ACR class B AIS
Peter-
We installed ACR's class B AIS last year and were pleased by it's performance.
The integration with Nobeltec Admiral software was a breeze. The PC-based
software that ACR provides allows information to be displayed on your monitor,
but is rather basic, therefore I generally view the information on the Admiral
display. Your ability to "see" other boats is dependent on a number of
variables, just as your ability to communicate via your existing VHF varies
day to day. 20 mile plus tracking was common for watching the "big buys", but
that doesn't tell me if/when they could see me. I did note that I was reliably
"seen" and displayed by some of the web-based AIS sites such as
marinetraffic.com (even with an accompanying photo of our boat luckily taken
when she looked pretty good!). Acquisition and update time was sometimes
unpredictable...from 1 minute to 5 minutes from power-on.
That said, I just looked at the Garmin 600 website & that product looks great.
I assume install and integration with your new Garmin Chartplotter and radio
would be even easier, and would perhaps reduce the need to input lengthy MMSI
numbers in the event you wanted to use for a DSC.
I do worry about the dangers of distraction when I have so much neat
information from so many neat gadgets. I think it is safer when they do their
thing well in the background and sound a warning tone/bell when they have
something useful to tell you, thus the focus on the seamless integration
factor.
One other quirk that I suspect, but haven't yet tracked down: My HD AM/FM
broadcast radio reception has degraded since the year before. This MAY be
related to the constant on nature of the AIS data broadcast. I am fiddling
with antenna re-positioning as a possible fix. It's been an annoyance, as Pam
& I depend on our daily NPR news fix to ensure we remain hip & trendy parents,
saving our children and grandchildren from embarrassment. :)
Craig Mudge
Moon Star
KK42 # 94
Portland, Maine
- Electronics in Palm Beach (PETER C THYRRE)
Message: 25
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:55:41 -0500
From: PETER C THYRRE pcthyrre@me.com
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Subject: T&T: Electronics in Palm Beach
Message-ID: 0CE7DFE8-9D06-4EE7-B5E5-5819D4EF963A@me.com
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Hello listees!
Hope everyone out there is well.
We are moving forward towards putting a new electronic system on board
'Midnight Sun' and have decided on going the Garmin way.
One of the installers we are talking to has recommended we use an ACR class
B AIS system instead of the Garmin 600 AIS. He says the ACR has been out a
little longer than the Garmin unit and has a good track record as opposed to
the Garmin which is fairly new.
Does anyone have any experience and/or recommendation regarding the two?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
We have estimates from three installers: Martek, Offshore Connection, and
Ocean Currents Marine. Does anyone have any experience with any of these guys
or anyone else?