Those cheap AIS Transponders... are they any good?

[PaulRainbow]

Extending NMEA2k between 2 T pieces... Is the max cable length 6m? Or does the 6m limit only apply to drop cables between devices and the backbone T pieces?

1m would reach but it has has to go from overhead the windscreen to the back of the wheelhouse and then forward again. Probably.

Drop cables = 6m max
Backbone = 100m max

 

[Phil_boat]

Cheers. I'll get the tape measure out

 

[Phil_boat]

Well I finally got around to ordering an ONWA KS-200A+ from AliExpress for £170 and it arrived today. No extra customs / vat charges etc.

I’ve rigged it up in a bedroom window with a cheap Bantem aerial with the connector taped together and it’s picking stuff up about 5miles away with a few houses in the way and showing it on Navionics on the iPad. I imagine range will be slightly better with the aerial on the boat roof and the connector soldered up properly.

Didn’t realise it didn’t have a built in GPS antenna so I’ve ordered one from Amazon to come tomorrow.

Total spend so far under £250. I do need to buy a long NMEA 2k cable which doesn’t seem cheap or particularly easy to find.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I do need to buy a long NMEA 2k cable which doesn’t seem cheap or particularly easy to find.

AliExpress have them.

Note that a minimal NMEA 200 network is a 12-volt supply T,, two standard T's, two drop cables and two terminators. See here.

 

[Phil_boat]

AliExpress have them.

Note that a minimal NMEA 200 network is a 12-volt supply T,, two standard T's, two drop cables and two terminators. See here.

Cheers. I’ve already got a basic network, just that I’d planned to fit this box away from needing quite long cable run. Might be easier to run the VHF aerial cable over the longer distance and mount it somewhere else, but I’m quite limited for space.

 

[Phil_boat]

Today's jobs...

New aerial, pull the cables through to the ONWA and get it all connected up.





And it found the ferry 12 miles away