AIS Class B Transiever

[Boatman]

Has anyone any experience with the Conmar CSB 200 unit, it looks quite good for the money.

Otherwise I go for a receive only unit like the NASA or Icom units

All comments welcome

 

[gavina]

I have sent a PM concerning the CSB200 - if you are looking for a receiver instead of a transceiver we often have some used AIS-2-USB in stock for a very competitive price. We have made a technical comparison of these with some other units and find their performance to be excellent. We supply them with a full warranty.

 

[poltergeist]

Top quality unit - IMHO, the best for the money currently on the market.

 

[gavin_lacey]

Does anyone know how many ships are fitted with AIS recievers with a graphic output? I was under the impression that most had a text based output quite unlike the user friendly plotter superimposed things we buy. As a result it is not really monitored but only used to identify a target already spotted visually or by radar. Is my info out of date?

 

[ferroboat]

I also wish to buy an AIS system in the next couple of weeks, but don't understand the difference between a receiver and a transceiver. the advert for the digital yacht AIT250 has caught my eye.

 

[BrianH]

I can no longer trace the on-line copy of an article in 'The Pilot' the magazine of the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots' Association from two years ago but I kept the text:

"With respect to the type of equipment installed, the overwhelming majority of vessels are fitted with the minimum required to comply with carriage regulations! These are small alpha numeric displays which at the absolute basic level have to display at least three targets. I have seen such minimal three line units on ships and for all practical purposes they are totally useless. Other systems cram a list of many targets into the small display (typically 9cm x 12cm) which renders them illegible and again these are totally useless.

It is of extreme importance to the Class B user to be aware that there is no statutory requirement for SOLAS vessels to be able to display AIS targets on a screen merely a requirement to provide a simple alphanumeric Minimum Keyboard and Display (MKD). To meet the minimum requirements this display need show no more than three ships at any one time detailing bearing, range and name of ship. Therefore Class B users must understand that their vessel may not be appearing as a ‘bright beacon’ on the displays of the majority of SOLAS vessels. Although IMO requires all new radars fitted after 1 July 2008 to have good AIS display capabilities, existing radars will not have to be upgraded and so it will be many years before AIS data can be effectively used for navigation on many SOLAS vessels."

And a recent comment at the excellent US site Panbo in the section dedicated to AIS from a deck officer of a US registered vessel with full SOLAS conformance:

"We have a tiny 5 line display on our 250 million $ ship. Useless for ships and useless for boats."

 

[Elessar]

[ QUOTE ]
but don't understand the difference between a receiver and a transceiver.

[/ QUOTE ]

Receiver. You can see boats transmitting AIS data, usually on your chartplotter. You can look up more data for any boat you can "see", the most useful of which is their MMSI no.

Transceiver. As above plus your boat transmits AIS data to be received by others. Just don't rely on being seen as others have clearly described.