4008 Garmin

[sailaboutvic]

I have a 4008 Garmin plotter
Two question
One ... has any one used a chart chip from another company , If so which chip ? . I need to get an atlantic islands chip and Garmin prices compared to some of the others are quite high .

Two , thinking of fitting an AIS to the plotter , would it be best to fit it with it own Aerial or connect to the VHF Aerial .
Thanks guys

 

[Ripster]

We have a 4010. Its networked (Garmin N2K) to a Garmin 600 AIS - this uses an aerial splitter and seems work fine. Of course, its own aerial will always be best, but peops seem to use splitters effectively. You should be able to use an alternative make AIS via the NMEA input socket on the plotter and if you have one in mind and want to double check, Garmin technical are very good with advice. Have only ever used Garmin G2 bluecharts, so can't help with the that one.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I have a 4008, I cant help with the chartware, but I can confirm that a Comar AIS receiver works fine. I have added a second aerial on a short strut on the pushpit. The Comar is near the radio behind the chart table, so in the unlikely event that the mast came down it would be a simple unplug/replug to get a vhf working.