adding AIS feature

[dwbettine]

Greetings! We purchased a new R-23 this spring and love it. In a boating class my wife and I took, AIS was discussed in great detail. We have an app we use on an iPad that gives us AIS functionality, but I am wondering if it is possible to connect, or activate, or do something so that the Garmin 7610 unit on our boat can show AIS transmitting vessels?
According to the owner's manual for the Garmin, this feature looks like it is supported. What would it take to make it work? We have MMSI and a GPS-enabled VHF. Can you please provide me with details or suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[baz]

You'll need at least the Garmin AIS 300 installed to see AIS targets on your Garmin 7610 chart plotter.

 

[dwbettine]

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

 

[SGIDAVE]

Greetings! We purchased a new R-23 this spring and love it. In a boating class my wife and I took, AIS was discussed in great detail. We have an app we use on an iPad that gives us AIS functionality, but I am wondering if it is possible to connect, or activate, or do something so that the Garmin 7610 unit on our boat can show AIS transmitting vessels? According to the owner's manual for the Garmin, this feature looks like it is supported. What would it take to make it work? We have MMSI and a GPS-enabled VHF. Can you please provide me with details or suggestions?
Thanks.

hello dwbettine,

Another consideration is to get a second VHF radio (redundancy is good) with AIS receive. On the cheaper end, you can pick up the Lowrance VHF with AIS receive and it is N2K compatible which means with ONE CABLE hook up to your N2K network, it will receive the GPS signal it needs to send out DSC plus the vhf will provide your Garmin 7610 with the AIS signal. Kind of like getting a "2 for 1" deal. If you don't have space or desire a second VHF, then never mind. Swapping out your existing VHF for an AIS receiving unit is also an option. You are going to have to install SOMETHING to get AIS...replacing your vhf should be 'plug and play.'

Any N2K compliant AIS unit should work with your Garmin. If you want AIS TRANSceiver (that is, BOTH send and receive), any 'black box' solution will work.

dave

 

[baz]

Dave, The VHF radio in the R-23 is quite a small unit and is located forward of the engine's throttle lever. Replacing this with the Lowrance VHF unit with AIS Receive would not fit into the space where the stock Garmin VHF radio sits. It would certainly have to be an add-on and located elsewhere in the R-23's helm area. With the Lowrance unit costing around $300 I would say the best approach would be to add the Garmin AIS 300 for not much more (maybe $100 more), but this still will require it to be hooked to the R-23's N2K network.

I do like your redundancy idea/suggestion as a Lowrance benefit.

Question: Dave, Can the stock R-23's VHF antenna be used by two VHF radios without issues arising ?

 

[SGIDAVE]

I do like your redundancy idea/suggestion as a Lowrance benefit.

Question: Dave, Can the stock R-23's VHF antenna be used by two VHF radios without issues arising ?

Hello Barry,

No, each VHF radio needs its own antenna.

/dave

 

[ixlr8]

Question: Dave, Can the stock R-23's VHF antenna be used by two VHF radios without issues arising ?

No, maybe, and yes. It depends on how the radio's are configured, if there is a switching feature and if a radios input will accept another radio's output. If receiving only, there should not be an issue, once you start transmitting, things can go wrong fast. There are "black box's" that allow you to combine outputs from two radio's to one antenna, but some of them attenuate the signal. Which is why I won't use Garmin's antenna splitter in its AIS600 and will insist on a separate antenna for the AIS.

 

[tlkenyon]

In prep for the Great Loop. I just replaced the stock Garmin 200 with the Garmin 210, which has AIS receive capability. Was very easy and works as specified. Keeping the the Garmin 200 as a backup.

TK

 

[Kevin Lamont]

Greetings! We purchased a new R-23 this spring and love it. In a boating class my wife and I took, AIS was discussed in great detail. We have an app we use on an iPad that gives us AIS functionality, but I am wondering if it is possible to connect, or activate, or do something so that the Garmin 7610 unit on our boat can show AIS transmitting vessels?
According to the owner's manual for the Garmin, this feature looks like it is supported. What would it take to make it work? We have MMSI and a GPS-enabled VHF. Can you please provide me with details or suggestions?
Thanks.

I actually installed a AIS300 system yesterday on one of our R23's that is being delivered today. Was a super simple install, first you need to purchase the AIS300 kit from Garmin or other Garmin retailer. It comes with everything you need to plug in and start using. I removed the plotter in order to access the N2K backbone which is on the left side of the fuse block panel if looking forward through the hole where the plotter is, then you simply pry up the VHF from the sides, I like to use something plastic that isnt going to pinch or damage the vinyl. Remove the head shelf then able to remove the teak panel behind the helm as this will help with access and mounting the AIS300 box. Then just run your N2K wire from backbone down the starboard side to the toilet along with your N2K power wire, remove the antenna cable from VHF run to toilet, connect VHF to AIS cable run same as others. Hook up everything to the box and mount right below helm in the middle, you will see wood glassed in just dont use too long of screws. When connecting your N2K power wire you only need to hook up power and ground dont worry about the other wires as those are used differently, it comes with inline fuse so just hook to your fuse block main power feed and ground buss below where the white fur panel is located. Let me know if you have any questions and good luck to you!!!