Icom MA-500TR class B AIS transponder

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Icom Australia has released the MA-500TR class B AIS transponder that offers an entry option into chartplotting, with reliability and functionality.

AIS (automatic identification system) is an automated tracking system used by ships, marine emergency services organisations (eg, coastguards) and other maritime bodies. It allows vessel positions and courses to be displayed graphically on screen and also provides important information such as vessel names, MMSI numbers and speeds. This provides users with information, allowing them to avoid collisions and place DSC calls to individual ships.

The unit is suitable for those wanting a feature-packed and reliable AIS transponder. It features IPX7 (1 m depth for 30 min) water ingress protection, and like all Icom products, is made in Japan to strict quality standards. Being a transponder, not a receiver, the device will also send out the user’s information, allowing it to be visible to other vessels.

A GPS receiver is included in the box and it features a full dot-matrix display. An external chartplotter can be connected but is not required).

In addition, the unit also features collision-risk management functions, three lines of NMEA0183 input/output and can be integrated with the company’s IC-M505 (newer versions only) and IC-M604 (firmware upgrade required).