AIS transmitter or Radar Enhancer?

[doug748]

Despite the recent imbroglio over aspects of this question I am still not sure what to fit.

I have an AIS receiver. I don't have Radar - to be open at the outset, I don't want Radar and will not be fitting a Radar set.

The budget means that I must choose one or 'tother. For general cross channel use and around the UK, what would you pick?

 

[pvb]

I'd certainly choose an active radar target enhancer over an AIS transceiver any day. But note that the "Sea Me" mentioned in your poll is no longer available, now there's only the Echomax active enhancer.

 

[prv]

I used to be firmly on the side of a radar target enhancer, on the grounds that more commercial vessels would be paying attention to it than AIS. However, my impression now (mostly from reading accident and near-miss reports from the MAIB, CHIRP, and the Euro equivalent) is that the balance has swung the other way in both habits and equipment fit, and the lazy or distracted watchkeeper is more likely to notice an AIS target than a radar one. It's the lazy or distracted watchkeeper that you need to consider, because the diligent and attentive one will spot you visually or from a poor radar paint anyway.

But that's just my opinion, and I don't think anyone has data either way.

I currently have AIS receive and radar to track others, but nothing to call attention to myself apart from a passive reflector. If and when I decide to add something, it will be an AIS transmitter rather than an RTE. But for the moment I'm happy as I am and believe ships can see me ok.

Pete

 

[bbg]

I'd certainly choose an active radar target enhancer over an AIS transceiver any day. But note that the "Sea Me" mentioned in your poll is no longer available, now there's only the Echomax active enhancer.

+1

Here is an idea for mounting an RTE. Mount it near the cockpit, on one of these

Then you can adjust the RTE when the boat is heeled (don't forget to tack the RTE when you go about) so it maintains optimal signal strength.

I personally don't subscribe to the need to mount it at the masthead. The radar of almost any vessel will "see" the RTE long before you can see the vessel.

 

[Bru]

No option for both which would, finance permitting, be my vote

 

[Javelin]

I have both.
The one I would miss the most is the AIS transceiver.

 

[bbg]

I have both.
The one I would miss the most is the AIS transceiver.

He already has the receiver, which IMHO is the more important part of the AIS. He is wondering whether he should get the RTE or the AIS transmitter.

Of those two, I think the RTE is much much more important.

 

[Ceirwan]

I work on a commercial vessel and my recommendation would definitely be an AIS Transponder.

While we notice both your boat on AIS and a big blob on our radar screen, the AIS has the advantage of giving us heading, speed, information about your vessel and your name. Also especially on fast craft generally we'll be glancing down at the plotter all the time to check our course.
And if you have a decent radar reflector we'll still get you on radar.

 

[lw395]

+1

Here is an idea for mounting an RTE. Mount it near the cockpit, on one of these

Then you can adjust the RTE when the boat is heeled (don't forget to tack the RTE when you go about) so it maintains optimal signal strength.

I personally don't subscribe to the need to mount it at the masthead. The radar of almost any vessel will "see" the RTE long before you can see the vessel.

Not going to be that optimal with a large carbon/water based lifeform stood in front of it.
I suspect higher may be better, not really because of line of sight range, but due to signal scattering and multipath closer to waves.
And anything on the pushpit is prone to getting broken by shorelines, particularly in Weymouth for some reason.

 

[dom]

My thoughts FWIW: an X-Band only RTE is entirely unsuitable (argument in other thread) and XS-Band ones currently retail for around £690. You'll get a cheap AIS transceiver for half of that, which opens some useful possibilities. How about:

1. An AIS tranceiver for c. £350 and
2. A top rated tri-lens radar reflector (Topcat, lw395 and other experts seem to rate these)

Big ships using S-Band may struggle to see your small radar reflection in rain, fog, etc; but on the other hand they have serious kit and will almost certainly be watching AIS. Smaller ships and trawlers will clearly see you on on their X-Band radars and AIS if they are using it. You would still have money to purchase an additional radar reflector for foggy days, which without radar you will almost certainly choose to avoid.

 

[lw395]

Any vessel with AIS can be avoided by using an AIS receiver.

I don't think any of this kit is essential, it just changes your limits a little.

I've told this tale before, but one year I had a slightly tough summer cruise with lots of fog around the Channel.
When we got back after a bit of a delay, I was mentally pricing up radars.
We sat in the Royal Dart YC and read a magazine article analysing incidences of yachts colliding with ships.
The message I took from that was yachts with radars are just as likely to be hit by a ship, possibly partly because they are more likely to be out in fog.
I think avoiding ships is more about your thought process of understanding the ships and acting within the information you have than buying the right toys, beyond having the standard basics.
It may really be better to spend the money on getting good forecasts and taking an extra day off work to avoid potential issues at source.

I like having an AIS receiver, it helps me understand the ships' actions and aids my judgement, but I don't really rely on it for avoiding being run down.
OTOH, these things are all getting cheap to the point where it seems hard to arguing against 'needing' it.

 

[Strolls]

I have both.
The one I would miss the most is the AIS transceiver.

He already has the receiver, which IMHO is the more important part of the AIS. He is wondering whether he should get the RTE or the AIS transmitter.

"Transceiver" means "transmitter + receiver".

I'm sure all AIS transmitters are transceivers.

 

[bbg]

"Transceiver" means "transmitter + receiver".

I know that.

I'm sure all AIS transmitters are transceivers.

I'm not sure. In fact I'm reasonably sure there are a lot of receivers-only on the market. I think this is one:
http://www.nasamarine.com/proddetail.php?prod=ais_engine

As I see it, the OP already receives AIS information.

His question is how to be seen better by other vessels: improve the radar signature (RTE) or show up on a ship's AIS screen (AIS transmitter). My preference would be RTE, but I note with interest that one commercial user has stated a preference for WAFIs to show up on AIS.

 

[prv]

I'm sure all AIS transmitters are transceivers.

I'm not sure. In fact I'm reasonably sure there are a lot of receivers-only on the market.

Read it again

Pete

 

[bbg]

Read it again

Pete

You're right - I read it as receivers instead of transmitters.

Yes, like Strolls I think all transmitters are transceivers but the OP said he had a receiver, and not all AIS receivers are transceivers.

 

[Lucky Duck]

OTOH, these things are all getting cheap to the point where it seems hard to arguing against 'needing' it.

When specifying the electronics for my current boat having the VHF and plotter brought AIS receiving for 'free', the transceiver and additional GPS, etc costed another £1,000 or so.

 

[jamie N]

When specifying the electronics for my current boat having the VHF and plotter brought AIS receiving for 'free', the transceiver and additional GPS, etc costed another £1,000 or so.

They're trying it on perhaps, as my AIS transceiver cost around £420 (ish), and took an hour to fit. I should add that it was a straightforward process throughout.

 

[awol]

Why not save a lot of money and just buy a book?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Avoid-Huge-Ships-John-Trimmer/dp/0870334336

 

[jamie N]

Why not save a lot of money and just buy a book?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Avoid-Huge-Ships-John-Trimmer/dp/0870334336

Very good! Are there pictures though??

 

[LadyInBed]

AIS Transceiver or Active Radar Enhance is a real dilemma.
Who do you want to see you?
Ships will see you with either but not all yachts have Radar, or if they have, may not have it turned on!
These days, a lot of yachts have AIS receivers, and normally have them on, as they aren't power hungry.
So on balance, I would go for the AIS Transceiver.