AIS transponder

Haven't installed that model but I have installed the AIT2000 and AIT3000 units and had no problems with them at all.

If you don't need NMEA2000 out, it looks a good bet provided on a GRP boat (I wouldn't recommend it on a steel yacht because of the built in GPS antenna). The AIT2000 isn't a lot more money and does come with N2K out but it requires an external antenna for the GPS. You pays yer money ...
 
Bru said:
Haven't installed that model but I have installed the AIT2000 and AIT3000 units and had no problems with them at all.

If you don't need NMEA2000 out, it looks a good bet provided on a GRP boat (I wouldn't recommend it on a steel yacht because of the built in GPS antenna). The AIT2000 isn't a lot more money and does come with N2K out but it requires an external antenna for the GPS. You pays yer money ...
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Thanks. I'm specifically looking for a unit with an integrated antenna, hence the interest. I'll double check the requirement for NMEA out.
 
Why all the fear of splitters failing??? Is it something they are so renowned for that every effort must be made to avoid them at all cost??? Or is it ignorant fear of the unknown??

They are only matching baluns and filters..... working on very (relative) low power RF on a very easy to work with part of the electromagnetic spectrum. These devices have been in very common usage since Marconi was playing with radio transmissions, many millions of then are in use every day.... all over the globe.
{/rant}
 
Hadenough said:
Yes, got one thanks, in fact a spare too, just don't want another GPS antenna.
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You could buy a transponder that takes gps position from your chart plotter gps.
The only issue that I can see with the unit is that the VHF connection sticks out like a sore thumb!
So depending on where the unit is sited, it could be prone to being knocked and broken.
 
LadyInBed said:
You could buy a transponder that takes gps position from your chart plotter gps.
Click to expand...

No you can't. AIS transmitters require a built-in GPS because they use the highly-accurate timing signal as part of the networking protocol that allows thousands of vessels to share two VHF frequencies. That accurate time isn't available over normal navigational networks like NMEA or Seatalk (any version) and probably isn't even possible due to processing delays.

Pete
 
Just to muddy the waters a bit if you are not wedded to a Digital Yacht solution and would like a display as well you could do worse than one of these.

http://www.vespermarine.com/transponders/ais-watchmate-tx.html?_s=uk

Internal/external GPS, tiny power draw, standalone display, NMEA socket. We have one and it is excellent. With a good external aerial we regularly see boats over 100nm away (don't ask me how) but if we want we can filter them out! It works great out of the box beeping when something is on a collision course.

No link with Vesper Marine - just happy to promote a great product.
 
prv said:
No you can't. AIS transmitters require a built-in GPS because they use the highly-accurate timing signal as part of the networking protocol that allows thousands of vessels to share two VHF frequencies. That accurate time isn't available over normal navigational networks like NMEA or Seatalk (any version) and probably isn't even possible due to processing delays.
Click to expand...

Not actually correct for Class B surely? Class B uses carrier-sense TDMA, so will synchronise itself to other transmissions. The internal GPS is an ITU requirement to guarantee availability of position/speed/course data.
 
pvb said:
Not actually correct for Class B surely? Class B uses carrier-sense TDMA, so will synchronise itself to other transmissions. The internal GPS is an ITU requirement to guarantee availability of position/speed/course data.
Click to expand...

Hmm, you might be right for Class B. The effect's the same in practice though - you can't buy an AIS transmitter that uses an external GPS receiver.

Pete
 
Alpha22 said:
Why all the fear of splitters failing??? Is it something they are so renowned for that every effort must be made to avoid them at all cost??? Or is it ignorant fear of the unknown??

They are only matching baluns and filters..... working on very (relative) low power RF on a very easy to work with part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Click to expand...

The receiving sort of splitters are simple. The ones which handle VHF transmission as well are a lot more complicated, with switching circuitry and dummy loads to ensure that Device A doesn't whack 25W into an antenna to which Device B is listening for milliwatts ...
 
prv said:
Hmm, you might be right for Class B. The effect's the same in practice though - you can't buy an AIS transmitter that uses an external GPS receiver.

Pete
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My Garmin AIS 600 has an external GPS that is identical to the main one I have on the full Garmin NMEA2000 Network so I have two sitting adjacent on the stern rail. OK so the AIS data comes from the one dedicated to it, but I'm told my 'guru' installer that if the main nav one fails the 2nd (AIS) one will take over and feed navigational data to the plotter, radar screen etc. I have not tested that claim.
 
prv said:
Hmm, you might be right for Class B. The effect's the same in practice though - you can't buy an AIS transmitter that uses an external GPS receiver.

Pete
Click to expand...

AIS transmitters have to have a dedicated GPS antenna but it does not have to be internal. My Vesper Marine has a dedicated mushroom antenna which has to be plugged into the (BNC?) socket on the unit. The unit does have NMEA input so could pick up the GPS position from the RS125 mushroom used by the chartplotter but it will not transmit unless its dedicated mushroom is plugged in.

Richard
 
prv said:
That's exactly why I wrote "receiver" and not "antenna".

Pete
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I think the distinction is too subtle for many of us and certainly too subtle for me! :)

Whatever, with an AIS transceiver the GPS antenna/receiver has to be dedicated to the transceiver. It cannot share a GPS antenna/receiver that may already be in place.

Richard
 
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I've fitted a number of the 1500's and got good reports so I got one for myself.
Plug it in and it works.
Bought a Shakespear antenna specifically tuned for AIS to go with it, mounted on the radar arch.
The gps seemed better than my existing one for the chartplotter and VHF so using the 0183 feed it now acts as the main gps receiver onboard as well.
In general very pleased with all the digital Yacht products I've seen.
Will probably buy their wifi booster as well in the new year for my boat.
 
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Javelin said:
I've fitted a number of the 1500's and got good reports so I got one for myself.
Plug it in and it works.
Bought a Shakespear antenna specifically tuned for AIS to go with it, mounted on the radar arch.
The gps seemed better than my existing one for the chartplotter and VHF so using the 0183 feed it now acts as the main gps receiver onboard as well.
In general very pleased with all the digital Yacht products I've seen.
Will probably buy their wifi booster as well in the new year for my boat.
Click to expand...

Many thanks, just what I was after.
 
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