AIS Quark A026 has GPS. Worth the extra?

[FairweatherDave]

Dipping my toe into the AIS minefield and it is definitely at the edge of my comfort zone re the technical language.

I use an android tablet and navionics at present (with handheld gps and paper back up). I am weighing up a Quark A024 and a A026. The A026 has the merit of a built in GPS. My Lenovo tablet has built in GPS so I can get away with the A024 but is there an advantage longer term with the A026? is the GPS "better", more usable with future equipment etc etc.

Regarding Navigation apps I realise I will need to get something that works well with the AIS data and that field is evolving, so I am open to recommendations there for Android apps. But my key question is whether long term I should go for the Quark A026. eg this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/QK-A026-Wireless-AIS-Receiver-UK-seller/dp/B074TFY95B

This is all with a view to a first channel crossing for a Solent pootler

 

[Blue_mischief]

I bought the one with built in GPS, though the iPad I use it with has GPS. Thinking is that I might get a cheaper non GPS tablet at some later stage. I have memory maps and Antares charts on the iPad which work well with the iPads GPS, but AIS is not available on them. I did try a beta version of memory maps pro which does do AIS, but I wasn't impressed. The released version might be better. I invested in iSailor charts which can make use of the AIS, and they have been useful on three occasions. However I'm not a fan of the charts themselves as they are expensive and don't contain all the detail which is available on some large scale admiralty charts, so I only switch to iSailor when in need (fog, close quarters shipping). I also have the Digital Yacht AIS app which can use the output from Quark on a radar type display.

 

[lpdsn]

Do you want to get any other information on to your tablet other than GPS & AIS?

 

[FairweatherDave]

I don't think so. I know the next one up does Sea talk but frankly I don't know what that means. If it is to do with the other instruments I think I'm happy reading them in the cockpit, and they are all Nasa Clipper type things not raymarine......

 

[lpdsn]

That's should be OK then. Seatalk is just a Raymarine proprietary protocol rather than the NMEA 'standard' but sounds like it isn't relevant to you.

Looks like that box will give out AIS data via WiFi and NMEA0183 so should be fine. The website also says it will do both channels simultaneously (unlike the A021) which is good. You need GPS info to display it successfully but either way (Quark box or tablet with GPS) should suit.

If you were wanting to multiplex all sorts of data and send it to the tablet it would require a more sophisticated solution, but you don't.

In terms of Apps, it's a matter just about of personal preference. I use OpenCPN and like it. It's supported on Andriod. www.opencpn.org.

You can get Admiralty charts quite cheaply from www.visitmyharbour.com (you have to wade through a few pages to decide exactly what you want, but various options available - most of the 2018 edition variants don't seem to be out yet so worth hanging on a few weeks to get the latest charts).

Many ways to skin that cat so I'm sure others will be along soon with their own preferences.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Just been studying Hamble Marine electronics e bay page
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Hamble-Marine-Electronics/AIS-/_i.html?_fsub=3910425018

It seems you buy the Quark A024 or A026 but then still have to buy a VHF antenna for the AIS or a splitter to use the Radio antenna for the AIS input. Then you need the dedicated 5volt USB power lead and a GPS antenna if going for the A026 and going for the GPS function. So what starts as perhaps £80 for the A024 becomes £180 for the A026. I'm sure that is still good value but it has been a bit of an education for me. Presumably people who have bought Quark AIS have had to purchase these accessories too? Apologies for my slow learning curve

 

[lpdsn]

That's boat electronics for you. However, you are getting USB plus WiFi plus NMEA in & out plus AIS plus a GPS receiver for that. A lot of those would be similarly priced on their own.

I've looked at the manual and I can't find what NMEA sentences it reads. I was trying to see if you could feed GPS data in, or indeed if internal GPS data was included amongst the AIS (VDM) sentences, but it doesn't seem to be in that document.

You could just get the basic AIS engine (And VHF aerial & power) then feed the data into OpenCPN on a tablet that would take a second feed from somewhere else. I don't do it that way, but I splashed out on a multiplexer to combine alll the data before sending it to OpenCPN.

PS Update: seems it echoes what it gets in via NMEA on the 38.4Kb NMEA output. It adds AIS sentences (actually the VDM sentences) plus GPS sentences to that (although it doesn't say which GPS sentences, but presumably a minimum of GGA & GLL). You need to buy the A026 for it to generate GPS sentences but it seems the A024 will echo those from another source.

That means if you have a GPS already and it'll give out 4.8Kb NMEA0183 sentences (should do) you can feed them via the A024 into OpenCPN. That at least is my reading of it. A quick phone call to them should confirm.

 

[quark-elec]

Interesting topic. Both A026 and A024 can be feed low speed NMEA 0183 messages(like wind, deepth.etc) and then be multiplexed with AIS messages in the box. The only difference between these two modules are the build-in GPS. Thats it. Many A024 customers use the internal GPS of the tablet so there is no need to purchase A026. Thanks