What price to get excited about AIS?

[Channel Ribs]

NASA Have just relaunched their budget-priced AIS engine, now in version three.

Given that this is sold for around 100 quid, versus the 400-600 price tag of the big names... And a second VHF antenna can be added for less than 30 quid - has this technology reached the point where it is "silly not to"?

[Avocet]

At that price you could surely organise a bulk buy!

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Avocet

At that price you could surely organise a bulk buy!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by malthouse

NASA Have just relaunched their budget-priced AIS engine, now in version three.

Given that this is sold for around 100 quid, versus the 400-600 price tag of the big names... And a second VHF antenna can be added for less than 30 quid - has this technology reached the point where it is "silly not to"?

I don't think this is just a price point argument. It depends where you 'sail' and in what conditions etc. If you sail in quiet, out the way places then you won't see much on the AIS. If you are generally a daylight and good weather boater then there is probably also little benefit of AIS.

If you sail in shipping lanes at night or in poor vis then it makes much more sense; in your situation it would probably be silly not to. For others it could be a waste of cash that would be better spent elsewhere.

[Brian]

Polwart,

I think I would be a little more generous towards it than that.
I find AIS adds hugely to my enjoyment of driving.
There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a ship, asking each other what it is (esp. if it is a strange looking ship) and then having to dissolve into mild disappointment when nobody knows the answer or can only guess at it.
What delight (or what passes for relative delight!) in being able to name the ship, its type and destination-to name but a few of its characteristics.
A couple of hundred of your English pounds well spent I think.

But there you go. I get a massive amount of enjoyment as I go along playing with the plotter and listening to the VHF as well.

[ashbypower]

Originally Posted by Brian

Polwart,

I think I would be a little more generous towards it than that.
I find AIS adds hugely to my enjoyment of driving.
There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a ship, asking each other what it is (esp. if it is a strange looking ship) and then having to dissolve into mild disappointment when nobody knows the answer or can only guess at it.
What delight (or what passes for relative delight!) in being able to name the ship, its type and destination-to name but a few of its characteristics.
A couple of hundred of your English pounds well spent I think.

But there you go. I get a massive amount of enjoyment as I go along playing with the plotter and listening to the VHF as well.

Confused dot COM !!!!!

[Jorgos]

a transponder makes more sence than a receiver only .
Where we can find well peiced tranponders?

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Jorgos

a transponder makes more sence than a receiver only .
Where we can find well peiced tranponders?

At the moment I would say Comar have the market with their CSB200, priced at around 400 pounds.

But the radio manufacturers are finally catching onto AIS and I think ultimately their packages will be the most cost effective.

Odd how they missed the DSC boat the first time it came around and then missed the AIS one too.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Confused dot COM !!!!!

they don't get much excitement on the IoM!

Brian - I see your point, personally that is interesting rather than valuable - but you also possibly see more ships or traffic than others - which fits with my original point. If you don't see any ships then knowing who they are and where they might be going is irrelevant.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Brian

What delight (or what passes for relative delight!) in being able to name the ship, its type and destination-to name but a few of its characteristics.

We have a little diversion here that you might like in that case... If a vessel on AIS does not have a photo in the Marine Traffic database then we have been known to dash about taking photos and then racing to upload them.

Sad, yes I know. It is like competitive train spotting but with a boat.

[Knot Yet]

Originally Posted by Brian

Polwart,

I think I would be a little more generous towards it than that.
I find AIS adds hugely to my enjoyment of driving.
There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a ship, asking each other what it is (esp. if it is a strange looking ship) and then having to dissolve into mild disappointment when nobody knows the answer or can only guess at it.
What delight (or what passes for relative delight!) in being able to name the ship, its type and destination-to name but a few of its characteristics.
A couple of hundred of your English pounds well spent I think.

But there you go. I get a massive amount of enjoyment as I go along playing with the plotter and listening to the VHF as well.

Have to agree with Brian - have only used it once and on a disastrous trip so couldn't really play - but liked the fact that when out on the Solent you had a better understnasidng of what was around and who etc - yes I know there are big pro's and con's - lots of threads on it but from a purely interest/enjoyment perspective I think the £100 we spent was well worth it and of course it adds a small safety element or large depending on who you speak to





J

[9D280]

Also there have been acouple of "big" regattas on the Clyde where all the yachts were rigged with something that may have been AIS, or a variation thereof with a small trransponder box tie wrapped to their pushpits, so that for example at the 8m worlds in Rhu a few years ago they had the races "live" on screen in a marquee at the marina. May have been live o nthe web as well.

Now, were you spectating at such an event (and assuming they use "real" AIS"), you could see what was happening all over the course and not just where you were parked at the time.


I do agree a 2- way is probably a more sensible investment, BUT at £400 I can think of lots of other things that would preceed that purchase. (Esp. as Icom have just re - software'd their 503 to do it without the aid of another aeriel / box of electrickery, and I think Standard Horizon have one with built in AIS too? ).

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

... and of course it adds a small safety element or large depending on who you speak to

I think as Polwart said, how much it adds to your safely depends on your boating area more than just opinion, round here poor visibility* is a way of life (caused either by hang overs or fog) so it borders on essential. In the Solent there is no much traffic about that it is a good way to have eyes in the back of your head.

Where the air is always clear and the nearest vessel is 20 miles away then it is defiantly more of a toy that a must have. Indeed having a transponder might prove valuable one day if knowing there is a boat out there could make a difference to someone's day.

* Ask anyone who came on the 2009 Floptilla!

[Sonar]

I have a Lowrance plotter and a Garmin GPSMAP 500.

Both on the rib.

Seems an ais is just one of the many functions of the Garmin GPSMAP 500 this compact machine.

I myself have only used the ais part of the machine as a safety zone alarm while night fishing.

But it has many more uses for a budget priced gps plotter sonar fish finder ect ect.

[MikeCC]

Originally Posted by 9D280

I do agree a 2- way is probably a more sensible investment, BUT at £400 I can think of lots of other things that would preceed that purchase. (Esp. as Icom have just re - software'd their 503 to do it without the aid of another aeriel / box of electrickery, and I think Standard Horizon have one with built in AIS too? ).

Standard showed their AIS-inclusive VHF radios at London. Indications on RRP look good, so discounted price will be OK. They aren't transponders though, just a receive unit. They have mini AIS display on the screen and you can scroll round them to pick up MMSI and call up directly. Good if you have your chartplotter below deck.

£400 for Comar transponder would be ex-VAT. If you're quick (like before 21 Jan) We can do a show special for £520 including UK delivery and the GPS antenna f.o.c. (usually around £75)

[9D280]

Originally Posted by MikeCC

. Good if you have your chartplotter below deck.

Most of us ribbers have the plotter by the wheel. It's mostly only the Redbay guys can park theirs below deck! (Which is where the NASA "box" has it's uses on a RIB). If I;m looking to receive only, for not a lot more money then the AIS reciever, I can upgrade my radio & get DSC on the plotter as well.

Originally Posted by MikeCC

£400 for Comar transponder would be ex-VAT. If you're quick (like before 21 Jan) We can do a show special for £520 including UK delivery and the GPS antenna f.o.c. (usually around £75)

...which is around 500L of fuel at marina prices, and comes back to Malthouse's original Q - How cheap does it need to be before you'll buy one?


I'm going to chuck this in as a thought in case any of the electronics manufacturers are out there: Plotter with a VHF anenna connection on the back. For the cost of a bit of added known technology (i.e.relatively small development costs), the plotter has the AIS reception built in. On a small open boat, the reduction in wiring & hardware will not only free up some space, but also improve system reliability as you don't need another NMEA talker in the bus with a few more connectors to get corroded......

I suppose taking that to it's ultimate conclusion, maybe a SW antenna connector as well - then you could get Navtex on screen too!

[Leapy]

Could someone please summarise what AIS does/is please?

I understand the basic principles of information exchange - course, speed, vessel name...but...

Some systems receive, some transmit and receive? The received information is viewed through a plotter? In order to receive you need...what?

If I just wanted to "see" other AIS transmitting vessels on my Garmin 550s, is this do-able? What would I need to make it happen other than an AIS receiver?

Icom (and presumably others) do AIS integrated VHF radios. Where does that fit in?

Are some vessles mandated to fit and operate AIS?

In order to have a view on Malthouse's question about price point I'd like to have a better view on the system capability/complication

[Duck Witch]

Originally Posted by Leapy

If I just wanted to "see" other AIS transmitting vessels on my Garmin 550s, is this do-able? What would I need to make it happen other than an AIS receiver?

No problemo!

You just need a receiver (100 pounds) a standard VHF antenna or splitter (30 pounds) and to connect the right wires. You will then see the data from any local vessels on your 550.

Have a read of the full story here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat...ication_System

[Knot Yet]

Originally Posted by Leapy

If I just wanted to "see" other AIS transmitting vessels on my Garmin 550s, is this do-able? What would I need to make it happen other than an AIS receiver?

Leapy - we have a 550s and have done exactly as Duck Witch (Welcome to RIBnet ) details above - works a treat and we felt it was money well spent

It wasn't difficult at all the only "tricky" part is keeping the AIS receiver dry as it's not waterproof (ours is the AIS engine I think)

Shout if you need any pictures - will get poor old hubby out there with the camera

Jxx

[9D280]

Just a quick heads up - not all of the older plotters are "AIS enabled", although I think I'm safe in saying any new plotter these days probably is.