AIS receiver with built in splitter - recommendations please

Burnham Bob

Burnham Bob

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jul 2009
Messages
1,803
Location
Burnham on Crouch
Visit site
I think there was a PBO article on an AIS receiver with a built in splitter that had a USB output. I want to find the simplest, most elegant and cost effective way of adding an AIS facility to my laptop chart plotter. The AIS and laptop will only be used in shipping lanes and areas of high traffic. Most of the time I use the normal plotter and gps but want some added help for channel hopping etc and navigating the Thames crossing.

Does anyone have any ideas? I know I can buy an aerial with built in reciever and USB output from Digital Yachts, but that seems almost as expensive as a Glomex splitter and an AIS reeciver from Meridian who make my laptop chart plotter software. For simplicity adding a unit that acted as AIS receiver and aerial splitter with a simple USB output would give me reception from an aerial at the top of the mast and minimise the 'plumbing' required.
 
My view if you just want an AIS receiver is to get a VHF with built in AIS. The difficult bit may be the USB output but I have never had too much trouble in sending NMEA data via serial to USB converters to my laptop. Also worth checking what kit YAPP of this forum has. I send the AIS data to both plotter and Laptop without any problem. Saves all the trouble of fitting another aerial and no danger on the splitter front as it is sorted out by the VHF set.

Yoda
 
Burnham Bob said:
I think there was a PBO article on an AIS receiver with a built in splitter that had a USB output. I want to find the simplest, most elegant and cost effective way of adding an AIS facility to my laptop chart plotter. The AIS and laptop will only be used in shipping lanes and areas of high traffic. Most of the time I use the normal plotter and gps but want some added help for channel hopping etc and navigating the Thames crossing.

Does anyone have any ideas? I know I can buy an aerial with built in reciever and USB output from Digital Yachts, but that seems almost as expensive as a Glomex splitter and an AIS reeciver from Meridian who make my laptop chart plotter software. For simplicity adding a unit that acted as AIS receiver and aerial splitter with a simple USB output would give me reception from an aerial at the top of the mast and minimise the 'plumbing' required.
Click to expand...

Hi Bob, I have a Icom MXA5000 AIS receiver that I connected to my Laptop using a Rs232 to USB converter. it was simple and worked fine picking up ships in mid channel from Chichester harbour. The in bilt splitter worked fine and I would recommend this setup as simple and quick.

I've replaced it as part of my new plotter install - and selling the Icom AIS for £ 165 if you are interested.

Kevin
 
thanks kevin but i have to save the boat equipment vouchers first. i'm trying to work out a phased and costed replacement programme as I need a new plotter card, a subscription renewal on the laptop software from meridian, a spin on replacment for the cav fuel filter and a replacment wind instrument.........

someone once told me BOAT means 'break out another thousand'!
 
Burnham Bob said:
I think there was a PBO article on an AIS receiver with a built in splitter that had a USB output. I want to find the simplest, most elegant and cost effective way of adding an AIS facility to my laptop chart plotter. The AIS and laptop will only be used in shipping lanes and areas of high traffic. Most of the time I use the normal plotter and gps but want some added help for channel hopping etc and navigating the Thames crossing.

Does anyone have any ideas? I know I can buy an aerial with built in reciever and USB output from Digital Yachts, but that seems almost as expensive as a Glomex splitter and an AIS reeciver from Meridian who make my laptop chart plotter software. For simplicity adding a unit that acted as AIS receiver and aerial splitter with a simple USB output would give me reception from an aerial at the top of the mast and minimise the 'plumbing' required.
Click to expand...

Some Digital Yacht options here:

http://www.chartsandtides.co.uk/chartplotter/gpsdongle

This is the cheapest option: http://www.force4.co.uk/radio-ocean...-with-integral-ais-receiver.html#.VKaga2PN7x8

Seems good value at £199 for a vhf / ais receiver, but you will need a serial to usb adaptor for the laptop costing a few quid from Amazon or Ebay.
 
Last edited:
Burnham Bob said:
this is very tempting as medidian make my chart plotter software

http://www.meridian-chartware.co.uk/product/smartfind-m15-ais-receiver/

anyone know if the vhf performance suffers? i see other splitters have a built in preamp

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/item/99233358/glomex-ais-am-fm-splitter-ra201ais
Click to expand...

The Smartfind M15 S has a splitter built in but I can't find a price for it. Is it not simpler, as cheap and one less box of tricks to wire to the ships supply, by replacing your existing fixed vhf with the Radio Ocean combined vhf + ais receiver?
 
Last edited:
the cost of the smartfind is around £180 from Meridian so cheaper than the combined vhf/ais. I also currently have a standard horizon with a command mic in the cockpit as well as the mic at the chart table so i don't want to pay for the extra mic set up on a new vhf. Interfacing a new vhf/ais with the laptop is something I have not gone into and not even sure it can be done - all the pics show a radar type display on the unit itself although i know an nmea output is supplied but interfacing that with a usb input is something i'm not sure about although a standard plotter would take nmea. The smartfind simply plugs into the laptop usb and the ais data is superimposed on the chart display on the 15" screen which is larger than my chartplotter. Buying from meridian appeals as if there are any problems interfacing with the plotter software i can simply ring them for support. The wiring is simple as far as I can see. Using the 12volt which already runs close to where i will install the smartfind, all I have to do is unplug the aerial from the vhf, plug the masthead aerial into the smartfind and take the supplied lead from the smartfind to the vhf so it's hardly complicated. Glomex make a splitter with a preamp that promises no loss of signal to the vhf, and that is again dead easy to wire in. that would mean a separate ais receiver but that would be powered by the usb outlet on the laptop. All the solutions are within £30 of each other so what I'm after is the best way of displaying the ais information on my laptop without impairing the vhf performance. prices are falling all the time so by the time I have saved up enough sailing vouchers i don't think the cost will be too much.

I will only use the laptop/ais combination in busy shipping lanes and crossing the channel as most of the time i don't really need ais coastal hopping around burnham and up the blackwater, deben and orwell.
 
Last edited:
Burnham Bob said:
the cost of the smartfind is around £180 from Meridian so cheaper than the combined vhf/ais.
I will only use the laptop/ais combination in busy shipping lanes and crossing the channel as most of the time i don't really need ais coastal hopping around burnham and up the blackwater, deben and orwell.
Click to expand...

I don't think the model advertised for £180 has the vhf splitter - its listed as an option so you need to check that what they are supplying is indeed a 15S and not the cheaper Smartfind 15 otherwise you will need a splitter.
 
+1 for the Comar AIS Multi.
Very happy with mine.
Very easy to plumb in and no appreciable reduction in VHF range.
I run cm93 charts using open cpn via usb cable. The cabling is also there should you choose to use nmea to a plotter.
Fair winds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top