vhf with AIS rec and trasponder

kysearay

Active Member
Jun 15, 2017
236
KY
Boat Info
42 Sundancer

65 Monticello
Engines
8.1's gassers
Planning a VHF swap and thinking of one with an AIS receiver and transponder - any recommendations out there or do i need a black box transponder?
thanks
 
The only VHF receiver that contains a transponder, that I'm aware of, is the Standard Horizon GX6500. It's currently stuck in FCC approval hell and has been for at least a year. There are a number of units that have an AIS receiver, however. I went with the Garmin VHF 300 with AIS. If I ever decide I need the transmitter side, I'll just add a blackbox transponder.
 
The only VHF receiver that contains a transponder, that I'm aware of, is the Standard Horizon GX6500. It's currently stuck in FCC approval hell and has been for at least a year. There are a number of units that have an AIS receiver, however. I went with the Garmin VHF 300 with AIS. If I ever decide I need the transmitter side, I'll just add a blackbox transponder.


Gotcha thanks alot, still trying to really understand the need for a transponder on the Ohio River but we do get alot of barge traffic so would be nice to be "seen" at night! Thanks alot
chris
 
You'll be happy to have it when it gets foggy out there or during a storm hard enough that you can see anything around. Radars don't do well in storms either, so AIS tends to be the only way to see or be seen, at least for those that have these in their boats. About the Stardard Horizon one, I heard back in January that it may never see the light of day. Disappointing.
 
You'll be happy to have it when it gets foggy out there or during a storm hard enough that you can see anything around. Radars don't do well in storms either, so AIS tends to be the only way to see or be seen, at least for those that have these in their boats. About the Stardard Horizon one, I heard back in January that it may never see the light of day. Disappointing.


Ok so do you have a black box transponder and what vhf do you have?
 
I have a digital yacht nomad. My vhf radio is too old to recommend it! I'm waiting for the right one to come by, hopefully will the AIS option both ways.
 
You'll be happy to have it when it gets foggy out there or during a storm hard enough that you can see anything around. Radars don't do well in storms either, so AIS tends to be the only way to see or be seen, at least for those that have these in their boats. About the Stardard Horizon one, I heard back in January that it may never see the light of day. Disappointing.

Disappointing indeed! I was really looking forward to it as the advertised price-point was very attractive when compared to a modular system. That said, I've found Standard Horizon's user interface (at least as used on my hand-held) to be very non-intuitive.
 
I have a digital yacht nomad. My vhf radio is too old to recommend it! I'm waiting for the right one to come by, hopefully will the AIS option both ways.

Exactly what I am going through but have found none yet that will offer both features without adding a VERY costly black box add on.
 
Gotcha thanks alot, still trying to really understand the need for a transponder on the Ohio River but we do get alot of barge traffic so would be nice to be "seen" at night! Thanks alot
chris

Even if a moving barge can "see" you at night, its very unlikely it would be able to dodge you. This is one case where a receiver and steering wheel will far outweigh the benefit of an AIS transmitter.
 
Even if a moving barge can "see" you at night, its very unlikely it would be able to dodge you. This is one case where a receiver and steering wheel will far outweigh the benefit of an AIS transmitter.


I am well aware of the dangers and proper way to pilot my vessel on the body of water that I reside on! I am simply trying to get info on a upcoming purchase and the newer technology that is available to assist me at night! The ability to be "seen" by tows and acknowledged well before the need to dodge me sounds good to me! A smart and aware captain is better then any tech which is just a tool to aid in decision making! Thanks for the heads up!
 
Don't know much about AIS other than what it is. Did the loop without it and certainly didn't think I needed it, but the one place that I can see a use would be on the rivers, especially at night. We never traveled at night except for one time and that was in open gulf water. Having no schedule allows us to travel under good conditions. I can understand them when you have to go when you have to go.
When we were at the Defender sale Thursday, Vesper Marine had a booth and was selling their black box and antenna splitter for around $800/both. Built in GPS and hooks up to your Ipad, I liked that it gets the clutter off the MFD, but that's just me. The sale ends today. If you need a radio too then I don't know.
 
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AIS is one more layer of protection for a diligent operator. To transmit, especially for a larger vessel can only help. I find AIS to be interesting on some days and invaluable on others. To know where the commercial traffic is before I see it, or when I can't due to weather is very helpful. For what a VHF with AIS costs in dollars vs the benefits it was a no-brainer.
 
Thanks alot guys I appreciate the feedback!
 
Thanks alot guys I appreciate the feedback!
I have an 01 46 Dancer and I'm getting new electronics. Going with the Standard Horizon 5500 and the Raymarine AIS 650, Axiom 12" and new 4ft HD open array antenna.
 
Here is the latest update I got from SH on the 6500 (been waiting for it forever, now giving up and going with AIS650 Raymarine)...

Hi Mike:
The GX6500 is still in development, but nothing concrete yet. The GX6000 will be available within the next month if you were interested but it won’t have AIS transponder capability.
 
I installed a Vesper XB6000 last year that transmits and shows AIS targets on my Furuno MFD. I have a NMEA2K network so installation was plug and play.

Also installed an Icom M324G VHF at the same time and no complaints there either.
 
Here is the latest update I got from SH on the 6500 (been waiting for it forever, now giving up and going with AIS650 Raymarine)...

Hi Mike:
The GX6500 is still in development, but nothing concrete yet. The GX6000 will be available within the next month if you were interested but it won’t have AIS transponder capability.

Don't you just hate it when they make a big splash 2-3 years in advance of a product's release? I'm now hoping someone else beats them to market with this kind of integration just to teach them a well deserved lesson.
 
Raymarine AIS 500 took a dump, replaced with Vesper xb6000 as stated plug and play.
Not to mention Raymarine AIS 700 is around $1000 and the Vesper unit is $600 Raymarine equiptment has consistently let me down over the years doubt I’ll ever go back.
 
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I've been using Vesper XB8000 for several years now and have been very happy. A word of advice for those who like to cover some distance, don't fool yourself with a doing this on the "cheap" approach. The primary feature of AIS is in the "I"=Identification. If you go for receiver only, and only can "see" and identify another vessel, but the boating traffic around you cannot identify you, it's counterproductive.

Picture yourself in a situation when you're in a high traffic area and a huge cargo ship is approaching around a corner and makes a call...."a southbound white pleasure craft in Savannah River, this is cargo ship MAERSK, over".......You look around and see another white recreational vessel and you're confused which one is he calling. Even if you have a receiver type AIS and you see that it's in fact a cargo ship MAERSK on your screen, it doesn't help that much b/c he doesn't know "who you are".

Now if you have a transponder, it's just makes a communication a pleasure. One of the examples, I'm cruising late night in a shipping channel and get a call......"Inspiration, this is so-and-so, over".....I respond to the call....."I'm about 7NM travelling at 17 knots and will catch up to you at around this time......". It goes to show you that all the guessing is taken out of the aquasion. We both clearly see each other (on the screen of course) and can easily identify each other by the name and make direct communication to agree on the safe passage. Otherwise, you're nothing but a "blimp" on a radar screen.

For those who say I don't travel at night, getting caught in heavy fog and/or T-storm during daylight will give you a good wake up call, as your visibility might be close to zero.
 

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