Want To Buy: AIS OR RADAR (CHEAP)

[bbowers2004]

I am a soldier stationed in Germany looking for a cheap AIS/Radar for my Westerly Centaur; so that I can sleep more peacefully on my atlantic crossing in December.

Thanks in Advance for any responses.

[scoobert]

i have seen an AIS for $600 built into a radio, new. radar can be had, look for the old rasterscan.

[edsailing]

I have NASA AIS engine (recieve only) interfaced to laptop nav system running OpenCPN. Total cost about £125 for AIS and £200 for laptop....Works very well!

[skipmac]

If you have to pick only one go for the radar. Lots of boats out there without AIS.

[bbowers2004]

Yeah I was looking at that. I want to be able to go below and make a cup of coffee, without running up and looking out my hatch 3 times. I just want a system that will beep, even if its only a radar reflector, since Most all boats have these I think it would be the best system to get radar. I looked into the Nasa which seems like a good deal, but I would like a stand alone system. I know a laptop is good, but I don't like to use things for multiple purposes. Everything in its place. I need the laptop for school, so dont want to bother hooking it and unhooking all the time.

Thanks for info and replies.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I was stationed in Germany a couple years ago before moving to KY/TN area.

Like Skipmac said, if only one, go with radar. A chartplotter with radar would be a good way to go like a new one with NMEA2000. You can always add a small AIS transponder later into the network for around $600.

[Foster]

Use a Standard Horizon GX2100 AIS radio (cheaper than the 2150 and works just as well) and connect it to most plotters through NMEA. Cost will be around $250 and works great. I have so far tracked vessels over 300 miles away with this set up, doesn't send AIS data but works amazing with my Raymarine E7 and C125 system

[conachair]

Originally Posted by skipmac

If you have to pick only one go for the radar. Lots of boats out there without AIS.

I've yet to see one mid Atlantic.

Solo offshore I go with both. The nasa standalone receiver doesn't cost much, draws 0.1a and will work down to 11v so if you have power problems half way across with that and a led masthead at least you still have something. With plenty power radar on timed sweeps at night as a back up and to pick up squalls.

[MarkJ]

For an ocean crossing I would certainly go for AIS Transponder over Radar. In fact I would strongly say AIS Receiver only is a waste of money and Radar unusable due to power consumption.

AIS takes virtually no power and can be left on, transmitting, 24 hours per day.

It also doubles as a backup GPS.