VHF Radio DSC

[Capt. Debbie]

But that's only AIS receive. You need a separate electronic gadget and its own antenna that costs about $600 to transmit yourself into the AIS system.

I use that expensive Standard Horizon VHF radio with AIS receive as a joke in my classes...… At least you know the name of the ship that ran you over. A cool and very expensive toy with money better spent on a $200 hi gain vhf antenna on board.

We have one of these VHF/AIS units down at S/T. Disappointing... Its on the VHF radio screen. Too damn small a screen to be of any use. Maybe 2.5" diagonally.

But still a very cool toy.


The DSC stuff is great way off shore and out of cell phone range to talk to partner on another boat and not burn spots. But inshore the go to gadget is still the cell phone to get your bud.

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Yeah I’ve seen AIS in action and it’s cool.... Boats in the area, their speed and direction show up on your chart plotter... You do however have to purchase a VHF that has AIS and your chart plotter has to be AIS capabile as well... DSC on the other hand works with or without a chart plotter and AIS...