I'm using the SR 162 dual channel AIS receiver, purchased from milltech
marine, it talks to the Coastal Explorer
software running on the dell
laptop down below. The system has worked very well for the past year.
Products from Milltech Marine
Downsides: to use the AIS means the computer needs to be up, therefore theAIS data is not available should the computer fail, the
alarm sounding from the computer is not loud.
Upsides: very useful for determining heading/speed of
shipping, which I find quite helpful when operating offshoure along the
California coast.
An alternative that many of the folks in the Singlehanded Sailing Society have used is the NASA stand-alone AIS receiver/display. With its own display is doesn't require the laptop, and the
alarm is quite loud relative to the laptop.
allGadgets: Product: 'NASA Clipper AIS 'Radar''
- beetle