AIS engine help

AIDY

AIDY

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Joined
19 Jan 2004
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Muckle Flugga
www.ybw.com
I'm looking at installing a AIS engine / receiver linked to my raymarine C80 and i'm still a bit puzzled of what engine to purchase NASA, Comar, easy AIS, raymarine some are cheaper than other's do they do the same thing and display the same information ?

Also sounds like i need to interface it with my VHF aerial, do i need to buy a splitter or a new aerial and what other bits will i need to purchase to get it up and running.

sorry for all the questions hoping someone can advice that has a C or E series plotter, or someone in the know.

TIA
 
I have a easy AIS with an E series plotter and Icom DSC VHF. I went down the route of a seperate aerial, its ceaper and a better solution and can be mounted on the pushpit or gantry. As for connections the easy unit can be owner modifed to output at 4,800 baud ie normal NMEA speed so by using a simple block connector you can avoid the requirement for a multiplexor. However if your GPS is configured for Seatalk as mine is the simplest solution is to use Raymarines NMEA / Seatalk interface where the Seatalk data can be combined with the NMEA output of the AIS Then the NMEA output of the unit with all information can be then supplied to both the VHF and the C80 and the AIS. PM me if you need more info.
 
I recently fitted an EasyAIS to my C80. A litttle published fact is that the EasyAIS has built-in multoplexor. I took the fast heading NMEA from by course computer into the EasyAIS. Then the output from the EasyAIS to the C80 NMEA in. Set the port speed of the C80 NMEA to 38K and voila - AIS plus the fast heading data as well. I also used a separate aerial for the AIS on the pushpit which picks up targets 19 miles away.

My NMEA for the DSC comes from the second NMEA output from the course computer.

Hope this helps.

Stewart
 
Thank you both... some useful information.

Just one more question did you use a standard vhf aerial mounted on you transom or is their a special arial for the purpose.

Once again many thanks
 
NASA AIS engine very easy to connect. Mine is on a C70. Works well too.
Use a separate antenna as using a splitter degrades your VHF performance. Stubby antenna will give about 15 mile reception range according to NASA.
 
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Stubby antenna will give about 15 mile reception range according to NASA.

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Grrr. 6 to 9 miles here plus an sub 3 mile blind spot through the combination of sprayhood and mast.

Time to double check the connections I guess.
 
I've had similar problems with AIS engine - have you tested on your mast head antenna - make sure it is the antenna at fault.

I took my engine up to a high vantage point with a laptop and managed to receive 30Nm+ using a 1.6m glass antenna, but only 20Nm using the stubby one - nothing in the way - all line of sight (albeit I was 10 miles inland!)
 
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