I think I've decided I want a stand-alone AIS. I'm not going to use a computer and my older Raymarine Pathfinder Plotters will not display the AIS. I need both a Receiver and a Display. I've looked at the Watchmate, Nauticast and Comar from Milltech. I understand Watchmate is coming out with an integrated unit, Receiver and Display (no Transponder) sometime this fall.

The Simrad looks like it has all the bells & whistles, I like the color display, it will fit built-in nicely at my NAV station (this is where I want it for a few reasons), the Buddy Tracking feature is nice, and it receives as well as transmits (not that I plan to transmit all that often).

I saw a post the Simrad disappointed a Norhaven owner because, he said, the unit did not see targets well (not sure if this was a antenna issue or not); he couldn't see the data read-out easily; and, he had problems moving to light up targets and a slow cursor issue. He was disappointed. If anyone has comments pros and / or con from their personal experience using this particular AIS, I'd love to hear about them ...

For what it is worth, I will not use the Splitter, I will have a dedicated VHF and GPS antennas mounted on the stern rail or custom mount off my radar mast.

Thanks again, cheers, John