AIS install on C28?

[GunkHoling]

My 2019 C28 lacks AIS receive or transmit, given we're approaching Fogust in the PNW I'd like to add it.

The better AIS options appear to either be the em-trak B954 or the Vesper Cortex. I'm leaning towards the Cortex for the anchor alarm and possible future VHF usage. I think I could fit the Cortex behind the helm, but I'd like to avoid routing the GPS antenna externally. Have others tried mounting the Cortex GPS antenna inside the cabin under the windshield and able to get sufficient GPS accuracy? There's a lot of boat to take apart to successfully route the GPS antenna to an external position through the existing small mast where the radar is. I'm curious what others were successful with before I regret a purchase.

This would be my first new addition to the NMEA 2k bus, so I assume I'll need some additional NMEA cables, Ts and terminators.

 

[Mastercraft]

I have R29 2017. Upgraded from stock AIS300 Garmin receiver to AIS800 Garmin transmit/receiver. It was easy, just replace then plug and play. No backbone additional wires. No new antenna. I use Anchor Pro app on phone so Garmin does not drain battery all night. Got MMSI number and radio license. AIS800 came with extra wires to hook up to backbone if needed. Programmed VHF with MMSI number. You don't need a super great antenna since you don't need to transmit other than boats near you.

 

[Gypsy]

My 2019 C28 lacks AIS receive or transmit, given we're approaching Fogust in the PNW I'd like to add it.

The better AIS options appear to either be the em-trak B954 or the Vesper Cortex. I'm leaning towards the Cortex for the anchor alarm and possible future VHF usage. I think I could fit the Cortex behind the helm, but I'd like to avoid routing the GPS antenna externally. Have others tried mounting the Cortex GPS antenna inside the cabin under the windshield and able to get sufficient GPS accuracy? There's a lot of boat to take apart to successfully route the GPS antenna to an external position through the existing small mast where the radar is. I'm curious what others were successful with before I regret a purchase.

This would be my first new addition to the NMEA 2k bus, so I assume I'll need some additional NMEA cables, Ts and terminators.

 

[Gypsy]

I have a C28 and have installed the Cortex AIS. I put the GPS antenna topside forward of the horn on the overhang. Fishing the wire wasn’t difficult. Remove the wood cover between the windshields. Then drop the wood panel with the lights over the bed. You can then fish a wire from the space behind the mirror up to the roof. At the top of the space between the windshields, drill a hole straight forward and then drill a hole up through the overhang. I didn’t get good reception when I had the antenna inside the boat. Garmin activated my unit remotely.

 

[gallatintug]

I installed an Em-trak B-953 AIS on our C28 and replaced the Shakespeare VHF antenna with a Morad VHF because of AIS transmission issues caused by the frequency band of Shakespeare antennas. I glued the GPS puck in the vacant area above the shower. The set up works great.

 

[GunkHoling]

thanks all, I went to the boat today and finally started pulling off panels to find the NMEA backbone. For those that installed the vesper or em-trak did you run a nmea drop cable all the the way back to nmea backbone with a new T connector, or did you modify the backbone with an extension into the helm cabinet where you can add more T connectors and the final terminator?

 

[Haifisch]

I installed a the Vesper an R31. There is some Starboard behind the helm to which it is mounted. There was already an extension to the helm for an additional T connector since the boat came with a Garmin AIS300. I mounted the GPS antenna within a couple of feet of the Vesper inside the same cabinet behind the helm. It receives position just fine and avoided the cable run to the roof.