wugubob

Looking for VHF AIS capability to integrate with my Garmin 942xs via NMEA 2000. Any recommendations on whether Garmin VHF 215 or Standard Horizon 2400 is better?

Is there anything VHF 215 can do with the chartplotter that the SH 2400 can't?

Thanks,
bob

bluewaterpirate

Yes the Garmin 215 is not AIS capable whereas the SH 2400 is the SH is a better value.

Tom

wugubob

Garmin has a 215 that is AIS capable it says? https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/625348

westbootie

I have the Garmin 215 and it does come with AIS.
Advantages of the Garmin is that it's a seamless integration with your other Garmin electronics.
Targets appear on your MFD screen and are easily identified. If you have a touch screen, you simply touch the screen and that vessels info comes up
I find the 215 isn't as intuitive as perhaps the SH 2400. Case in point, I have some sort of mail input on my Garmin VHF and I can't figure out how to open and read it.
Im not a fan of the operating manuals that come with the Garmin. SH is much more comprehensive.
My last boat I installed the SH VHF with AIS and I really liked that targets came up on the VHF screen. On my old SH you could also see a list of targets and quickly and easily contact them via the VHF. Not sure if you can do that with the Garmin. You probably can, but because the operating manual is weak, who knows?

bluewaterpirate

Remember there are tow versions of the 215 one is not AIS capable the other. I assumed the later my bad.

Best price I've seen on the 215 AIS is 539 whereas the SH 2400 is around $369.00

Tom

coores14

just a data point to add to the conversation -- I've had a Simrad RS35 connected to my Garmin MFDs via NMEA2000 for as many years as the RS35 has been out. It works exactly as the Garmin was described earlier. The targets appear on my screen, I tap on them, and I can get all of the information. I've never tried contacting any of them, so I can't speak to that ability.

That being said, with the SH being a considerable amount cheaper than the Garmin yet still having all of the same features and integration, and with the solid history that SH has in the marine communications market, I'd go SH all day any day.

gmcc

I replaced a Garmin 200 with a SH2400. Connected it to the N2k and AIS info showed up on my 7612 automatically. The only setting that I changed was to tell the radio to receive the gps info from the 7612, not from the radios internal gps. The added benefit was the size of the 2400 is smaller then the 215 and required only slight modification of the opening left by the old radio, not to mention that price of the 2400 is attractive.

Skybolt

Any AIS will work with any AIS compatible MFD. Except for any proprietary features of either the transponder/receiver or the MFD, all other standard AIS feature will work just fine.
I also have the 215, great radio and AIS receiver.

JulioF

Hello, See this link as it may influence your decision about the SH2400. I was involved in the thread, and opted to return the SH200 and go with the Garmin 215 with AIS, due to a long and tedious process with Garmin and Standard Horizon support. Think it's titled: standard horizon gx2400 any reports early adopters.