NASA Stand alone AIS

[firstascent2002]

Hi guys

I've bought a second hand NASA stand alone AIS. With a "stubby" on the pushpit the signal strength bar sits around the bottom 1/4 of the range...can that be right? Its not my BMC connnection as it was a ready fixed one onto the VHF flex.

Also, the unit can be se t to recive channel A or B. Which should it be set to? Going back and forth in the set up is irritating as hell!

Finally, Is it always north up or can it be set to heads up?

Thanks in advance

J

 

[Talbot]

Not a great fan of the stand alone system. I prefer the feed to a laptop and then software that also works out cpa and appropriate warning.

I also had problems with a stubby aerial achievin about 7nm. I changed to a 1.1m whip and more than doubled the range. I also set it up so you could exchange aerial wit the VHF, thus have an emergenct VHF aerial separate from the mast, plus AIS derived from the masthead aerial.

 

[Chrissie]

There is a third setting, for A and B together, I have a metre long ariel on the push pit and it works great.

 

[relvidge]

I had a stubby on the pushpit feeding a "Comar AIS-2-NMEA AIS Engine" rubbish range (<5nm). Ended up with a splitter, much better range - not tested it in open water yet.

 

[WayneS]

North up only.

We had the Stand Alone device and have since changed to the engine feeding a plotter. Engine is a million times better IMHO

 

[DaveS]

"I've told you a million times not to exaggerate!" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[WayneS]

Oops. Sorry.

 

[CPD]

What is really important is to get the threshold setting right. It should be just below the signal strength. I have a 1m whip on the pushpit and have picked up at 30+ nm in open seas. Truly great bit of kit.