I use it. Not bad. Takes some getting used to.

Bob

Pardon the brevity. I’m typing this on my phone and I hate typing on my
phone.
On Apr 18, 2014 1:58 PM, wrote:

I just bought a new VHF radio. It exports AIS and DSC position messages
to a compatible chartplotter. I thought I might upgrade my Nobeltec
chartplotting software but I came across a free package that looks good.
Has anyone used this?

http://opencpn.org/ocpn/

Rich

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Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

I use it. Not bad. Takes some getting used to.

Bob

Pardon the brevity. I’m typing this on my phone and I hate typing on my
phone.
On Apr 18, 2014 1:58 PM, wrote:

I just bought a new VHF radio. It exports AIS and DSC position messages
to a compatible chartplotter. I thought I might upgrade my Nobeltec
chartplotting software but I came across a free package that looks good.
Has anyone used this?

http://opencpn.org/ocpn/

Rich

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https://pearson424.org/mailman/listinfo/maillist_pearson424.org

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Rich,
I have been using OpenCPN as my PC-based chart plotter for several years.
It works very well with the NOAA RNCs and nearly as well with the ENCs.
I’d buy one of the new AIS VHFs except my old ICOM M402 just won’t die.
I’m still amazed it took the radio manufacturers so long to add AIS. I
still have a SR161 AIS receiver which sends the NMEA sentences to my PC and
my dedicated chartplotter.
The big advantage of having AIS in the VHF is the ability to call another
vessel using its MMSI. AIS alone improved comms with the big ships by
providing the ability to call the ship using its name and call sign. Using
the MMSI to call the ship via DSC causes the radio on the bridge to ring
like a telephone. Much more difficult for the watch officer to ignore that
call.

Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com
Sarah’s Blog

On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 2:08 PM, Robert Fine wrote:

I use it. Not bad. Takes some getting used to.

Bob

Pardon the brevity. I’m typing this on my phone and I hate typing on my
phone.
On Apr 18, 2014 1:58 PM, wrote:

I just bought a new VHF radio. It exports AIS and DSC position messages
to a compatible chartplotter. I thought I might upgrade my Nobeltec
chartplotting software but I came across a free package that looks good.
Has anyone used this?

http://opencpn.org/ocpn/

Rich

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https://pearson424.org/mailman/listinfo/maillist_pearson424.org

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maillist mailing list

https://pearson424.org/mailman/listinfo/maillist_pearson424.org

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Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

Hi Rich
We have one of those AIS equipped VHFs. I think that you will like it. IMHO, the big advantage is that you only need one antenna, and it is at the masthead. Much better AIS range than our old AIS receiver antenna at deck level. Lots of wires to hook up though.
Quent