Suitable GPS input for the NASA AIS "radar"

[John Denney]

Hi, I have bought the NASA AIS radar thing and I need to supply it with a GPS input. Has anyone done it? I do not have a suitable GPS so I was hoping to buy a cheap hand held GPS that has the NMEA (RMC) output. Just wondering which make / model would do the job. Any advice or guidance welcome!

John

ps I also need to supply the new VHF with a GPS input so hopefully I can do both with the same GPS?

 

[tomfentonvega2977beowulf]

I bought a Standard Horizon C300 chartplotter for about GBP500, linked the AIS very easily and am delighted with the results. I keep my old Garmin handheld as backup, but I would not now be without the chartplotter. What I haven't yet achieved is a successful link with the VHF so that DSC distress calls will automatically give my position. In terms of safety, and given the apparent uselessness of radar reflectors, I do rate all of this as a priority for us. The ability of the chartplotter to give a alarm based on the AIS seems invaluable. Sorry this is not the answer to your question, John. Tom

Tom Fenton
49 Manor Road
Wivenhoe
Essex CO7 9LN

+44 7740 928369

 

[vega1860]

Our AIS is a Standard Horizon, we used a Garmin Oregon hand-held with an accessory NMEA cable from West Marine. After several hours on the phone with both Garmin and SH, we figured out that ALL the wires must be connected, including the power input. Once that was out of the way, it was simple. We tried to use the Garmin 76 but it was not compatible - too old.

Chuck Rose
SV Lealea, V1860
Honolulu

 

[johnadenney]

I just got an email back from the company (US Globalsat) who tell me that the USB version will not work because it requires a USB host (whaterver that is!). However the serial version of the same thing will work - BU-355... we shall see. If it works it will be a cheap and very low power way to get GPS info to the radio and the AIS. We shall see!