Which Ais Transponder/Transceiver

B

brian48

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I am thinking of upgrading from receive only AIS to a Class B unit and I would value advice on the best setup for me at reasonable cost. I presently have a Standard Horizon VHF with built in AIS receiver and splitter (GX2100 I think) connected to a mast top vhf antenna and through NMEA 183 to a Raymarine C90W at the helm. I am looking for something reliable that does not require too many antennas and is reasonably priced. All advice and suggestions gratefully received.
 
wiggy said:
Em-Trak B100, uk company great service and does what it says on the tin, I couldn't find cheaper..
Click to expand...
another satisfied user of the Em-trak B100 user
it has NMEA 2000 and 0183 so it integrates nicely with both old and new equipment.
regardless of model & make you will need to install new antennas, GPS and VHF
 
brian48 said:
I am thinking of upgrading from receive only AIS to a Class B unit and I would value advice on the best setup for me at reasonable cost. I presently have a Standard Horizon VHF with built in AIS receiver and splitter (GX2100 I think) connected to a mast top vhf antenna and through NMEA 183 to a Raymarine C90W at the helm. I am looking for something reliable that does not require too many antennas and is reasonably priced. All advice and suggestions gratefully received.
Click to expand...

Matsutec HP-33A.
 
I has recently fitted the Vesper 6000 xp . Simple to install without any complications. Works well with the cheapest antenna you can find as you don't need a big range coverage. Also you should note ALL transponder come with their own GPS antenna.
 
knuterikt said:
another satisfied user of the Em-trak B100 user
it has NMEA 2000 and 0183 so it integrates nicely with both old and new equipment.
regardless of model & make you will need to install new antennas, GPS and VHF
Click to expand...
If the OP already has a splitter, to feed AIS, why does he need a new VHF antenna?
 
Or just put the money towards an Echomax active radar reflector which, unlike AIS, will more or less guarantee you're noticed by commercial vessels.

Of course, you lose the "look at me, I've got an AIS transponder" benefits...
 
wiggy said:
If the OP already has a splitter, to feed AIS, why does he need a new VHF antenna?
Click to expand...

He doesn't have a splitter, he has an all-in-one radio which could be thought of as having a splitter inside it (although I suspect it doesn't really work the same way).

And even if he did have a receive-only splitter, he'd need a more expensive one to cope with a transmitter on both legs rather than just one.

Pete
 
Another happy new user on the Em-Trak B100. The GPS receiver even works located behind the electrical panel, so no holes in the deck, and no extra gubbins on the pushpit:-). Great phone service from UK company as well. If also features USB and 2 serial ports, so mine feeds out at 38400 for the C80 plotter and 4800 for the Simrad DSC radio at 4800. Keep it simple!
Angus
 
Many thanks for all the advice so far. Em-Trak B100 and Vesper 6000 both have good feedback. I had not heard of Em Trak before this. A quick search shows the Em Trak is £323 ex taxes and the Vesper is just under £500 including all taxes. I will call Em Trak tomorrow and see what 'taxes' means. I already have a Sea Me radar target enhancer and I use it. The Matsutec, whilst cheaper, sounds a little too complicated to install and set up for me. Thanks, once again to all.
 
yotter said:
Another happy new user on the Em-Trak B100. The GPS receiver even works located behind the electrical panel, so no holes in the deck, and no extra gubbins on the pushpit:-). Great phone service from UK company as well. If also features USB and 2 serial ports, so mine feeds out at 38400 for the C80 plotter and 4800 for the Simrad DSC radio at 4800. Keep it simple!
Angus
Click to expand...

+1
 
Early this year I fitted Raymarine AIS650.
Its dedicated GPS antenna and cable and the cable to connect the AIS to my e7 MFD was included in the box.

Rather than a splitter I fitted an independant AIS antenna http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/metzmantavhfantennaaerial.htm . The Raymarine splitter would have been a more expensive option. But regardless of cost I think if you can accommodate a dedicated antenna for the AIS it is the best way to go.

Then I obtained a cable and fittings for the AIS antenna - which I ordered as made up to the appropriate length between my antenna and the AIS box with the connectors fitted. http://www.kcb.co.uk/

All seems to be working as it should.

Can't say whether ships could see me as I had no reason to make contact but I could certainly see them on a recent Humber and The Wash trip. VTS Humber certainly did see me on AIS as they called me on the radio.as I entered their area (I think the VTS initially thought, we were a ship).
AIS is not the answer to all things but great bit of kit.

.
 
yotter said:
Another happy new user on the Em-Trak B100. The GPS receiver even works located behind the electrical panel, so no holes in the deck, and no extra gubbins on the pushpit:-). Great phone service from UK company as well. If also features USB and 2 serial ports, so mine feeds out at 38400 for the C80 plotter and 4800 for the Simrad DSC radio at 4800. Keep it simple!
Angus
Click to expand...

I'm interetsed to hear that the GPS receiver works behind the electric panel. It's the inconveninece of installing a second one on the pushpit that is my main reason for not converting from an AIS receiver to a transceiver.

Is your boat wood or plastic? We're plastic and the internal GPS receiver in the ICOM VHF works fine from inside the panel, although we use it only as backup to the main GPS on the pushpit.
 
Very happy with my AIT2000 - 450UKP inc VAT from cactus marine electronics. Very simple and it just works (I use NMEA 2000, but it has an NMEA183 output too. I've connected mine through a splitter to my VHF aerial, but obviously it can be used with a separate antenna.
 
jbweston said:
I'm interetsed to hear that the GPS receiver works behind the electric panel. It's the inconveninece of installing a second one on the pushpit that is my main reason for not converting from an AIS receiver to a transceiver.

Is your boat wood or plastic? We're plastic and the internal GPS receiver in the ICOM VHF works fine from inside the panel, although we use it only as backup to the main GPS on the pushpit.
Click to expand...

The GPS mushroom for my XB8000 is also mounted alongside the transceiver and splitter inside the boat's control panel recess. It gets a quick stable fix and is currently providing location data for the XB8000, the DSC radio and the C80 chartplotter.

Plastic boat.

Richard
 
jbweston said:
I'm interetsed to hear that the GPS receiver works behind the electric panel.
Click to expand...

I have two GPS antennas behind mine and they both work fine. As do my phone and iPad in the cabin. I think early GPS receivers were less sensitive and needed a very clear view of the sky, but modern kit is far more tolerant and works easily from inside a fibreglass boat.

Pete
 
VAT @ 20%.
brian48 said:
Many thanks for all the advice so far. Em-Trak B100 and Vesper 6000 both have good feedback. I had not heard of Em Trak before this. A quick search shows the Em Trak is £323 ex taxes and the Vesper is just under £500 including all taxes. I will call Em Trak tomorrow and see what 'taxes' means. I already have a Sea Me radar target enhancer and I use it. The Matsutec, whilst cheaper, sounds a little too complicated to install and set up for me. Thanks, once again to all.
Click to expand...
 
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