AIDY
Active member
Thinking of buying a AIS reciever, but which one Nasa ? and how easy is it to install / setup.
Which AIS ?
- Thread starter AIDY
- Start date
adrianb
New member
pvb
Well-known member
Easy...
Also consider EasyAIS.
Also consider EasyAIS.
Jonny_H
New member
Depends on your set-up and other equipment.
The NASA one is certainly very good value, but on (for instance) Raymarine C series with only one NMEA port, you cannot use it at the same time as any other equipment which needs to talk to the unit (fluxgate compass for instance).
You need to think about what other kit you have and how the AIS would link into it (assuming you want an 'engine' to map onto your chart plotter).
If you want a standalone - again the NASA is very well priced, but some have expressed concerns over the size of the screen?
Jonny
The NASA one is certainly very good value, but on (for instance) Raymarine C series with only one NMEA port, you cannot use it at the same time as any other equipment which needs to talk to the unit (fluxgate compass for instance).
You need to think about what other kit you have and how the AIS would link into it (assuming you want an 'engine' to map onto your chart plotter).
If you want a standalone - again the NASA is very well priced, but some have expressed concerns over the size of the screen?
Jonny
DaveS
Well-known member
I fitted the NASA stand-alone type last weekend. Fairly straightforward, but not much opportunity to play with it so cannot yet really comment on its performance in use.
Points to watch: (1) the unit requires a BNC connector for the VHF feed so you'll probably need to make up an adaptor cable. (2) it initially showed a "No GPS" message, but this was quickly fixed by turning on the right NMEA sentence on the GPS - this is all documented in the instructions. (3) It does need a good VHF aerial to pick up remote vessels: of the two I tried, one was significantly better than the other; the aerials also gave different "background" signal strengths so that a different setting of "level" (not NASA's term, but I've forgotten what they call it) was required when changing aerials. Next time on the boat I'll also try it with my "emergency" aerial mounted at low level to give some more comparisons...
Points to watch: (1) the unit requires a BNC connector for the VHF feed so you'll probably need to make up an adaptor cable. (2) it initially showed a "No GPS" message, but this was quickly fixed by turning on the right NMEA sentence on the GPS - this is all documented in the instructions. (3) It does need a good VHF aerial to pick up remote vessels: of the two I tried, one was significantly better than the other; the aerials also gave different "background" signal strengths so that a different setting of "level" (not NASA's term, but I've forgotten what they call it) was required when changing aerials. Next time on the boat I'll also try it with my "emergency" aerial mounted at low level to give some more comparisons...
adrianb
New member
I have a multiplexer to enable input into my C series.
Fingers crossed for the weekend !
Adrian
www.cleanandshiny.co.uk
Fingers crossed for the weekend !
Adrian
www.cleanandshiny.co.uk
Talulah
Well-known member
Recently fitted the Raymarine AIS250 unit. Chose this because the rest of the system is Raymarine plus discount offered.
The following needs a little further explanation:
[The NASA one is certainly very good value, but on (for instance) Raymarine C series with only one NMEA port, you cannot use it at the same time as any other equipment which needs to talk to the unit (fluxgate compass for instance).]
If you're other instruments are Raymarine they may all be linked together via the Seatalk or Seatalk 2 network and the NMEA on the plotter is unused. Hence you could connect your non-Raymarine unit to the NMEA port and use it concurrently with other systems. However, if you have a course computer with a fast heading sensing it may already being using the NMEA port as one side on the course computer is dedicated to give the fast heading info and improve MARPA.
If that is the case you need a multiplexer to take the fast heading info to the plotter together with the AIS info as both now need an NMEA port. The Raymarine AIS unit comes with a multiplexer. They can be bought from third parties.
The following needs a little further explanation:
[The NASA one is certainly very good value, but on (for instance) Raymarine C series with only one NMEA port, you cannot use it at the same time as any other equipment which needs to talk to the unit (fluxgate compass for instance).]
If you're other instruments are Raymarine they may all be linked together via the Seatalk or Seatalk 2 network and the NMEA on the plotter is unused. Hence you could connect your non-Raymarine unit to the NMEA port and use it concurrently with other systems. However, if you have a course computer with a fast heading sensing it may already being using the NMEA port as one side on the course computer is dedicated to give the fast heading info and improve MARPA.
If that is the case you need a multiplexer to take the fast heading info to the plotter together with the AIS info as both now need an NMEA port. The Raymarine AIS unit comes with a multiplexer. They can be bought from third parties.
DaveS
Well-known member
Er, I presume this reply is intended for Johnny_H? No problem with the points you make, but I don't see how they fit with my post... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Talulah
Well-known member
Because you may be thinking that your options are limited if you have a Raymarine C series plotter. This may not be the case depending upon how it is currently wired up. You don't list your current hardware so no way of knowing if it is relevant to you but others may be interested.
I suspect most people think they need a multiplexer and this is only the case if the NMEA port is currently used.
Even then you may have a Raymarine GPS antena connected to the NMEA port that could be switched to the Seatalk port freeing up the nmea port.
I was replying generally to shed more light on the subject for all the readers ;-)
I suspect most people think they need a multiplexer and this is only the case if the NMEA port is currently used.
Even then you may have a Raymarine GPS antena connected to the NMEA port that could be switched to the Seatalk port freeing up the nmea port.
I was replying generally to shed more light on the subject for all the readers ;-)
Jonny_H
New member
Absolutely agree.
My set-up has my autopilot compass (non-Raymarine) on NMEA in, and DSC / SSB on NMEA out.
Trying to connect the NASA AIS radar means changing the baud rate (DSC and SSB won't like that) and getting a multiplexer to accept two NMEA inputs!
My point to the original post was that, for my set-up for instance, NASA would be a pain and the extra cash on the Raymarine unit (which would work on Seatalk) may be worth while. However its hard to recommend units to people when you don't know their set-up as (like you point out) if you are fully kitted with Raymarine, then using NASA via NMEA is no problem.
Complex stuff eh, makes me head hurt just thinking about it all!!
Jonny
My set-up has my autopilot compass (non-Raymarine) on NMEA in, and DSC / SSB on NMEA out.
Trying to connect the NASA AIS radar means changing the baud rate (DSC and SSB won't like that) and getting a multiplexer to accept two NMEA inputs!
My point to the original post was that, for my set-up for instance, NASA would be a pain and the extra cash on the Raymarine unit (which would work on Seatalk) may be worth while. However its hard to recommend units to people when you don't know their set-up as (like you point out) if you are fully kitted with Raymarine, then using NASA via NMEA is no problem.
Complex stuff eh, makes me head hurt just thinking about it all!!
Jonny
chuzzlewit
Member
My NASA AIS ,Raymarine C80, fluxgate compass, Garmin GPS and
ICOM VHF work fine together.
ICOM VHF work fine together.
chuzzlewit
Member
..............and there's no need for a multiplexer.
R32Stbrigid
New member
The Easy AIS unit can be changed to 4800 so will co-exist with other NMEA kit on the sum bus .....
Talulah
Well-known member
... and you're fine until a fleet of vessels come along
DaveS
Well-known member
I presumed your reply was intended for Jonny_H because that was who you quoted. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If it was really intended for me then I remain puzzled. My post described the installation of a NASA stand alone unit, and I didn't think that listing my other kit would have added much. My GPS happens to be a Navman plotter, but the only relevance of that is that each manufacturer will have his own way of enabling the correct NMEA sentence. The NASA unit requires NMEA input of position and cannot handle Seatalk. I required no multiplexer since the plotter's NMEA output is only fed to two "listeners": the new NASA AIS unit and my Raymarine Autohelm.
Alternatively, do you just reply to the last poster regardless? This practice - of which a few are guilty - can make threads rather hard to follow... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If it was really intended for me then I remain puzzled. My post described the installation of a NASA stand alone unit, and I didn't think that listing my other kit would have added much. My GPS happens to be a Navman plotter, but the only relevance of that is that each manufacturer will have his own way of enabling the correct NMEA sentence. The NASA unit requires NMEA input of position and cannot handle Seatalk. I required no multiplexer since the plotter's NMEA output is only fed to two "listeners": the new NASA AIS unit and my Raymarine Autohelm.
Alternatively, do you just reply to the last poster regardless? This practice - of which a few are guilty - can make threads rather hard to follow... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
pvb
Well-known member
Not SeaTalk...
[ QUOTE ]
....the extra cash on the Raymarine unit (which would work on Seatalk) may be worth while.
[/ QUOTE ]Strangely, I think you'll find that the Raymarine AIS250 is one bit of Raymarine kit which doesn't use SeaTalk!
[ QUOTE ]
....the extra cash on the Raymarine unit (which would work on Seatalk) may be worth while.
[/ QUOTE ]Strangely, I think you'll find that the Raymarine AIS250 is one bit of Raymarine kit which doesn't use SeaTalk!
Talulah
Well-known member
Ah yes. It depends how you view the threads. I view them as a single thread time ordered. Hence replying to the last poster.
Very confusing I agree.
Very confusing I agree.
Jonny_H
New member
Re: Not SeaTalk...
That seems a bit daft doesn't it! Ah well, who knows how the people at Raymarine think!
I also looked at a Raymarine VHF - but this doesn't use Seatalk either - wonder why?!
That seems a bit daft doesn't it! Ah well, who knows how the people at Raymarine think!
I also looked at a Raymarine VHF - but this doesn't use Seatalk either - wonder why?!
Talbot
Active member
The problem of the stand alone unit is the reduction of the information that is possible to get from AIS. Personally having used the NASA engine into my laptop with shipplotter software, I would not consider a stand alone unit. The ability of my system to do cpa and then provide an audible warning of any meeting specific criterea of CPA within a set time, provides a much better situational awareness of the vessels using AIS, thus enabling you to concentrate on identifying those not using it!
DaveS
Well-known member
I am aware of the arguments for the NASA's limitations, and took them into account before buying one. I have to admit that a factor in its favour is that it neatly fills the space in the panel where the Decca used to live...
As I said, however, I've just started to play with it and will see how I get on. If it does prove too limited (and with the low traffic density where I usually sail I'd be surprised) then I'll re-reconsider the options from a position of experience.
While there are well-rehearsed arguments for having everything integrated on a laptop, I currently do not run a laptop at sea and have yet to think of a way of doing so that I'd be entirely happy with. I frequently poke at the (waterproof) plotter from the cockpit and can't see how I could easily replicate that with a laptop. And then there are issues of vulnerability and "having all the eggs in one basket" - which also of course apply to the "glass cockpit" systems.
I don't believe there is any one answer, suitable for all, which has no downside, and it's really up to each skipper to make an informed choice of what collection of disadvantages (s)he's prepared to live with to gain the features wanted. If my boat was bigger, or had an enclosed wheelhouse, or I sailed the English Channel, or I had unlimited resources - my choices might have been very different!
As I said, however, I've just started to play with it and will see how I get on. If it does prove too limited (and with the low traffic density where I usually sail I'd be surprised) then I'll re-reconsider the options from a position of experience.
While there are well-rehearsed arguments for having everything integrated on a laptop, I currently do not run a laptop at sea and have yet to think of a way of doing so that I'd be entirely happy with. I frequently poke at the (waterproof) plotter from the cockpit and can't see how I could easily replicate that with a laptop. And then there are issues of vulnerability and "having all the eggs in one basket" - which also of course apply to the "glass cockpit" systems.
I don't believe there is any one answer, suitable for all, which has no downside, and it's really up to each skipper to make an informed choice of what collection of disadvantages (s)he's prepared to live with to gain the features wanted. If my boat was bigger, or had an enclosed wheelhouse, or I sailed the English Channel, or I had unlimited resources - my choices might have been very different!