Announcing the Simrad RS40-B, The First VHF Radio with AIS Transmit/Receive Capability
Egersund, Norway – Simrad Yachting – a leader in the design and manufacture of world-class marine navigation, autopilot, radar, communications and fishfinding systems – announced today the new Simrad RS40-B, the first VHF marine radio with AIS transmit and receive capability. Featuring a sleek design with wireless handset capability, removable fist microphone, Class D DSC functionality, built-in GPS and a Class B AIS Transceiver, the Simrad RS40-B takes VHF marine performance to another level.
The integrated Class B AIS transceiver in the RS40-B can receive position data from other vessels like the original RS40, but is the first VHF marine radio capable of sharing its position with nearby AIS-equipped vessels, improving collision avoidance in crowded waterways. Position data of other vessels is clearly viewable on the Simrad RS40-B screen or can be overlaid on top of a chart or radar through a compatible multifunction display over NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000®.
Scheduled to start shipping in June 2019, the Simrad RS40-B VHF radio is priced at $1,099. For more information on the RS40-B and accessories, or the entire line of Simrad marine electronics, please contact 800-324-1356 (toll-free) in the USA, 800-661-3983 (toll-free) in Canada, or visit www.simrad-yachting.com.
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The very similar B&G V60-B was also announced today, with the same June 2019 shipping and $1,099 price. Visit www.bandg.com.
B&G V60-B VHF radio with Class B AIS transceiver
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Panbo publishes select press releases as a service to readers and the marine electronics industry. The release contents do not reflect the opinion of the editors and are not fact checked by the editors
Cool! I’ve known that many boaters want a combination VHF radio and Class B AIS since Standard Horizon announced the GX6500 in 2016 (and sadly never shipped):
https://panbo.com/standard-horizon-gx6500-a-loaded-vhf-radio-also-integrated-with-class-b-ais/
But I have questions. Like does the Simrad RS40-B (as known as the B&G V60-B) work with a single antenna for VHF and AIS? Hopefully more details will be available soon.
That was quick. More detail up now at:
https://www.simrad-yachting.com/en-nz/simrad/type/vhf-radios-ais/vhf-marine-radio-dsc-ais-rxtx-rs40-b/
The VHF/AISrx/tx does have two antenna ports — actually my preference for max performance, and likely a regulatory requirement — and Simrad notes:
“Radio functionality requires a VHF antenna (sold separately). AIS functionality requires either a second VHF antenna or a VHF/AIS antenna splitter.”
Agreed! I am surprised someone hasn’t shipped something sooner than this. It is a great idea for folks who don’t want two devices to maintain, power, cables, etc. and for smaller boats with limited space. Glad Simrad came out with something that could work!
Surprisingly Simrad has withdrawn all references to the RS-40B from their web page only days after publishing. Same for B&G. Let’s hope Simrad did their homework given the issues Standard Horizon had with their similar product launch some years ago.
That’s quite odd. In fact, I received a PDF copy of the B&G V60/V60-B User Guide last night and the new Class B model looks very much ready to go, with references to regulatory approvals all over the world.
https://www.simrad-yachting.com/en-nz/simrad/type/vhf-radios-ais/
It is still on the website
Thanks, B&G too but maybe the URL’s changed a bit overnight:
https://www.bandg.com/bg/activity/inshore-coastal-cruising/vhf-marine-radio-dsc-ais-rxtx-v60-b/
Incidentally, Ben Stein found evidence of who’s helping Navico to build this radio series:
https://fccid.io/RAYVHFRS40/Test-Report/Test-Report-IEC-4069960
Apparently Hytera is involved with the new Raymarine VHF radios too and, by the way, I don’t think that any of the major navigation electronics brands build their own radios or AIS transceivers.
Do we know which class B they are using – SOTDMA or CSTDMA?
Do we know if it’sSOTDMA or CSTDMA?
Geoff,
The manual shows Class-B CS (CSTDMA).
Ben,
Im sure you probably know this but for those who dont, Marine VHF channels in the US rx/tx 156-157 MHZ where as AIS receve only class A(rx) and class B transmit(tx) are 162 MHZ. A 159 MHz antenna is typically chosen for Class A. A “splitter” swtich enables selection between two antennas. Presumably this description merely allows the user to AIS transceiver mode OR radio telephone operations but not both simultaneously. I suspect the radio uses independent transceivers but even so, I dont see how simultaneous over a single antenna is possible without disruption. Regardless, my understanding is that optimal performance would best be achieved by using a 157 MHz antenna for communications and a 162 MHz for AIS.
Thanks, Bill. You are correct that optimal VHF and AIS antennas are slightly different, but I’m not sure what you mean by “AIS receive only class A(rx).” Class A and Class B — which now comes in two types, CS and SO — all transmit alternately on the two AIS frequencies clustered around 162 MHz and listen to both when not transmitting. AIS receive-only radios have no Class designation or regulation. Lots of solid info here:
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf
The Navico combined VHF and Class B AIS has two antenna ports on the back and will ideally have both AIS and VHF antennas. But there are certainly lots of boats out there, including mine, that use an active antenna splitter so that one antenna can work for both VHF and AIS. Of course, AIS info cannot be received when you’re transmitting on VHF, but they seem to work pretty well otherwise.
https://www2.vespermarine.com/antennas-splitters/antenna-splitter-sp160
As Ben correctly points out now two versions of AIS class B. The new one, SO or SODTMA, has a significant better method and wattage for making it self being noticed by other AIS-targets. To me it is a complete spoiler – if really true – that Navico have saved a handful of dollar and not gone for the new for superiour standard (the SODTMA standard). This makes the marketing saying that the RS40 is the perfect upgrade sound complete hollow – close to being misleading. The truth is that with the new addition to the B-class, nobody having a boat moving more than 3 knots, in perfect weather, would buy a class-B transponder without SODTMA in todays market.
Hi Jorgen, I agree that Class B SO (also called B+) is better than the original CS, but I think that you’re confused about the transmission rates, and thus CS is not as bad as you think. Specifically, from 3 to 14 knots both CS and SO transmit dynamic date every 30 seconds, as well explained here:
https://digitalyacht.net/2018/11/26/class-b-sotdma/
But I also think I may understand the source of confusion, which is a U.S. NavCen “Meters Per Knots @ Each AIS Class Reporting Rate” table that’s still online and that I published here:
https://panbo.com/sotdma-class-b-ais-the-new-middle-way/
I’m amazed that no one ever noticed, myself very much included, but I’m pretty sure that the numbers for B/SO at 3 and 4 knots are wrong. And I’m going to double-check that hypothesis right now 😉
No mention of a GPS antenna being included. Is that a TNC connector on the rear, or does this radio have an internal GPS? I would expect this radio to require 3 antennas: VHF, AIS, and GPS.
Mark, it has an integrated GPS receiver and antenna, but an optional passive GPS antenna is supposedly available if the radio’s install position doesn’t have a decent sky view. I don’t yet see the antenna listed as an accessory but I imagine nearly any passive GPS antenna would work. I also don’t yet see the manual posted, which is where I confirmed this information.
My curiosity is killing me, what ever happened to the Standard Horizon radio that did both? Was there ever an answer given as to what happened, or are they too embarrassed to own up??
Also, as someone asked, yes, you can use a single antenna to transmit and receive from multiple radios at the same time. If you want to know more at the topic, research “antenna duplexer”. Catch is they have to be on different frequencies.
William, to my knowledge Standard Horizon has never explained what’s keeping the GX6500 from shipping. In fact, they listed it as a new product in their 2017 catalog, and then again in their 2018 catalog, and yet again in 2019! I believe it’s safe to assume that the radio has not been fun for the SH salespeople who field the boat show questions.
Isn’t duplex irrelevant for marine VHF (and AIS) because there’s only one duplex marine channel (#20), at least in the U.S.?
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf
All the “public correspondent” channels are duplex, 24-28. Going back to the days when you could get an operator to place a call for you through the VHF.
I was referring more to Bills question about transmitting and receiving simultaneously on one antenna.
This is most commonly done on ham radio repeaters. The repeter setup is able to listen to your transmission and simultaneously rebroadcast it on a different frequency, and at higher power, using only one antenna. These types of duplexers are normally a wave guide filter that only allows a certain frequency above or below a point to pass. This protects the sensative receiver from the power of the transmitter.
Technically the AIS splitters are duplexers because there are allowing multiple transceivers to use one antenna. However, I don’t believe any of them allow simultaneous TX and RX. I’ve never actually called any of the manufacturers and asked, but it’s my understanding that it is an either or situation and one transceiver is disconnected for protection from high power RF, while the other is transmitting.
Hehe… Thanks Ben. To clarify… I dont have a complete and thorough understanding of AIS, the link provided is greatly appreciated, and I have some homework to do.