Cheap AIS

camaraderie · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007

Hey...I just ran across this neat AIS receiver that is cheap enough ($189) for just about any boat. A nice addition that can tell you what big ships are headed your way and whether they will hit you! Note that this does not give YOU an AIS identity but lets you call the ship you are worried about by name and get their attention. Pretty cool.

http://www.milltechmarine.com/SR161.htm

http://www.milltechmarine.com/FAQ.htm

Freesail99 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007

Nice little radio. If I can get it to work with my garmin 498c or even a vhf, I'm happy. I don't see the use of plugging it into a laptop, maybe if I had a pilot house ... Seems like something you would need in the cockpit, may even be better then radar at night.

bestfriend · #3 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007

Cool, I think this is the guy from the MacEnc forum that was talking about making a complete AIS/GPS solution. The only gripe was the price. At $499 its a bit steep to get the two channel and the GPS. You can buy the single channel and a separate GPS for $250. The class B should be interesting. Any big advantages to the dual channel?
Edit-I agree with the cockpit dilemma. Maybe if the price of waterproof LCD screens comes down, buying one for the cockpit might be doable. It says it works with Garmin, I wonder if that includes handhelds?
After further thought and some good advice. I can set it up with my laptop and MacEnc software, using my handheld Garmin as a GPS input. That way, I have it at the nav station and in the cockpit where it will be more useful. (thanks SD). Now I just need to find out if it will work on the handheld......

wind_magic · #4 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

Cam, thanks for the link, I think I am going to get that single channel one. Nice price!

camaraderie · #5 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

Wind...you're welcome...let us know how you like it.

All...it is compatible with not only PC's but a whole bunch of chartplotters too...see the FAQ link above for that.

ebs001 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

Cam, I understand that ships over a certain size must have an AIS Transponder, do you know what the minimum size is?

wind_magic · #7 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebs001

Cam, I understand that ships over a certain size must have an AIS Transponder, do you know what the minimum size is?

AND .. do they really do it ? That's what I wonder too.

Cam, I'll let you know how it goes once it arrives!

bestfriend · #8 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

From Milltech, I asked about using a handheld garmin gps, here is his reply:

Our AIS receivers will work with all chartplotters that support the display of AIS targets and have a standard NMEA input for external NMEA AIS data. Check your Garmin documentation to see if this is supported. Our receivers also work with popular PC and Mac based navigation programs that have AIS support built in. See our FAQ for more information.

Freesail99 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

I asked almost the same question, and just got the same answer. I asked about connecting to a garmin 498c chartplotter.

xort · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2007

On another board I freq, an AIS user reported lots of large ships that didn't show up on his system. He was cruising the Carib. Seems that many ships have their transponder configured poorly. I would think ships approaching the US coast would get looked over by the coasties pretty quick if they didn't show up in the AIS system.