Replacement VHF

[lustyd]

I see your point Paul, and my justification certainly is that I'm a geek so the rest is irrelevant to me. That said, I wouldn't fit a splitter in any event, two antennas just makes more sense to me given all of the factors involved. There's definitely something to be said for buying into a "system" in my experience to reduce integration woes. I've not seen this so much with N2k but it's nice having everything in one box and the network from one manufacturer where possible. I've personally no use for USB as mine will be available over both wifi and Ethernet for device connections but I can see how that would be useful on boats without networking. For me, mounting one box is certainly an easier physical installation, and configuring one box certainly seems less work and reading. But yeah, it literally is because I'm a geek, the same reason I'll probably change my charger to Victron and add in battery monitoring. The charger certainly won't change anything on my boat in terms of usage, it'll just be a nice blue colour. The difference will mainly be Bluetooth, and that's enough for me!

 

[MJWB]

I haven't seen anyone suggest that on a 26ft boat a fixed VHF might not be needed. I'd be tempted to just get a good quality handheld (with DSC). I think that as a single hander it is essential to have the VHF in the cockpit and for a 26ft boat the cost of something like the B&G fixed units with wireless repeaters (£500+) might be too much.,

Have got a handheld without DSC. Fine for about the harbour bridge open times. Limited range. Safety I want to max out on range.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Why do people keep saying this utter nonsense? The screen on a VHF is infinitely better than the screen on any dedicated AIS unit I've ever seen because dedicated AIS units DON'T HAVE SCREENS!

On the contrary; the stand alone Nasa SART AIS receiver, although now very old-school, is still available for around £250, and Marine Superstore currently offer it at the reduced price of £199.
Mentions of AIS display in all likelyhood referred to that displayed on chartplotters and MFDs.
(As it happens I have a never-used example of the Nasa product which I am considering advertising for sale.......)

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I had the Standard Horizon with built in AIS. (2100 I Think). I fed this to a separate AIS display from Vesper which only cost me £199 including packing from NZ. It worked very well as the Vesper unit enables you to filter out many targets. I filtered out anything doing less than one knot . Unfortunately Vesper stopped doing this unit which seems a shame. I also had the cockpit mike with the radio. The S/H kit was excellent. The screen on the radio went funny after 2 years and a few days, and although out of guarantee S/H replaced it free of charge.. They are a good company to do business with in my opinion.

While updating my charts during The First Great Lockdown I noticed that many Aids to Navigation are now being fitted with AIS. Filtering out targets doing less than one knot would remove these. (Apologies for thread drift).

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Specifically how is that more flexible? what's the advantage of having two power connections, two NMEA2k connections and two boxes? If the boxes were smaller I might agree but they aren't so you're gaining nothing that I can see. Functionality doesn't overlap so you're not even adding redundancy

A conventional N2K network will require only one power cable to supply all devices connected.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I see your point Paul, and my justification certainly is that I'm a geek so the rest is irrelevant to me. That said, I wouldn't fit a splitter in any event, two antennas just makes more sense to me given all of the factors involved. There's definitely something to be said for buying into a "system" in my experience to reduce integration woes. I've not seen this so much with N2k but it's nice having everything in one box and the network from one manufacturer where possible. I've personally no use for USB as mine will be available over both wifi and Ethernet for device connections but I can see how that would be useful on boats without networking. For me, mounting one box is certainly an easier physical installation, and configuring one box certainly seems less work and reading. But yeah, it literally is because I'm a geek, the same reason I'll probably change my charger to Victron and add in battery monitoring. The charger certainly won't change anything on my boat in terms of usage, it'll just be a nice blue colour. The difference will mainly be Bluetooth, and that's enough for me!

Integrating devices from different manufacturers should not be a problem; there is an adapter cable to join Raymarine ones to a generic N2K network, and said firm is now moving away from its own brand connectors.

 

[PaulRainbow]

A conventional N2K network will require only one power cable to supply all devices connected.

That is true for very low power devices, such as heading sensors, small displays etc, but MFDs, AIS, VHFs etc will still require a separate power supply.

 

[laika]

My only recommendation is, if funds allow, to get one with a numerical keypad. Typing in mmsi numbers using up/down keys soon loses its appeal.

This was my thinking when l bought my ic-m603 (or is it a 602?) but experience suggests otherwise. The current m605 is twice the price of non-keypad icoms. I like to think l know how to use dsc "properly" but in practice I rarely do:

• Mostly I use the radio for marinas, water taxis and harbour masters where dsc is no use
• I have put "important" MMSIs (like the coastguard) into the "phone book" anyway
• I sail short handed, use the remote mic far more than the unit inside, so don't get to use the keypad anyway
• AIS integration allowing selection of nearby targets from a menu would seem far more efficient than a keypad

So based on my usage over the past 10 years I'd say the ic-m605 is not worth the extra for they keypad: go for AIS integration either via n2k or integrated AIS receiver instead. I'd probably go for the former to allow for upgrading the AIS independently.

 

[rogerthebodger]

While updating my charts during The First Great Lockdown I noticed that many Aids to Navigation are now being fitted with AIS. Filtering out targets doing less than one knot would remove these. (Apologies for thread drift).

On one of my trips to Cape Town we came across a gas production rig that was transmitting an AIS signal with the status of "underway" This caused some confusion. If all OK as long as the transmitted data is correct. Id a vessel status is anchored it will/should have a speed of less than one knot but should be displayed This then Aids to Navigation which are anchored should be displayed together with anchored ships.

 

[MikeCC]

All this for a new radio on a 26 footer!

If you look at the Standard Horizon models, the GX1400E is fine, with built-in GPS. Lat/lon are only info shown for GPS.

The GX1800E has a larger screen. It can store waypoints and display shows COG, SOG and bearing to waypoint, so a handy nav backup. You can also add a remote mic if you wish.

 

[harvey38]

GX1850E and RAM 4 wired remote handset just purchased.

Small unit so easy to mount, N2K connectivity, built in GPS, built in ATIS for our trip through France and a full function wired remote for the upper helm so no worries about communication to the master set dropping out in an emergency.

£360 including extention cable for the remote handset seems a reasonable price for effectively two radios and reliable communications.

Sure I have to add AIS but I want that as a standalone set up with its own power supply, antenna etc.

 

[Bodach na mara]

One thing that nobody has mentioned is that DSC sets need a feed from a GPS unit. This can be a pain especially if you forget to turn the GPS on with the radio. It is possible to get VHF sets with built in GPS and it is worth looking for one of those.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

One thing that nobody has mentioned is that DSC sets need a feed from a GPS unit. This can be a pain especially if you forget to turn the GPS on with the radio. It is possible to get VHF sets with built in GPS and it is worth looking for one of those.

The cost of DSC VHF including GPS is not much more than those without. I expect those without will disappear from the market pretty soon.

 

[Daverw]

Not as easy to forget, we have GPS in radio, compass, AIS and chartplotter, if one is switched off the others feed the 2k

 

[lustyd]

I suspect nobody mentioned it because it's 2020 so GPS is a given on the vast majority of boats. I'm certain that the 30 or so hold outs are all reguars here, but realistically I'd wager 99% of boats have a GPS on board these days!

 

[harvey38]

GX1850E and RAM 4 wired remote handset just purchased.

Small unit so easy to mount, N2K connectivity, built in GPS, built in ATIS for our trip through France and a full function wired remote for the upper helm so no worries about communication to the master set dropping out in an emergency.

£360 including extention cable for the remote handset seems a reasonable price for effectively two radios and reliable communications.

Sure I have to add AIS but I want that as a standalone set up with its own power supply, antenna etc.