Yachting

GEAR TEST

MAY 2016 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 69

The smallest and neatest of
them all, the SmartFind M10
somehow manages to squeeze
in a GPS receiver and

Contact Mantsbrite

Tel 01621 853 003

Web http://www.mantsbrite.com

AMEC Camino-108W £702 with active splitter, £482 without

There are two models of this
compact transponder – the
108W is identical to the 108,
only with Wi-Fi. For

£100 less, you might be better

to stick with the 108 unless you

really want to monitor AIS targets

on your phone or tablet.

Unlike many others, both have a

full-size SD card slot that enables

you to record a log without

being permanently attached to

a PC. Some other makes have a

card slot, but for downloading

software updates only.

The Camino is about the same

size as the McMurdo and the

AISLink, with antennae sockets

on the top and USB, N2K and

power/NMEA-0183 at the bottom.

The SD slot is under a waterproof

fl ap on the front. Also on the front

are LEDs for power, error, Rx, Tx/

silent, SD and Wi-Fi (108W).

It took a while to set it up as we

had to download driver manually

Contact Garmin Europe

Tel 023 8052 4000

Web http://www.garmin.com

This unit is fairly large, but
includes a built-in antenna
splitter, making it smaller

than two separate boxes.It has

all ports, except for the two VHF

antenna sockets, at the bottom.

Available ports are GPS antenna,

SRM (safety-related messages),

USB (for confi guration and

diagnostics via a PC), power/

NMEA-0183 and NMEA-2000.

If you plug a Garmin VHF radio

into the VHF antenna socket

it will allow you to direct dial

another vessel using the AIS pop-

up menu on the chartplotter.

We had a few problems initially

downloading the Garmin drivers,

but once connected all worked

fi ne and we were able to input

all our static data and connect in

minutes. Although the Garmin

might seem a tad pricey initially,

if you take into consideration the

antenna splitter, external GPS

antenna and NMEA-2000 drop

Garmin AIS 600 £779, active splitter built in

Contact Orolia

Tel 023 9262 3900

Web http://www.mcmurdomarine.com

McMurdo SmartFind M10 £765 with active splitter, £540 without

USB, NMEA-0183 and NMEA-

2000 ports, as well as an SD card

slot that can be used for data

logging without the need for

a permanent connection to a PC.

A Wi-Fi version for connection

to smart devices and tablets also

exists, but it has not yet been

approved for use in Europe, as I

understand it.

The VHF and GPS (supplied)

antennae connect to the top,

while the other ports are at the

bottom and the SD card slot

under a rubberised cover on the

front. A row of status LEDs show

Power, Error, Rx, Tx and SD.

The unit comes with CD

containing the confi guration

software and an AIS viewer

program that can be used when

the USB lead is connected to your

108W is identical to the 108,
only with Wi-Fi. For

really want to monitor AIS targets

on your phone or tablet.

in a GPS receiver and logging without the need for

8 /

10

With everything

included, the AIS

600 is good value

The SD slot

is under the

waterproof

fl ap on the

front, next

to the LED

status

indicators

The M10

has an SD

card slot for

AIS data

logging

The 108W incorporates a

50-channel GPS receiver

The 108W incorporates a

from the CD supplied, which

also contains a free AIS viewer

• a world map with AIS targets
  and navigation information.

includes a built-in antenna
splitter, making it smaller

SRM (safety-related messages),

USB (for confi guration and

diagnostics via a PC), power/

cable and T-piece supplied,

suddenly it all seems like very

good value.

Best Value

Within a Network

Garmin includes a GPS antenna
and built-in active VHF splitter

all our static data and connect in

600 is good value600 is good value

9 /

10

PC/laptop, giving you a second

large display of AIS targets and

the ability to log vessels.

The M10 The M10

8 /

10

VHF and GPS antennae are

connected to the unit’s top