Suggestions, please, for small gps plotter with AIS

[Windfall]

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

Yes, they're positively rubbing their hands together. If it's just for the trip home you can borrow ours.

 

[johnphilip]

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.

I will have to check that when I am next on board. but I seem to remember a red line indicating bearing at CPA and a distance figure.

 

[morgandlm]

I've recently gone through a similar exercise and finished up with a NASA AIS receiver and a new DSC VHF radio. I did not want to go the whole plotter route. If not using the AIS I still get the Lat and Long displayed on the VHF so this is handy for paper and pencil nav. While my selection may not be helpful for your project I can also confirm that a decent VHF aerial (from Salty John) mounted on the pushpit works fine for the AIS. I investigated about using a splitter from the masthead VHF and decided against - the pushpit solution simply seemed a simpler if slightly more expensive solution.
Morgan

 

[pagoda]

I've recently gone through a similar exercise and finished up with a NASA AIS receiver and a new DSC VHF radio. I did not want to go the whole plotter route. If not using the AIS I still get the Lat and Long displayed on the VHF so this is handy for paper and pencil nav. While my selection may not be helpful for your project I can also confirm that a decent VHF aerial (from Salty John) mounted on the pushpit works fine for the AIS. I investigated about using a splitter from the masthead VHF and decided against - the pushpit solution simply seemed a simpler if slightly more expensive solution.
Morgan

Snap, my first dabble with AIS. Nasa AIS engine 3 - connected to Garmin 556 in the cockpit. Works well as far as I can estimate, uses the spare VHF antenna on the pushpit rail. I think my main beef is stationary AIS vessels, tied up, but appear as potential targets as you go past them!! Otherwise, on the water has proved useful.
I did think of bigger screens or touch screens, but could not quite stand the additional hole in my pocket!! What I have works pretty well, and as the 556 has two NMEA ports - I could add another data source at some point, wind or depth etc should I want to.

 

[Pords]

Garmin GPSmap 557 is a nice little unit and I have been impressed with its performance thus far. Easy plug and play with the garmin AIS 300 or 600. Managed to pick it up early in the year when redcar marine were doing a deal £500 which was considerably cheaper than the 751 £1000+.

 

[johnphilip]

Garmin GPSmap 557 is a nice little unit and I have been impressed with its performance thus far. Easy plug and play with the garmin AIS 300 or 600. Managed to pick it up early in the year when redcar marine were doing a deal £500 which was considerably cheaper than the 751 £1000+.

Should have done it last year when the 720 was £600.
Yours
Tactless

 

[NealB]

Yes, they're positively rubbing their hands together. If it's just for the trip home you can borrow ours.

Thanks for the kind offer, Sharon.

I've got a lovely long shopping list building up.

We'll give you a call very soon.