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    • #68888
      RichCarter
      Participant

      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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    • #80829
      madsailor
      Moderator

      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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    • #80830
      madsailor
      Moderator

      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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      maillist mailing list

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

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

      Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

    • #80831
      john stevenson
      Participant

      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

      _______________________________________________
      maillist mailing list

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

      _______________________________________________
      maillist mailing list

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

      _______________________________________________
      maillist mailing list

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

      Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

    • #80833
      quent
      Participant

      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

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