R31 Garmin AIS location

[eriknelson3]

Hi,
I'm trying to figure out if my 2022 R31CB has AIS. I purchased it last summer and experienced AIS briefly after the purchase but more recently I haven't seen any AIS target marine contacts shown on my Garmin GPS display. After speaking with the help line at Garmin in their marine product support area we were asked about a separate AIS box (distinct from the Garmin GPS display). I was not able to find such a box in the small cupboard behind the display (accessible from the main bedroom)

After a little more research, we discovered that some Garmin VHF units also have AIS built in so it's possible we have one of those.

My question is whether AIS is included in the R31CB from the factory and, if so, where is it located?

Thanks,
Erik Nelson
Owner Invictus

 

[Brian John]

The Garmin 8616 (I assume you have this model chart plotter) should show other vessels, the AIS they are discussing is for transmitting your location and information for other boats to see.

In the Garmin chartplotter setting there is a setting to turn on and off the AIS setting, that allows you to see other boats.

I installed a Vesper AIS transceiver 2 weeks ago, mine is located in the V Berth lower starboard storage bin.

 

[eriknelson3]

Thanks Brian John. That is helpful. We're familiar with the AIS setting you're referring to on the Garmin 8616 (yes, that is what we have in the boat). I guess a more precise question is where would I find the AIS transceiver on the boat. I have seen instances where it was showing location and names of other vessels which tells me it was working at one point and, therefore, there is a transceiver on board. I just can't find it.

Erik

 

[Brian John]

You have a receiver the Garmin, the transceiver transmits your location and is a feature typically added aftermarket.

If you look on the 8616 (somewhere in the menu) it will give you a list of connected accessories.

 

[eriknelson3]

Thanks Brian

 

[SJI Sailor]

To clarify here, you might have either an AIS receiver or an AIS transceiver.

A receiver will receive signals from other vessels and (optionally, if it is turned on) display those on the chartplotter. It does not broadcast your location or anything else. Commonly that may be part of the Garmin VHF but it could also be a separate receiver box (e.g. Garmin AIS 300).

A transceiver (such as Vesper Cortex or Garmin AIS 600) will both receive signals as above and broadcast your location. That is always in some kind of separate box. The best way to locate it would be to trace VHF and/or GPS antenna connections because AIS uses GPS for location and requires its own separate source (although that might be built in) and broadcasts on VHF (perhaps sharing one antenna with a splitter/series before the radio unit, or with its own VHF antenna)..

If you have 1 VHF antenna and can trace it back to the helm radio without anything else connected in series, then you do not have AIS broadcast (and that receive-only setup was the default for most RT 31s as far as I know).

Most likely as noted you have a receiver only, and perhaps built into the VHF radio unit; but maybe the above will help evaluate the other possibilities! (FWIW I highly recommend upgrading to broadcast/transceiver if you have receive-only, as I think it is highly advantageous to be more visible; but some folks decide otherwise )

 

[eriknelson3]

Thanks SJI Sailor. That is very helpful. I think you may be right