AIS

[DaveOak]

I know this has been covered but I'm still in the dark! I want to install AIS on my Nic31. I don't think I can afford a transponder so it'll have to be receive only.

Given my drive for simplicity my original plan was to get the Standard Horizon 2200E to replace my rather old Sailor VHF (which works fine really). Job done.

Except that I believe the power drain from the Standard Horizon is very high at 550mA.

Plan two: The NASA AIS SART. This would need a VHF splitter and a GPS input.

Can I plug the NASA into my old Furuno GPS? I don't think it's compatible. Or can I install a new GPS aerial specifically for the NASA?

I do have a more up to date Raymarine Chartplotter installed in the cockpit which is AIS compatible but I wouldn't be using the chart plotter when off shore.

Thanks.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Moved from Ship's forum. (No idea why you posted your question there...?)

 

[RichardS]

I know this has been covered but I'm still in the dark! I want to install AIS on my Nic31. I don't think I can afford a transponder so it'll have to be receive only.

Given my drive for simplicity my original plan was to get the Standard Horizon 2200E to replace my rather old Sailor VHF (which works fine really). Job done.

Except that I believe the power drain from the Standard Horizon is very high at 550mA.

Plan two: The NASA AIS SART. This would need a VHF splitter and a GPS input.

Can I plug the NASA into my old Furuno GPS? I don't think it's compatible. Or can I install a new GPS aerial specifically for the NASA?

I do have a more up to date Raymarine Chartplotter installed in the cockpit which is AIS compatible but I wouldn't be using the chart plotter when off shore.

Thanks.

Using the chartplotter for the display and the GPS input would seem to be the obvious solution. Why wouldn't you want to use the chartplotter off-shore?

You could use a tablet or phone for the AIS display if you have one but you might need extra hardware/cables to get the AIS data onto the tablet depending upon which AIS receiver you buy.

Richard

 

[doug748]

There is a sporting chance your old Furuno will output the NMEA 0183 standard required by the Nasa unit. The manuals will be available on line for you to check.
If so, provided you are happy with the current demands of the two units working together, that would seem the best/easiest solution.

I would not be keen on a dedicated GPS output aerial (I think Digital Yacht do one) they are not the most robust things on a small boat, nor would I want a splitter. A simple VHF aerial on the pushpit will do the job and serve as an back up for your VHF 'phone.

 

[LadyInBed]

As Richard said.
If it's just because the CP screen is only showing blue, that isn't any different to a stand alone AIS unit, but you get the bonus of seeing coast when you are inshore.
Also, what are you calling 'offshore'?

 

[Eygthene]

I would second Doug748. I have an old NASA AIS "Radar" receiver that connects to my old Garmin 152 GPS and a dedicated VHF antenna on the pushpit. The whole thing works absolutely fine and we use it whenever we are likely to encounter shipping (Crossing to Isles of Scilly, crossing the channel to l'AberVrac'h, crossing from Ushant to Scilly etc.)

A bonus is that the extra VHF antenna can serve as a standby for the radio if the mast-top VHF antenna develops a fault.

Furthermore, in a way I wish I still had my old VHF radio as the frequent DSC "Securite" calls from both the UK coastguard and the French coastguard, demanding instant attention down below, to cancel the loud alarm are a nuisance to say the least.

 

[DaveOak]

Looks like you are right. Thanks for pointing it out. I'd assumed the GPS was too old for this but it's the Furuno GP-32 which I think does have NMEA connectivity. Sounds like the simplest solution. Off shore (and I'm intending transatlantic next year), there's no need for the chart plotter, or GPS for that matter. But it would be nice to run the AIS 24 hours a day.

There is a sporting chance your old Furuno will output the NMEA 0183 standard required by the Nasa unit. The manuals will be available on line for you to check.
If so, provided you are happy with the current demands of the two units working together, that would seem the best/easiest solution.

I would not be keen on a dedicated GPS output aerial (I think Digital Yacht do one) they are not the most robust things on a small boat, nor would I want a splitter. A simple VHF aerial on the pushpit will do the job and serve as an back up for your VHF 'phone.

 

[[70521]]

Given my drive for simplicity my original plan was to get the Standard Horizon 2200E to replace my rather old Sailor VHF (which works fine really). Job done.

Except that I believe the power drain from the Standard Horizon is very high at 550mA.

What is your current power usage on the "rather old Sailor VHF"?

We have a transponder fitted and I've come to the conclusion AIS is only any good for telling people when you expect to get to the pub. OK knowing the massive ship off your starboard is X, sailing from A to B, doing K knots on a course of 045 is all good and true, oh and we might get within a mile of each other in 7 minutes, but it is not essential information.

 

[DaveOak]

Manual says 100mA. I don't want to update the VHF if I don't need to. I works fine and looks great. But keeping AIS, GPS and VHF in one box sounds attractive.

 

[dk]

Firstly, I don't think you mean a Nasa SART, I think you mean the Nasa AIS radar. Yes, I know it's a weird name to call it, but then so is calling an AIS transceiver a transponder! Like the SH2200 it offers you AIS targets on a 'radar style' display, only slightly bigger. The advantage of the SH2200 is you don't need a 2nd antenna or a splitter.
Secondly, why wouldn't you want to use a chartplotter offshore?
Thirdly, why wouldn't you want other ships to see you? Why not install a full AIS tranceiver (apart from the cost that is)?

 

[[70521]]

Firstly, I don't think you mean a Nasa SART, I think you mean the Nasa AIS radar. Yes, I know it's a weird name to call it, but then so is calling an AIS transceiver a transponder! Like the SH2200 it offers you AIS targets on a 'radar style' display, only slightly bigger. The advantage of the SH2200 is you don't need a 2nd antenna or a splitter.
Secondly, why wouldn't you want to use a chartplotter offshore?
Thirdly, why wouldn't you want other ships to see you? Why not install a full AIS tranceiver (apart from the cost that is)?

I find having the chart plotter on offshore is great for collecting passage data.

 

[lw395]

Firstly, I don't think you mean a Nasa SART, I think you mean the Nasa AIS radar. Yes, I know it's a weird name to call it, but then so is calling an AIS transceiver a transponder! Like the SH2200 it offers you AIS targets on a 'radar style' display, only slightly bigger. The advantage of the SH2200 is you don't need a 2nd antenna or a splitter.
Secondly, why wouldn't you want to use a chartplotter offshore?
Thirdly, why wouldn't you want other ships to see you? Why not install a full AIS tranceiver (apart from the cost that is)?

It's a sailing boat.
The power consumption of all the gadgets adds up.
A chart plotter is really not great value for its amps when there's just empty sea to display.

 

[[3889]]

It's a sailing boat.
The power consumption of all the gadgets adds up.
A chart plotter is really not great value for its amps when there's just empty sea to display.

Agreed. I also turn off plotter offshore.

 

[DaveOak]

NASA AIS RADAR or SART. I thought the SART was an update on the RADAR. Might be wrong there. There is a huge advantage to using the SH2200 except power consumption. I wouldn't use the CPlotter off shore since it's only necessary to know one's position once a day and having the Plotter in the cockpit, it's distracting having it on when all it shows is blue water. A full transceiver would be nice but the cost. Perhaps it's worth it?

Firstly, I don't think you mean a Nasa SART, I think you mean the Nasa AIS radar. Yes, I know it's a weird name to call it, but then so is calling an AIS transceiver a transponder! Like the SH2200 it offers you AIS targets on a 'radar style' display, only slightly bigger. The advantage of the SH2200 is you don't need a 2nd antenna or a splitter.
Secondly, why wouldn't you want to use a chartplotter offshore?
Thirdly, why wouldn't you want other ships to see you? Why not install a full AIS tranceiver (apart from the cost that is)?

 

[doug748]

NASA AIS RADAR or SART. I thought the SART was an update on the RADAR. Might be wrong there. There is a huge advantage to using the SH2200 except power consumption. I wouldn't use the CPlotter off shore since it's only necessary to know one's position once a day and having the Plotter in the cockpit, it's distracting having it on when all it shows is blue water. A full transceiver would be nice but the cost. Perhaps it's worth it?

Yes, the newer NASA unit is marketed with SART attached, on the grounds that it will pick up those signals.

These are very good, though expensive, and would probably be the lowest power consumption solution:

https://downloads.vespermarine.com/docs/1702/VM_WatchMate_850_Brochure_1702_A4_web.pdf

Plus you would have the full monty / transponder. I guess it would take about 6amp/hrs out of your batteries every 24 hours. You would routinely need to have little else turned on, all it needs is attachment to an aerial.

If you search: Matsutec, you will see that a few people here have imported these items direct from the Orient. The prices seem very keen.

 

[LadyInBed]

It's a sailing boat.
The power consumption of all the gadgets adds up.
A chart plotter is really not great value for its amps when there's just empty sea to display.

We have moved into an electronic age. A CP doesn't have to stay on the 'Chart' page, normally the data pages can be set to display all sorts of exciting naught_cal data to enhance your sailing!

 

[DaveOak]

Yes, the Watchmate 850 does seem to be the way to go but it's expensive. I will have to ponder on that. The Matsutec is a much better price but reviews are mixed on its reliability.

Yes, the newer NASA unit is marketed with SART attached, on the grounds that it will pick up those signals.

These are very good, though expensive, and would probably be the lowest power consumption solution:

https://downloads.vespermarine.com/docs/1702/VM_WatchMate_850_Brochure_1702_A4_web.pdf

Plus you would have the full monty / transponder. I guess it would take about 6amp/hrs out of your batteries every 24 hours. You would routinely need to have little else turned on, all it needs is attachment to an aerial.

If you search: Matsutec, you will see that a few people here have imported these items direct from the Orient. The prices seem very keen.