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croc9968

croc9968

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Hi,

Apologies if this has been covered previously and I hope everyone on the forum is fit and well.

I have a 1984 Maxi 100 fitted with radar/DSC VHF with separate GPS. and a separate chart plotter. The systems are fairly old now (in electronic terms) and I'm looking to update. I am looking to purchase AIS. My question is really two:

Do I need both Radar and AIS?

Is there a single system that will combine all three (Radar/AIS/Chartplotter)?

I'm looking to simplify my electronics and I saw a Standard Horizon DSC VHF with AIS but I'm curious to see if there is a chart plotter which will do all three (excluding VHF)
 
All the main players (ie Garmin, Raymarine, B&G, Simrad, Furuno) have multi function displays that will do what you want in display terms. You'll obviously need to add the radar scanner and AIS electronics. Also interface to VHF so eg you can place a VHF call to an AIS target.
 
Scala said:
All the main players (ie Garmin, Raymarine, B&G, Simrad, Furuno) have multi function displays that will do what you want in display terms. You'll obviously need to add the radar scanner and AIS electronics. Also interface to VHF so eg you can place a VHF call to an AIS target.
Click to expand...

A Garmin plotter, connected to AIS and a Garmin VHF has the ability to call an AIS target from the plotter, by selecting the target and pressing the "Call on VHF" option, no other system can do this.
 
croc9968 said:
Hi,

Apologies if this has been covered previously and I hope everyone on the forum is fit and well.

I have a 1984 Maxi 100 fitted with radar/DSC VHF with separate GPS. and a separate chart plotter. The systems are fairly old now (in electronic terms) and I'm looking to update. I am looking to purchase AIS. My question is really two:

Do I need both Radar and AIS?

Is there a single system that will combine all three (Radar/AIS/Chartplotter)?

I'm looking to simplify my electronics and I saw a Standard Horizon DSC VHF with AIS but I'm curious to see if there is a chart plotter which will do all three (excluding VHF)
Click to expand...

A modern chartplotter is called a MFD (MultiFunction Display). It will act as a chartplotter with the addition of a chart card (some are supplied with inbuilt charts.

If you want radar, you need to fit a radome or scanner, the MFD will display this, usually split screen, separate screens or as an overlay on the chart (may need a heading sensor for this to work). The radar and MFD must be made by the same company.

Add an AIS and the MFD will overlay this onto the chart. The AIS does not need to be the same make as the MFD.

VHF can also be from any manufacturer and can usually be interconnected with the MFD or the AIS, to receive GPS data for the DSC functions. If you only want to receive AIS, something like the Standard Horizon VHF that you mention is one solution. It has inbuilt GPS, so you only need to make the connection to the plotter for incoming AIS data.

A Garmin MFD, connected to any make of AIS and a Garmin VHF, can call an AIS target from the plotter with a coupld of taps on the screen. No ther combination can do this.
 
Little Grebe said:
I have never tried it but that is a documented feature that came with a software update with my B&G set up.
Click to expand...

There was a lot of talk about doing this with B&G some time ago, but it never materialised. I'd be interested to hear if it's been implemented with a recent software update.
 
From the online copy of the manual;

If the system includes a VHF radio supporting DSC (Digital Select Calling) calls over NMEA 2000, you can initiate a DSC call to other vessels from the Zeus2 . The call option is available in the AIS Vessel Details dialog, and in the Vessel status dialog activated from the Tools panel. From the Call dialog you can change channel or cancel the call. The Call dialog is closed when the connection is established.
Click to expand...

Edit - I think the VHF software also needed updating which was a bit of a pain as it then required any remote handsets to be sent back to the manufacturer for an update.
 
Last edited:
Little Grebe said:
From the online copy of the manual;



Edit - I think the VHF software also needed updating which was a bit of a pain it then required any remote handsets to be sent back to the manufacturer for an update.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, what VHF do you have ? I've had a look around and you're correct regarding the VHFs. There are od reports of this feature working, but also seems to be a lot of confusion over which VHF sets support. It looks like not all N2K sets will do it.
 
Little Grebe said:
B&G V50/H50, ordinarily I would have been happy to give it a try this weekend but sadly it may be a while before I get the opportunity.
Click to expand...

One of the things i did read was that the V50/H50 worked, after the software updates (maybe we both read the same thing). If you think of it when you get onboard, hopefully not much longer, i'd be interested to hear how it works.
 
My set up at the moment. There is no Nav station in the Maxi so everything is situated in a shelf in the saloon. Ideally, I would like to rip out most of this and replace with a more modern multi functioning workstation that links to everything....

Garmin GPS72 mounted in saloon with cockpit repeater
JRC Radar mounted on mast (with reflector) with display in cockpit
Standard Horizon M3500 DSC VHF with cockpit command mic.
Standard Horizon GPS chart plotter in cockpit.
Navtex
 
AndyL said:
Little Grebe is correct. I have a Vulcan with B&G V40 VHF. Now I never actually tried it but the manual clearly shows it is possible.View attachment 89234
Click to expand...

Thanks Andy. I know the call button has been there for a long time, but it was originally greyed out, is yours active ?

There has also been a lot of confusion regarding DSC over N2K. It seems not all DSC/N2K sets will support calling an AIS target over N2K. I know for sure that it works with Garmin systems. Maybe you could try yours when you're allowed onboard ?

The description of how it works matches Garmins, you press the call button and get to choose a channel, or cancel it. So pressing the call button shouldn't just initiate a call.
 
croc9968 said:
My set up at the moment. There is no Nav station in the Maxi so everything is situated in a shelf in the saloon. Ideally, I would like to rip out most of this and replace with a more modern multi functioning workstation that links to everything....

Garmin GPS72 mounted in saloon with cockpit repeater
JRC Radar mounted on mast (with reflector) with display in cockpit
Standard Horizon M3500 DSC VHF with cockpit command mic.
Standard Horizon GPS chart plotter in cockpit.
Navtex
Click to expand...

You'll need to narrow it down a bit, what do you hope to end up with and where will it be fitted ?

It's important to know if you actually want to have radar.
 
PaulRainbow said:
A Garmin plotter, connected to AIS and a Garmin VHF has the ability to call an AIS target from the plotter, by selecting the target and pressing the "Call on VHF" option, no other system can do this.
Click to expand...
Hi Pau, yes - I mentioned this because my previous boat had Garmin kit and could do this, it was a potentially useful feature but not one that I actually used. I see more debate on that topic in this thread too.
 
PaulRainbow said:
A Garmin MFD, connected to any make of AIS and a Garmin VHF, can call an AIS target from the plotter with a coupld of taps on the screen. No ther combination can do this.
Click to expand...

B&G (and presumably their Simrad stablemates) has had this feature for a number of years. I can confirm that the Call feature is no longer disabled.

However I have never yet called any vessel using DSC. I still prefer to get the vessel name from AIS and make a voice call.

For the OP I feel AIS is way better (and probably cheaper) than Radar if you can only afford one. And it is mandatory to have an AIS transponder (regardless of boat size) in some countries (mostly Asian?). If money is not a factor having both is better.

Once you have used a well set up MFD you won't want to go back to separate instruments or makeshift tablets. I have a B&G setup with Zeus 3 and Vulcan as a backup/secondary. The sailing features on B&G (Sailsteer) are very impressive.
 
Last edited:
PaulRainbow said:
You'll need to narrow it down a bit, what do you hope to end up with and where will it be fitted ?

It's important to know if you actually want to have radar.
Click to expand...

I guess I will leave the radar in situ at the moment, the display for the radar is next to the companion way door next to wind and depth gauges. I will look at the MFD options from either Garmin or B and G

In regards to the VHF (SH M3500) is this still a relatively good piece of kit?
 
croc9968 said:
In regards to the VHF (SH M3500) is this still a relatively good piece of kit?
Click to expand...


Do you mean the standard Horizon GX3500

I have a standard horizon GX 2200 that will receive and dsplay AIS messages. It will allow you to make a DSC call direct from the radio or the hand mic I have in the cockpit next to my steering wheel.

Mine also displays any DSC call position on my OpenCPN chart plotter and has the best AIS display IMHO
 
Rogershaw said:
Do you mean the standard Horizon GX3500

I have a standard horizon GX 2200 that will receive and dsplay AIS messages. It will allow you to make a DSC call direct from the radio or the hand mic I have in the cockpit next to my steering wheel.

Mine also displays any DSC call position on my OpenCPN chart plotter and has the best AIS display IMHO
Click to expand...

I am definitely considering the GX 2200, ticks a lot of boxes in regards to my limited budget as well
 
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