Cheap Chinese AIS Transponder

[Bi111ion]

I just bought a Matsutec HP-33 A combined GPS and AIS transponder. At £270 + import duty duty it seems like it is good value. Not installed it permanently yet but initial findings on my blog. I have been waiting for transponders to fall in price and it looks like it has now happened. They are not inherently harder to make than a receiver, it is only low power transmitter and these days I am sure it is all done in a software defined radio. You will notice the only visible difference to the HP-33 which is just a GPS is the addition of a coax antenna socket. Mostly it is firmware it seems.

 

[GHA]

Ta for sharing

Worth it even just as a gps/ais reciever

 

[nigelmercier]

It seems they do several types, did you get prices?

http://www.huayang-tech.com/En/promore.asp?id=90

[EDIT] Link to UK version, stupid iPad didn't show it.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

No evidence of CE marking or type approval to allow it to be put into use in the EU.

 

[pvb]

No evidence of CE marking or type approval to allow it to be put into use in the EU.

Doesn't mean it wouldn't work, and the chances of anyone inspecting it are very small.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Doesn't mean it wouldn't work, and the chances of anyone inspecting it are very small.

No, it doesn't. However, with something that transmits, if it were to have a hissy fit and start transmitting indiscriminately, the chance of the owner being embarrassed is higher than a non-transmitting bit of kit.

 

[pvb]

No, it doesn't. However, with something that transmits, if it were to have a hissy fit and start transmitting indiscriminately, the chance of the owner being embarrassed is higher than a non-transmitting bit of kit.

True!

Frankly, I'd be more concerned about the presumed absence of any local service/repair possibilities.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

True!

Frankly, I'd be more concerned about the presumed absence of any local service/repair possibilities.

I expect mainstream ones will be down to that price before long. There's really not much inside them that isn't in a normal VHF radio.

 

[Bi111ion]

pvb: I think even with name brands I would have to post it to somewhere to have it fixed, and it came from China pretty quickly. . Angus: that is a fair point, AIS transmission is critical especially in crowded waters. I'll check the manual to see what standards it says it meets.
ps Angus: I like your website. I wrote a Seatalk interpreter too but its not as nicely coded as yours

 

[superheat6k]

pvb: I think even with name brands I would have to post it to somewhere to have it fixed, and it came from China pretty quickly. . Angus: that is a fair point, AIS transmission is critical especially in crowded waters. I'll check the manual to see what standards it says it meets.

Sorry, is it just me but IMHO AIS apart from that shown by larger commercial vessels, is a right PIA in crowded waters. On a busy Summer Saturday in the Solent AIS becomes completely useless, especially the volume of AIS ghosts from those with GPS sets that simply don't know where they are. My personal opinion is that Class B transponders should be switched off in crowded waters unless its foggy e.g. Just light fog lights on a car.

 

[Bi111ion]

Sorry, is it just me but IMHO AIS apart from that shown by larger commercial vessels, is a right PIA in crowded waters. On a busy Summer Saturday in the Solent AIS becomes completely useless, especially the volume of AIS ghosts from those with GPS sets that simply don't know where they are. My personal opinion is that Class B transponders should be switched off in crowded waters unless its foggy e.g. Just light fog lights on a car.

Why do you thin there are so many incorrect positions reported? I wonder if AIS transponders are meant not to report the position if they do not have a good fix?

 

[davidwf]

Sorry, is it just me but IMHO AIS apart from that shown by larger commercial vessels, is a right PIA in crowded waters. On a busy Summer Saturday in the Solent AIS becomes completely useless, especially the volume of AIS ghosts from those with GPS sets that simply don't know where they are. My personal opinion is that Class B transponders should be switched off in crowded waters unless its foggy e.g. Just light fog lights on a car.

Well said, even on the East Coast in the Rivers Class B is a PIA, particularily those people who leave them switched on in a marina, I have the AIS alarms turned off on my receiver these days and would only turn on in Fog.

As for imports that are not Type Approved well if you want to use them and they cause spurious transmissions you deserve to have the book thrown at you. Type approval is to ensure the kit meets the relevant standards, these include not only the message format but that the transmitter is transmitting to spec and not pumping out RF at odd frequencies that can screw up reception for everyone else. Remember AIS transmits in the same waveband as normal VHF its only got to drift a bit to screw up normal transmissions.

 

[GHA]

As for imports that are not Type Approved well if you want to use them and they cause spurious transmissions you deserve to have the book thrown at you. Type approval is to ensure the kit meets the relevant standards, these include not only the message format but that the transmitter is transmitting to spec and not pumping out RF at odd frequencies that can screw up reception for everyone else. Remember AIS transmits in the same waveband as normal VHF its only got to drift a bit to screw up normal transmissions.

All the iec and itu specs are listed here..
http://huayang-tech.en.alibaba.com/...ec_HP_33A_4_3_marine_GPS_AIS_transponder.html

 

[davidwf]

All the iec and itu specs are listed here..
http://huayang-tech.en.alibaba.com/...ec_HP_33A_4_3_marine_GPS_AIS_transponder.html

Thats what its designed to do, but if not independently tested and Type approved it could be doing anything.

 

[st599]

Don't suppose you know how much their MOB-100 costs? Looks like a good product if competitively priced.

 

[GHA]

Thats what its designed to do, but if not independently tested and Type approved it could be doing anything.

A few seconds Google shows it has Chinese CCS certificate and Product Type Approval of CFR(China Fishing Vessel Register).

 

[AngusMcDoon]

A few seconds Google shows it has Chinese CCS certificate and Product Type Approval of CFR(China Fishing Vessel Register).

That doesn't really mean anything though, does it? The CE marking and type approval regime that the EU and British Standards before that have built up over many decades experience is pretty good; I have never heard of anyone buying a transmitting radio (of any kind - phones, walky-talkies, CB, HAM, radio control, aeronautical or marine) that has not done the job it is intended to do in a safe way. For all we know those standards might not even exist or test anything useful at all.

If you want to bypass certification by buying dubious imported equipment like 2 stroke outboards on Ebay, well you will almost certainly get away with it and not do anyone too much harm. But with radio transmitting equipment you can very easily cause havoc over a wide area with safety implications, and in addition, being AIS, you are telling everyone who you are and where you are. I can't think of a better way to invite unwelcome attention from a civil servant with a knack for prosecuting people.

 

[GHA]

That doesn't really mean anything though, does it?

No idea, just spreading the info
Also no idea what EU standards apply to ais transponders or if the global specs exceed or match them.
It might be unlikely for this particular unit to bother with the process anyway, icom gave up with EU badged marine ssb radios.

 

[Bi111ion]

That doesn't really mean anything though, does it? e.

I am not sure we should be too quick to dismiss Chinese certification. Of course there is corruption in China, but I think we have seen plenty of corruption in the EU, and indeed allegations of corruption over type approval of Marine HF/MF transceivers. China is a very big maritime nation, and the company selling this unit mainly sell to the professional rather than leisure market (things like bridge watch alarm systems etc). China also has some very crowded marine environments around major ports and fishing areas. I think if they were making defective AIS equipment it would show up quickly in their home market. Of course it is true that in the EU we should use type approved equipment if we can (for SSBs that will not be possible of course if ICOM do not apply)....but I would be hesitant to imply that equipment that has passed other economic areas type approval and not our own is necessarily of a lower standard.

 

[DownWest]

Bit of marketing involved? My H/H VHF is identical to the CE marked model, just bought in the US. Same with boats, they don't CE the ones sold in the US, as they are cheaper and it might encourage imports to the EU and damage the inflated market. I very much doubt they build to a lesser spec for the non EU trade. And, the certification cost can't be a big deal.