Si - Tex Metadata Class B AIS Transceiver

[northwestsailor]

Resurrecting an old thread-

Anyone have any recent experience with the SITEX MDA-1 METADATA? My Em-trak died so I need a new unit quickly. Sitex is a bit cheaper than the rest and I have the antenna already from the Em-trak if I need it. But just wondering if there are any other pros and cons versus other SRT iterations.

Thanks

[gamayun]

Re-resurecting this old thread again. Did a search on CF for relevant threads but didn't find much. I'm looking at the transponder units listed below. Does anyone have direct experience with them and could offer some thoughts? I don't see many reviews in general. Some of my criteria of the features are: NMEA 2000, USB, external antenna, low power, and $500-$700 price range. What about Wifi capability? Is it just a nice thing to have or are there any real advantages to it?

SI-TEX Metadata Class B AIS Transceiver with External GPS Antenna Package (~500)
EM-TRAK B350 CLASS B SOTDMA AIS TRANSPONDER ($600 but would need antenna, too)
COMAR T200B CLASS B AIS TRANSPONDER (~$670)
B&G NAIS-500 Class B AIS with GPS-500 GPS Antenna (~$750; my equipment is currently B&G, but this seems a little bit high)

[Pete7]

Not the EM Trak B350, but fitted the B100 recently, all plug and play. Decided I didn't need wifi but the two separate supplies for NMEA 1830 and NMEA 2000 useful to feed two different chart plotters. Light enough I used velcro to secure it in place. Price was £334 in the UK, presumably you could get that VAT free saving another 20%. We are allowed to enter our own MMSI number in the UK, so didn't need a dealer to do that. Connected to a separate antenna on the stern mounted on a pole. Comes with separate GPS antenna but has a built in one too, mounted below decks at the chart table, works perfectly with a good signal which you can see with the PRO AIS2 software many of them use. Connected to CP via the RM SeatalkNG metwork, but B&G will be similar.

Is the higher power and more frequent transmissions of the B350 needed, not sure.

Pete

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Re-resurecting this old thread again. Did a search on CF for relevant threads but didn't find much. I'm looking at the transponder units listed below. Does anyone have direct experience with them and could offer some thoughts? I don't see many reviews in general. Some of my criteria of the features are: NMEA 2000, USB, external antenna, low power, and $500-$700 price range. What about Wifi capability? Is it just a nice thing to have or are there any real advantages to it?

SI-TEX Metadata Class B AIS Transceiver with External GPS Antenna Package (~500)
M-TRAK B350 CLASS B SOTDMA AIS TRANSPONDER ($600 but would need antenna, too)
COMAR T200B CLASS B AIS TRANSPONDER (~$670)
B&G NAIS-500 Class B AIS with GPS-500 GPS Antenna (~$750; my equipment is currently B&G, but this seems a little bit high)

I recommend you add Vesper to your list. The 6000 has what you want, the 8000 adds wifi. I have the 8000, but today I would buy the 6000 and add an nmea2000<>wifi gateway from Yacht Devices
https://www2.vespermarine.com/xb6000-ais-transponder

[gamayun]

Thanks to you both! Yes, I was thinking the SOTDMA capability was not needed and really just doubles the energy output, which I definitely don't need. It seems all the dealers are required to enter the MMSI on purchase so pulling the trigger is a done deal. I'd forgotten about the Vesper units. Will check them out.

[daletournier]

One if the benefits of the vesper is its anchor alarm. Although you dont buy it for that ,its really cool. Draws very little, mine is on 24/7.

Wifi is nice. I've recently been cruising very poorly charted waters, San blas islands. From a member here I got a copy of accurate charts that I could run on opencpn which I downloaded on to my tablet. I was then able to wifi my ais to it which enabled me to record other yachts tracks in and out of coral lagoons etc, just more really good info to help with navigating.

Is it essential? no but it's nice.

[gamayun]

Nice input, Dale, especially on the anchor alarm. That is definitely a feature I would like to have ever since I listened to 4 boats calling for assistance in the middle of the night as they drug anchors or wrapped anchors and grounded in Drakes Bay. I was singlehanding and couldn't help them, but I also couldn't get to sleep until I had downloaded an anchor alarm app. Luckily I had service. I'd only anchored a few times before that night so it was a bit initmidating. Challengingly great memories though!

[gamayun]

So where do you have the unit mounted if it relies solely on the internal antenna? Curious how much sky it needs to see. I had a tracker device mounted high inside my aft cabin near a port light and it worked fine though I could tell there sometimes was a slight delay in sending texts.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by gamayun

So where do you have the unit mounted if it relies solely on the internal antenna? Curious how much sky it needs to see. I had a tracker device mounted high inside my aft cabin near a port light and it worked fine though I could tell there sometimes was a slight delay in sending texts.

Not sure what unit you’re talking about but the Vesper has an external GPS antenna. I am pretty sure this is a requirement for approval

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Not sure what unit you’re talking about but the Vesper has an external GPS antenna. I am pretty sure this is a requirement for approval

Yes, they are supposed to have their own GPS to transmit a position even if connected to a network with a GPS signal feed.

I didn't want to drill more holes so kept the external antenna below and hid the long wire behind the cabinets.

I think the internal antenna will be just as effective in a GRP yacht, after all never had a problem with hand held GPS units receiving a signal inside the yacht, at home in a brick building or the metal shed of the dive club.

Pete

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Yes, they are supposed to have their own GPS to transmit a position even if connected to a network with a GPS signal feed.

I didn't want to drill more holes so kept the external antenna below and hid the long wire behind the cabinets.

I think the internal antenna will be just as effective in a GRP yacht, after all never had a problem with hand held GPS units receiving a signal inside the yacht, at home in a brick building or the metal shed of the dive club.

Pete

Still not clear what unit you have, but neither the Vesper 6000 and the 8000 have internal antennas. Maybe the unit with display has but I think it is mandatory that transponders have external antennas. I see internal antennas in plotters, never in AIS transponders.

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Not sure what unit you’re talking about but the Vesper has an external GPS antenna. I am pretty sure this is a requirement for approval

We have had a vesper ais for years. First started with the 750 and now have the 850. We have the vesper Antenna inside it works great.

[Pete7]

Nick, its this one:

https://www.em-trak-uk.com/product-p...00-ais-class-b

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Nick, its this one:



https://www.em-trak-uk.com/product-p...00-ais-class-b

It has external GPS antenna.

[steve77]

We have been using the Sitex unit for five years. It interfaces flawlessly with our Simrad navigation equipment. Since our boat is steel, and the unit is mounted below deck, I did install an external GPS antenna.

Cheers!

Steve