AIS which stand alone?

[joha]

I have been reading the previous threads on AIS with interest as I have been considering getting a stand alone set. There is the Icom MA500TR the Vesper Watchmate 850 or the Simrad A150. I like the colour display and the basic chart on the Simrad, but like the bigger display of the Vesper plus only have one VHF to vonnect as it has built in GPS, not sure about the Icom.

I wonder if anyone has any experiance of these units or any thoughts on them.

J

 

[oldvarnish]

I have a Vesper - top class, good display, and minimal draw on the battery

 

[pvb]

Why a transponder?

 

[pyrojames]

I bought the Icom, purely because I could integrate it with my VHF.

 

[joha]

why a transponder

Why a transponder?

Well i probably keep the transponder off in the solent but useful in the channel or elsewhere.

 

[aluijten]

Well i probably keep the transponder off in the solent but useful in the channel or elsewhere.

Then make sure the model you buy can be set to silent mode. The Icom cannot be set to silent mode unless you know the magic trick...

I did notice the Vesper range is now also extended with a color-touchscreen version, cool.

 

[pvb]

Well i probably keep the transponder off in the solent but useful in the channel or elsewhere.

Is it? Really? Wouldn't the extra cash be better spent on an active radar reflector? And just have a simple AIS receiver?

 

[timbartlett]

Is it? Really? Wouldn't the extra cash be better spent on an active radar reflector? And just have a simple AIS receiver?

Because receive-only AIS is like riding a bicycle without lights?

 

[sailorman]

Because receive-only AIS is like riding a bicycle without lights?

but Tim you can identify each lamp posts down the road

 

[Koeketiene]

I have been reading the previous threads on AIS with interest as I have been considering getting a stand alone set. There is the Icom MA500TR the Vesper Watchmate 850 or the Simrad A150. I like the colour display and the basic chart on the Simrad, but like the bigger display of the Vesper plus only have one VHF to vonnect as it has built in GPS, not sure about the Icom.

I wonder if anyone has any experiance of these units or any thoughts on them.

J

Looked at the Simrad - found it too fidly
No experience of the Vesper.
Going for the Icom - can interface it with my VHF. Downloade the manual it is seems a simple enuogh, nononsense kind of thing.
And given the fact that I've very pleased with other Icom equipement o/b, it was a bit of a no-brainer.

 

[fireball]

Because receive-only AIS is like riding a bicycle without lights?

I rode mine today without lights on. Should I get an aid transponder for it?

Can u find a better analogy please because this one is wrong - so wrong. - unless you explain a specific circumstance.

 

[joha]

Looked at the Simrad - found it too fidly
No experience of the Vesper.
Going for the Icom - can interface it with my VHF. Downloade the manual it is seems a simple enuogh, nononsense kind of thing.
And given the fact that I've very pleased with other Icom equipement o/b, it was a bit of a no-brainer.

Thanks for that, the Icom was the first i looked at but was not sure about the screen. Does the yellowish background work ok as a display?

J

 

[Koeketiene]

Thanks for that, the Icom was the first i looked at but was not sure about the screen. Does the yellowish background work ok as a display?

J

Quite well - much prefer it to the black/white display of some of the other models. Easier on the eyes.

 

[pyrojames]

Looked at the Simrad - found it too fidly
No experience of the Vesper.
Going for the Icom - can interface it with my VHF. Downloade the manual it is seems a simple enuogh, nononsense kind of thing.
And given the fact that I've very pleased with other Icom equipement o/b, it was a bit of a no-brainer.

+1

 

[timbartlett]

I rode mine today without lights on. Should I get an aid transponder for it?

Can u find a better analogy please because this one is wrong - so wrong. - unless you explain a specific circumstance.

Its an analogy, and no analogy is ever perfect. But I don't think it's a bad one. The obvious similarity is that AIS fulfills the same function as bicycle lights: it helps other people to see you. The assumption that other people don't need to see you so long as you can see them is (IMHO) just as silly on a boat as it is on a bicycle.

Of course there are some circumstances in which you don't need bicycle lights (broad daylight) -- and some circumstances (flitting round the Solent Cans for a couple of hours before popping back to spill beer all over the club carpet while waiting for the protest committee to decide who's won) in which you don't need AIS.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Its an analogy, and no analogy is ever perfect. But I don't think it's a bad one. The obvious similarity is that AIS fulfills the same function as bicycle lights: it helps other people to see you.

So does an active RTE. And in a way that WILL be seen by every ship around.