Hey, I'm famous!

Nice article! There are several cables available on line for various AIS systems--but I suspect that using one of the simple less expensive systems will be a bit more difficult.

I suspect that AIS will be plug and play in a year or so--and that many chart plotters will be able to recieve it.

http://www.techyacht.com/store/ais.htmlIs the Seacas safepassage adaptor to the RayMarine series.

Brookhouse has a NMEA multiplexer for the RayMarine series: AIS C:
http://brookhouseonline.com/pdf%20files/Mux_AIS_C.pdf

Shipmol also has a muliplexer:
http://www.shipmodul.com/en/miniplex-ais.html

And Raymarine has an AIS module 215 which is comming out in a month, susposedly plug and play. But some questions currently about the unit.. Panbo (Ben Ellison reviewed it on Feb 21 2007).:
 
dude, you've been published, way to go, I've just finished my first book...hell...I may even read another one :)
That AIS stuff looks like it would be the cats pajammas in the fog. I have radar, VHF and a chartplotter/GPS but when it's foggy and you hear a freighter sounding off, more info is much more better.
 
Tim – I think your article was too much for the site.

I get the following message when I click on it.


Site Temporarily Unavailable
We apologize for the inconvenience. Please contact the webmaster/ tech support immediately to have them rectify this.
error id: "bad_httpd_conf"

________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Tim -

Congrats! Glad to see C-Dory included in the intro too. Couldn't I get a by-line at least? :-)

Humm, can I get an AIS on Island Ranger?

btw - I had no trouble accessing the site -

Mac
 
I figured out my problem. There is a comma after the com in his link. Once that is deleted in the address window, the page loads OK.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
The Raymarine unit looks expensive, compared to some of the alternatives. However, it really is "plug and play" compared to any other installation, because it includes an NMEA multiplexer as well as an VHF/FM antenna splitter that allows you to use one antenna for VHF, AIS, and standard FM reception. You know...without frying the AIS when you transmit! :-)
 
Were you able to plug your AIS receiver directly into the NMEA port on the MFD (multi-function display)? Or was it already occupied, in which case, are you using a multiplexer?
 
One of the sites I check daily is Ben Ellison's Panbo:
http://www.panbo.com/ Ben Ellison is the electronics editor for Power and Motoryacht magazine. He travels to many of the international boat shows, goes directly to the sources and tries the various electronic units in his own "lab". He also gets excellent feedback from readers. I have discussed several issues with him in E-mails and his knowledge is in depth, plus he has great references and will help research a problem.

There are lots of changes in AIS recievers/Transcievers in the US. We should see limited information transcievers in the affordiable range in the next few years. As Tim notes, there are a number of very inexpensive AIS recievers--but there are problems with compatability, the need for GPS, a separate antenna as well as multiplexer in most of the current chart plotters. There are separate recievers which have their own screen (like a radar)--that will displacy the information and give a fairly appoximate location which are in-expensive. Right now, this approach may be better than integration. There can be information overload on a chart plotter, and that is one of the major issues (as well as the technical issues of NMEA connection). There is the abliity is to filter information, so that only what you need is available at any one point.

Bob Austin
 
timflan":2xu1d97x said:
Were you able to plug your AIS receiver directly into the NMEA port on the MFD (multi-function display)? Or was it already occupied, in which case, are you using a multiplexer?
Click to expand...

I'm using a multiplexer.

Warren
 
Lloyds,
The Nasa "AIS marine radar" is available for less than $400. I have seen this in a couple of magazines as well as on Panbo's column: This is the Nasa AIS engine coupled with about a 5" monochrome LCD screen.
http://www.panbo.com/yae/archives/001005.html
This plots the AIS targets on a monchrome screen relitative to the user's boat. It is different than the plot on a PC or chart plotter, but is quite useful information--plus keeps the chart plotter's screen free of excess clutter. There are some disadvantages of this engine--including only one frequency--and of course not a transmitter...But pratical Sailor gave it a decent review.


Tim,
At the end of this column there is a specific about the Nasa AIS engine working with the C80.
http://www.panbo.com/yae/archives/000997.html

Bob Austin
 
Back
Top