Inexpensive AIS Receiver

[nofacey]

I agree AIS receive only is better than nothing, especially in limited visibility..
- used to be you could buy a GX2150 vhf and get AIS for almost free, but that’s gone the way of the dodo.
If you can find a used/old stock Standard Horizon GX2200, you’ll have a great vhf with built in gps and no splitter required on vhf antenna - about as simple as it gets

This unit does look interesting….relatively low price still requires buying antennas, but assume you can receive via wifi on your cell/pad

[Cpt Mark]

[QUOTE=thomm225;3717374]An AIS transceiver is much more expensive, you need a second antenna for good TX/RX, and many companies want you to pay a tech to install which adds more to the cost.

Plus I'm sure there are other things that I simply don't know about as far as installation since I don't have one yet.

You're looking at it from your point of view only based on what you have and your needs are. Yes a transceiver is more money but not that much more and especially for what you get it is so worth the investment. Having other ships/boats see you is highly valuable and not to be underrated.

Installation is simple especially if you buy a transceiver that has a built in antennae splitter as many do. If not, you can buy a splitter as well so now you're using your antennae on top of the mast that will give you the longest range possible. Having an antennae 10' off the deck is not all that effective.

If you can only afford a receiver and you want one now then buy it. Or as someone posted earlier, buy a used one. Transceivers can be bought used as well but you need to be careful. I bought one only to find out to have it reprogrammed meant back to the factory and an outrageous price that made the cost more than a new one and... that make/model had known issues.

I have a transceiver so am biased as well. Wouldn't go without it. It is the cheapest safety gear I have ever bought and does so much

[BobMc]

All that being said, is there any decent VHF/AIS-transponder hand-held available? I've found a few VHF/AIS-receivers, but am leery of trying to figure out the intersecting courses and other data on such a tiny screen. On Sanderling we had a VesperMarine XB-8000 connected to a laptop and Garmin display; now looking for something for a gift for a person with a smallish sailboat.

[seacap]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Better they avoid you

No better to avoid them. Then you know what’s happening. Otherwise your just hoping they are paying attention.

[thomm225]

[QUOTE=Cpt Mark;3719363]

Originally Posted by thomm225

An AIS transceiver is much more expensive, you need a second antenna for good TX/RX, and many companies want you to pay a tech to install which adds more to the cost.

Plus I'm sure there are other things that I simply don't know about as far as installation since I don't have one yet.

You're looking at it from your point of view only based on what you have and your needs are. Yes a transceiver is more money but not that much more and especially for what you get it is so worth the investment. Having other ships/boats see you is highly valuable and not to be underrated.

Installation is simple especially if you buy a transceiver that has a built in antennae splitter as many do. If not, you can buy a splitter as well so now you're using your antennae on top of the mast that will give you the longest range possible. Having an antennae 10' off the deck is not all that effective.

If you can only afford a receiver and you want one now then buy it. Or as someone posted earlier, buy a used one. Transceivers can be bought used as well but you need to be careful. I bought one only to find out to have it reprogrammed meant back to the factory and an outrageous price that made the cost more than a new one and... that make/model had known issues.

I have a transceiver so am biased as well. Wouldn't go without it. It is the cheapest safety gear I have ever bought and does so much

I'll probably be getting this one.

https://www.milltechmarine.com/b600

Looks like a fun project to get it hooked up. Has a nice little diagram there also.

Learned about it here:

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...er-271226.html

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Tranquil42

Doesn't Navionics include an AIS receiver in the software?

No. Navionics will display AIS data, but only if you have an AIS receiver or transponder connected to it.

[pendragon]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Most tankers have radar and can easily see you with it.

With an AIS Receiver you can also see them sometimes as far as 30 miles out which gives you lots of time to avoid.

Not a waste of money at all as you are getting valuable information for your $150 or so spent

Also as I said. for most folks AIS Receive is all you will ever need.

Fully agree.
Take for example, the English channel, Strait of Hormuz or any shipping lane. The large ships there are NOT deviating from their course in order to avoid a collision with a small yacht. Much better for you to avoid them, hence a cheap AIS RECEIVER is all you really need.
We have used this one for years Marine electronics, best value for money
Simply connect it to your spare VHF antenna and a laptop running OpenCpn.
AND no hassle with bureaucracy rules in any country.

[Ballsnall]

Originally Posted by col50

To see ships not avoiding you is a reassuring aspect of an AIS receiver.

And follow the rules of the road, give way to everyone that's bigger than you.

[requiem]

Originally Posted by Ballsnall

And follow the rules of the road, give way to everyone that's bigger than you.

Well, which one is it?

Originally Posted by BobMc

All that being said, is there any decent VHF/AIS-transponder hand-held available?

I would love a portable receiver (perhaps delivery skippers might find such a thing useful?). For a small boat, I'd just wire in a traditional AIS transponder and feed the data wirelessly to phone/tablet.

[sailasia]

Originally Posted by sinnerman

I remember in a navigation course I took, where it was stated that most commercial ships do not monitor the Class "B" transceiver signals that recreational vessels use.

They only monitor the commercial Class "A" signals.

Hence the Class B transceiver may indeed be of little use.

You got ripped off in that course you took mate. Both the categories (Class A and Class B) of AIS receive data from different vessels. The difference is that Class A category of AIS transmits more data, at a higher speed, and at a higher power compared to Class B.

[Jeff F]

Originally Posted by sailasia

You got ripped off in that course you took mate. Both the categories (Class A and Class B) of AIS receive data from different vessels. The difference is that Class A category of AIS transmits more data, at a higher speed, and at a higher power compared to Class B.

Receiving it and monitoring it are two different things. It's quite possible that class B is being filtered out on some ships.

https://panbo.com/class-b-ais-filter...rom-dr-norris/

[Sailer_Med]

Quote from same weblink cited above:

Many such areas are found around the world, justifying the inclusion of such a mode in manufacturers’ equipment. It should not be forgotten that the bridge windows form the most widely used navigational aid. When operating in busy areas in reasonable visibility they normally form the primary collision avoidance tool.

I sail in an area loaded with cargo, ferry, fishing, enforcement, and recreational vessels. I don't see how not having AIS would be an advantage! I do filter vessels not underway because it just isn't important and there are often alot. In this area I could completely understand a big ship filtering class B AIS because of the distraction caused by the presence of many recreational vessels at highly variable courses and speeds.

Interestingly enough the enforcement vessels seldom transmit AIS!

Anyway it all goes back to the quoted paragraph above! You gotta lookout with your eyeballs.

[Sailor Sailor]

Originally Posted by pendragon

Fully agree.
Take for example, the English channel, Strait of Hormuz or any shipping lane. The large ships there are NOT deviating from their course in order to avoid a collision with a small yacht. Much better for you to avoid them, hence a cheap AIS RECEIVER is all you really need.

This is true of the Chesapeake Bay, also. Apart from pleasure boats, the most common vessels are container ships, tugs pulling or pushing barges, military vessels, and commercial fishing boats, primarily the Menhaden fleet. Ships, tugs, and commercial fishing boats do not give way to pleasure boats. They also rarely even communicate with pleasure boaters. You stay out of their way and avoid them. It may be justified by the Vessels Restricted in Their Ability to Maneuver Rule because of the narrow channels or commercial fishing rule.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by sinnerman

I remember in a navigation course I took, where it was stated that most commercial ships do not monitor the Class "B" transceiver signals that recreational vessels use.

They only monitor the commercial Class "A" signals.

Hence the Class B transceiver may indeed be of little use.

I suspect that's more likely urban horse-hockey.

I've been hailed -- by name -- by commercial ships in heavy fog... to discuss passage plans.

Originally Posted by sailasia

You got ripped off in that course you took mate. Both the categories (Class A and Class B) of AIS receive data from different vessels. The difference is that Class A category of AIS transmits more data, at a higher speed, and at a higher power compared to Class B.

Yep.

-Chris

[CaptainRivet]

Matsutec AIS send&receive works great, cheap and best you can program it yourself. It’s NMEA 0183 but that’s ok for AIS.