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New Product Announcement
AIS 600
Automatic Identification System Transceiver
Garmin International is pleased to introduce the AIS 600 transceiver. Add a new level of safety and convenience to your vessel
with the Garmin AIS 600. This black box AIS transceiver allows mariners to receive AIS target data as well as transmit their
own vessel information to other AIS receivers in their area. The AIS 600 aids in collision avoidance by helping users track and
contact anyone in the area who has a VHF radio and MMSI number. Mariners can now rest easy knowing that they have
visibility of boat traffic around them and that they can be seen by other vessels while at sea.
The AIS 600 is NMEA 2000 certified and is easily added to the existing NMEA 2000 network. Once installed, the AIS 600 is
controlled via chartplotter display giving you all the information you need right at your fingertips. In addition, the AIS 600
comes with a built-in active splitter that allows one VHF antenna to serve both the AIS 600 and any VHF radio with minimal
signal loss to give users more space and make installation easy without the need for additional hardware.
Product Features and Specifications
Aids mariners in navigation and collision avoidance
NMEA 2000 certified for easy installation
Built-in active splitter enables one VHF antenna to serve both the AIS 600 and any VHF radio giving users more space and making
installation easy without the need for additional hardware
The built-in active splitter ensures that all VHF and AIS communications are sent and received with minimal signal loss or interruption
ClearTrack technology ensures no interruption of the AIS traffic position transmission, even when the VHF radio is in use
Integrate AIS target data information directly on the chartplotters display (AIS target overlay, MMSI number saving, vessel status and more)
When integrated with a Garmin chartplotter and VHF radio via NMEA 2000, mariners can initiate a call to any MMSI target directly from the
chartplotter by selecting the call with radio function
Integration of Closest Point of Approach (CPA) alarm in conjunction with radar input to avoid a collision
Integrated GPS receiver with external GPS antenna connection
Dual channel AIS receiver
Class A and Class B reception
2W AIS Class B transmitter
Dedicated HW input for silent mode and AIS Mayday mode (Selectable NMEA 0183 output speed can work with other 3rd party equipment)
Features eight LED lights for warning, OK, error, SRM, RX only, RX, TX, VHFTX
One NMEA 0183 output and one NMEA 0183 input
Includes a USB port for programming MMSI info and AIS static data with included PC software
Dimensions: 9.8W x 7.1H x 2.5D
Weight: 4.2 lb.
Waterproof: IPX7 submersible
Product Configuration
AIS 600
Package includes: AIS 600, GA 30 GPS antenna with pole and surface mount, power cable, safety related message cable, NMEA 2000
drop cable (2m), VHF interconnect cable (2m), mounting hardware, NMEA 2000 T-connector, USB cable, PC software CD, documentation
Garmin s going all out, but it seems a little pricey comapred to the ACR and West products that sell for $700 & $600 respectively.
The ACR and West products you're referring to are probably just Class B receivers. The price point goes up considerably when you want the broadcast as well.
can someone explain what the need for this on a fishing boat or cruiser is? I understand for a Cargo Ship, but I see no need for that info, GPS and Radar are enough. if you can't use them then you shouldn't be out there
Tony,
Yes you can see the ships on radar and by sight, but they can see you with AIS if for some reason they don't see you either by sight or radar. Also, anyone can track your boat by computer.
Tony,
Yes you can see the ships on radar and by sight, but they can see you with AIS if for some reason they don't see you either by sight or radar. Also, anyone can track your boat by computer.
So its NMEA2000 but only with Garmin plotters? Why make it NMEA2000 then---why not just make it Garmin canbus? Then it would work with ALL the older plotters--ie, 3000 series. Bummer for older plotters..
And did I see that the cost is like $1400 bucks? Wow.
Tony,
Yes you can see the ships on radar and by sight, but they can see you with AIS if for some reason they don't see you either by sight or radar. Also, anyone can track your boat by computer.
Let's say a big tanker is entering the harbor. The pilot sees fifty small (compared to his ship) boats on his AIS screen zig zagging across the harbor. What is he (or she) going to do, try and make his way between them?
The cargo ship has the right of way but more importantly, it can't stop or manuver out of the way of these boats even if it wanted to.
It might be a "cool" thing to have on your 30' boat, but it's not the most efficient use of $1K or so.
If you go to marinetraffic.com and click on the live map, you'll see how it works. I don't think a large ship would rely on AIS or even use it in harbor, It has both positive and negative security ramifications in that you always know where your boat is, but so does everyone else. A lot of private vessels turn off the transmit transponder in certain areas.
can someone explain what the need for this on a fishing boat or cruiser is? I understand for a Cargo Ship, but I see no need for that info, GPS and Radar are enough. if you can't use them then you shouldn't be out there
The ACR and West products you're referring to are probably just Class B receivers. The price point goes up considerably when you want the broadcast as well.
Both the ACR Nauticast B and West Marine units are transceivers too. I have the ACR on my Garmin system and it works very well. While being on a NMEA 2000 buss does make installation a little easier (plug in vs. soldering 4 wires), I can't see that being worth $500+.
Let's say a big tanker is entering the harbor. The pilot sees fifty small (compared to his ship) boats on his AIS screen zig zagging across the harbor. What is he (or she) going to do, try and make his way between them?
The cargo ship has the right of way but more importantly, it can't stop or manuver out of the way of these boats even if it wanted to.
It might be a "cool" thing to have on your 30' boat, but it's not the most efficient use of $1K or so.
Where I have found it most useful is offshore, because (at least with Garmin 4000/5000 units) it does autoplotting to advise of a risk of collision (target turns red, and when it comes within 2-3 miles (not sure what the algorithym is, it may actually be time to collision), plots the route of the offending ship and sounds both visual and audible alarms. 12+ miles out many of those big ships travel at 22-25 kts (I have seen the Queen Mary 2 at 28 kts) and cover a lot of ground, plus needing a pretty wide berth for safety.
Where I have found it most useful is offshore, because (at least with Garmin 4000/5000 units) it does autoplotting to advise of a risk of collision (target turns red, and when it comes within 2-3 miles (not sure what the algorithym is, it may actually be time to collision), plots the route of the offending ship and sounds both visual and audible alarms. 12+ miles out many of those big ships travel at 22-25 kts (I have seen the Queen Mary 2 at 28 kts) and cover a lot of ground, plus needing a pretty wide berth for safety.
I can understand the receive only units for some recreational boaters, but I don't think the QE2 is going to alter course because you are in its way.
And think of the clutter if every boat over 20' had a transmitter.
Does this mean that Garmin has an updated version of their VHF300 AIS in the works that will integrate an AIS transponder with a VHF radio in a single unit? That is such an obvious product, I can't believe no one has made one yet.
Guys, I am no weekend boater. I log 15,000 sea miles a year all over the Atlantic, Caribbean and pacific Ocean. I have been through the Panama Canal numerous times and there is no place with traffic like that. There is just no Need for these things. All they are going to do is make you rely on them and not use your common since. If I am in a river with a strong bend I am on the radio finding out what is coming down at me. not running wide open at a blind curve with or without this thing.
Boaters will begin to rely on these just like bow thrusters. I had to move a 72' S/F back to its slip from the fuel dock once because the skipper could not do it. He said the wind was to strong and he had no bow thruster.
now any boater thinks they can navigate just by turning on their GPS and driving off. I would guess that over 50% of boaters have no clue about dead reckoning or how to use a compass anymore.
As for security, it only works when it is turned on. Why do I need to know where my boat is if I am on it.
If you go to marinetraffic.com and click on the live map, you'll see how it works. I don't think a large ship would rely on AIS or even use it in harbor, It has both positive and negative security ramifications in that you always know where your boat is, but so does everyone else. A lot of private vessels turn off the transmit transponder in certain areas.
I went to the link and I've gone to it in the past. Nothing shown in Charleston, SC, and I'll bet there are a dozen ships in the harbor or port at any given time. So what good is it?
I can understand the receive only units for some recreational boaters, but I don't think the QE2 is going to alter course because you are in its way.
And think of the clutter if every boat over 20' had a transmitter.
Three things on that front:
I don't expect anyone to alter course for me (other than similar sized boats); I was merely pointing out what it shows me and how I can avoid big ships that might run me down.
AIS class A (big ships transmit at 25W of power, just like a VHF, Class B is only 2 Watts, which gives no more than about 6-8 miles in range) units allow the filtering out of Class B signals, and most every big ship does that.
As far as clutter goes, even with a class B unit, you can limit the number of targets to the closest 5, 10, 20 or 100 (at least with Garmin).
New Garmin AIS 600 NMEA2000 AIS Receiver 
