Utility/VHF handheld mikes for displaying AIS info?

[LouK]

Hello-
I am considering purchasing a new VHF with AIS B such as the Standard Horizon GX2400 or GX6000 with optional RAM-4 cockpit hand held display/mic for use in the cockpit of my O'day 40. Anyone have experience on the usability/ readability of the AIS info? As one might expect, the VHF head end will be at the chart table.

In addition if anybody has familiarity or comments on these or other units, please chime in.

thanks,
Lou

[sv_pelagia]

I have the Standard Horizon RAM mic with AIS.

Incredibly tiny screen ("radar" style) - - even wearing glasses it's hard to read. Other AIS issues with SH/RAM include target list limited by display range and reduced target info provided by system (compared to better AIS system, such as Vesper).

I occasionally look at it (the RAM AIS screen) , but now send my AIS (from Vesper Watchmate AIS) to Android tablet running OpenCPN. MUCH better!

[sv_pelagia]

... better to get an AIS transponder system that both sends and receives AIS

[Mike OReilly]

I've owned the GX2200 version with the RAM3 for many years now. I guess it has been superseded by the 2400 now, but it looks similar.

I use the RAM display quite a lot from my cockpit. The screen is small, but I find it very functional to display AIS signals, both in terms of listing as well as the spacial perspective.

It's certainly not a big plotter display, but works just fine for me.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

... better to get an AIS transponder system that both sends and receives AIS

Indeed. Transmitting is really important -- you want to be seen.



And far better to overlay AIS on your plotter screen.


You can't do serious collision avoidance on a little "radar" style screen.


In fact even a plotter screen is sub-optimal. For tough traffic situations I use OpenCPN on a big screen. OpenCPN shows the geometry of the crossing and shows you the relative positions of the vessels at CPA. This is incredibly useful for trying to plan your maneuvers.

[barnakiel]

I think the new Vesper does both.


To us the problematic function on SH is the loud tone alarm that cannot be switched off. The one sleeping off watch hates it.


I'd rather we had a unit that can turn off sound alarm and leave only the flash alarm (or at least to move the alarm to the mic) ...


Less important if you are alone.



b.

[LouK]

Perhaps I should have elaborated further- the ultimate goal is to upgrade the boat in stages to cruise from the mid-Atlantic to the Caribbean in a couple of years & this is an interim step. I recognize the value to be able to xmit & assumed I would add a AIS transmitter type unit in the future. I’m convinced I want a NEMA 2000 compatable unit & assume I’ll also need to upgrade to a CP that can display AIS info as well.

Where I normally travel, in & around Annapolis there is some, but not a large amount of commercial traffic & thus I was drawn to a VHF that had its own GPS & basic AIS ability.

Thanks for all your advice, keep it coming.

L

[Kelkara]

I made an arduino based AIS display, reads NMEA0183. only uses 5 components:
- arduino mega
- 3.5" touchscreen
- gps (needed if ais doesnt also have gps feed)
- buzzer for alarms.
- serial port converter for 0183.
its not terribly weatherproof so it stays under the dodger. calculates and shows cpa, and list of targets.

I could make the code available if anyone is interested in a diy display.

[LouK]

Wow, pretty cool, could this be adapted to work with NEMA 2000? What are you using for a display, would like to know more.

thanks,
Lou

[PNWSalmon]

We have an AIS transponder and the Standard Horizon receiver with its AIS on the RAM. We find the redundancy to be useful. On a recent ocean passage we had power issues and powered down the chart plotter and it was great to have the RAM as a backup (which became the primary). We also like the DSC capability we get from the VHF with built in AIS. We have a mixed setup of NMEA 0183 and 2000. In my experience the VHF AIS is a nice system and it will get you by until you can add a full transponder and after that it will be a useful backup.

[Redline452]

We also have the Standard Horizon GX2150 with RAM mic in the cockpit. Also have a Raymarine Axiom9 in the cockpit. The RAM display is definitely useful as it shows *only* AIS targets. The targets also appear on the Axiom but against the background of the chart, tracks, routes, etc they are not nearly as visible.

[steffan]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

To us the problematic function on SH is the loud tone alarm that cannot be switched off.

We have the SH GX 2200 and have all the AIS alarms turned off in the AIS menu option. We have experienced AIS alarms on our tablet and phone Navionics apps, but never from the GX 2200. The only alarm we've heard from the VHF head unit is when it has lost GPS for 10 min. That one is loud and annoying, but we have not tried to suppress it.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by steffan

We have the SH GX 2200 and have all the AIS alarms turned off in the AIS menu option. We have experienced AIS alarms on our tablet and phone Navionics apps, but never from the GX 2200. The only alarm we've heard from the VHF head unit is when it has lost GPS for 10 min. That one is loud and annoying, but we have not tried to suppress it.

I did the same here SH alarms off and tablet alarms on (the tablet is in my pocket in the cockpit).


b.

[Captain Anthony]

Following

[dalonzi]

Hi I would be very interested in your sketch. This is a project I was going to do over the winter! I would like to see how you did this, if you can share, thank you!

Dave Alonzi
dalonzi@wideopenwest.com