Recommendations for AIS Transponder

[joyfull]

Any recommendations for am AIS transponder, UK based.

Would like to link to Raymarine chartplotter and Standard Horizon VHF.

Cactus are offering Digital Yacht AT 1500 for £499 and an Icom 500 for £499.

Not sure if they are 2kw or 5kw. Does it matter. The DY includes an aerial, though could I use a splitter on the existing VHF antenna?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[pvb]

For typical leisure boat use, it doesn't really matter whether you have 2W or 5W transmitting power - the range will be adequate anyway. The 5W units use a different method of getting a transmission slot, which is more reliable, but mainly of interest to faster boats.

You should also consider em-trak, who now claim to be the world's leading supplier of AIS transceivers. Their products are UK-designed, built in Europe and have a 3-year global warranty.

The em-trak B921 has both NMEA0183 and NMEA2000, and costs around £370.

You could use an antenna splitter - or the em-trak B923 at around £490 has an integral antenna splitter.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Emtrak B923 - 2w, built in splitter, N2K, MNEA 0183 and USB

Emtrak B953 - 5w, built in splitter, N2K, MNEA 0183 and USB

Both have internal GPS antenna and receiver, so nothing additional to buy or fit, just the one small box.

I've suppied and fitted several of both units, the 953 seems popular at the moment, as it's the newer SOTDMA spec, higher output and transmits more often.

 

[scruff]

Following thread with interest. I'm planning on waiting for Covid Lockdowns to be thing of the past before getting a transmitter - too many folk snooping on marine traffic website trying to "out" folk for sailing last year for my liking.

Is it possible to have ais transmit, but your location not be broadcast online?

 

[pvb]

Is it possible to have ais transmit, but your location not be broadcast online?

No.

 

[PaulRainbow]

For typical leisure boat use, it doesn't really matter whether you have 2W or 5W transmitting power - the range will be adequate anyway. The 5W units use a different method of getting a transmission slot, which is more reliable, but mainly of interest to faster boats.

You should also consider em-trak, who now claim to be the world's leading supplier of AIS transceivers. Their products are UK-designed, built in Europe and have a 3-year global warranty.

The em-trak B921 has both NMEA0183 and NMEA2000, and costs around £370.

Emtraks parent company, SRT Marine, make the AIS receivers for many other brands, you can even have your own branding:

Any of these look familiar ?

OEM AIS Transceivers - SRT Marine Systems plc

 

[PaulRainbow]

Following thread with interest. I'm planning on waiting for Covid Lockdowns to be thing of the past before getting a transmitter - too many folk snooping on marine traffic website trying to "out" folk for sailing last year for my liking.

Is it possible to have ais transmit, but your location not be broadcast online?

Don't think so, but you can fit a "silent" switch, so you can turn transmit off when you want, but still receive.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

I’m currently thinking of upgrading my AIS from class B to B+. If you’re shelling out £500 anyway why not future proof a bit and go B+.
Navico V3100 SOTDMA Class B AIS Transponder

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Following thread with interest. I'm planning on waiting for Covid Lockdowns to be thing of the past before getting a transmitter - too many folk snooping on marine traffic website trying to "out" folk for sailing last year for my liking.

Is it possible to have ais transmit, but your location not be broadcast online?

You can turn off transmit and sail in stealth mode. You might get run down by a ferry though....

 

[pvb]

I’m currently thinking of upgrading my AIS from class B to B+. If you’re shelling out £500 anyway why not future proof a bit and go B+.
Navico V3100 SOTDMA Class B AIS Transponder

£780 is a premium price for that Navico transceiver. The em-trak B951 has essentially the same features for only £450 - em-trak B951 Class B SOTDMA 5W AIS Transceiver - 430-0009

And it has a 3-year global warranty.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

£780 is a premium price for that Navico transceiver. The em-trak B951 has essentially the same features for only £450 - em-trak B951 Class B SOTDMA 5W AIS Transceiver - 430-0009

And it has a 3-year global warranty.

Interesting, I was comparing to the Digital Yacht units which are a fair bit more. Onwa do a B+ but without NMEA2k for just over £300, the user manual is a bit ambiguous re the SOTDMA though

 

[pvb]

Interesting, I was comparing to the Digital Yacht units which are a fair bit more. Onwa do a B+ but without NMEA2k for just over £300, the user manual is a bit ambiguous re the SOTDMA though

You'd be hard pressed to beat em-trak for value. I wouldn't buy an Onwa, for a few reasons, mainly that it doesn't support NMEA2000.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

You'd be hard pressed to beat em-trak for value. I wouldn't buy an Onwa, for a few reasons, mainly that it doesn't support NMEA2000.

And the 951 has built in gps antenna I can feel an uncomfortable twitching of the debit card....?

 

[wiggy]

I have an Em-Trak, previous generation, it’s been faultless. I bought it direct and they were superb to deal with.

 

[PaulRainbow]

And the 951 has built in gps antenna I can feel an uncomfortable twitching of the debit card....?

The 953 also includes a splitter, i've supplied and fitted a few of them recently, really easy to install, just the one box.

 

[stuartwineberg]

The 953 also includes a splitter, i've supplied and fitted a few of them recently, really easy to install, just the one box.

Hi Paul, I've got old networked E series Raymarines on my boat (Early 2000s date) with a Raymarine AIS receiver, would the 953 be a simple unplug the Raymarine and plug the new one in?

 

[Roberto]

too many folk snooping on marine traffic website trying to "out" folk for sailing last year for my liking.

Is it possible to have ais transmit, but your location not be broadcast online?

There might be the very illegal possibility to transmit one's position and making the rest of the world think it's a totally different boat, perhaps imaginary, in your own place; some transponders are rather permissive as to MMSI modification.
A not so rare occurrence, from what I have noticed.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hi Paul, I've got old networked E series Raymarines on my boat (Early 2000s date) with a Raymarine AIS receiver, would the 953 be a simple unplug the Raymarine and plug the new one in?

It would just be a case off connecting two NMEA 0183 wires from the AIS to the NMEA 0183 input of the plotter.

 

[stuartwineberg]

It would just be a case off connecting two NMEA 0183 wires from the AIS to the NMEA 0183 input of the plotter.

Thanks Paul

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Matsutec HA-102 Marine AIS Receiver and Transmitter System Class B AIS Transponder Dual Channel Function Cstdma Function

Brand: Matsutec


4.0 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

Price:

€310.00