Doing my homework...

 Too little too late, regarding 'sustainably' caught fish, and a ski film that made me smile...

I've been thinking lately of adding an AIS transponder to the mix for "So It Goes". An AIS transponder pretty much is a slam dunk where the Need/Want test goes where it is less so is the budget side of things so I've mostly been researching more frugal options.

One of those options is this one.

It's an Onwa KP-38A GPS chartplotter and AIS transponder. As it happens the street price just shy of $400 and if you factor in shipping still quite a bit less than $500.

I don't know about you but I haven't seen any AIS Transponders at that price point have you?

Doing some due diligence it would seem that Onwa has a pretty good reputation and word of mouth has been very good the their chart plotter AIS transponder combos and their is a lot of excitement where their new GPS Chartplotter/Fishfinder/AIS transponder/Radar KP-1299X combo is concerned.

So, I'll continue my research, talk to some folks who actually have one, and sort out whether Onwa is going to be coming out with anything new in five to seven inch screen versions of the KP-1299X sort (12 inches is just too frelling big for my nav area).

I'll let you know what turns up.

Listening to the Old Crow Medicine Show

So it goes...

Some LED and radio'AIS news of note...

Zandar making sense, some needful advice, and a very good piece on Burning Man...

Panbo has some important news and information if you have LED lighting aboard and use VHF or AIS. Check it out.

Listening to an album of DEVO covers

So it goes...

What's an AIS transponder cost?

An important find in Native American cartography, some needful reading, and still more bad news regarding plastic...

So, yeah. what does an AIS transponder go for these days?

How does $105. sound?

I've seen these AIS transponders going from around $105 to $215 for the deluxe versions which include an SOS button. They're simple, robust, waterproof, and cheap. Which is pretty much what you'd expect for something designed to attach to a net, long line, or buoy that you don't want someone to tear up or bump into and be an aid in finding it when you come back looking for it.

Now, obviously, an AIS transponder like this is not exactly designed for yachting (boy do I hate that word) use and all it really does is broadcast where it's at with a message of "Don't hit me I'm here". That said, isn't that really the point of AIS transponders?

For those with an interest in such things the company that makes these is Matsutec but there are, apparently a number of companies  (one being Hongrui but let me know if you find others) that produce such beasties

Anyway, just something to think about.

Listening to Neko Case

So it goes...