Adding AIS to my old Raymarine Suite

[Joel_MD]

Hello all, I recently purchased my 2005 390 Motor Yacht that is equipped with a nice suite of Raymarine electronics including C120 multifunction display, radar, autopilot, and RAY240 VHF. I would really like to add a Class B AIS transponder to the mix, but I get a bit confused in terms of compatibility. If I want to see AIS data overlaid on my C120, does it have to be a compatible Raymarine box communicating over SeaTalk? Or will any AIS work with a NMEA connection?

I see there is a version of the RAY260 VHF radio that includes AIS, but it appears to be receive only.

 

[alnav]

Most any AIS unit that conforms to NMEA 0183 should work as long as your plotter has the software upgrade that enables display. The issue may be how/where to connect. Unlike most other NMEA talkers that operate at 4800 baud, AIS units typically transmit at 38,400 baud. There are some settings on the plotter to accept that you would have to configure. Also, unless you have an unused NMEA port you would have to disconnect something else to connect the AIS. If that's a problem for you the solution is typically to install a multiplexer which will allow you to connect multiple NMEA talkers. Then the multiplexer combines the data into one NMEA stream that goes to the plotter. I believe there are AIS units available include multiplexer capabilities, you might want to look for one of those. You also may need an antenna splitter to enable your VHF antenna to serve both VHF voice and AIS or a separate antenna for the AIS.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I did this with our C-80 when I added a Standard Horizon 2150 VHF that has a built in Class B transponder. NMEA 0183 is the way to go. You will need a multiplexer as has been pointed out AIS uses a speed of 38400 baud and other stuff like communicating with Smartcraft, Heading sensor data for Radar overlay and such operate at 4800. Note that NMEA0183 data from these devices can be transmitted and received faster, but are limited by the hardware.

The complication is that the C series only has one NMEA0183 port. What we did was use an Actisense ND4-AIS multiplexer. It has a number of ports that can be configured for various speeds and can also limit what data segments flow through the port. We set the C80 NMEA speed to 38400 and configured a send port and receive port on the multiplexor to 38400 and connected the two devices. We also configured a recieve port on the multiplexor to 38400 to receive the AIS data from the 2150. We then brought in Heading circuit, VHF DSC &GPS circuit, and a send circuit for Smartcraft. Once you wrap your head around the whole concept it is really pretty simple.

One thing that did make us nuts was that the C80 only registers AIS as being active when it is receiving a signal. So until you are within range of an active AIS signal you can't tell if everything is installed correctly. A mux will be about $ 300 and the 2150 was around $ 250 as I recall. The nice thing about using the 2150 is that you don't need to add another VHF antenna for the AIS, or alternatively a signal splitter. So all in all it is less expensive than going the stand alone Class B transponder.

I'd strongly recommend Actisense as they spent quite a lot of CS time helping me get it right.

All of that being said, I do regret not going directly to a Transceiver.

Henry

 

[Joel_MD]

Thank you for the replies, I appreciate it.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Joel,

I found the wiring diagrams from my installation. They are on the boat. I'm going back tonight and will bring them home with me and scan them and post. When you see the drawing it is a lot clearer.

Henry

 

[Havana Shamrock]

We just replaced our crappy raymarine AIS 500 with a vesper unit. I have a raymarine junction box for NMEA0813 wiring where I have a few units running through there why can't he use this method instead of an expensive multiplexer? Can't he use a buss bar and connect all the wiring to each other?
and I was told a seperate AIS antenna was the way to go it adds to the cost but with my RM unit it used my VHF antenna and when it crapped out it effected my VHF and I had no idea.

 

[alnav]

We just replaced our crappy raymarine AIS 500 with a vesper unit. I have a raymarine junction box for NMEA0813 wiring where I have a few units running through there why can't he use this method instead of an expensive multiplexer? Can't he use a buss bar and connect all the wiring to each other?
and I was told a seperate AIS antenna was the way to go it adds to the cost but with my RM unit it used my VHF antenna and when it crapped out it effected my VHF and I had no idea.

If the "junction box" is the Raymarine E55059, it actually is a multiplexer and by all means ought to be used if already there. I actually have one that was originally installed in my system and I've seen it referred to as a junction box.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Its not a multiplexer just a place to connect multiple nmea wiring. More of a plastic buss bar


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