Quark-elec have today announced the launch of their new, feature-rich, A052T AIS Transceiver. This looks like a great option for leisure vessels and small fishing vessels under 300 Tonnes.
Quark-elec A052T AIS Transceiver Features
- This is a class B+ device that supports a wide range of connectivity options:
- NMEA 2000
- NMEA 0183
- USB
- WiFi in both Ad-Hoc and station mode.
- It can multiplex a NMEA 0183 input into its output data stream on either NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000
- A mute button to silence AIS transmission when in port, or when you don’t want to reveal your favourite fishing spot!
- Programmable transmit power to suit your needs. 1, 2 or 5 Watts.
- Wide supply voltage range of 12 – 35V.
Summary
I can see this unit being used a many small vessel installations given its ability to share position and AIS data via USB and WiFI in addition to NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000. This ability makes it perfect as a central hub for boats where navigation is done on a tablet, phone or laptop.
The A052T occupies a unique position in the current market. There are plenty of AIS units similar to Navico’s NAIS500, which is similarly priced, but only Class B and does not have WiFi or multiplexing capabilities. ORCA has the Core 2, which offers WiFi access to navigation data and has a heading sensor (compass) but no AIS capability.
Read more about the Quak-elec A052T AIS on their website.
What’s the difference between AIS Class B and Class B+ I hear you ask.
In a nutshell, class B+, such as the Quark-elec A052T AIS, is more powerful, has a faster update rate (important for fast vessels), and its SOTDMA protocol ensures that it has a reserved transmission slot, which improves the chances of your signal being picked up. These features give Class B+ a greater range and a higher probability of being received by the AIS satellites. In short, if you have a fast boat or are offshore out of range of coast stations, you should choose Class B+.
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