AIS advice

[JUSTINHALEWOOD]

Hi All

Hoping some of the experts out there can help with AIS recommendations. We have the following installed on our 1994 Hallberg Rassy 36:

1. Furuno 1715 Radar - works fine and we’d like to keep
2. Raymarine RC350 chart plotter - installed above the chart table
3. Raymarine hybrid touch - installed on steering pedestal in cokcpit - currently only the chart plotter is linked up to this
4. Sailor VHF RT2048 - works very well and we’d like to keep
5. Furuno fax machine - Fax 207 - I suspect obsolete?

What we're aiming to achieve:
1. Add AIS to the chart plotter software - we'd like to both transmit and receive - any advice on which product would be best?

As context we’d also like to:
2. Run the raymarine chart plotter software/AIS on the chart table but on a larger screen - preferably a laptop - so over a wireless connection
3. We want to keep the VHF rather than replace
4. We want to have weather routing via the laptop - We think via iridium go sat phone connection

Thank you for any advice!
Justin

 

[slipknot]

Re AIS I fitted this. https://www.em-trak-uk.com/product-page/sailor-package
Easy to install. Works well.

 

[richardbrennan]

I fitted a Digital Yachts AIS Tx/Rx some years ago and have been very pleased with it. The support, particularly when setting up, has been superb, and I am sure they would be happy to offer you advice.

 

[KompetentKrew]

2. Run the raymarine chart plotter software/AIS on the chart table but on a larger screen - preferably a laptop - so over a wireless connection

My initial reaction was that the Vesper Marine 8000 transponder streams its AIS data to wifi clients, but that would require installing chartplotter software on the laptop. OpenCPN is popular for this. but it is not raymarine chart plotter software.

I searched "Raymarine hybrid touch" and found this page: http://www.raymarine.co.uk/view/index-id=2966.html

It says these units have wifi, so you can probably view the screen remotely using the appropriate Raymarine app: http://www.raymarine.com/mobile-apps/remote-controls.html

I use B&G's app on a 10" Android tablet (in a recent thread on Scuttlebut someone mentioned a Samsung in John Lewis for £150 which would be very suitable) and it works very well. I suggest your start out by trying the Raymarine app (RayView?) - install it on your phone or a borrowed tablet.

I don't think any of he chartplotter manufacturers make viewer apps for Mac or PC. You could use a cheap Android TV box if you wanted to use a bigger monitor at the chart table, but you're limited to the resolution of the plotter itself.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I have just purchased the Raymarine AIS 700 Class B+ jobby (AIS B vs AIS B+ explanation: https://digitalyacht.net/2018/11/26/class-b-sotdma/ ). Refurbished you can get it here: https://hudsonmarine.co.uk/products...b-transceiver-with-integrated-splitter-e70476 for about £600 (retails at nearly £1,000).

Doesn't do wireless, but does do the VHF splitting job in the same Unit. The reason it is a refurb is that when they first released these devices, people purchased them only to find they didn't work! Those original purchasers sent the little suckers back to base, where Raymarine discovered a software error. The devices were then reflashed with the new software and have a stack of nearly new devices to sell on that still come with the full 2 year warranty.

Mine looks as good as new (all boxes, cables etc, manuals).... I have yet to fit it though, so can't comment on how well it functions....

 

[seumask]

I have the Vesper Marine 8000 transponder and although we don't connect it up by wire to the plotter it does have Nmea output which I understand can be wired into most Raymarine plotter if you want to. Having independant AIS controlled /used via a Phone's or Tablets has worked well from us and I particularly like having it as an independent system not dependent on other systems in the boat.