Marine Radio

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William Matley's picture
William Matley
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Joined: 1/15/08
Posts: 166
Marine Radio

My marine radio needs to be replaced so I thought I'd ask the group, any recommendations on a new radio?

GPS  yes/no
AIS  yes/no

Thanks!

Bill Matley
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan, Michigan
Lakes Huron, Michigan,
Canadian North Channel
"Spirit of Aloha" Hull #1252

Catboat Willy's picture
Catboat Willy
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Posts: 385

Bill;
 I'd certainly go with the latest in technology given how fast the technology is changing. I have a preference towards the new Standard Horizon GX 2200 with built in AIS and GPS receivers.
I like the idea that should I need to push the distress button, that I do not have to rely on other interconnected units to provide critical location data. (i.e. GPS position & MMSI #)
Plus the GX 2200 has a NEMA output which will also display the received AIS data on most updated chart plotters as well as on its own screen.
The new Lowrance VHF units will do the same, however the Lowrance unit does not have remote microphone capability and therefore is inconvieient to me since I use a remote cockpit microphone.
The Standard-Horizon GX-2200 does have the remote microphone capability.
When installing a new radio, it's a good idea to check your transmission line for SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) to insure that both the transmission line and your antenna are operating properly.
Just my opinion.
 Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

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Parsons
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Posts: 95

I was going to replace my ancient Raymarine with a SH gx2200 this winter. I like it for the ais and remote mike capability. There is a Ray 70 (?) with the same capabilities, but at 80% more cost than the sh. 

John Parsons
"Water Music" 1999 Catalina 36 Mk II - Hull 1771
Tall Rig, Fin Keel
Bay City, MI, USA

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rjwilson
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Posts: 59

I’ll second them on the Standard Horizon GX 2200.  I put one in last winter and love it. The sound quality is great and I ran the AIS back to the chart plotter.
 

Bob Wilson
S/V Morning Breeze
2003 Catalina 36, Hull 2122
York River Yacht Club
Williamsburg, VA

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bakerha
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Posts: 267

I'm also looking at the GX 2200.  GPS - yes; AIS - yes but I'm interested in the general opinion on AIS transceiver function instead of only a receiver. Quite a few more $ for the transceiver - but nice to be seen too!
Bill Dolan - What instrument are you using to measure SWR? I've looked at a few a those too - but not sure which ones work well on our VHF range.
 

_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP

Catboat Willy's picture
Catboat Willy
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Harold;
I don't wish to hi-jack Bill's thread here but in answer to your question regarding SWR meters; they are a fairly simple device and I'll bet that any 'ham radio' buff or amateur radio operator will have one readily available for your temporary use. If you wanted to buy one, ($100.00) something like the MFJ VHF SWR meter would do fine; see http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-208http:
They are simply connected in the coaxial line with transmitter and the antenna -as close to the transmitter as possible -and look for transmitted energy reflected toward the radio.
The other comment you mentioned regarding transmitting your AIS position is a bit more complex requiring a separate antenna and ships station license from the FCC.
We operate both high frequency radio (SSB) and an amateur radio station (Call sign; W2CWL) aboard our C-36.
Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

William Miller
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Joined: 10/4/08
Posts: 294

You do not need another antenna for a transmitting ais I got a vesper ais and the dealer said for sailboats just buy their splitter .It has worked perfect.My brother has a 43 Selene with a antenna just for his vesper ais and a sailboat that was a few miles ahead picked up my boat but not my brothers

Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1

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LeslieTroyer
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Posts: 533

For me AIS on the radio is not a must. Having an integrated GPS is more important because of the DCS functions.  I have a Raymarine AIS 650 and a splitter. My older SH 2150 works fine but does require a NMEA 0183 connection from the plotter for location. I do have the SH 2150 AIS data as a secondary source for the plotter (incase the 650 fails).

One feature of a radio I’ve not seen mentioned is the hail function.  I use this more than I would like as my fog horn.  Blowing an air horn every 2 minutes is a pain.  

A remote mike is a must.  Now if I could figure out how to make a DSC call by selecting a AIS target on the plotter I would be happy. 

Be be sure and program your mmsi number into the radio. Free mmsi are fine for folks not traveling to another country (Yes Canada is a different country) be sure and get the mmsi from the FCC.  Also having a FCC station license is a good idea in Canada.  I have but have never had to produce an operators license.   If you have AIS-MOB devices they “need” a different mmsi (regardless of the regs) as many AIS devices filter their own #.  

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

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Catboat Willy
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Posts: 385

Les; I think that the Standard -Horizon GX-2200 radio does have a hailer/ fog horn feature built in. Whether it triggers every two minutes is something I'll find out, but I believe it does. The operations manual for the GX 2200 is on line at Standard Horizon (just have to read it) and there appears to be a factory - offered $40.00 rebate going as well.
And on splitters ; Years ago, we had a bad experience with this type of device from Icom. The reason we now use a separate antenna. But antenna splitters are fine.

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

Catboat Willy's picture
Catboat Willy
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Joined: 12/22/14
Posts: 385

Les; I think that the Standard -Horizon GX-2200 radio does have a hailer feature built in. Whether it triggers every two minutes is something I'll find out.
And on splitters ; Years ago, we had a bad experience with this type of device from Icom. The reason we now use a separate antenna. But antenna splitters are fine.

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

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