Standard Horizon GX2200E - Any good?

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surekandoo

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I have decided to buy a DSC VHF radio to replace my existing non DSC unit.

I like the idea of having a built in GPS but wonder if I should go the whole hog and get a model with a built in AIS.

I have a 24' boat and rely on a hand held Garmin GPS with built in charts for position etc. with a 12v lead. I'm reluctant to attempt to wire this into a basic DSC radio.

Thoughts, comments & opinions please
 
It's an excellent radio. I have the close predecessor, the 2100, and am very happy with it.

The only question would be whether it's overkill for your boat and style of sailing, and only you can really answer that.

You would for instance need a plotter or other screen (tablet, Vesper display...) to view the AIS data, the built-in display on the radio is not really up to the job except in places with so little traffic that you don't really need AIS in the first place.

Pete
 
I agree that it's overkill unless you have plans to make use of the AIS data. As an alternative, the Standard Horizon GX1700E has built-in GPS and is only £155 (about half the price of the GX2200E).
 
prv said:
It's an excellent radio. I have the close predecessor, the 2100, and am very happy with it.

The only question would be whether it's overkill for your boat and style of sailing, and only you can really answer that.

You would for instance need a plotter or other screen (tablet, Vesper display...) to view the AIS data, the built-in display on the radio is not really up to the job except in places with so little traffic that you don't really need AIS in the first place.

Pete
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+1, especially the bit about the display on the radio being too small to view AIS data.
 
Good advice boys, although I do sail extensively in the Thames estuary from Southwold to Ramsgate.

I've only ever had one slight scare with a large commercial vessel (big green dutch dredger going like a bat out of hell) hence the interest in AIS.

I had a feeling that the display would be too small but thought that the alarms might be useful.
 
surekandoo said:
I had a feeling that the display would be too small but thought that the alarms might be useful.
Click to expand...

Hmm, dunno. I've not tried the alarm built into the radio as I use a Vesper dedicated AIS display which has more sophisticated handling:

watchmate-tn.jpg


But I think the radio AIS alarm is pretty basic (but then so are many plotters). You'll probably end up with lots of false alarms, which will either annoy you or force you to turn it off. And with the small screen, if it starts beeping, will you be able to quickly figure out what it's warning you about and what you should do next?

The 2000-series radios are great as a source of AIS data to view on another device, but the only time I think they'd be useful standalone is on an ocean crossing where you just want to know that your one ship a week is out there somewhere.

Pete
 
I thought long and hard about buying one last Summer, mainly due to the price (which is now dropping to around £290 if you shop around). Went on my VHF DSC course in the Spring, and decided I would buy the radio.

FWIW I think it's a great buy, and I only have a 22 footer, but do cross the Channel occasionally, and thought the AIS facility would be a help of sorts, not wanting to fork out on , if you like, stand alone AIS sets. Even just being able to see the names of the ships in your area is helpful. I also have a SH C180 plotter and although I haven't yet done it, it's a simple enough job to connect up the two, and use the CP screen for the AIS display. And there's no additional aerial required!

I'm certainly glad I bought one.
 
surekandoo said:
I suppose it would depend on how little I could buy an Hp-33a for. Best price I've seen is £280 so far.
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As I recall, I paid about £300 all in, and a further £20 or so in customs charges a few weeks later. It's such good value that I really don't think it's worth worring about the last couple of didits too much. In any case, I am assured that Susan Liao, who does the business, does not haggle!
 
surekandoo said:
I have decided to buy a DSC VHF radio to replace my existing non DSC unit.

I like the idea of having a built in GPS but wonder if I should go the whole hog and get a model with a built in AIS.

I have a 24' boat and rely on a hand held Garmin GPS with built in charts for position etc. with a 12v lead. I'm reluctant to attempt to wire this into a basic DSC radio.

Thoughts, comments & opinions please
Click to expand...

I have a (older) GX1500E and installed a GX2200E for a friend last winter, including a remote station. The great thing was the ease of installation and that the in-built GPS worked below decks. Great radio, and usable for AIS, although as mentioned elsewhere, more useful if linked to a plotter. A lot of "bangs per buck" IMHO
 
The GX2200E is a great radio if you do not have already an AIS receiver and/or GPS. Connected to a chart plotter or PC running OpenCPN gives IMHO a complete navigation system.

If you already have an AIS receiver of wish to have an AIS transceiver like the Hp-33a you will have duplicate AIS and GPS which could be an advantage if cost was not important.

I already had a NASA AIS connected to a PC wit OpenCPN so I went for the SH GX2000 that has all the AIS and GPS display functions but not the receivers so I feed the data into the radio from my external AIS and GPS as well at to by PC.

So if I was doing my setup a I would consider still getting the GX2000 but also getting the Hp-33a if I needed an AIS display or the Matsutec HA-102 connected to my radio and my PC. I also have a duplicate display at my helm.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...and-transmitter-system/600627_1924866529.html
This could also be included into a ipad system using wifi as discussed in another thread.
 
Appledore said:
I also have a SH C180 plotter and although I haven't yet done it, it's a simple enough job to connect up the two, and use the CP screen for the AIS display. And there's no additional aerial required!

I'm certainly glad I bought one.
Click to expand...

I strongly recommend you get the VHF talking to the plotter. We have a very similar set up, but with a GX2100, and getting them to talk to each other was easy. The AIS info is then clearly displayed on the plotter (and in my case, the VHF gets its position fix every second or so, but you don't need that). I bought a small 4 pin plug and socket from Maplins, and soldered the appropriate wires from the VHF and plotter to those, so it is easy to disconnect them, should you wish to remove them from the boat over winter. The SH instructions for getting their products talking to each other were easy to follow, even for an electronics numpty like me.....
 
Kwik Decision said:
I strongly recommend you get the VHF talking to the plotter. We have a very similar set up, but with a GX2100, and getting them to talk to each other was easy. The AIS info is then clearly displayed on the plotter (and in my case, the VHF gets its position fix every second or so, but you don't need that). I bought a small 4 pin plug and socket from Maplins, and soldered the appropriate wires from the VHF and plotter to those, so it is easy to disconnect them, should you wish to remove them from the boat over winter. The SH instructions for getting their products talking to each other were easy to follow, even for an electronics numpty like me.....
Click to expand...

It's just a question of time and whenever it stops raining!! Only yesterday I was looking for a suitable plug and socket from an auto parts place, but couldn't find what I wanted. I will look at the Maplins site now, thanks. It's the next job after re-rigging the mast and getting it raised again - when it stops raining!!:(
 
I bought a SH VHF radio with an internal GPS receiver and was very impressed with the results. Then they brought out the AIS model GRRRRRR
 
I have the GX2100 and a cockpit mike. I agree the AIS screen is small but except in fog I can eyeball vessels and even the handmike is good enough to pick out those of concern and give course, speed, CPA, etc. plus the name and MMSI in case I ever want to chat. I gave up with the alarms as there are just too many fishing boats in my world. The output also goes to the plotter but while easy to watch it seems a bit too much like a video game.
 
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