Current AIS best buys?

[Copinsay]

Hello All

Seeing as prices change and new models come out, I'd welcome suggestions on current best buys for a Class B AIS transponder for a Rib, to run with a Garmin 451S chartplotter

I've see a couple in the US which seem a good price, such as:
AMEC CAMINO-101 Class B AIS transponder around £285 plus postage

EM TRAK MARINE ELECTRONICS B100 AIS Class B Transceiver at West Marine £385 inc delivery

Any experiences with these units?

However, I'd prefer to buy from a UK supplier for warranty reasons / less hassle, so if there was something around the £400ish mark, I'd go with that. How have UK people gone with US AIS suppliers?

So suggestions welcome please from users or suppliers with recommendations and prices.

Many thanks for you help - I hope this thread helps others too.

Best wishes

Steve

[Copinsay]

(Ooops - double post)

[ncp]

See if you can find one of these:

ACR Electronics 2675 Nauticast AIS Dual Channel Receiver
http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CHMQ8wIwAA

You need to be be able to set your baud rate high and if your VHF is connected to your gps, you may need a multiplexer.

[Copinsay]

Hi

Many thanks for this - looks a good price, but I'm after a transponder rather than just a receiver. Any suggestions you have on the latter welcomed too.

Best wishes

Steve

[BruceB]

I have the digital yacht receiver fitted and it is easy to integrate with a plotter.
I dod look at transponders but thought there was no real benefit when related to the cost and the multiplexer/second aerial and complexity.
The little DY AIS receiver is plug and play!

[Boats&Outboards]

Morning

Sorry for delay. These are the ones we can supply. Not able to offer advice on which to go for but the forum will give you a review or opinion I'm sure!

Comar CSB 200 B Class Transponder (excluding gps antenna) Priced £465 delivered

Comar CSB 200 B Class Transponder (including. AG100 GPS antenna, pole, mount + 10m cable) Priced £525 delivered

Garmin AIS 600 B Class Transponder £649 delivered

iCom IC-MA-500TR B Class Transponder £649 delivered

Simrad A150 B Class Transponder (with GPS Antenna included) £899 Delivered

Simrad NAIS 300L B Class Transponder (with NMEA 2000 interface + GPS Antenna included) £650 Delivered

Simrad NAIS-300N B Class (with Simmet interface + GPS antenna included) £ £625 Delivered

That's about all we can supply. Google for specs, I don't think you will find cheaper in the UK but if you do let me know where and I'll see what I can do.

Regards Peter

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

[HUMBER P4VWL]

If you have an iPhone/pad there is an AIS app for £6.99 that works up to 12 mile offshore.

Search boat beacon

Has alarms for boats on track to crash etc and communication via message to others

Good for a rib if the fog came in.

[hadd]

I've got it I'll see if it works when we go across to Ireland in the fog

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Won't work half way across when the big cat ploughs through you!

Just stay close to someone who has the real kit!!!

[Copinsay]

Hello All

Thanks for all your comments and prices...

While I can see the simplicity of the receive only option, I do feel that the transmitter is worthwhile and worth the extra. Up here we have such a mix of both busy areas with tankers and some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, to very remote areas. For both reasons being seen by other ships, the coastguard, VTS - and the folks at home - is valuable to me, especially if out on my own.

Some very good prices there too Peter - I hope the posting bring you more business than just mine :o)

Best wishes to you all

Steve

[BruceB]

Originally Posted by Copinsay

Hello All

Thanks for all your comments and prices...

While I can see the simplicity of the receive only option, I do feel that the transmitter is worthwhile and worth the extra. Up here we have such a mix of both busy areas with tankers and some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, to very remote areas. For both reasons being seen by other ships, the coastguard, VTS - and the folks at home - is valuable to me, especially if out on my own.

Some very good prices there too Peter - I hope the posting bring you more business than just mine :o)

Best wishes to you all

Steve

Funnily enough we are going to the IOM next week if the weather holds, the reason I fitted my receiver in the first place. two years ago it was very foggy both ways................
I wouldn't have thought Orkney was that bad, been up the last two years with the RIB scooting around as far north as North Ronaldsay and didn't think the traffic was bad or busy. The only navigational issue I could think of was all the wave machines.
Still, if you knew me you would know I am the last one to be able to say electronic fit on a RIB should be kept basic.........

[Copinsay]

Hi Bruce

Yep - for sure it's much further down the list than flares and a radio. I just like the added provision of another way of being "seen". Even with a radar reflector (which I'd not wholly rely on), AIS has the advantage of working between/around the islands which would block radar.

Yes, there's places like around North Ron where it's very quiet... Although to me that can then make some people complacent.

But it does get busy enough to have a 24/7 VTS service... Apparently we are the most visited UK port for cruise liners, which last week added over 25% to our population for a day. Marine Services News | OIC Marine Services

Plus the other thing for me is when the fog/sea ha comes in... While we don't do as badly as Shetland, it can roll in pretty quick.

But as you say, it's an interesting gadget to have too, and it's also reassuring for the family to see me moving about on Marine Traffic, esp. where there's no mobile signal.

Glad you had a great time up here and hope you do so again... Mind you, it's lovely down your way too.

Best wishes

Steve

[Copinsay]

Hello All

Just to say I've gone for one of these at £399.00

Other Marine Electronics for sale , Advansea Class B AIS Transponder AIS TR200 - Boats And Outboards

A bit more expensive than getting the EMC Camino from the US, but quoted as having better water ingress protection (handy on a RIB!), and I feel just that tad happier with a UK supplier if there's a problem.

Or has anyone else experience/tips for these units?

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks for all your help

Steve

[Copinsay]

Hello All

Just by way of an update, the TR-200 is now all installed and working fine, both on its own, and when interfacing with my Garmin 451s chart plotter. Only a few minor fiddles to get them talking to each other. Really like the apparent ruggedness and waterproofness, compared to other units around this price.

I needed to buy a serial to USB lead to programme the unit... Do be aware that there's some very cheap counterfeit leads (around £3-£5 on Ebay) that do not work (as I found out after a few hours of trying). Whereas this one worked 100% first time: ABC Products® USB to 9 Pin DB9 Serial RS-232 converter: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics which I then bought from Amazon on the basis of the good reviews that it actually worked.

Just receiving the AIS data is useful in itself, but also good to be giving myself an extra chance of being seen as a small vessel by transmitting an AIS signal too.

Plus family and friends are enjoying seeing the plots of where I am on Marine Traffic Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions and get reassurance that I'm OK (if single handed) as they can see the RIB cruising about... unless of course I'd gone MOB and not attached the kill cord :o(

Hope this helps anyone else looking to buy.

Best wishes

Steve

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Copinsay

Hello All


Just receiving the AIS data is useful in itself, but also good to be giving myself an extra chance of being seen as a small vessel by transmitting an AIS signal too.

Plus family and friends are enjoying seeing the plots of where I am on Marine Traffic Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions and get reassurance that I'm OK (if single handed) as they can see the RIB cruising about... unless of course I'd gone MOB and not attached the kill cord :o(

Hope this helps anyone else looking to buy.

Best wishes

Steve

Hi Steve,

Looks like you got a good setup there.

I will be looking for something similar when I get my RIB later this year.

I can only re inforce what you are saying about a transponder. As from this year most new commercial large vessels will need to have electronic charts fitted, and AIS is interfaced with them.

Although we do have new equipment and it is expensive, you would be really surprised at how poor our radars are at picking up small targets, even with radar reflectors (most of which are not very effective), and in poor visibility, we just cannot see small craft close in, so would not know they were there. In any slight seas over force 4 we really struggle to see any small targets within about 3 miles. As nav lights are either non existent, or not required to be seen at that range for small vessels an AIS is really good idea.

AIS uses VHF to transmit the signal, so is limited to line of sight, but as we are 40M high to our mast, that is a good range, and your AIS will show up on our ECDIS. The more we see the more we can avoid!

It is nice to be able for you to see us, but we cannot do anything if we cannot see you! And yes we do have a dedicated lookout, 24/7, who does nothing other than lookout!

Plus having a transponder woould make finding you a doddle if you were in trouble, or needed help (as long as you had power to transmit). Your AIS should keep transmitting if you went overboard, and had the kill cord in use, we could find your boat, and at least know where to start looking for you!

Not a cheap piece of kit, but worth considering IMPO

[Copinsay]

Hello there Tonto

Many thanks for that and good to get the perspective from the big ships... And from so far away. It's still so amazing how the internet can bring us together.

While I know some people think AIS is overkill on a small boat, I like you think it's all the more useful as you are much harder to see, especially when there's no mast or sails either. And while we are in some ways remote up here, there's some big ships coming through.

Perhaps I didn't make it too clear, but the unit I now have is a class B transponder. The prices have come down a fair bit that I thought it was worth the money. It certainly seems to be working as I can see my tracks on Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

So many thanks for reinforcing the value of the transmitter too. Hopefully will never need it, but reassuring to know it's there.

Very best wishes

Steve

[tonto]

No probs,

Any discussion on safety, and equipment must be a positive thing, even if others may not agree, at least it will make people think.

Enjoy the summer, and have fun and be safe.

Gary

[redthunder]

Originally Posted by tonto

Hi Steve,

Looks like you got a good setup there.

I will be looking for something similar when I get my RIB later this year.

I can only re inforce what you are saying about a transponder. As from this year most new commercial large vessels will need to have electronic charts fitted, and AIS is interfaced with them.

Although we do have new equipment and it is expensive, you would be really surprised at how poor our radars are at picking up small targets, even with radar reflectors (most of which are not very effective), and in poor visibility, we just cannot see small craft close in, so would not know they were there. In any slight seas over force 4 we really struggle to see any small targets within about 3 miles. As nav lights are either non existent, or not required to be seen at that range for small vessels an AIS is really good idea.

AIS uses VHF to transmit the signal, so is limited to line of sight, but as we are 40M high to our mast, that is a good range, and your AIS will show up on our ECDIS. The more we see the more we can avoid!

It is nice to be able for you to see us, but we cannot do anything if we cannot see you! And yes we do have a dedicated lookout, 24/7, who does nothing other than lookout!

Plus having a transponder woould make finding you a doddle if you were in trouble, or needed help (as long as you had power to transmit). Your AIS should keep transmitting if you went overboard, and had the kill cord in use, we could find your boat, and at least know where to start looking for you!

Not a cheap piece of kit, but worth considering IMPO

I am just buying a transponder for that reason. I escort unorthodox crossings across the channel from Folkestone to cap grin nez in France. Yesterday we were hit with fog for 6 hours while taking a rower across. We had AIS and radar so could see all the ships. But were unsure they could defiantly see us! looking forward to the added security this offers. What sort of ship are you on?

[Copinsay]

Hello All

Quite agree Gary - I must admit I'm amazed how unprepared (and unbothered) some folk are (of course not on here) when they go out. I can't relax and enjoy potentially dangerous activities if I'm not prepared.. Doing the practical RYA courses last winter really helped me to be now enjoying trips out now so much.

I think these days we are lucky with all the gadgets we can have to *supplement* good personal safety skills, and which just add to the enjoyment and interest of being out too.

Red thunder - Well I can readily recommend the TR-200 (especially at the price), although other units may be as good if not better - and some good prices on offer from people on here too.

Plus family and friends and maybe even your clients will like being able to see what you are doing on Marine Traffic Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions in which you can also put contact details that can help with work etc like this: SKYLARK - Vessel's Details and Current Position - 0 - 235091893

Looks like a brilliant weekend for Ribbing coming up, up here.

Have a good and safe weekend to you all

Steve

[tonto]

Originally Posted by redthunder

I am just buying a transponder for that reason. I escort unorthodox crossings across the channel from Folkestone to cap grin nez in France. Yesterday we were hit with fog for 6 hours while taking a rower across. We had AIS and radar so could see all the ships. But were unsure they could defiantly see us! looking forward to the added security this offers. What sort of ship are you on?

I have been through that way a few times, and if it is a little choppy, we would probably not be able to see you, even with a radar reflector. An AIS would ensure we could, plus you can programme your destination, etc etc, so we would be able to see what was happening.

Not sure about class B units, but commercial ships can send text messages, and broadcast warnings (similar to VHF) to alert other vessels. I am pretty certain we pick up class B transponders, but will check our unit to see if there is a filter.

At the moment i am on an LNG tanker, 290M long and 43M beam. sitting near Brunei waiting for a cargo...

I do occasionally get to Europe though.