Suggestions, please, for small gps plotter with AIS

[NealB]

Good morning.

Here I go (again), showing off my profound ignorance of modern digital systems.

I would like to buy a small (say 5" screen), simple, gps plotter, that shows AIS data.

Ideally, a neat, all in one unit (without connecting wires all over the place), would be great.

I am very much a technophobe, so it must be a system that just needs wiring into the ship's power supply and VHF signal (I can handle those bits), and is then ready to go.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Neal

 

[NealB]

This looks the sort thing:

http://www.altendorff.co.uk/archives/1258

I'm sure 4 years is a long time in electronics, and I'm not sure that it's available any more (or later version).

 

[Bobc]

I seem to remember that Digital Yacht did one.

Here you go http://www.piplers.co.uk/digital-yacht-smarterchart-500-ais-combo

 

[NealB]

Thanks Bobc.

 

[jwilson]

Good morning.

Here I go (again), showing off my profound ignorance of modern digital systems.

I would like to buy a small (say 5" screen), simple, gps plotter, that shows AIS data.

Ideally, a neat, all in one unit (without connecting wires all over the place), would be great.

I am very much a technophobe, so it must be a system that just needs wiring into the ship's power supply and VHF signal (I can handle those bits), and is then ready to go.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Neal

Tried to buy similar this spring: was going to connect it to a separate mini VHF aeriel. Spoke to Digital Yacht and their one has now been out of production some time. Did not want to buy the last old-stock one hanging around in a chandlers somewhere. AFAIK no-one currently making one.

 

[NealB]

Spoke to Digital Yacht and their one has now been out of production some time. Did not want to buy the last old-stock one hanging around in a chandlers somewhere. AFAIK no-one currently making one.

Hmmm....thanks.

I suspected that they may have been discontinued.

I know very little about this sort of thing (I'm very much a compass, log and lead line type sailor), but I had assumed that all the usual suspects would manufacture a neat combined GPS/ AIS unit.

 

[Ripster]

Depends on your budget and know its a bit bigger, but a nice unit is the Garmin 750s which is touch screen (if you like that) networkable and will plug and play with garmin AIS600 transponder through a Garmin network cable. You can also connect in Radar etc in future if you wanted, Very easy to install and fire up. I have a Garmin network with a 4010, AIS, Radar, VHF link, AP and other guages. Been very reliable and any issues were solved quickly with their very good tech support. Only thing is Garmin kit ain't the cheapest, but it is easy to operate and does work well.

 

[NealB]

a nice unit is the Garmin 750s

Thanks.

It looks like this has also been discontinued, but is still supported.

 

[philld]

It's probably easier to get hold of a combined AIS - VHF radio, and connect that up a chartplotter which can display the AIS data. The chartplotter can then provide GPS data back to the DSC radio via the same link.

 

[Windfall]

Flew's new boat has a VHF with AIS receiver that plugs into his chart plotter. We looked at one for On y va and then Mike gave us his old one. Think Standard Horizon have one for sub £200 - or at least did last summer.

 

[Ripster]

AH right yes, fair point but, it is replaced by the upgraded newer model 751 by the looks of things.

Thanks.

It looks like this has also been discontinued, but is still supported.

 

[NealB]

Flew's new boat has a VHF with AIS receiver that plugs into his chart plotter. We looked at one for On y va and then Mike gave us his old one. Think Standard Horizon have one for sub £200 - or at least did last summer.

Hmmmm....but I've already got a non AIS VHF, I've not got a GPS plotter or AIS receiver.

In my ignorance, I thought it made sense to buy just the kit I need, rather than adding to the shopping list.

I can hear the chandlers' evil, mocking, laugh from my study.

 

[doug748]

I think Digital Yacht used to do an AIS/aerial combo (ie a fat, smart aerial which outputs the raw data), it might be worth giving them a ring. The aerial could go on the pushpit and output to your plotter of choice.

I have the DY AIS/Plotter combination effort. It has a number of good points and a few flaws.

 

[pvb]

A 5" screen (which is 4"x3" roughly) is too small to mess about with AIS data. Go for a bigger screen.

 

[NealB]

A 5" screen (which is 4"x3" roughly) is too small to mess about with AIS data. Go for a bigger screen.

I fully accept your point, but my ship is so small (Trident 24).

Space is precious, and small AIS seems preferable to no AIS!

 

[NealB]

I think Digital Yacht used to do an AIS/aerial combo (ie a fat, smart aerial which outputs the raw data), it might be worth giving them a ring. The aerial could go on the pushpit and output to your plotter of choice.

That's worthy of investigation, thanks.

Would pushpit mounting give reasonable reception range? I guess range is not as critical for AIS reception only as it is for transmission?

 

[johnphilip]

Garmin ups and downs

Good morning.

Here I go (again), showing off my profound ignorance of modern digital systems.

I would like to buy a small (say 5" screen), simple, gps plotter, that shows AIS data.

Ideally, a neat, all in one unit (without connecting wires all over the place), would be great.

I am very much a technophobe, so it must be a system that just needs wiring into the ship's power supply and VHF signal (I can handle those bits), and is then ready to go.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Neal

As said before the Garmin 700 series have been brilliant I swear by mine and without problem link it to the VHF for DSC position. I also purchased a NASA AIS engine and that gives the AIS display on the plotter. Again straightforward wiring /setup. These units started at nearly £1000 and gradually reduced by last year to £600. If you can still find one, grab it. Garmin have replaced it with the 70s which I see selling for about £860, cheeky but predictable. Reading the spec the only difference seems to be that zooming is now by pinching the screen picture as you do with a smartphone.

 

[LadyInBed]

A 5" screen (which is 4"x3" roughly) is too small to mess about with AIS data. Go for a bigger screen.

I've not found this to be so and my reading vision isn't that great.

 

[doug748]

Just a question john,

does the 700 series give a positive indication (rather than a guesstimate based on the graphics) of if the CPA is in front of your boat or behind? My setup does not and it appears to me that this would be a most useful feature.

 

[doug748]

That's worthy of investigation, thanks.

Would pushpit mounting give reasonable reception range? I guess range is not as critical for AIS reception only as it is for transmission?

I think the general feeling is that the pushpit is good enough, it also gives you a spare VHF aerial in case the mast drops down. I tried with a pole and it seemed to make little difference.