T&T: AIS Installation - recommendations

[Skip W]

Agree - my research said Milltech Marine Smart Radio splitter was best
interface to their SR161 AIS receiver.  

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

 

 

<snip>

 

Skip W wrote

 

"Chuck says below that it is better to have a dedicated antenna.  I just

 installed an AIS on our Defever 44 interfacing to Coastal Explorer.  I

 choose to install the antenna splitter as I have two VHF and two radios and

 did not want another antenna.  We are in SF Bay and so far the splitter is

 working great.  You have to be sure that the power for the splitter and VHF

 are on the same circuit but it sure beat installing ANOTHER antenna.  Jusy

 my opinion. "

 

Skip has a good point if you already have 2 radios, I would not want a third

antenna either. But be careful, not all splitters are the same and some
don't

work well. After installing a few different types I have found the unitd
from

Milltech Marine to be a bit more expensive but an excellent choice if going

with a splitter. Traveling the Gulf coast from Houston to South Carolina
along

the ICW the AIS was invaluable in telling us there was a tug and barge
around

the next bend. The big benefit was being able to call them on the radio by

name even before they saw us. I wish the Class B was available but even the

receive only unit was a valuable toll for vessel safety in my opinion. A
good

example of what we would see at times can be found at 

http://bp0.blogger.com/_vAYwNsasVrY/SHzm640HEbI/AAAAAAAAAsg/x06Ro7OA5A4/s160
0

-h/DSC00388a.jpg  . Chuck

 

 

Skip Wangbickler

M/V Emerald Sea

Defever 44

Sausalito, CA

Skype: skip.wangbickler

swangbickler at comcast.net