Icom AIS Mod, bad idea?
It’s wonderful that the marine electronics world is still small enough that a tiny company with a good idea can get somewhere. But I’m not sure that having your Icom M504 VHF modified by Marine Werke so it can output AIS audio signals is a good idea. For one thing, I believe only the included Shipplotter software can demodulate AIS audio, so a user can’t use this AIS target data with other software or plotters. Furthermore, to get AIS, you’ll have to tune the Icom to Channel 87 and I dare say that also scanning safety channels might significantly reduce AIS performance.
And finally, as noted at the bottom of Marine Werke’s page, the modification “may void various manufacturer's warranty’s guarantees etc.” (I asked Icom, and it doesn’t sound like there’s any “may” to it.) On the other hand, I’m sure that many boaters like Marine Werke’s strategy of combining the antenna and cable expenses (without a splitter), and power draw, of VHF and AIS receivers. However, I suspect that if this can be done well, one or more of the VHF manufacturers are going to do it themselves. In fact, we’ve already seen hints from Icom U.K. and I’ve heard others. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, what’s up with Class B AIS? Well, I haven’t mentioned it since Shine Micro’s smart workaround because I haven’t heard much new. But I did recently participate in a John Gass organized electronics seminar for a J Boat rendezvous, and was glad to hear that many of the participants were well aware of Class B and quite interested in having it aboard. (That’s the seminar below; note loads of demo gear from the Panbo lab). I was also told recently that the U.S. Coast Guard was thinking of “going to flag level” with the issue. Maybe the FCC will finally do something?
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This may be an ideal time to hound the FCC and a mass mailing to Congress. With the spectrum auctions mostly over, an election cycle coming up, and the FCC renewed focus on minor issues (e.g. Comcast's blocking of some internet traffic, Janet/Justin's wardrope malfunction, etc.) and the Congress's renewed focus on reaching out to their local community during recess... and of course the summer weather and new and unfortunate accidents occuring on frequent basis ... maybe something can happen?