Is AIS in the house?

hardee":1scch9ul said:
David,

Are you using RayMarine C or E series, and Did you need to add a multiplexer to put in the AIS?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
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Raymarine C90W.

I have a Raymarine E55058 Seatalk High Speed Network Switch. Is that what you mean by multiplexer?

David
 
hardee wrote:
David,

Are you using RayMarine C or E series, and Did you need to add a multiplexer to put in the AIS?
Click to expand...

David Wrote:
Raymarine C90W.

I have a Raymarine E55058 Seatalk High Speed Network Switch. Is that what you mean by multiplexer?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

David, I don't know. It sounds like it might be the same thing. I just know that the electronics tech that I talked to about doing an AIS install said I would probably need one for my installation, which would be to a Raymarine C-120 (not the new Wide screen version.) I am still trying to figure out which I want to do, the B series AIS or the Standard Horizon Matrix GX 2100 which is the one that combines the AIS receiver and a high end VHF.

There are good reasons for either way.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
I like to think I had a little to do with Standard Horizon's new GX2150 product. Suffice to say Standard Horizon has fixed the NMEA data routing issue I found so troubling.

See my write-up at Navagear:
New Standard Horizon GX2150 VHF/AIS/loudhailer: A winner, for sure

GX2150_Black_AISCompassDisplay_thumb.jpg
 
Tim,

This is a nice upgrade, Thanks for pointing it out, and for probably helping them (SH) devlope the change. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I have found my AIS a big plus on ALOYSIUS. We travel the Cumberland River often and the AIS sure helps cut down on surprises when we make some of the tight turns and for sure makes VHF contacting of the barge Captains much more accurate. Nothing like being able to call them by name and asking them where they would like you even before they see your vessel. I love it, would not rig another boat without it. I would put this item on my next boat even prior to radar. It has also been a joy to use in the busy coastal ports too. Again, nothing like being able to talk to the big folks and calling them by vessel name. Sweet.

Byrdman
 
In the areas I normally operate - Lake Washington, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands - there is good AIS coverage through shore-connected sites and good cellphone coverage, so I've been using the ShipFinder app on my iPhone. I also have an AIS receiver hooked to Coastal Explorer on my trawler and it's nice to see the plots integrated, but I much prefer the ShipFinder interface.

I tried the GX2150 (with test AIS data) in the WM store the other day - it took a while for me to figure it out (no manual) but once you learn the interface it is possible to use it. My concern, though, is that it takes a lot of button presses to get the data and while you're doing that, you are not paying attention to piloting the boat. And the radio needs to be mounted in a very convenient location (I don't think overhead will work well in practice).
 
centerisland":fhuspjux said:
In the areas I normally operate - Lake Washington, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands - there is good AIS coverage through shore-connected sites and good cellphone coverage, so I've been using the ShipFinder app on my iPhone. I also have an AIS receiver hooked to Coastal Explorer on my trawler and it's nice to see the plots integrated, but I much prefer the ShipFinder interface.

I tried the GX2150 (with test AIS data) in the WM store the other day - it took a while for me to figure it out (no manual) but once you learn the interface it is possible to use it. My concern, though, is that it takes a lot of button presses to get the data and while you're doing that, you are not paying attention to piloting the boat. And the radio needs to be mounted in a very convenient location (I don't think overhead will work well in practice).
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I agree. But the GX2150 integrated with a modern GPS is great.
 
We already invested in AIS and enjoy the abilty to see and track the targets directly on the GPS screen, but this series (even the GX2000) offers a real step forward in that you can hail an AIS target directly using DSC with one button push.

With the AIS/GPS setup alone you can get the MMSI #'s but then you either have to wait for the ship name and hail or you can try inputting an MSSI# while underway/in fog/rough water etc which to my mind is just as bad as texting while driving.

For that reason alone the GX2000 is on my want list.

Better would be if the GPS manufacturer would simply allow me to place the cursor over a target and press a key to get the radio to call it.

M
 
Forgot to add that we also have a multiplexer between the AIS and the E-120 so the 2000 would work for us. Otherwise would have to use the 2150.
(thanks Barry)

M
 
Just tried the AIS for iPhone application Ship Finder that the Curlew crew mentioned. For either free or with full tracking etc. for $4.99 you sure get a heck of a AIS application. Not many ships in Monterey Bay(certainly not enough to spend hundreds of dollars for a AIS receiver) but I was surprised how many pass just offshore on the way to San Francisco. On nice days it could be fun to try and intercept interesting ones. Where you have cell phone reception, it sure seems like it would do everything I need from AIS. I love ships and this things gives me photos when I click on the ship and all its AIS data. Of course not much use without cell phone reception unless you think its fun to sit in your living room and watch ships move around all over the world. C-Brats just keep coming up with so much fun stuff, almost worth the cost of the boat to get to play!

Ron
 
I just had a chance to test my gx2150 / Garmin 5208 yesterday and already have a problem. The system worked fine in the driveway including a DSC test from my handheld. When I got out on lake St Clair, I immediately picked up an AIS target and found it on the Garmin. Soon I had 4 showing on the gx2150 but no output to the Garmin. I still had the gps connection and could see the targets on the gx2150 with all of the corresponding data but not on the Garmin. I checked all of the connections with an ohm meter and the settings in both units and had no luck. I even tried a DSC test from my handheld and it didn't even receive it. When I got home, I tried another DSC test and it worked fine. I'm too far from open water to pick up any other targets, any ideas on how to test further? I'll be calling Standard Horizon later to check with them and possibly Garmin too. I've been working 14 hour day lately and won't be back to the big water for at least a week and don't know anyone with similar electronics to make some tests with. Is there a particular voltage reading I might test for on the terminal block to see if there is a signal between the two units?
 
REBEMUP":1tjhpusb said:
Just tried the AIS for iPhone application Ship Finder that the Curlew crew mentioned. For either free or with full tracking etc. for $4.99 you sure get a heck of a AIS application. Not many ships in Monterey Bay(certainly not enough to spend hundreds of dollars for a AIS receiver) but I was surprised how many pass just offshore on the way to San Francisco. On nice days it could be fun to try and intercept interesting ones. Where you have cell phone reception, it sure seems like it would do everything I need from AIS. I love ships and this things gives me photos when I click on the ship and all its AIS data. Of course not much use without cell phone reception unless you think its fun to sit in your living room and watch ships move around all over the world. C-Brats just keep coming up with so much fun stuff, almost worth the cost of the boat to get to play!

Ron
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Ron, I used to have a boat in the Marina there when I was at USNPGS 67-70, sure was a great place to boat! I'd make sure it wasn't a Navy ship you were trying to "intercept", they don't take kindly to having someone make a "run" on them! :lol:

Charlie
 
Do you have the input from the radio on the high speed com port on the Garmin. Then have you selected the high speed com port. If you don't understand this, PM me and I'll send you the specific wire colors,--but our menue may be different. Garmin manual will tell how to select the 34,000 Baud port.
 
Yes, all of the speed settings are correct. It was just really odd that one moment I had a target on the Garmin display and moments later with 4 on the matrix display, the Garmin had none.
 
I was out today only offshore a few miles when I noticed a "red" ship further offshore. This is the first red AIS ship I have seen on my iPhone app in the Monterey Bay area. When I clicked on it I saw it was a naval craft, only 48 meters. Probably could not have intercepted it but Charlie's warning put it completely out of mind. Do all naval ships run AIS or does it depend?
 
They are not required to run it. Most can do as they pretty much please except in close quarters. If it was Navy, probably a patrol craft of some sort, not many "warships" that length.

Charlie
 
Thanks, that sounds right. It was listed as a "Military Ops" vessel. I don't know if that covers all military vessels or just navy (excluding or including Coast Guard?)

Once every few years the U.S. Navy sends a ship on the scale of a guided missile destroyer to Monterey Bay and it is fun to take a cruise around it in parade of other small boats.

Obviously Monterey Bay is not like naval ports were I doubt parades take place around newly arrived vessels. Since it has now been a few years, I am also not certain we would be allowed a very close approach to an anchored naval ship in these times.

Since I was a child when my mother took me to the N.Y. harbor entrance in Bay Ridge Brooklyn to watch for my fathers ship's arrival I have been a consummate ship watcher. The new cruise ships do nothing for me (they don't even look sea worthy, more like a floating wedding cake) but the "honest" old ocean liners like the Queen Mary and the big naval ships are like magnets. I can stand for hours just looking at them. I may just have to trailer Sea-Cruz down to San Diego.

Ron
 
OK, I did finally solve the connection issues. I've had it fixed since a couple days after my last post, it's just taken me this long to respond. I wired the two units together different than shown. I spoke with a tech from Standard Horizon afterward to tell them the solution. He checked the serial and told me that the firmware was old and the radio was manufactured in January. Not a big deal, I got it to work. If it ever needs service they will correct the problem even if the warranty has run out.

Anyway, the AIS is pretty cool. works great with the Garmin. If anyone else has the same issue, PM me and I'll post the wiring and system changes.
 
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