emTrak AIS Wifi question

[mnrkks]

Hello All,

I hope you can help to my question. I found a good second hand Transponder AIS Em-trak B921 but it does not have a Wi-Fi. I want to use it with my ipad or iphone using its application.

My question, can I make the unit with Wi-fi by simply plugging a wi-fi adaptor (transmitter) via usb?

Thanks for your responses.
Onur

 

[ithet]

You need a NMEA to wi-fi unit. Simplest/cheapest is NMEA4WiFi (similar to what I use) or a Yakka. Both available via eBay etc. These take a NMEA 0183 input from the Ais. NMEA 2000 convertors are also available but more expensive.

 

[mnrkks]

You need a NMEA to wi-fi unit. Simplest/cheapest is NMEA4WiFi (similar to what I use) or a Yakka. Both available via eBay etc. These take a NMEA 0183 input from the Ais. NMEA 2000 convertors are also available but more expensive.

Thanks so it is an additional cost and maybe better to find something that WiFi is already integrated...

 

[ithet]

I bought new (Vesper) and found it cheaper to add one of these units than buy with integrated WiFi.

 

[mnrkks]

I bought new (Vesper) and found it cheaper to add one of these units than buy with integrated WiFi.

can you please let me know which model of the vesper you bought?

 

[ithet]

XB-6000.

Very similar to the Emtrak except it has an internal GPS antenna. But I would buy whichever is best deal.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Not 100%,

XB-6000.

Very similar to the Emtrak except it has an internal GPS antenna. But I would buy whichever is best deal.

The Emtrak has an internal GPS

 

[ithet]

Yes, don't they all? The XB-6000 has an actual antenna built onto the case. They provide a separate mushroom for those cases when it might be needed.

 

[ithet]

Yes, don't they all? The XB-6000 has an actual antenna built onto the case. They provide a separate mushroom for those cases when it might be needed.

Scrub that, Paul is correct Emtrak now with integrated antenna. So I would say it's just down to price.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks so it is an additional cost and maybe better to find something that WiFi is already integrated...

Depends how much the Emtrak is.

Thanks so it is an additional cost and maybe better to find something that WiFi is already integrated...

The Yakker that ithet mentions in post #2 cost about £80, not the end of the World, obviously depends on how much the Emtrak is priced at I've been fitting brand new ones at £490.

The Emtrak B922 has wifi and costs about £690, the B921 (the most basic model that Emtrak make, is £490), The B924 also has a built in splitter, costs £910, but a decent splitter will cost about £300.

Fitting separate boxes also involves more work, needs more space and also need additional cabling and power sources.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Hello All,

I hope you can help to my question. I found a good second hand Transponder AIS Em-trak B921 but it does not have a Wi-Fi. I want to use it with my ipad or iphone using its application.

My question, can I make the unit with Wi-fi by simply plugging a wi-fi adaptor (transmitter) via usb?

Thanks for your responses.
Onur

I'm dubious whether a secondhand AIS will be good value, as the MMSI cannot be changed by the user - if the previous owner has set it then you need to have a dealer un- or re-set it.

I went for one of em-trak's B950 models, as these have a slightly higher transmission wattage and SOTDMA, "class B+", which should ensure slightly more reliable transmission.

If you have a B&G Vulcan chartplotter then it can act as base station and share AIS data (from an em-trak, for example) with clients such as laptops and iPads.