ACR Electronics Introduces AISLink CB2 Class B AIS Transponder for Increased Visibility
ACR Electronics, Inc., leading manufacturer of life-saving distress beacons and survival equipment, has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of the AISLink CB2 Class B AIS Transponder.
Ideal for yachts, sail and powerboats, fishing and light commercial vessels, the new Class B device significantly enhances navigational safety for boat owners, increasing visibility and aiding collision-avoidance in areas of high traffic to ensure peace of mind at day or night and in all weather conditions.
The ACR Electronics AISLink CB2 uses an advanced internal multi-GPS receiver, 99 acquisition channels and 33 tracking channels to accurately indicate the boat’s position at all times. Offering superior performance compared to standard Class B units, the transponder features a faster reporting rate, higher output power and the same AIS transmission priority as a Class A unit. The CB2 uses the SOTDMA (Self Organised Time Division Multiple Access) scheme, rather than CSTDMA (Carrier Sense TDMA), for no loss or delay of transmission, even in busy waterways. It sends AIS transmissions every five seconds instead of the CSTDMA two transmissions per minute, with 5W output power, compared to the standard 2W, allowing the transmissions to reach further.
Mikele D’Arcangelo, Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Development, ACR Electronics, said: “AIS technology offers tremendous safety benefits for boat owners that can be life-saving in the event of avoiding a collision or retrieving a man overboard who is equipped
with personal AIS, such as our AISLink MOB. We are therefore very pleased to expand our product range in this area with the new AISLink CB2 transponder, offering boat owners a high performance, but affordable, product for simplifying navigation and allowing them to see and be
seen at all times.
“With a CB2 AIS transponder installed, boat owners can locate and identify previously unknown radar and visual targets and easily communicate with other AIS equipped vessels nearby, improving situational awareness and maritime domain awareness.”
The AISLink CB2 automatically ascertains vessel information such as position, speed, course and heading. Other vessel information such as identity, call sign, type and dimensions, and MMSI can be uploaded via WiFi. The CB2 also receives and interprets AIS messages from other
AIS-equipped vessels within range, which can then be relayed to other navigation devices such as chart plotters, laptops or mobiles using the device’s NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, USB or Wi-Fi outputs. A multi-colour LED indicator light on the CB2 signals the on-going operational status of the unit.
Easy to use with accessible connections, the CB2 features a sleek, yet rugged, waterproof design that is high on performance and low on energy consumption. It is quick and simple to install and is supplied complete with an external mount GPS antenna, ready to upload vessel
information using a mobile phone, tablet or PC.
This device has note been authorized as required by the rules of the FCC. This device is not and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.
For more information on ACR Electronics beacons and other safety equipment, visit Booth C729 Tent C at Miami International Boat Show or go to www.acrartex.com.
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I’ve seen ACR’s completely new Class B/SO (and Class A) AIS transcievers previewed at trade shows and they look very well made. I also think that it’s great to have a company of ACR’s quality join the small rank of those who actually develop and manufacturer AIS gear.
But I notice that this CB2 press release is vague about some extra features offered by others, like WiFi output to nav apps and NMEA 0183/2000 multiplexing.
I noted in the copy on the website that it is supposed to forward the AIS data over WiFi for use in other apps. I’m hoping it might also gateway the other NMEA data, too. This would make it a viable contender for us to install on our new-to-us sailboat. I’d prefer to invest in a SOTDMA unit, but there aren’t many (any?) that compare favorably against the featureset of the Vesper units. I’d love it if they released an updated 8000 with SOTDMA. So I figure we will wait a year and see where everyone stands. I’d do that with our VHF install, too, but there is currently no working VHF, so I have to put something in for this season.