Cool things I saw at the boat show

[hardee]

Mike, thanks for that link. Tom, nice find.

It will still require 2 antennae, or an external splitter (if it allows that.)

There is the think about "if" there is a device failure, you loose both functions.

BUT, you get a fully active AIS transponder in one device. A plus for those of us with small boats.

It has the AutoFog horn/hailer function.

It does have the 2 minute recording feature like the ICOM M-506.

The price will come down eventually.

And it is the first of a kind. I remember having one of the first SH GX2150 radios with a stand alone AIS transponder. The folks at Standard Horizon did not foresee that set up and my SH2150 saw my AIS as a "emminamt collision hazard" because it was too close ALL THE TIME :lol: The 2150 had to go back to the SH guys to figure out a work around, and that workaround was one of the features of the "New" 2200 version.

I love having AIS on board. I use it always. And the receive side is used multiple times each trip on the water for CPofA and TtoCPofA. Having too many AIS units active on the water is not a concern of mine. Having too many idiots on the water who think they can turn it on, set the AP and go below to nap, drink or use the head on the other hand is a big concern. :roll:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[starcrafttom]

I have never been concerned with other peoples inabilities or lack of common sense. If you have it you dont need to worry about them not having it. And its fun to watch...

As for this unit it does a lot ( thank you for the link). I want to have both send and receive on my boat and this is a easy way to do it.

And here is a AIS hint of the day. Most of the larger whale watching boats have them now. Makes it easy and safer to plan a day of whale watching if you know where they are before you head out.

 

[thataway]

The only shops which have a price listed for the GX 6500 put it in the $965 to $980 range. Since it is not yet available, the prices may come down, when it ships. As much as I like separate antennas for AIS transmission and VHF Transmission--I would prefer a combined antenna for this radio on the C Dory 22

 

[hardee]

The only shops which have a price listed for the GX 6500 put it in the $965 to $980 range. Since it is not yet available, the prices may come down, when it ships. As much as I like separate antennas for AIS transmission and VHF Transmission--I would prefer a combined antenna for this radio on the C Dory 22

Wonder if that could be done with an external splitter (like the Vesper Marine powered) like the one I have with my WatchMate Vision AIS.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[C-Dawg]

I like the fact that they can install downrigger hookups and that the cockpit is much bigger than our 22. Honestly I almost feel the boat is too "fancy" for fishing but apparently many R23 owners fish on the boat.

Does the 23 have the same hull design as the other tugs? I've never seen a Ranger out in the ocean, but one of the reps at the show told me there's a guy in Portland that takes his out for tuna. I couldn't imagine all the tuna blood in the cockpit of a Ranger.

I'm curious to hear how they handle the bar of the Columbia or Westport. How do they handle bigger water?

 

[thataway]

Does the 23 have the same hull design as the other tugs? I've never seen a Ranger out in the ocean, but one of the reps at the show told me there's a guy in Portland that takes his out for tuna. I couldn't imagine all the tuna blood in the cockpit of a Ranger.

I'm curious to hear how they handle the bar of the Columbia or Westport. How do they handle bigger water?

The hull design between the 23 outboard and the Ranger Tugs is not similar. The Cutwater are closer, with deeper V "Deadrise".

Although I would not think of the Ranger Tug as a "Tuna fishing boat" Several have gone to the Bahamas--but I suspect they picked their weather--as most of us do. Same for the Inland passage--at times you can get some heavy weather, as you can in the major sounds and straights in the PNW--so they can handle the chop an swells, But it appears as many of the "tugs" are being run at lower speeds than one would want for a run out to tuna grounds...I agree, I wouldn't want blood of any sort on the upholstery/cockpit...

Back to topic:

Wonder if that could be done with an external splitter (like the Vesper Marine powered) like the one I have with my WatchMate Vision AIS.

I don't think so, This was covered in the "comments" in Ben's Panbo column.

 

[hardee]

From the Panbo site:

"But, yes, the GX6500 does require two antennas, one for the VHF and one for the AIS (preferably an AIS specific model, though a regular VHF stick will work). In other words, it does not contain an internal splitter, which does make installation more difficult and expensive, but it is also arguably the high-performance pro way to go. In fact, the dual antenna requirement also applies to the AIS-receive-only GX6000 model, which will have all the other features of the 6500 and will cost $500 once it's been FCC approved."

I don't see anything in that that precludes using an external splitter. the GX6500 has coax plugs for both the VHF and the AIS antennas. Might be a good question for the SH tech folks. Maybe you saw something in a different place. I didn't go through all the comments, but nothing I read specifically addressed putting a splitter into the circuit, (VHF out and AIS out to the Splitter in then Out to a VHF antenna.

That is the way I am seeing it, unless there is something inside the radio that wouldn't be happy.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[thataway]

Harvey,
I have not seen the circuit diagram on the 6500--and even if I did, not sure I would recognize where there may be overlap in the receive/transmit sections. Although I am a ham and have designed and built trans/ceivers, this was back in tube and early transistor days. These miniaturized circuit combo transmitters/receivers are very complex. I am not going to go thru the comments again--but as I recollect Ben and several others said that it was not a good idea. If I get one, it will have two antennas, despite my aesthetic objection. (I had dual VHF, plus a Icom 7000 which had both separate VHF and SSB outputs on the Tom Cat--so I had 4 antennas, and it worked fine--just made having a place for the dinghy more difficult!

 

[hardee]

I get it that the more antenna are on board the more space is left unusable for other things, plus they need some separation from the next antenna as well. One of the reasons my dingy sits over the cockpit is because it won't fit between the antenna masts.

If I was going to go with the SH VHF & AIS combo unit I would prefer 2 separate antennae. I think they function better that way as the AIS antenna is slightly shorter and the frequency is more specific.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[johnr]

Anybody using one of these Optios yet? I'm thinking strongly about getting one, but I'd like to hear from someone who is actually using one now.

johnr