AIS Transceivers - WIFI Enabled

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I'm considering upgrading my AIS and also wish to use my laptop and phone with WIFI from my boat, connecting to local WIFI from harbours/marinas/cafes etc.

Looking at the eleven Class-B AIS Tranceivers tested in the article, I read today in the May not April issue of Yachting Monthly, that for many of those tested, they are 'WIFI enabled'.

Only having limited knowledge of these things, and an understanding of thse things that is very limited.
Does it mean that via the same piece of kit and aerial, I can 'plug' into my laptop to also improve/amplify a wifi signal?

It does say on the Cactus website for the best value stand alone unit YM tested...............
http://www.cactusnav.com/vesper-marine-xb8000-transponder-with-built-wifi-p-12724.html

that you can............
"View AIS and navigate from your PC or tablet from anywhere on your boat over wireless connections Up to five devices connect to WiFi simultaneously".

and
"XB-8000 provides dual WiFi configuration as either a secure Access Point supporting up to five other devices or connected to an existing Access Point providing WiFi expansion capability."

Any advice in simplest terminology would be much appreciated.

S.

 

[dom]

Not sure if I've got your question right: Class B is nothing to do with wifi in the sense of internet access -- AIS transmits station to station on a dedicated VHF spectrum frequency. The wifi bit people talk about is only to internally connect the AIS box to other on-board gear.

 

[LadyInBed]

You've got the wrong end of the stick Scotty.
WIFI enabled in the AIS means that the data that AIS receives can then be rebroadcast from its Wifi so allowing your tablet / phone to get the data and display it on the charting software.

 

[RichardS]

The Vesper Marine users on here often sing the praises of the VM kit, especially the XB8000 if you are into wifi.

I've just received a new firmware update for my XB8000 from VM ...... I have remarked before that their customer service is excellent.

Anyway, it goes as follows:

We are pleased to announce the arrival of a major update to your Vesper Marine XB-8000 AIS Transponder that includes our new Anchor Watch, Man Overboard (MOB) alarms.

You can now connect an external alarm to your XB‑8000. Connect a buzzer like this one (link provided) to the blue wire to enable MOB and Anchor Watch alarming features. The alarm will also sound in your WatchMate Android or Apple mobile app and can be muted independently of the app by wiring an external switch (brown wire), or the vmAIS software utility. When the XB-8000 receives a position report from an AIS MOB it will trigger an alarm. It may receive a safety message from the AIS-MOB before it receives its position, in this case you will get two alarms, one on the first safety message, the other on the first position report.

Anchor Watch can be activated, configured and monitored remotely from your Android or Apple mobile devices using the WatchMate app (Note: as with target alarms, Apple still does not allow the app to monitor Anchor Watch alarms in the background, but the Android app can) Once activated, Anchor Watch monitors the XB-8000's high accuracy GPS position, and if it breaks a circular geo-fence that you have configured around your vessel, the alarm will trigger. It does all this regardless of your mobile device's status. If your mobile is switched off, or the WatchMate app is closed, your XB-8000 is still monitoring the situation.


Good grief. It's difficuly to keep up with technology!

Richard

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

There you are you see..... I'm inventing something that is very much required but not available in the same unit.

I reckon I deserve a prize...

S.

 

[Dockhead]

The Vesper XB8000 is one of only a very few devices which will bridge your other network data to WiFi, and not just the device's own data, and regardless of whether it's N2K or 0183. This is really extremely useful because then various programs (OpenCPN, INavX, etc.) have access to the whole boat network. And also AIS data, of course.

One other is a Simrad or B&G plotter plus WiFi1 module. This likewise translates network data (including AIS) and sends it over WiFi. I use it with INavX, OpenCPN, EDO Instruments, and other programs, on various devices. It is really very useful.

Digital Yacht make dedicated WiFi adapters, but it is more efficient to use a device which does this plus another function, like the Vesper or Navico plotters.

Disappointingly, the Raymarine plotters with WiFi built in cannot, apparently, be used for this purpose. At least, I was unable to figure it on when I tried on a friend's boat last weekend.

 

[RichardS]

The Vesper XB8000 is one of only a very few devices which will bridge your other network data to WiFi, and not just the device's own data, and regardless of whether it's N2K or 0183. This is really extremely useful because then various programs (OpenCPN, INavX, etc.) have access to the whole boat network. And also AIS data, of course.

And now MOB and Anchor Watch alarms as well ...... see post #4.

The rest are going to struggle to keep up!

Richard