Confused about VHF and AIS

[Curryfrog]

I am refitting a Halcyon 27 for an Atlantic crossing and am looking to fit (amongst other things) an AIS transponder and to replace my ageing DSC VHF set.
I have looked at other forums and am, quite frankly, very confused. Everyone speaks in symbols and initials and I simply do not understand what on earth they are talking about.
Could someone please explain to a non technical person how to go about buying and fitting a VHF and AIS transponder (I want to transmit as well as receive), into a small old yacht.
I will want to fit a chartplotter as well and I do understand that it all has to be NMEA 2000 compatible. (There - that's EVERYTHING I understand!)
Please humour an old man and keep it simple!
Many thanks in advance.

 

[cobolt]

The simplest way would be to replace your old VHF with a new VHF/AIS Transponder combo (e.g. Standard Horizon GX6500 model).
The alternative is to replace the VHF with a new one (or even keep your existing one), and add an additional stand-alone AIS Transponder.

Either of the 2 above methods will require the fitting of a second antenna (or a very good antenna splitter). The advantage of a second antenna is that you have a level of redundancy if say the masthead antenna is lost...you could wire up a transom mounted AIS antenna to the VHF in extremis.

To then wire up to your chart plotter, it is not necessarily correct your need NMEA2000 wiring.
AIS can also be transmitted over the older NMEA0183 standard. You would have to check your existing chart plotter manual, to see if it can accept AIS over NMEA0183.

If you are buying a new chart plotter anyway (not too sure from your original post), then it's likely it will have both NMEA0183 and NMEA2000 networking anyway, so will be trivial to wire the AIS feed to over either wiring system.

Ben

I am refitting a Halcyon 27 for an Atlantic crossing and am looking to fit (amongst other things) an AIS transponder and to replace my ageing DSC VHF set.
I have looked at other forums and am, quite frankly, very confused. Everyone speaks in symbols and initials and I simply do not understand what on earth they are talking about.
Could someone please explain to a non technical person how to go about buying and fitting a VHF and AIS transponder (I want to transmit as well as receive), into a small old yacht.
I will want to fit a chartplotter as well and I do understand that it all has to be NMEA 2000 compatible. (There - that's EVERYTHING I understand!)
Please humour an old man and keep it simple!
Many thanks in advance.

 

[pvb]

The simplest way would be to replace your old VHF with a new VHF/AIS Transponder combo (e.g. Standard Horizon GX6500 model).

Any suggestions for where to buy a GX6500? As far as I'm aware they're not available.

 

[GHA]

I am refitting a Halcyon 27 for an Atlantic crossing .....

A few thoughts....

Power!! Running a chart plotter and a VHF offshore will severely eat into you batteries and wallet by the time you get new chart folios. Then if plans change and you need a new folio you could be stuck in a dirty harbour for weeks waiting an overnight delivery.
Personally I'd forget about a plotter and put the money into power - batteries/solar.
Many long distance cruisers use a laptop these days for nav.
The matsutech transponder may well be worth a look in your case for a transponder and display, plus you could easily link it to a laptop for a better display though once away from the channel most of the world doesn't have much traffic so a small display works fine - I've done the atlantic solo with a nasa AIS standalone.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matsutec-HP-33A-Transponder-Marine-Navigator/dp/B01LY463P5

Running a VHF offshore will eat into the precious power as well - maybe a handheld in the cockpit if you want to receive? I actually use a cheap little ham radio handheld for receive.

 

[Bobc]

I would suggest that the AIS transponder linked to a small chartplotter are the 2 items you want to leave powered on.

This allows you to see other vessels and get a proximity alarm (in case you are asleep), and also lets them see you.

The VHF does not need to be hooked up to ay of it, as you'll only switch it on if you want to call up a nearby ship, and you won't need to use the AIS for identification as he'll be the only one in your VHF range.

So just get a cheap standalone AIS transponder and a small chartplotter with low power consuption.

 

[doug748]

Bearing in mind GHA's comments about power consumption on a small boat, these are designed to have a low draw and have a number of useful features:

http://www.cactusnav.com/vesper-marine-wmx850-watchmate-class-transponder-p-12729.html

Linked to a suitable Icom radio you can call targets direct, tho you would not need to keep the VHF on all the time. It has sophisticated alarm and filtering software which would warn you of only those targets which pose a threat on the deep ocean. It also functions as an anchor alarm, SWR meter (to test you aerial set up) and has a quite excellent CPA graphic screen for assessing collision risk.

You would probably also want a plotter which could be turned on and off as needed and could well stand alone. You might take the view that a network, of any sort, is just something else to go awry.

 

[Boo2]

The simplest way would be to replace your old VHF with a new VHF/AIS Transponder combo (e.g. Standard Horizon GX6500 model)...

But see the following quote from the Panbo website here :

1/6/2018 Warning: Before you get excited about the GX6500 combo Class B AIS and VHF, know that it is still not available for purchase and according to Standard Horizon may never be available. I do not know the details of the apparently failed approval process, but I’m sure that SH was once confidant that it could be approved, and I know they’re embarassed about what’s happened. Meanwhile, the less ambitious but still feature rich GX6000 also hasn’t shipped, but apparently that may change this year. ~ Ben

Boo2

 

[GHA]

Bearing in mind GHA's comments about power consumption on a small boat, these are designed to have a low draw and have a number of useful features:

http://www.cactusnav.com/vesper-marine-wmx850-watchmate-class-transponder-p-12729.html

Linked to a suitable Icom radio you can call targets direct, tho you would not need to keep the VHF on all the time. It has sophisticated alarm and filtering software which would warn you of only those targets which pose a threat on the deep ocean. It also functions as an anchor alarm, SWR meter (to test you aerial set up) and has a quite excellent CPA graphic screen for assessing collision risk.

You would probably also want a plotter which could be turned on and off as needed and could well stand alone. You might take the view that a network, of any sort, is just something else to go awry.

Looks like really nice unit

Re the plotter - check out Delos or Salty seadog or the rest of the cruising boats on youtube - they're all on laptops. Apart from the cost of chart folios opencpn on a notebook/laptop is just too useful not to have even if just for getting google satellite images displayed, charts are considered very suspect until proven otherwise...

 

[johnalison]

As a slight drift, if you are concerned about collision risks an active radar 'reflector' will increase your visibility, and can also function as a radar alarm, for very little current drain.

 

[Boo2]

Bearing in mind GHA's comments about power consumption on a small boat, these are designed to have a low draw and have a number of useful features:

http://www.cactusnav.com/vesper-marine-wmx850-watchmate-class-transponder-p-12729.html

Looks like really nice unit

Agreed, but according to the manual on the Vesper Marine website here it's not N2K which the OP requested ? Also, would need either another VHF arial or else a splitter = £more.

Boo2

 

[prv]

Agreed, but according to the manual on the Vesper Marine website here it's not N2K which the OP requested ?

True, but since it has its own screen he might not need to link it to a plotter at all. I certainly think the Watchmate on its own, with nothing else powered up, is a good choice for a power-constrained ocean yacht that nevertheless wants to use AIS.

Also, would need either another VHF arial or else a splitter = £more.

I think that will apply to almost any transmitter.

Pete

 

[Boo2]

True, but since it has its own screen he might not need to link it to a plotter at all. I certainly think the Watchmate on its own, with nothing else powered up, is a good choice for a power-constrained ocean yacht that nevertheless wants to use AIS.

I think that will apply to almost any transmitter.

I agree it looks like a good product at a good price but I'd go for a chartplotter + external headless AIS myself, quite a few of which come with built in splitters these days. It's true that I already have the CP though

Boo2

 

[PaulRainbow]

I am refitting a Halcyon 27 for an Atlantic crossing and am looking to fit (amongst other things) an AIS transponder and to replace my ageing DSC VHF set.
I have looked at other forums and am, quite frankly, very confused. Everyone speaks in symbols and initials and I simply do not understand what on earth they are talking about.
Could someone please explain to a non technical person how to go about buying and fitting a VHF and AIS transponder (I want to transmit as well as receive), into a small old yacht.
I will want to fit a chartplotter as well and I do understand that it all has to be NMEA 2000 compatible. (There - that's EVERYTHING I understand!)
Please humour an old man and keep it simple!
Many thanks in advance.

Welcome to the madhouse

AIS, this nice little unit is not too expensive, it has NMEA200 and will also connect to NMEA0183 devices, plus it will connect to your laptop or Mac. Comes with it's own GPS receiver (all AIS transponders need GPS, either a separate receiver or one built in). Simple enough to install and setup, i have no connection to this company, they do offer good prices and service though.

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

For VHF i would recommend a Standard Horizon. As you will be fitting the AIS there is no need to pay for the fancy AIS enabled VHF, a bog standard one with the GPS connected to it, or a more expensive model with built in GPS, whatever takes your fancy.

Both of the above will need VHF antennas or one antenna and a splitter. I would fir two antennas, one at the masthead for the VHF and one on the pushpit for the AIS. Connect them so that the pushpit antenna cable will reach the VHF and you have a backup VHF antenna that should give you VHF capabilities even if dismasted.

 

[pvb]

Welcome to the madhouse

AIS, this nice little unit is not too expensive, it has NMEA200 and will also connect to NMEA0183 devices, plus it will connect to your laptop or Mac. Comes with it's own GPS receiver (all AIS transponders need GPS, either a separate receiver or one built in). Simple enough to install and setup, i have no connection to this company, they do offer good prices and service though.

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

I'd agree that the em-trak B100 seems to be a great value AIS transceiver. Curiously, em-trak are selling directly on eBay for only £350 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/em-trak-B100-AIS-Class-B-Transceiver-/123257834268

 

[GHA]

True, but since it has its own screen he might not need to link it to a plotter at all. I certainly think the Watchmate on its own, with nothing else powered up, is a good choice for a power-constrained ocean yacht that nevertheless wants to use AIS.

Agree, but not just because of power - having the more important stuff standalone is, IMHO, near essential on an ocean boat cause things will break. AIS transponder with display gives you a separate GPS source as well.

Back to plotters - never actually owned one....

But what sort of cost would you be looking at for chart folios?

OP mentioned Atlantic crossing so probably looking at UK/France/Atlantic Spain & Portugal/Canaries/possibly Cape Verde/ then big chunk of Caribbean & Azores for the way back.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'd agree that the em-trak B100 seems to be a great value AIS transceiver. Curiously, em-trak are selling directly on eBay for only £350 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/em-trak-B100-AIS-Class-B-Transceiver-/123257834268

Well spotted. That's a little cheeky of them. I fitted one a couple of weeks ago for a customer (they supplied it) and was really impressed with the package.

 

[prv]

I'd agree that the em-trak B100 seems to be a great value AIS transceiver. Curiously, em-trak are selling directly on eBay for only £350 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/em-trak-B100-AIS-Class-B-Transceiver-/123257834268

My experience with Em-Trak is limited but all positive. The kit seems well made, and I got a speedy and knowledgeable response to a technical query from their UK office near Bath (which I think might be their HQ).

The config software is the same as for the McMurdo units, which might or might not betray a common heritage.

Pete

 

[Frank Holden]

What I have and what I would recommend....

What I would recommend is a stand alone AIS.... either this one or one with the same features https://www2.vespermarine.com/transponders/ais-watchmate-tx?_s=uk
It can run day and night with limited power requirements. All it needs is a taffrail mounted VHF antenna. It can also send info to either your pc or plotter .. more on that in a mo..

I have an AMEC Camino AIS from milltech https://www.milltechmarine.com ... mine is 5 yo old so things have moved on a little since then. It feeds data to a 'dumb' Vesper display and also to the ship's PC ... both of which can be turned off if I so desire while the AIS is still happily transmitting.... so v low power requirement.

I really couldn't be bothered with a dedicated plotter... mainly cos of the $$$$$ involved.

I have an ACER VERITON L670G PC that I picked up off Ebay for about US$100 and an LG screen.
This handles charts ( Open CPN ) , Wefax, AIS, Sailmail....... it came with W7.

Two points with that setup ... on your yacht you would need to work on protecting it from the weather.... on any yacht you need to protect it from the weather.

And also....

Computer and screen are both 18V.... ooops...

Easily sorted with one of these... which can also provide 18V for charging your laptop.. http://www.mini-box.com/DCDC-USB-200

Back up is provided by a Macbook Pro running VMWare Fusion..... and paper charts... and iSailor on phone and iPad

Hope this helps...