AIS Upgrade

[rcsomany]

I have a Si-Tex AIS receiver for Garmin MFD and VHF's. I want to upgrade to a both see and be seen. Is it better/cheaper to add on a transmitter or replace my current AIS with a new full transceiver? How much is involved in upgrading to a single unit? Probably a bad question and dependent on the particular boat but generically speaking. What cabling is required to add on the transmitting portion?

Thanks in advance...

I had the same conundrum because my VHF radio is also an AIS receiver and was already interfaced to my chartplotter. It was explained to me that there is no such thing as AIS "transmit only" because a transmitter has to "listen" for VHF silence before transmitting.

 

[saboga]

SiTex makes a nice AIS transceiver to replace your receiver. One thing I discovered is you really don't want more than one AIS unit on your boat.

My Icom VHF has a built-in AIS receiver, and when I added the SiTex transceiver to the mix, I started getting my own boat showing up on the MFD as an AIS target. The AIS in the VHF was picking up the transmission from the SiTex. Naturally, that causes all kind of collision alarms to be constantly going off. The network sees this 'ghost' ship with the same name, course, speed and position as you tagging along everywhere you go.

It is interesting, though, to see how much error there is even in something that is supposed to be in real-time. If you change course, the AIS ghost doesn't change course right away. It continues on its merry way until the next transmission, which might be 30 seconds or so, when it will suddenly re-appear right off your side and set off your collision alarms again.

 

[firstbase]

SiTex makes a nice AIS transceiver to replace your receiver. One thing I discovered is you really don't want more than one AIS unit on your boat.

My Icom VHF has a built-in AIS receiver, and when I added the SiTex transceiver to the mix, I started getting my own boat showing up on the MFD as an AIS target. The AIS in the VHF was picking up the transmission from the SiTex. Naturally, that causes all kind of collision alarms to be constantly going off. The network sees this 'ghost' ship with the same name, course, speed and position as you tagging along everywhere you go.

It is interesting, though, to see how much error there is even in something that is supposed to be in real-time. If you change course, the AIS ghost doesn't change course right away. It continues on its merry way until the next transmission, which might be 30 seconds or so, when it will suddenly re-appear right off your side and set off your collision alarms again.

Thanks for that info, never thought about that one. A new flybridge VHF is on my upgrade list as well. Also, to correct myself, my current Si-Texx shares an antenna with the VHF, it doesn't have its own. could install one pretty easily if needed. Are their any advantages to AIS having its own rather than share with the VHF?

I guess new VHF's either have AIS or they don't, correct? It is not an option to turn on or off during setup? I'm thinking that the better, higher end VHF's all have AIS. Maybe I am wrong. Am just starting that hunt.

 

[stevemitchell]

SiTex makes a nice AIS transceiver to replace your receiver. One thing I discovered is you really don't want more than one AIS unit on your boat.

My Icom VHF has a built-in AIS receiver, and when I added the SiTex transceiver to the mix, I started getting my own boat showing up on the MFD as an AIS target. The AIS in the VHF was picking up the transmission from the SiTex. Naturally, that causes all kind of collision alarms to be constantly going off. The network sees this 'ghost' ship with the same name, course, speed and position as you tagging along everywhere you go.

Modern AIS devices, like a DSC capable VHF radio, will allow you to program your MMSI into it and eliminate these issues. I have 8 different AIS devices on my boat, and never get these issues, unless I configure one wrong

Each device has my MMSI configured. The Class B transponder of course broadcasts my MMSI, but also dumps all of the other AIS targets on NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183. The other devices I have that snarf AIS off of the airwaves include a host of VHF radios, and a few other items under test.

 

[drb1025]

I had the same Si-Tex receiver that I replaced (simple swap) with the Si-Tex tranceiver. I was sharing the vhf antenna and continue to do so. No problems at all.

 

[firstbase]

I had the same Si-Tex receiver that I replaced (simple swap) with the Si-Tex tranceiver. I was sharing the vhf antenna and continue to do so. No problems at all.

Looking more closely at mine, SEEMS like a no brainer. Same three connections. The transceiver has an additional connection for a dedicated GPS antenna but the others look the same. Not sure if placement will be ok as the receiver it will replace is located in a vertical electronics cutout by the flybridge helm, with a VHF. Sliding fiberglass door in front of it but that is open when we are operating. Bimini above the flybridge.

 

[drb1025]

Looking more closely at mine, SEEMS like a no brainer. Same three connections. The transceiver has an additional connection for a dedicated GPS antenna but the others look the same. Not sure if placement will be ok as the receiver it will replace is located in a vertical electronics cutout by the flybridge helm, with a VHF. Sliding fiberglass door in front of it but that is open when we are operating. Bimini above the flybridge.

It really is that easy. Mine is located in a locker in the pilot house and the gps works great without an external antenna. The gps in the transceiver can also be used as a backup, or as your primary gps if you want. I’m quite pleased with it.

 

[Codger2]

Edit: It just dawned on me that even the windlass chain counter can be viewed on the MFDs if it was added to the Maretron bus.

Such is not the case! Maxwell said that the AA150 is neither NEMA 183 or 2000 so it cannot
be viewed on the MFD or the Maretron DSM150