New combination VHF radio, AIS reciever/Hailer

T

thataway

Active member
Standard Horizon has come out (not yet in the stores) a new VHF radio, with a Class D DSC reciever, and AIS reciever, VHF radio, Hailer combo with available use of RAM mikes.

I believe that this is the first combination AIS reciever, VHF radio combination, and it is going to be a winner at about $400. Granted, that there is no class B transmitter, for most of our uses, the AIS reciever will do the job.

So maybe that AIS is not that far off. I wonder when this is incorporated into their chart plotter? (There is NMEA output for any brand plotter).
 
Huh oh, Admirable is not going to like the idea of another radio :oops: :mrgreen:

Thanks for the heads up Dr Bob. Now I'll need to see if my RM C-120 has any more room for input, or am I looking at another device (multiplexer read $$$) to get the signal into the system and usable.

Need more time (and $$$)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
What is your chartplotter screen going to look like when everyone has AIS. There is going to be so much video clutter you will see nothing but AIS symbols and info. It will never happen now, buy there should have been a size limit on vessels that are authorized to carry AIS. Like over 65 ft.
 
Actually David it should look pretty much like it does now when you are running radar, which is when AIS on our size boat really pays off.
Unless your plotter comes up with all of the data instead if a simple boat symbol. On the Raymarine you have to put the cursor on a target to get the info.

I have not had any problems with clutter so far even in harbors where for some reason boats tied to the dock keep their transmitters on.
One problem I did have was when you are coming into a place like Friday Harbor it insists that all those boats sitting on the docks are "dangerous" targets so the first thing you have to do is turn off the alarms. (No good turning off the AIS beacause it remembers they were there :shock:

I tend to agree that in normal visibility and open ocean, there is little point in boats our size transmitting, which is why they are provided with a "stealth" switch.

There is also another switch (menu) which removes the AIS targets from the screen.

So far I have found it very useful in fog and in tight quarters where you can meet the odd ferry or tugboat & Tow just around the corner.

Even in relatively open waters it is also useful as it provides the equivalent of MARPA information without need for the radar so you can plan to miss that tanker while it is still 6 miles away.

Personally I find it is a great addition to boating safety and the new radio's now appearing with the ability to hail a target directly via DSC are particulalry useful.

Just my 2c worth

Merv
 
David,

I agree with you about too many AIS signals. Small boats should not transmit AIS unless the situation requires it, in my opinion. The ability to identify and contact large vessels directly however, is an important safety factor.

This radio is on my wish list as the AIS portion is receive-only and its screen displays the locations, MMSI numbers, etc. of sending AIS vessels so a chart plotter is not required.
 
This radio will work with the VHF antenna which you have now. I will be buying one when they are available. As Larry says, you can get the information on the radio LCD, but this is a fairly small screen. You have the option to displaying the data on your chart plotter or not. Again this might be a good reason for a second chart plotter.

So far there is no evidence that equipting many boats with AIS or similar beacons is a problem. Some SE Asia harbors require an identifier on every boat over a certain size (I think it is 7 meters or about 22 feet). There has also been some chatter about larger ships filtering out class "B" signals or by other criteria.

To me the beauty is several fold--the most obvious one is small boats which don't show up well on radar. Second is "around the bend"--this can be on the waterways, points or blind areas in harbors or straits. Also movements of fishing boats--especially netting or trawlers would be of real navigational value. Perhaps I am more attuned to this since I have been in some real life scenerios where it was critical to track multiple vessels, and then all of a sudden here is another ship on a direct collision course on visual or radar in the middle of the night in a crowded straight.
 
Bob,

I now have something on my XMAS wishlist. I have toyed with installing an AIS for a couple of months only so I can keep track of cruise ships, tour boats, ferries, tenders, and the like.
 
Great site, Bob. Our second-in-command can give us a heads-up concerning vessels along our intended cruise route each day, keep an eye on traffic along our intended course if necessary (as in fog, and can give an id for any vessels seen on our radar). Will be a nice assist when we're able to receive internet. And -- the cost is perfect. Thanks.
 
Humm, requirements for bass boats to transmit AIS when starter switch is hot. Now there is an idea. I love being able to see the barges "round the corners" on the river, and being able to contact them to coordinate passings has been a great asset.....

Those that know me realise I am not a make a law about everything...BUT... just think how much safer our inland waters would be if those 50-60-70-80+ mph bass boats had to have them too.

Yall come on down to a night bass tourney on the Cumberland River some night. You will have a much better appreciation for my thoughts here.

AIS is good.

Byrdman
 
Maybe the best option for everybody's safety would be to limit the power on those bass boats to 25 or 30 HP, keeping everyone equal and safe. :mrgreen: :twisted: :xnaughty

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
This looks very cool. Right now I have an Icom IC-M422 connected via NMEA 0183 to a Raymarine C80. Could I simply take that radio out and put this one in? Would AIS targets show up on the C80? Would the power and antenna cables be the same?
 
Power and antenna hook up would be the same. The PL 259 which connects the antenna to the radio is the same. You might have to do some crimping on the power leads.

I cannot answer, about the NMEA sentensing to the RayMarine plotter until after these are available. However, I do have my Standard Horizon VHV radio coupled with my Standard Horizon chart plotter, and DSC targets show up, so the assumption is that it will work the same with the RayMarine via NMEA 0183 (I don't believe it is NMEA 2000 or sea talk). I suspect that the digital data will also be available on the Ray Marine. Definately the recent Garmins will work.
 
I am thinking seriously about getting AIS, if I can do it inexpensively. The unit Bob points out looks really interesting. I have no radar -- and no budget for radar. And, as I have no chart plotter (beyond my laptop and a great handheld Garmin), I can't buy an inexpensive receiver to network.

This unit seems to be an interesting compromise, with a receiver built-in to the VHF, and feeding a small display. If I understand the Standard Horizon website, the display identifies graphically where AIS transmitting vessels are in relation to you (me), as well as bearing, speed, and distance. That sounds like a neat, and inexpensive, package for a small boat on a budget.

Standard_Horizon_GX2100_VHF_AIS.jpg

So, my questions to everyone are these:

How does AIS do in real world applications in identifying the location of commercial vessels?

Does AIS replace Radar for identifying ship traffic?

It sounds too easy. What am I missing? What are the pros & cons of AIS for limited visibility navigation.

FYI -- Standard Horizon has info HERE.

Matt
 
the con that I see in a ais unit with out a radar is that not every one has ais so don't think its going to show you everyone on the water. Radar on the other hand shows everyone around you whether they like it or not. Never depend on the other guy to do the right thing.

I would like to have the ais vhf hauler unit as a addition to my radar and chart plotter but would not buy one instead of a radar.

I don't see the unit marking to many objects even is everyone did have a ais transmitter unless you where looking at a screen with 20miles range. even with radar i hardly look out pass 2 miles in the fog. I can avoid everyone with in that range , even the fast movers.

I don't not want to see this as a requirement for boats of any size that are in private use. let people decide for them selves what they want on their own boats.
 
AIS only shows vessels broadcasting AIS- mainly commercial vessels, although more pleasure boats are adding AIS.

AIS won't show land masses, bouys, markers or anything else going bump in the night.

AIS is a tool, and unless you boat in very congested waters, I'm not sure how much good it really does. Because those congested waters can get flooded with AIS signals. The plus side is that AIS gives you information about the vessel, as well as it's heading. AIS can also show a vessel that is hidden from radar by a land mass.

Personally, I'm not sold on AIS for pleasureboat use. At least having it as part of the ship's VHF means one less box to have to hook up and saves space.

At one time AIS was being talked about for all pleasuer boats as a tool for Homeland Security. But I think they finally realized that any terrorist could steal a boat, which would be broadcasting a legitimate AIS signal, so no real added safety. It's not like the terrorists would program the AIS to show a cargo of explosives... :roll:
 
I use AIS and like it. Clutter is not a problem -- just watch in your areas of interest (collision zone)... not important how many AIS signals are on the screen because you only care about those that can hurt. Having course and speed info is a great help in maneuvering to avoid that bump. Because we boat in the fog a lot -- just another tool, but a good one.
Dusty
 
You should be able to hook up the AIS output of the Standard Horizon radio to your laptop navigation displacy--assuming that you have a port which will accept that baud rate. Most of the stand along AIS units will hook up to laptops.

I agree that AIS is no substitution for Radar, for all of the reasons given. We will see more AIS B on private boats as time goes by and the price comes down. But you are in just as much trouble if a Bayliner or a supertanker runs over your C Dory.. The ability to contact the larger vessel, to see his course, changes, rudder angle etc is very important, and puts another whole resource in your hands. However, the screen on the Radio is relitatively small, and I would not want to be looking at it, when eyes should be on the water, or looking at a Radar. My feeling is that if you boat in waters where there is a lot of fog, that Radar is a worthwhile investment as a piece of safety gear. Often you will never physically see vessels which pass within a hundred yards of you--in the fog, and especially in the dark in fog.

I agree that for a little over $300 that this is very much an improvement over nothing. I also sailed the S. Calif coast for many years lusting for a Radar (when they were many times what they cost now, if even available) and probably would have opted for this radio, had the technology been avialable. I will probably have a chance to see one in action this weekend--if so I'll report my findings back to the group.
 
Thanks for these thoughtful replies. I agree, radar would be optimal, but the cost doesn't justify it for me here in So Cal. The cruising area is vast with little congestion -- and I simply don't go out if the visibility is bad. But, we have the inbound and outbound shipping lanes going to LA Harbor (see the pink lanes and separation zones HERE). My only concern in poor visibility is having a container ship doing 30 knots appear out of the haze and bear down on me as I cross the shipping lane. AIS -- assuming ALL the large ships are using it -- certainly would be an advantage.

But, since radar is becoming ubiquitous, how much would I be looking at to put in a lowest cost system? There were two days last year I had to cancel plans -- one of which I went out to the shipping lane but didn't want to cross with less than 1/4 mile viz. The weather here is such that if it is clear in the am, it will stay clear. Fog is common in the am, but almost always lifts. So the cost to benefit ratio remains a factor.

Matt
 
Back
Top