boomerang
Guru
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2016
- Messages
- 1,582
- Location
- united states
- Vessel Name
- Wandering Star
- Vessel Make
- Hatteras 42 LRC MkII
Yep, the title is correct. The Kakanuo LED navigation lights that are currently being used on our boat are killing the AIS reception (I have no idea what effect they're having on the transmission).
I hadn't noticed the problem before because we hadn't done very much night running and in an anchorage, the nearby boats signals are strong enough to overcome the interference generated by the anchor light. I noticed recently,while anchored in a secluded anchorage, that there were no targets showing up, when I knew there were at least a half dozen commercial class A ships 5 miles away that should be showing up. When I switched off the anchor light, the screen instantly started populating with targets.
I thought the problem was because I had mounted the 3db base-loaded half-wave antenna just inches away from the LED anchor light at the masthead. I really didn't want to relocate the AIS antenna because it is naturally most efficient mounted as high as possible and it serves as a good height indicator when passing under low bridges.
I replaced the anchor light with a Lunasea LED,a more respected name in marine LED lighting. It seems better ,but targets are still lost when it's switched on.
In the meantime, I checked target loss on the AIS with the anchor light off and just the navigation lights on. Wouldn't you know it, the same damn thing happened...lost targets. I figured the offending light was the steaming light, since it was only about 4 feet below the antenna. I replaced the LED with an incandescent bulb and target reception was perhaps a little better but still ,targets were lost with the port & starboard LED nav lights on.
In desperation, I replaced the coax cable with a better quality cable, replaced the barely adequate light supply cables in the mast with tinned copper 18 gauge wires AND relocated the AIS transceiver away from the starboard running light, in hopes of reducing interference. Still the same...lost targets with any of the nav lights on.
I really don't want to give up the LED anchor light for obvious reasons but if I have to go back to higher wattage incandescent bulbs in the name of good AIS reception underway, I will, without hesitation.
Has anyone else had this issue and can you recommend a bulb that doesn't emit RF?
I hadn't noticed the problem before because we hadn't done very much night running and in an anchorage, the nearby boats signals are strong enough to overcome the interference generated by the anchor light. I noticed recently,while anchored in a secluded anchorage, that there were no targets showing up, when I knew there were at least a half dozen commercial class A ships 5 miles away that should be showing up. When I switched off the anchor light, the screen instantly started populating with targets.
I thought the problem was because I had mounted the 3db base-loaded half-wave antenna just inches away from the LED anchor light at the masthead. I really didn't want to relocate the AIS antenna because it is naturally most efficient mounted as high as possible and it serves as a good height indicator when passing under low bridges.
I replaced the anchor light with a Lunasea LED,a more respected name in marine LED lighting. It seems better ,but targets are still lost when it's switched on.
In the meantime, I checked target loss on the AIS with the anchor light off and just the navigation lights on. Wouldn't you know it, the same damn thing happened...lost targets. I figured the offending light was the steaming light, since it was only about 4 feet below the antenna. I replaced the LED with an incandescent bulb and target reception was perhaps a little better but still ,targets were lost with the port & starboard LED nav lights on.
In desperation, I replaced the coax cable with a better quality cable, replaced the barely adequate light supply cables in the mast with tinned copper 18 gauge wires AND relocated the AIS transceiver away from the starboard running light, in hopes of reducing interference. Still the same...lost targets with any of the nav lights on.
I really don't want to give up the LED anchor light for obvious reasons but if I have to go back to higher wattage incandescent bulbs in the name of good AIS reception underway, I will, without hesitation.
Has anyone else had this issue and can you recommend a bulb that doesn't emit RF?