[C320-list] AIS

[ROBERT MILLER]

Jeff, I just purchased an em-track B954 AIS Transponder to add to my 0183 network. The reason I chose this route is that the unit works well with both 0183 and NMEA 2000 (for future upgrades), it has 5 watts of transmit power instead of the older 2 watt standard, it has a built-in antenna splitter to ease installation, and it has both Bluetooth and wifi outputs, meaning it will support my iPad based Navionics app which I use as a back up to my Raymarine plotter. The brand received a favourable review by a marine electronics installer in a recent issue of Pacific Yachting. 
I didn’t really look at the VHF upgrade path, mainly because I have a good DSC radio and remote mic already.
Installation is on my growing winter projects list. 
Good luck,
Rob Miller
Alchemy
#571

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 8, 2021, at 10:40 AM, Jeff Smith <jeffreyssmith at live.com> wrote:
> 
> I am considering adding AIS to Sailmates. I would like it to both send and receive versus just receive. I have read the previous exchanges about AIS but here is my question for anyone who has either installed AIS, is contemplating it, or just knows about it. I currently have an old Standard Horizon VHF radio at the nav station (with second mic at the pedestal) and a Garmin 74DV chart plotter at the helm. There seems to be two directions to go: 1. Add an AIS transceiver and use a splitter to utilize the existing VHF antenna, or 2. Swap my VHF for a VHF/AIS unit. My NMEA backbone is still 0183. I contemplated upgrading to NMEA 2000 at the same time but I don’t know that I will get any benefits.
> 
> My thoughts are that I am better off purchasing a Garmin VHF/AIS transceiver combined and just replacing my VHF. Costwise it will be about the same, as I won’t need a splitter but I will need to install a second mic at the pedestal. The unit should handle sharing the same antenna at least as well and probably better than a different AIS unit + splitter. The AIS is to help handle the busy Chesapeake Bay (we operate in the Hampton Roads shipping channel) and to increase my wife’s confidence for night sailing.
> 
> Am I missing something that makes this a bad idea? Also, if you think it is worth upgrading to NMEA 2000, feel free to chime in on that, as well. For further information, everything I currently have is NMEA 0183. This is why I originally decided not to convert because I am not sure there is any advantage, though I could be talked into converting if there is something I am missing.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any advice,
> 
> Jeff
> ’94, #121, Sailmates