ICOM MA-500TR AIS set

[CJL]

Anybody tried the ICOM AIS set on a rib?

MA-500TR : Class B AIS Transponder<br>(Introductory Membership of the RNLI with this product*) - AIS Products : Icom UK - two way radio transceivers, receivers and navigation products

Worth the notes or just a con? I am looking at one as a bit of training kit and I don't want to get the first one out of the stalls when more/better/cheaper ones are out there.

It certainly seems like it is simple and straight forward to use.

Chris

[martini]

Much better off getting a unit that overlays onto a chart plotter I reckon

[Festinghouse]

what about swapping radio for a standard horizon matrix ais and run it through chartplotter?

[jeffrobbins]

Have you checked out the Vesper Marine WatchMate-850 as an alternative?

Sorry for the plug - I work for Vesper Marine - but I wanted you to at least know there was an alternative out there. Happy to answer any questions about it, if you want.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jeffrobbins

Have you checked out the Vesper Marine WatchMate-850 as an alternative?

Sorry for the plug - I work for Vesper Marine - but I wanted you to at least know there was an alternative out there. Happy to answer any questions about it, if you want.

10.....9.....8....7.....6....5.................... ....

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by martini

Much better off getting a unit that overlays onto a chart plotter I reckon

It looks like it does

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

It looks like it does

Yeah that's what I saw.

I think I'm gonna go for the M505 with a command mic and maybe if I'm feeling flush at some point in the future I'll go with the AIS kit.

My limited searching does not portray AIS installation and cabling in a very simple straight forward manner. Perhaps the manufacturers need to work on this to simplify it.....either that or I'm too simple!

Chris