AIS engines for Standard Horizon C180i chartplotter

[Boomshanka]

The SH C180i chartplotter manual states that an AIS engine can be fitted, but they don't say which one. From the web I've found two types...

Nasa marine

EasyAIS engine

I've emailed SH dealers in the UK to see if they would work (the NASA one is a good bit cheaper than the other), but no replies. I'd be interested to hear views from fellow forumites who have fitted AIS to a SH chartplotter.

 

[salamicollie]

using the Nasa one OK

 

[barryg]

I have the SH180i with the easy ais and splitter works great all works of the vhf masthead aerial

 

[rickp]

I use the NASA AIS engine with the Standard Horizon CP300i - works very well. 15 targets within a few miles when we were off Zeebrugge last month...

Rick

 

[Channel Ribs]

They will both work fine, in fact any AIS reciever that sends fast NMEA will be ok.

The NASA one is not as easy as the Easy to set up, be warry of some chandlers who do not supply an antenna adapter which you will need for the NASA unit.

Have you considered a transciever?

 

[JonBrooks]

Both will work.

We have used the Easy AIS in house and is very easy to set up.

I have Easy AIS linked to a CP500 chartplotter on my own boat and works well.

Am considering an upgrade to a TX version.

Cheers

 

[Boomshanka]

Thanks for all replies, it's good to know both options will work. The reason why I want to go for AIS via the chartplotter rather than a standalone unit is purely space... or lack of it. I've just put a small 'instrument panel' in (the Etap21i doesn't come with anything) which holds a fixed VHF and Navtex and I've managed to fit a suction mount to the chartplotter so I can quickly fix it either in the cockpit or by the panel down below (and I HATE drilling holes in boats!)... so really I didn't want to take up any more space by fitting say the Nasa 'radar'.

In fact, I've learnt so much from this forum and would like to give something back... so next time I'm on board I'll take a photo and post it here with all the details in case anyone's interested in how to suction mount a 5" chartplotter rather than drill holes... one important piece is the 5/8"-27 nut which I posted about on here last week... found one in the end in Maplin... I love that place /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif