS. Everyone happy.

Easy as that?

 

[pvb]

It rather depends on what the existing NMEA connection on the plotter is doing. Can you elaborate?

 

[Momac]

You have to programme your mmsi number into the AIS unit which will need a computer or laptop and a cable to connect to the AIS. I had to buy a cable as it was an unusual fitting . Maplin was the cheapest supplier (even cheaper now than I paid).
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/nikkai-pure-connectivity-usb-20-a-male-to-mini-b-male-15m-web-only-l08bt

You only get one chance to input the mmsi correctly.

I bought a Metz antenna - they do one for AIS.
http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/product/metz-ais-antenna/

I obtained the antenna cable from an amateur radio retailer who provided it with the connectors soldered on at a modest cost
RG58CX 50 Ohm with PL259 connectors
http://www.kcb.co.uk/shop2/contents/en-uk/d111.html

A power cable comes in the box with the AIS unit and I think this same cable also has the wires for NMEA but this is where I leave you as I connected to my system using the seatalk cable .

A GPS antenna also comes in the box complete with its cable.

The most difficult job, for me, was running the antenna cables though from the antennas to the AIS unit.

 

[Tim Good]

It rather depends on what the existing NMEA connection on the plotter is doing. Can you elaborate?

Not sure. What would generally use the NMEA port? The only data going to the Chartplotter is GPS, Log, depth sounder and autopilot. It just plug it all into the back of the unit as it was installed prior to me owning the boat.

The most difficult job, for me, was running the antenna cables though from the antennas to the AIS unit.

I presume that you mounted the new antenna as high as possible. I.e. top of the mast to be most effective?

 

[pvb]

Not sure. What would generally use the NMEA port? The only data going to the Chartplotter is GPS, Log, depth sounder and autopilot. It just plug it all into the back of the unit as it was installed prior to me owning the boat.

The autopilot will surely be taking data from the plotter, and as the multiplexing capability of the AIS650 isn't easily determined, I think you'd be best asking a professional marine electronics outfit for help.

I presume that you mounted the new antenna as high as possible. I.e. top of the mast to be most effective?

AIS doesn't require long-range capability, so it will work fine with a pushpit-mounted antenna.

 

[Momac]

Not sure. What would generally use the NMEA port? The only data going to the Chartplotter is GPS, Log, depth sounder and autopilot. It just plug it all into the back of the unit as it was installed prior to me owning the boat.



I presume that you mounted the new antenna as high as possible. I.e. top of the mast to be most effective?

I don't have a mast
But yes the antenna is a s high as possible

 

[Tim Good]

Thanks all.

Does an AIS unit need its own GPS unit? Or will it share the one for the Chartplotter?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks all.

Goes an AIS unit need its own GPS antenna? Or will it share the one for the Chartplotter?

It is a transceiver, so it needs it's own antenna. As per post #5, it does not need to be mast mounted, the pushpit is fine. In fact, i think it's better at the pushpit, if wired thoughtfully it could be used as an emergency VHF antenna.

 

[Tim Good]

It is a transceiver, so it needs it's own antenna. As per post #5, it does not need to be mast mounted, the pushpit is fine. In fact, i think it's better at the pushpit, if wired thoughtfully it could be used as an emergency VHF antenna.

That was talking about the VHF antenna not the GPS unit. Agreed the GPS can go on the goal posts or pushpit and does need to be dedicated. As for the Antenna then it can be shared and should be as high as possible. That's my understanding anyhow.

 

[pvb]

That was talking about the VHF antenna not the GPS unit. Agreed the GPS can go on the goal posts or pushpit and does need to be dedicated. As for the Antenna then it can be shared and should be as high as possible. That's my understanding anyhow.

Whilst Raymarine seem to be happy with using a splitter for the AIS650, I think I'd prefer to use a separate stub antenna on the pushpit. Same cost, maintains the integrity of the VHF antenna, less to go wrong. The AIS antenna doesn't need to be mounted high up.

 

[Tim Good]

The AIS antenna doesn't need to be mounted high up.

But surely the lower it is the worse your transmitting and receiving range will be? the dipping distance at pushpit level is not very far compared to the top of the mast.

I agree the GPS unit can be low down but not the AIS VHF antenna?

 

[PaulRainbow]

But surely the lower it is the worse your transmitting and receiving range will be? the dipping distance at pushpit level is not very far compared to the top of the mast.

I agree the GPS unit can be low down but not the AIS VHF antenna?

Everything in post #10 is spot on.

• Don't use an antenna splitter.
• Fit the antenna at the pushpit, wired so it can be used as an emergency VHF antenna.
• Fit modern GPS receivers under the deck, inside the boat.
  
  Where do you think mobos fit their antennas ?
  

IMO

 

[pvb]

But surely the lower it is the worse your transmitting and receiving range will be? the dipping distance at pushpit level is not very far compared to the top of the mast.

I agree the GPS unit can be low down but not the AIS VHF antenna?

The range of a pushpit-mounted antenna is plenty for AIS purposes.

 

[Tim Good]

Ok afternsome more research I think a Digital Yacht transponder with integrated Wifi is the best option... firstly it has a splitter built in but also Wifi, so I can install and use very quickly and worry about the connection to the cockpit plotter later.

Having AIS data down below at the chart table also on the iPad I think would be invaluable.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Thanks all.

Does an AIS unit need its own GPS unit? Or will it share the one for the Chartplotter?

I think that the regulations for AIS say that it needs a separate GPS (leastways thats what the Raymarine Engineer told me and I found a reference to the regulation somewhere when I checked.)

I can't comment on the splitter/no splitter debate as I have exactly the same transponder and I also bought the Raymarine splitter. Its connected to one of the new MFD's by Raymarine and it all works a treat. I've noticed no difference in performance of my VHF. My only regret is that at the moment, if I upgrade my VHF to a Raymarine with handset in the cockpit (which I want to do) then Raymerine software hasn't yet got the facility to pass the MMSI of a chosen ship on the screen to the VHF for you to selectively call them if necessary. The rumour I hear is that its a software update that is likely to be released at some stage.

I'm one of those who quite like the range of the AIS at the top of my mast, but I also drive motor boats some of the time and realise that they have to put their VHF antennae as high as they can without having a mast... Whether the extra range does me any good, I have no idea, but I do know what ships are doing when they are ten or fifteen miles away which is interesting even if its not directly informative. As a Class B transponder I have confidence that the ship stands a chance of knowing what I am doing too.

Each to their own though...

 

[SteveSarabande]

No need for long range with AIS. It is for collision avoidance, you don't need to worry about stuff miles away. If you ever get dismasted you will be glad of that spare aerial on the pushpit or radar pole

 

[Ian_Rob]

Ok afternsome more research I think a Digital Yacht transponder with integrated Wifi is the best option...

Is that the AIT 3000?

 

[Tim Good]

Is that the AIT 3000?

I ended up getting a Weatherdock easyais instead. It has its own GPS antenna, vhf splitter, multiplexer, iSart, 2k gateway and wifi. Meant it took me 20 mins to install with no wire runs at all apart from. 15cm one to the DSC VHF.

 

[RichardS]

No need for long range with AIS. It is for collision avoidance, you don't need to worry about stuff miles away. If you ever get dismasted you will be glad of that spare aerial on the pushpit or radar pole

But we've done this one to death so many times.

I would summarise the counter arguments as:

a) Do the millions of boats without AIS ever give a moments concern to not having a spare aerial on the pushpit, and

b) Using a suitable splitter with the existing masthead antenna is a massively simple installation if your VHF is near your AIS installation. In fact, it's a 30 second job, literally!

Richard

 

[dunedin]

Everything in post #10 is spot on.

• Don't use an antenna splitter.
• Fit the antenna at the pushpit, wired so it can be used as an emergency VHF antenna.
• Fit modern GPS receivers under the deck, inside the boat.
  
  Where do you think mobos fit their antennas ?

. IMO

Well we use an AIS650 with an AIS100 splitter to the masthead VHF aerial and happy with that set up.

On the other hand when we got the boat we were getting lost GPS signal errors intermittently (for the main GPS & plotter, pre AIS fitment) - which was quite a hassle in unfamiliar waters when the position was suddenly lost.
Local Raymarine engineer took a look and repositioned GPS antenna from below decks to on deck and (touch wood) completely solved the issue. So GPS sometimes works below, but not always the strongest signal.