Ais transmitter as a standalone unit

[Oscarpop]

I installed a garmin ais 300 about 6 months ago and am very happy with it.

However we are now planning on doing more offshore sailing and am considering a transmitter.

It would however seem as if you can buy a transceiver or a receiver but not simply a transmitter .

Anyone know if such a product, or do I just sell the receiver on the for sale bit and buy the transponder?

 

[prv]

Never heard of a transmitter only. If you did have one, I think you'd need an unusually clever receiver otherwise it would be constantly panicking that there's another yacht almost on top of you

For what it's worth, personally I'm a fan of the Vesper Watchmate range.

Pete

 

[Cardo]

I've never heard of a transmitter only device. If I were you, I'd sell the receiver you have and pick up a transponder.

However, you mention you want it because you're going to be doing more offshore sailing. Be aware, AIS uses standard VHF signals therefore has a limited range and therefore won't be of much use if you're properly offshore. I have an AIS transponder and have found it most useful when coastal sailing or when crossing the channel so the big ships know we're out there. It'll be next to useless in the middle of the Atlantic.

 

[pvb]

Be aware, AIS uses standard VHF signals therefore has a limited range and therefore won't be of much use if you're properly offshore.

Why not? It'll still give information on ships in the vicinity.

 

[maxi77]

I've never heard of a transmitter only device. If I were you, I'd sell the receiver you have and pick up a transponder.

However, you mention you want it because you're going to be doing more offshore sailing. Be aware, AIS uses standard VHF signals therefore has a limited range and therefore won't be of much use if you're properly offshore. I have an AIS transponder and have found it most useful when coastal sailing or when crossing the channel so the big ships know we're out there. It'll be next to useless in the middle of the Atlantic.

Only when there are no ships near you, if they are near you they will show up just like ships in coastal waters.

 

[Cardo]

Why not? It'll still give information on ships in the vicinity.

Only when there are no ships near you, if they are near you they will show up just like ships in coastal waters.

I've never done any real offshore sailing before, such as an Atlantic crossing, but as I understand it you're unlikely to see any other boats after the first day out of port. The likelihood therefore of bumping into another boat are pretty limited, and would likely be covered by ensuring someone is keeping watch. Buying a transponder for this purpose therefore seems like a bit of a waste. I'm not saying one should not get an AIS transponder, I think they're wonderful things and have one myself, but I simply think offshore cruising is not something where it'll shine.

 

[nimbusgb]

Regardless of what the sceptics say i have seen ais 'hits' well beyond 20 miles range with no more than a pushpit mounted 1/4 wave whip dedicated to my Ais tranceiver. I think the furthest was about 50 miles.

 

[Conachair]

I've never done any real offshore sailing before, such as an Atlantic crossing, but as I understand it you're unlikely to see any other boats after the first day out of port. The likelihood therefore of bumping into another boat are pretty limited, and would likely be covered by ensuring someone is keeping watch. Buying a transponder for this purpose therefore seems like a bit of a waste. I'm not saying one should not get an AIS transponder, I think they're wonderful things and have one myself, but I simply think offshore cruising is not something where it'll shine.

I think that very much depends on how good a radar reflector your boat is. Ships are pretty rare out there but they do appear from time to time, sometimes heading straight for you I'm not too bothered as my rusty steel lump gets picked up 10/15 miles away. The big boys collision avoidance seems to be done a long way away compared to us lot, on an ais receiver I could watch them change course to give me more sea room sometimes while they were still over the horizon. Doubt if I'll ever get as far as fitting a transponder but there are quite strong arguments in favour, both coastal and offshore.

 

[macd]

I'm with Nimbus, and take issue with Cardus.
Assuming a masthead aerial, AIS range is typically well over 20 miles and often very much more than that. In the Canaries they often use the signal from Madrid airport, the better part of 1000 miles away, to check installations. In fact one of the first impressions about AIS mid-ocean (near shipping lanes) is the profusion of targets visible, most of which are of no concern and of which one would be blissfully ignorant using eyeball watchkeeping.

Although it operates on VHF frequencies, AIS is in practice rather more than 'line of sight'. It often 'sees' over quite high islands which would certainly mask short-range radio signals (e.g. signals from Horta on Faial's east coast were clear when to the west of the island, which is up to 1000m high). I asked about this in a post some months ago and received an explanation which I mentally filed under 'interesting trivia' and forgot.

 

[Puggy]

I installed a garmin ais 300 about 6 months ago and am very happy with it.

However we are now planning on doing more offshore sailing and am considering a transmitter.

It would however seem as if you can buy a transceiver or a receiver but not simply a transmitter .

Anyone know if such a product, or do I just sell the receiver on the for sale bit and buy the transponder?

I have just fitted a Digital Yacht AIT2000 transponder and a Vesper Watchmate 670 display - they work a treat and I am very impressed. Great service from both DY and Vesper - very patient and responsive to my questions. Flogged my Nasa AIS Engine v3 on eBay and got only £20 less than I paid for it. Nuff said.

 

[joha]

Never heard of a transmitter only. If you did have one, I think you'd need an unusually clever receiver otherwise it would be constantly panicking that there's another yacht almost on top of you

For what it's worth, personally I'm a fan of the Vesper Watchmate range.

Pete

+ 1 vesper system v/good

John