AIS Ready Plotters

[whisper]

Hi, I just bought a Simrad AI50

Simrad AI50 Class B AIS Transponder / Display - Simrad Marine Electronics

I'm going to fit it inside the console and I want to connect it to a plotter that displays the AIS info.

I currently have a Raymarine dragon fly 7 and it's quite basic so I don't think it will do the job (as in display the AIS info?)

I've got a gold card when I bought the dragonfly so maps aren't important. I just need a very good reliable plotter that can take a constant soaking?

Any ideas?

Thanks

Alex

[BogMonster]

My Garmin 556s displays AIS info from the AIS receiver I have fitted, but all you get is a small arrow on the screen and to get advanced details you need to select the target, which is a faff to do when you are underway especially if it is rough or you have gloves on. I would say that if what you want is an 'at a glance' reference of what's around you, you would need a much larger screen so the info can all be displayed properly. If on the other hand all you want is a notification that something is there, I guess it would be ok.

[whisper]

Hey dude

All I want is the little markers on the plotter screen, the unit does have a screen and I haven't ruled out fitting it on the console.

Unfortunately the deal fell through for the boat I was buying to fit it in but the AIS is here

The dragonfly won't do it but I've also got a new Garmin 45DV that's AIS compatible so I might test it out to see what it looks like

[Phil M]

I have a garmin Echomap 50DV and that does it very well. I considered the Dragonfly but it had no NMEA inputs so wouldn't do DSC location either. I think all you need is a high speed NMEA 0183 input channel and it should work. The 50 DV has two inputs and both have switchable speed so I use one for DSC input and one for AIS input, both from a Lowrance Link 8 VHF.

Phil M

[whisper]

Thanks Phil, thats useful to know

We'll see what happens

[Daniel]

Sadly the simrad unit you have Alex can't display a proper chart on the screen. A real shame in my opinion as it has an SD slot (can record AIS data) and a nice colour screen !

[craigdavis]

The new Simrad GO7 supports AIS via NMEA 2000 so will hook into your AI50 nice and easy.

The GO7 also comes supplied with a transducer. I think the RRP has just been lowered on these too so quite a good deal.

GO7 Chartplotter / Fishfinder - PRS Communications Ltd