Electronics fit

[BogMonster]

Time to start thinking about electrickery for the new boat

I'm pretty much set on a basic non DSC Icom for the VHF, as far as I know the DSC functions are next to useless here so may as well save some money.

Nobody makes an AIS-receiving chartplotter as far as I know, so a chartplotter is probably a waste of time and likely to be deleted to save money. If I could get AIS positions I might be interested in it.

So that will mean a basic GPS that will show speed/position/course on one screen like the one I have (GPS72 which depending on who you listen to, may or may not be available) would be fine. If I can't get a GPS72, what would you recommend for something similar?

So ... what about fishfinders? I have a Piranha 1 on the Humber which is OK but loses the signal over about 20kt however I think that is down to location of the sounder on the transom, anyway it no longer appears to be made. New boat will have the sounder built into the hull. The Eagle Cuda 128 seemed to be one often recommended, but now also no longer available. All I want is something basic to show the water depth and the shape of the bottom plus any whales that happen to be underneath me - any recommendations? Fancy colour display not needed.

Thanks

[willk]

I can't really help with product suggestions, but I do have a few thoughts on the general plan.

First off, I'd say get the DSC VHF (you won't save much not getting it) as with the growth of the oil industry you will find more monitoring of the system around you. In any case, any other DSC VHF in the Falklands will react to a Distress Alert from your's. I think you'd be MAD not to .

AIS is available on this DSC VHF, it's a Furuno brand. It will pass the AIS signal to a plotter but I think has a small schematic AIS display itself.

As you will be short of console space, I'd suggest linking that general type of VHF to a small combi plotter/sounder. This kind of kit costs about £400-£600 depending. Obviously you'll need to be sure the plotter in question WILL display the AIS data.

This leaves you with two electronic units on your console plus a compass. The plotter may have an internal antenna and your transducer is in hull. The VHF/AIS requires only one antenna and no splitter box.

All in all a tidy physical package and with transducer, antenna and chart (if available?) should be doable for well under £1000 ex VAT.

EDIT: Forgot to say that the DSC VHF should show your position, heading, speed and time, which is handy if you are using the entire plotter display in Sounder mode

[Erin]

I think if you do a search under the make 'digital yacht' I seem to remember they do a combined AIS plotter. IIRC

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Erin

I think if you do a search under the make 'digital yacht' I seem to remember they do a combined AIS plotter. IIRC

Yep, they do indeed.

And as willk says there are a few DSC AIS units about, perhaps the best value being the Navicom one.

The Garmin GPS72 is still listed in Garmin's price list, you should be able to get one for about 110 or 130 with the marine mount etc.

You can get a 451S with fishfinder transducer for under 400 quid and a Navicom DSC AIS for 250.

[BogMonster]

Interesting, thanks...

I presume it is this one http://www.digitalyacht.co.uk/produc...oducts_id=1120

I don't really understand DSC but I thought DSC needed MMSI vessel registration to work? as far as I know we don't have that here.

One other question I have is that if I went for a plotter, it would need to be one which has charts of the Falklands area, and I don't think most of them do. I know charts covering this part of the world exist, but I think only in limited formats. Does anybody know how to check on this?

What do I need to specify to make sure all these instruments talk to each other? I'm dimly aware of NMEA something or other but it's a bit of a closed book to me

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

... it would need to be one which has charts of the Falklands area...

What do I need to specify to make sure all these instruments talk to each other?

The Falklands are in with the Chile chart in the case of Garmin, not sure about the others.

NMEA is the way to go, not a catchy name for something which in reality is easy enough to wire up.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I don't really understand DSC but I thought DSC needed MMSI vessel registration to work? as far as I know we don't have that here.

What do I need to specify to make sure all these instruments talk to each other? I'm dimly aware of NMEA something or other but it's a bit of a closed book to me

The MMSI number is just a number you put into the radio and is transmitted when you press the emergency button, you may find you need to put a random number in to get it to work or not, but it will still transmit your position if it is connected to your GPS via the NMEA wires - easy enough to do, and if you get compatible GPS and VHF sets they will not only send your position in case of an emergency, but also plot the position of any emergency received!

[Polwart]

Steven, Google suggests a FI vessel should have an MMSI starting 740xxxxxx - and that there are certainly a few large fishing vessels registered with 740 numbers.

[BogMonster]

Thanks, I see 740 codes for several vessels I know on the local register so I might contact the FI fishing companies and see what they say about who issues the codes. Would hate to pop up on all the panic alarms saying somebody else was sinking

Back to NMEA there seem to be two sorts basic NMEA0183 and a more whiz-bang NMEA2000, which one do we all use these days?

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Thanks, I see 740 codes for several vessels I know on the local register so I might contact the FI fishing companies and see what they say about who issues the codes. Would hate to pop up on all the panic alarms saying somebody else was sinking

Back to NMEA there seem to be two sorts basic NMEA0183 and a more whiz-bang NMEA2000, which one do we all use these days?

For this purpose I believe 0183 is fine - 2000 is for stuff like engine information displayed on your GPS