VHF with AIS or GPS?

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by phantomracer

X2

Nice unit. easy to integrate. works well. Nice screen. KISS

I asked the guy if this would work as an AIS recvr for our garmin and he said no. Interesting

[Sailmonkey]

+1 for the SH 2150. It's on the short list as the Apelco radio is beginning the downward spiral.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by phantomracer

X2

Nice unit. easy to integrate. works well. Nice screen. KISS

2nd on this. I installed one and used it for an Annapolis-Newport, RI, trip earlier this year. Great unit and inexpensive!

[sy_gilana]

Garmin 16X high voltage (12v)
Standard Horizon GXC 2150
One power source for both
38400 baud in and out

[lancelot9898]

Is there a RAM mic with a small display on that 2150? It's difficult for me to run more wires into the pedestal, but having that display at the helm would be nice.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by lancelot9898

Is there a RAM mic with a small display on that 2150? It's difficult for me to run more wires into the pedestal, but having that display at the helm would be nice.

yes there is.....same small display as the radio.

[lancelot9898]

Thanks

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

I asked the guy if this would work as an AIS recvr for our garmin and he said no. Interesting

Wrong. I have a Garmin 526x and it works just fine as the rx for it.

[toddbrsd]

I also have the Standard Horizon, GX2150 and I am using a much cheaper Garmin "hockey puck" style GPS 18LVC antenna. the antenna actually sits on top of the VHF chasis inside the cabin. It works fine for me, but I do mostly coastal cruising at most. Here is link to my thread on the Ericson website. I had a Navstar VHF prior that you will see in the picture, but have since replaced it with the GX2150.

GPS Antenna=

[rebel heart]

Here's mine. Little handheld Garmin that wm had on sale forever plus a $20 wire kit. Works like a champ.

Thinking of getting a "blackbox " transceiver, worried that it will trigger the CPA alarm but maybe since it's the same mmsi it will be fine?

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by sneuman

Wrong. I have a Garmin 526x and it works just fine as the rx for it.

+1 I have a Garmin and lowrance networked together with NMEA 2k and it works fine that way as well. The 2150 is not NEMA2k but as long as you can get AIS on the network the Garmin plotters will display it.

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by sneuman

Wrong. I have a Garmin 526x and it works just fine as the rx for it.

I agree the guy definitely did not know what he was talking about. The unit seems like a great deal. I wonder how it works if you already have been in line splitter to use with your AMFM radio does anyone know if you lose a lot of signal strength or just a tiny bit

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

I agree the guy definitely did not know what he was talking about. The unit seems like a great deal. I wonder how it works if you already have been in line splitter to use with your AMFM radio does anyone know if you lose a lot of signal strength or just a tiny bit

Personally, I wouldn't mess with it. I'd put in a cheap AM/FM antenna or even just one of the crappy wire ones and jam it behind the radio.

but then I only use AM/FM rarely, in metro areas. IF I'm out cruising there usually isn't any signal anyway.

Another option would be to install the lowrance VHF with FM, and then a separate AIS. I'm not really a fan of the 2150 because I really think class B AIS is the way to go.

[David M]

With a standalone design, if one goes down then it does not take down the other. With integration, you will want a backup that is not connected to the integrated system. I like having backups, but the downside is that it is more expensive. There is no saying which is the right or wrong way of going about it.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by David M

With a standalone design, if one goes down then it does not take down the other. With integration, you will want a backup that is not connected to the integrated system. I like having backups, but the downside is that it is more expensive. There is no saying which is the right or wrong way of going about it.

The odds of a VHF or AIS receiver failing is so friggin tiny, and if they do fail it's probably going to be an antenna connection which will hose up most people's installations anyway. And if you did lose them, it's not like you lost your rudder. Keep a handheld onboard and make-do. I love AIS but I try to remember that vessels have safely moved around with it for thousands of years.