AIS

[Splash Gordon]

Does anyone have any advice to offer regarding choice of AIS system, probably to be part of an integrated navigation system, but without a radar reciever? I'm looking with the criteria of power-consumption, size and weight, as well as durability.

[Pblais]

Strcitly speaking AIS can be used as a text display system. Itegration with a chart system is common. Some chart systems also overlay radar, but all this is optional.

As far as power it's no more than any VHF receiver plus your display. They are all solid state so reliability weight and power really are not a criteria that will eleiminate any of them. Features and cost might make one more desirable.

I would work from your nav system backwards as that can be a better / easier to use system to display the data. In text format it will show a location, a vector, speed, and ID of the vessel. If you view it on a chart it makes is a whole lot easier to see who is where. With one ship maybe not a big deal but in traffic it would help you plot a better corrected course if you saw you were going to collide down the road.

[SurfNRG]

You may wanna check out millitech marine. The smart radio models seem quite affordable.

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