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Old 11-19-2018, 06:45 PM   #1
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Vesper AIS or VHF radio with AIS?

Looking for some opinions.
Background:
I have older Raymarine GPS. Chartplotter/Fishfinder, Radar, and Standard Horizon VHF (with DSC). Up to now, we have also been using an older laptop with an older version of Nobeltec. The laptop runs Windows XP.
I recently purchased a new laptop to operate Rosepoint Coastal Explorer software. I am also considering trying to connect the laptop to the existing GPS and plotter, as well as another GPS source (either a puck, or to an AIS source that has a built in GPS).
Now my question. Should I buy an AIS only unit such as a Vesper, or should I buy a second VHF with DSC and AIS built in? What features would I not receive with the VHF option? The VHF with AIS is less expensive than the Vesper unit.
Any other ideas of how or what to add to allow AIS to be displayed on the new Coastal Explorer laptop?
Thanks in advance for the opinions and suggestions,
Tom
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Old 11-19-2018, 07:22 PM   #2
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Tom, since you already have a vhf w/ DSC, look at adding an AIS to your navigation suite. For recreation AIS, there is Class B with receive and transmit or Class C, which is receive only. By the way, the VHF with AIS is Class C AIS.

The big question is connecting to your equipment. The Vesper AIS’s can communicate over NMEA 1083 or NMEA 2000 (N2k). We have the Vesper WatchMate with its own screen and it has several advantages: 1) it can be used stand alone without networking. 2) it can network over both types of NMEA, and 3) it has a very useful anchor watch system.

Your biggest problem will be connecting to the Raymarine chartplotter. If it is an older unit, then it communicates over its proprietary Seatalk network and will require a Seatalk to NMEA converter. Because you have used this system with your computer running Nobeltec (I did this for 11 years on our last boat) you already have the converter. Then you can hook it up vis a USB/NMEA converter for your new laptop.
I have probably rambled too much with this response. I would go for the Vesper AIS Class B (transmit/receive) or C (receive only). There are other threads discussing the pros and cons of either system, but when cruise, we like to follow the adage of “see and be seen”.
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Old 11-19-2018, 07:27 PM   #3
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"What features would I not receive with the vhf option?"

The vhf option is receive-only, meaning you see ais targets around you but they don't see you. The Vesper is a class b AIS devise that transmits your position as well as receives and displays ais targets around you.
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Old 11-19-2018, 07:39 PM   #4
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Can I please tack on a question I have without needing to start a new thread.

I have a StandHorizon with AIS receive and target display: MMSI, Call Sign, Ship Name, BRG, DST, SOG and COG.

Can I feed the AIS RX record to a Garmin GPS with AIS capability?

(I also have a class B AIS but am fighting an RX issue right now, TX is fine).
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Old 11-19-2018, 07:41 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken E. View Post
"What features would I not receive with the vhf option?"

The vhf option is receive-only, meaning you see ais targets around you but they don't see you. The Vesper is a class b AIS devise that transmits your position as well as receives and displays ais targets around you.
Hi Ken,

I have a Vesper 6000, connected to laptop w Coastal Explorer by USB. Very nice setup. I see other AIS vessels, their speed, heading, and name, graphically on the CE chart. They see me too.
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Old 11-19-2018, 07:57 PM   #6
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Richard, I've heard good things about the Vesper. I also have Coastal Explorer running on a laptop but my primary setup is Furuno vx2 with a Comnav ais integrated. Looking forward to seeing you again next summer in SE AK.
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Old 11-19-2018, 09:19 PM   #7
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It depends a lot on which Vesper.

Some Vespers will act as an NMEA gateway. That means you can connect your existing electronics to the Vesper, connect your Laptop to Vesper via Wifi, and you will have the data from all your instruments on your laptop.

This assume you existing electronics are new enough to output NMEA.
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Old 11-19-2018, 09:25 PM   #8
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Quote:
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This assume you existing electronics are new enough to output NMEA.
183 or 2000, or does it matter?
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Old 11-19-2018, 09:39 PM   #9
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183 or 2000, or does it matter?
Except for the 850, all the Vespers I am aware of support both 183 and 2000.
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Old 11-20-2018, 12:21 AM   #10
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Hi Tom
I had the same thoughts/choice to make this past spring. I went with the vesper Xp8000 unit. ($700.00 after discounts and rebates). And an icon VHS with an internal gps $320). I too have an older raymarine chart plotter. I am able to connect the chartploter to the 0183 network and get Gps from the Vesper. I am able to connect my iPads up wirelessly to the Vesper unit as well and display WatchMate aid information. I can also get iNavX to work With the Vesper unit, displaying both ais info and chartplotting. The computer is able to connect either wirelessly or via USP cable. I am going to remove the raymarine unit and install a couple of windows tablets instead

Very happy with the Vesper unit. Get the external antenna!
Paul
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Old 11-20-2018, 12:31 AM   #11
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I have a Vesper 6000 feeding a Windows 10 laptop with Coastal Explorer on a big external display. Over 5-months underway in all conditions this summer, I was never disappointed. I keep my Raytheon C-80 clutter-free for primary radar only.

Milltech Marine, the guy in Port Orchard who is the regional retailer is very good at install support and gives a Seattle boat show discount
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Old 11-20-2018, 12:45 AM   #12
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I have two Vesper 8000 units, one on each boat. It is a very nice piece of equipment, 0183 in and out, NMEA2000, and a WiFi server. Very easily configurable though a web server interface. Your laptop or iPad can connect to GPS, AIS, and instrument data wirelessly. Using your phone or pad, with only the Vesper powered, you have an AIS plotter, and an anchor alarm. They support the product with periodic firmware and software updates.
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Old 11-20-2018, 07:44 AM   #13
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My transponder is a now-discontinued AMEC 101 Camino. Purchased from Milltech, highly recommend them. Works perfectly. NMEA 0183 output into a multiplexer with its own dedicated GPS as well as the VHF antenna which is purpose made for AIS. My experience with different AIS's is that the VHF antenna has a significant impact on range, I am not a big fan of splitters, just seems like adding a point of failure for 2 devices. Mount the antenna high and alone if possible. The dedicated GPS also allows for a redundant GPS, which was helpful when one went TU.



Regarding your older Raymarine, it may not use AIS, you'll have to read the manual. It also will need a dedicated NMEA connection to the AIS- to the point that it will have to be 38,400 baud. You can have multiple devices listening to the AIS output, but they must be configured to the proper baud rate. Rosepoint's NEMO gateway would be a big help, although as others have mentioned, certain Vesper models can act as a gateway. The guys at Milltech can guide you, it will pay you to gain some familiarity with the technical aspects of connecting all the devices unless you plan to have outside help. NMEA connection can be very frustrating with each manufacturer having slightly different schemes, color codes, etc.



One thing with NMEA to watch is configuring the sentences each device is transmitting. NMEA0183 is relatively slow with narrow bandwidth. You'll be tempted to just turn on ALL the sentences to make sure you have everything you need, but it can overload the network and cause it to lock up. Same with data loops with say GPS information being generated by multiple sources. So turn on ONLY those sentences you need, and avoid duplication between devices. A multiplexer or gateway will address that problem. It will be a big help to diagram out the connections and the sentences on the connections before stringing any cable. NMEA 0183 isn't plug and play, N2K is (well, it's supposed to be). Attached is a pdf that deals with NMEA sentences, very helpful.



I use an Actisense NDC-4; my system is all NMEA as yours is, and, although it's old technology by today's standards, once configured, it's pretty bulletproof. It's worked great for me in 8 yrs of full time cruising and some 30,0000 miles.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf NMEA__sentence_info.pdf (111.4 KB, 22 views)
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Old 11-20-2018, 08:21 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by menzies View Post
Can I please tack on a question I have without needing to start a new thread.

I have a StandHorizon with AIS receive and target display: MMSI, Call Sign, Ship Name, BRG, DST, SOG and COG.

Can I feed the AIS RX record to a Garmin GPS with AIS capability?

(I also have a class B AIS but am fighting an RX issue right now, TX is fine).

Yes, that should work. Just disconnect the other one first so it's not getting two RX feeds that might confuse it.
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Old 11-20-2018, 09:32 AM   #15
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Have you considered "Keeping it in the Family?" A Raymarine AIS and connect into your Seatalk backbone.
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Old 11-21-2018, 12:10 PM   #16
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Wow, Great responses, and thanks alot! This forum is a great place for sharing.
First, I did not know (but probably should have figured it out by pricing alone) that VHF radios with built in AIS only received. So that is out (for me).
I am just starting this "adventure" with the new laptop. I had it down at the boat yesterday to "play with it" a bit. I didn't have a lot of time, as I was doing some engine maintenance and spent most of my time there. I could not get the Rosepoint to "find" my existing GPS signal (using the same USB that the old laptop used for this). I am heading back today to try some more ideas.
I definitely want a redundant GPS as my existing unit (both antenna and device) are 2002 models. The GPS is a Raymarine RN300, there is a wind instrument, autopilot, and 2 "7 inch plotters" (one used for charts and fishfinder, the other for radar) and all operate on Seatalk as well as NMEA 0183. The laptop I am replacing, used the RN300 for GPS signal, hence my desire for redundancy. I could just use a GPS puck, but I think AIS would be very useful.
I will look at the Raymarine suite of AIS, but I think I am leaning toward a Vesper unit. Besides the WiFi ability, are there any other "major" differences between the 6000 and 8000 Vesper units?
I am far from a computer expert, so I am hoping that my new software (Rosepoint) will just "find" my existing GPS signal. I will investigate if I need all of my equipment turned on, try different USB ports, etc. to see if I can get it to work. In a perfect implementation, I would like the Rosepoint software to be able to use all the info (don't really care about the radar, but maybe as a backup) from the system, but the minimum would be the GPS info (which is basically all I used for the last 2 years).

Thanks again,
Tom
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Old 11-21-2018, 12:41 PM   #17
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Tom, give Rose Point a call they can help you integrate your system to work with CE. I have found them to be very helpful.
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Old 11-21-2018, 01:22 PM   #18
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Tom, give Rose Point a call they can help you integrate your system to work with CE. I have found them to be very helpful.
Hi Tom,

If you install a Vesper AIS, it will provide a gps signal. I connect it to CE via USB, and so CE has both gps and ais to work with. My old Ray stuff has its own gps signal, so provides redundance.
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Old 11-21-2018, 01:22 PM   #19
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I second the above re: Rosepoint support; your problem is most likely one of port allocation and they can sort that out in a few minutes. I also endorse the Vesper transceiver.
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Old 11-21-2018, 02:06 PM   #20
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Hi Ken,

I have a Vesper 6000, connected to laptop w Coastal Explorer by USB. Very nice setup. I see other AIS vessels, their speed, heading, and name, graphically on the CE chart. They see me too.


I also integrated my vesper with CE but went with the 8000 and pull the data off wifi. Really easy to connect the vesper to the boat wifi then just configure CE to "listen" on a specific IP address and port.
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