AIS Transponder

Anyone got an AIS system on of your yacht?

http://www.milltechmarine.com/AMEC-CAMINO-201-Class-B-AIS-Transponder-Display-Kit_p_228.html

Tks

Elwin*

Elwin:
We have a Milltech AIS receiver that we find invaluable. We did not bother with the transponder unit, partly because we did not have a good mounting location that was far enough away from the radar and other radio antennas. Anyway, I figure the real value is in seeing where other (large) vessels are. This is particularly true at night or in fog. For example, when doing an overnight offshore last year we were about 20 miles off the port of Savannah on a very dark night. You would be surprised just how many very large ships are moving around there at 0200 in the morning -- at one point we must have had at least 15 very large radar targets!! The AIS really helped in pinpointing their locations and was an excellent adjunct to the radar. I strongly recommend AIS if you plan any serious cruising. Other than that it is a fun toy to identify ships and smaller vessels by name and port, though many times the full information is not available.
Chris

Caution.

AIS will only tell you about the vessels that have a transponder. In Georgia strait, most fish boats that travel in the dark don't have AIS transponders. They are not mandatory at under 100 tons, so very few fish boats will spend to have one. Yet the most danger you may face in the dark is from a large fish boat. I know this.

Thanks Chris,

I agree.

Similar to you where I cruise there are lots of vessels coming and going, besides it is a great instrument as a GPS back-up, Radar back-up not to mention a good Search & Rescue indicator device. We left port a few times when the fog was so thick you could cut it up in a block plus blending that with an overnight excursion or early morning trip could get*dicey sometimes.**

I am a bit surprise there aren't others with similar devices.

Elwin*

Ya Keith only the larger ones has AIS, too bad...*

Anyway, it just another device to assist in knowing what else is around you.

Elwin*


-- Edited by Ocean Breeze NL on Monday 6th of February 2012 10:31:35 PM

Some day I will replace my VHF with the Standard Horizon model witha built in AIS receiver that can interface with my Garmin plotter and display AIS information on its screen.

It's only $320 street price. Of course, I'll have to replace my RAM mic so that's another boat dollar. I might as well replace the old antenna while I'm at it. Another boat dollar.

Ron - I installed the setup you described last summer (SH GX2150 with Garmin 5212). Works like a champ! No transponder - on the someday list. As noted above, down here there aren't many

(what happened?)

discovered the "less than" symbol kills the remainder of the response. Point was, the less than 100T vessels down here are not, as near as I can tell, using AIS transponders - but, every bit of traffic info helps.

sbu22 wrote:
Ron - I installed the setup you described last summer (SH GX2150 with Garmin 5212). Works like a champ! No transponder - on the someday list. As noted above, down here there aren't many

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/*shows AIS equipped vessels in many parts of the world but it relies on volunteers to install the equipment in their homes or businesses and so far, there's no coverage of my home area.* When I was in Savannah, I was able to know when cargo ships were nearing the dock because we had Internet access.* Pretty cool.

Once I finish my Teak and Holly sole and the new spice cabinet, I'll think about the AIS system again.

Click to expand...

*

Well Chris, I just placed the order in for the AMEC CAMINO 201 Class B AIS Transponder unit so we'll see what gives. I have been thinking about it for awhile now but finally broke down and made the purchase.*

Elwin*

*

I just ordered my Simrad NAIS300-N (simnet version),

found a cheap place, 400US.


-- Edited by Singleprop on Sunday 19th of February 2012 06:09:33 PM