VHF Replacement

[Rick D]

I had to replace my ancient, but well-loved Virgil / B&G helm radio (thanks Steve!). While it was a wonderful radio, the time had come since it was cutting out at low voltages and since the new U.S. Sailing rules require a DSC equipped radio.

Anyhow, I decided to go for broke and installed the new Standard Horizon GX 2200 which has both a built in GPS and antenna and AIS which uses the VHF circuitry and antenna. For the price, you have to wonder who would buy a separate AIS class A receiver anymore. The advantage, besides further redundancy, of the GPS is not having to run another set of wires to the cockpit; that alone was worth the price differential.

I had two 4" circular holes in my helm, so I ordered some 3/8" HDPE from McMaster-Carr and made a bezel to mount the radio. I hadn't worked with it before. It was easy, if a bit messy. Turned out fine.

One thing of interest is the manual. 152 pages! I'll bet a third of it is DSC use and options. Much of that is emergency and AIS- related communications options I would never remember or use. Maybe some of the others of you would. The functions are soft-key driven, so it isn't as handy as dedicated knobs, but once you get used to it, it's OK but crew won't figure it out. The AIS display on the screen is by necessity tiny, but the range can be adjusted dramatically. I have one below anyway, altho this will be handy for crossing situations.

All in all, it's an impressive piece of equipment for the price. And, it works when the battery is low, since I force-lowered them by running the water heater off the inverter and running all the AC for the rest of the day.

 

[windward54]

Great choice in radios. And have fun learning all the calling features of the DSC feature.

 

[Maine Sail]

I had to replace my ancient, but well-loved Virgil / B&G helm radio (thanks Steve!). While it was a wonderful radio, the time had come since it was cutting out at low voltages and since the new U.S. Sailing rules require a DSC equipped radio.

Anyhow, I decided to go for broke and installed the new Standard Horizon GX 2200 which has both a built in GPS and antenna and AIS which uses the VHF circuitry and antenna. For the price, you have to wonder who would buy a separate AIS class A receiver anymore. The advantage, besides further redundancy, of the GPS is not having to run another set of wires to the cockpit; that alone was worth the price differential.

I had two 4" circular holes in my helm, so I ordered some 3/8" HDPE from McMaster-Carr and made a bezel to mount the radio. I hadn't worked with it before. It was easy, if a bit messy. Turned out fine.

One thing of interest is the manual. 152 pages! I'll bet a third of it is DSC use and options. Much of that is emergency and AIS- related communications options I would never remember or use. Maybe some of the others of you would. The functions are soft-key driven, so it isn't as handy as dedicated knobs, but once you get used to it, it's OK but crew won't figure it out. The AIS display on the screen is by necessity tiny, but the range can be adjusted dramatically. I have one below anyway, altho this will be handy for crossing situations.

All in all, it's an impressive piece of equipment for the price. And, it works when the battery is low, since I force-lowered them by running the water heater off the inverter and running all the AC for the rest of the day.

Rick,

Feed the AIS data to your plotter, much easier....

 

[Brian D]

I had basically the same choice, but decided to go without AIS. I just do not have the navigational hardware on my boat to justify AIS. Nice to have but not a "need". Maybe one day or if AIS becomes a requirement then I will upgrade. But for now my DSC radio will have to do.

Have fun with the new radio. Please add pictures of your installation. In particular the bezel you made. That would interest me the most.

After reading Maine's post, why not feed the AIS data to a tab at your helm via bluetooth? With the technology we have today, that should be a very simple task.

 

[Rick D]

I'll Post Photos...

...when I go to the boat next week. I already have a netbook which gets the AIS feed below from my dedicated receiver. The only thing I have at the helm is my Furuno radar which gets my NEMA GPS data from my below decks old Raymarine RC 520 which is too old to show AIS targets. So, some AIS information at the helm when I am offshore and away from the commercial traffic will be handy. Too many AIS streams in port for the display to be very useful unless set at a half mile range. Offshore, I can probably go five or even ten. Pretty sure the Furuno 1700 radar series won't show AIS either. The chartplotter (augmented by OPEN CPN on the netbook) and the radar are now old tech, but both are totally functional, so don't warrant replacement. Better someday a new owner gets an allowance to upgrade to the electronics du jour at that time.

 

[caguy]

Seems like your AIS warning will be going off all the time in Long Beach Harbor. It would be a nice feature to send to your GPS if you can, especially in that harbor.
I don't know what your electronic are like but all of my wiring pretty much originates at the same source.

 

[CharlzO]

Any pictures of it installed Rick? I'm still trying to find a good place for mine to go, so always love seeing other ideas.

 

[Skipper]

...when I go to the boat next week. I already have a netbook which gets the AIS feed below from my dedicated receiver. The only thing I have at the helm is my Furuno radar which gets my NEMA GPS data from my below decks old Raymarine RC 520 which is too old to show AIS targets. So, some AIS information at the helm when I am offshore and away from the commercial traffic will be handy. Too many AIS streams in port for the display to be very useful unless set at a half mile range. Offshore, I can probably go five or even ten. Pretty sure the Furuno 1700 radar series won't show AIS either. The chartplotter (augmented by OPEN CPN on the netbook) and the radar are now old tech, but both are totally functional, so don't warrant replacement. Better someday a new owner gets an allowance to upgrade to the electronics du jour at that time.

Even just the radio's display brings a lot of useful data to the cockpit. The display is small(I use the RAM), but you can still see traffic at a glace, especially if you've mounted it at the helm. Also, if you are concerned about a target, you can quickly menu-button your way to obtain the target's range, speed, COG, and bearing. I keep the alarms off, and just use the data. I'd use the alarms offshore though, and at max range.

Edit: By the way, you can also see the target vessel's name, and can use the DSC to contact the vessel's MMSI directly from your AIS screen; this then rings a DSC audible tone at the target vessel's helm, and transmits your location and boat data. I'd only do this if I were genuinely concerned about my ability to give way or navigate evasively.

 

[Rick D]

Exactly WHat I Thought...

Even just the radio's display brings a lot of useful data to the cockpit. The display is small(I use the RAM), but you can still see traffic at a glace, especially if you've mounted it at the helm. Also, if you are concerned about a target, you can quickly menu-button your way to obtain the target's range, speed, COG, and bearing. I keep the alarms off, and just use the data. I'd use the alarms offshore though, and at max range.

Edit: By the way, you can also see the target vessel's name, and can use the DSC to contact the vessel's MMSI directly from your AIS screen; this then rings a DSC audible tone at the target vessel's helm, and transmits your location and boat data. I'd only do this if I were genuinely concerned about my ability to give way or navigate evasively.

Your description is what I figured I would do. I also see no reason to contact commercial shipping via DSC unless it were safety related (and urgent).

 

[Rick D]

Here is a photo of the HDPE bezel I made to cover the old holes and mount the new VHF.

 

[Gunni]

Your description is what I figured I would do. I also see no reason to contact commercial shipping via DSC unless it were safety related (and urgent).

I regularly use my AIS plot data to publicly hail the commercial vessel bridge on Ch.13 (or Ch.16 if necessary) to both; 1)confirm I am seen, and 2) that we have no conflict. This is especially important at night, or low vis. We sailboaters are not very visible. I talk to a lot of pilots and they universally express satisfaction in hearing from us obstructions to navigation. And I figure if I ID a freighter on Ch.16 at least the CG will have the radio logs to help fill-out the accident report The great thing about AIS is it puts a bogey on THEIR screen. Evidence.