On 4 Jun 2005 16:59:36 -0700, "Pascal" wrote:

Speculations about a possible Garmin AIS entry:

I certainly have no feedback from Garmin, but I do use AIS extensively, and
here are a couple of thoughts:

An AIS unit has a couple of functions
- to display AIS info for own & other boats.
- to pass that information onto other devices - radar, chart plotter, etc.

If the unit is an "end-unit" - i.e. to display the AIS info only, it needs to
be a BIG display, otherwise it's just a waste of time. I regularly use
Nauticast AIS units here & they have a display that is twice as big as a 276C
display, but is still basically hopeless for displaying meaningful AIS info.
To be any good at all as an AIS display, one is going to need a 12" display
minimum.

So, if the unit isn't going to be primarily a display, then it needs to be a
system of passing on info to other units - radars or chart plotters or PCs.
In this case, there isn't really any relation to GPS apart from a US$5
chipset. However, there is a LOT of radio equipment. So, I can't see Garmin
getting all excited about making an AIS transceiver or receiver with a small
display or no display, primarily for passing on data to other equipment.

Basically AIS is a radio (receiver or transceiver), a GPS & a display or
connection to a display. The radios are VERY specialized.

So, personally I doubt that Garmin would come out with an AIS unit as it's
too far away from their core technology. If they do produce an AIS unit I
predict it will have a BIG display. I'm not really into the leisure boat
scene, so I don't know if Garmin presently has any products with large (12"
or so) screens, maybe as combination GPS/fishfinder displays?

Dave

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