BLUEMOMENT

Bells and whistles in this instance being very apt metaphor. Following the demise of the old Simrad (tiny display, un-intuitive operation, no longer working) we installed a rather expensive but uber-cool new SH radio with built in AIS yesterday. What an outstanding piece of kit! Set the CPA alarm on the AIS, and when it goes off, assess the emerging close-quarters situation and it's about three easy steps to make a DSC call to the vessel concerned and clarify the position should one want to do that. Not a cheap item but seems very well built, rotary channel selector which kind of takes me back to the old Sailor VHF I learned on, the best display I have seen on a VHF for the leisure market. Still to connect the AIS output to the plotter, not essential but certainly useful and should be easy enough once we obtain the correct cable.

4 stars!

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Ken
Rival 38 Cherry Ripe
Yes, isn't it odd that a boat named like that should be green?

Is this the chappie?

http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/S ... 36p351.htm

Looks good, and all those features! my latest shed project is the design/build of a hailer/signaller - perhaps I should save the time and energy...

With a radio like that you don't need much else.

_________________
Just because you're paranoid
doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Aye, the very same. The idea of a speaker up the mast that can be programmed to simulate the striking of a bell once a minute when anchored in fog seems more than just slightly surreal. I think it would keep the deckhand awake though which might not be such a bad thing.

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Ken
Rival 38 Cherry Ripe
Yes, isn't it odd that a boat named like that should be green?

A speaker up the mast (from Maplin) could put you in the same sound league as the Nautor's Swan - a really impressive chord of tones which starts quietly and builds to a blast. That's what's going to happen in my shed if I'm successful.

_________________
Just because you're paranoid
doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Huh, the green-eyed monster is peering over my shoulder. Trouble is that I already have a perfectly adequate SH DCS radio that looks brand new and works well. (and has my MMSI number in it- which can only be factory altered. Beware that you input yours correctly)

Presumably you were able to utilise your existing VHF aerial.

I recall that you have to connect to the plotter for the AIS to work and indeed for the DSC broadcasting of mayday positions etc as well as the benefit of seeing, heaven forbid, other DSC maydays on the plotter (if a Standard Horizon one). (the radio will also beep at you if it doesn't have a position from the GPS plotter). Sorry, you will know all of this.

Looks like a great way of getting an AIS receiver.

Have fun playing with it.

Ken, I've got the same new toy. I splashed out on a £1.39 serial to USB thingy but as yet it doesn't seem to get targets onto the plotter. Had to send mine back to get M1 and M2 added.
All in all, much too much for my poor old brain to handle but it will while away many a rainy hour trying.

Our syndicate electronician George has completed the integration and we can now see ais targets on the plotter. A surprising number of menus were involved as well as the minor problem of connecting all those very tiny and rather short wires so as to allow electrons to whizz around. All most satisfactory and mean's the skipper need never actually go on deck...

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Ken
Rival 38 Cherry Ripe
Yes, isn't it odd that a boat named like that should be green?

Great toy. Was playing with it while becalmed in the Sound of Jura on Saturday. Watched the Finlaggan changing course to reduce the CPA from 2.6 to 0.05nm at a range of 6nm - submarine commanders would be proud of such plotting!