AIS recommendation

[Paul Klein]

Hello,
It's time for me to look into AIS.
Does anyone have and use Matsutec HP-528A.
Out of China, AliExpress, much cheeper than western brands but does it work??
Any reviews would be appreciated.

[smac999]

I doubt it's certified to be transmitting in the real world

[Paul Klein]

Thanks for the reply, perhaps I should start with finding out the regulations governing AIS. I thought it was a case of install and register and go sailing.
Will do homework

[GILow]

I have it’s predecessor and it works pretty well. Not something I expect to last ten years but good at the price.

Mine is connected to my Raymarine C120 plotter via a NMEA 0183 connection.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Paul Klein

Thanks for the reply, perhaps I should start with finding out the regulations governing AIS. I thought it was a case of install and register and go sailing.

Will do homework

Certification is certainly something to consider. There was a good discussion on the issue here on CF a few years back. Worth looking for.

I won’t express an opinion either way about the merits, except to comment that the rules are not always seen the same way in all parts of the world.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Paul Klein

Hello,

It's time for me to look into AIS.

Does anyone have and use Matsutec HP-528A.

Out of China, AliExpress, much cheeper than western brands but does it work??

Any reviews would be appreciated.

Incidentally, that’s a good price. I’m tempted to pick one up as a backup at that price. Where did you find it?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Paul Klein

Hello,
It's time for me to look into AIS.
Does anyone have and use Matsutec HP-528A.
Out of China, AliExpress, much cheeper than western brands but does it work??
Any reviews would be appreciated.

Do you need the plotter option or do you have a chart plotter already? because there are other options.

Pete

[tarian]

many UK boaters have bought these try YBW forum and search, they are legal , they do work and most have a positive experience , there customer service is poor .

[Paul Klein]

Thanks for the replies. I will contact the government department today to clarify regs.
The attached advertisement is from AliExpress.
Much cheaper than eBay,
Regards Paul

[Paul Klein]

Thanks again.
I will look at the other forum today.
My experience with AliExpress customer service has always been good but I agree that individual sellers can be difficult to deal with.
I have a plotter but even black box brand name transponders are more expensive in Australia and freight is expensive out of UK, and the US.
I'll take another look today. The decision process is just beginning.
Paul

[Snore]

Sorry- why would you go “low bid” on an essential piece of gear? Would you buy a life raft from these guys?

IMHO spend a few dollars more and get a Vesper XB-8000 ideally with WiFi. Outstanding customer service, many installed units, and they regularly push out updates that can be installed via the iPhone app.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Paul Klein

Hello,
It's time for me to look into AIS.
Does anyone have and use Matsutec HP-528A.
Out of China, AliExpress, much cheeper than western brands but does it work??
Any reviews would be appreciated.

Earlier models of the same brand worked allright.


Google the net for reviews.


Our friends had the earlier model while they circumnavigated 2014-2018.


barnakiel

[barnakiel]

I believe Matsutec are Furuno brand. Otherwise Furuno would have kicked them out of the market long ago.


barnakiel

[Paul Klein]

In 30 years of active cruising I have always used brand name GPS, plotters, radar and vhf. I have found all unreliable and generally failed within a few years. I rather pay half the price and perhaps get the same reliability. Technology changes anyway, so why not?
They are mostly made in China also.

[Nicholson58]

We have Vesper Marine 850. It runs autonomously but can be linked to your plotter. It seems about 7 watts, a who cares power drain. It runs an excellent anchor watch. We have had excellent after sales service. Once repaired after it was smoked in a lightening strike. I would recommend this item to everyone. They now have a standard turn around service fee, reasonable, in case anything goes wrong.