Aquatronics debuts Vesper Marine’s new Black Box AIS XB-8000 WiFi Transponder

New Display-Less, WiFi-Enabled AIS Class B Transponder Provides Access to Critical AIS Safety Information From Any Wireless Device.

Sydney, Australia – Aquatronics Marine announced today that they will have Vesper Marine’s newest XB-8000 AIS transponder on display at the Sydney International Boat Show.

“This is an amazing little product that is going to change the way people view AIS information from anywhere on their boat,” said Michael Holgate of Aquatronics Marine which is the sole distributor or Vesper Marine’s range of innovative marine safety products.

The black box AIS XB-8000 WiFi Transponder enables WiFi access to critical AIS safety information from any device with chartplotting software, the new black box device offers boaters a display-less Class B AIS transponder with complete wireless interaction. The feature-packed system can be accessed and controlled remotely, anywhere on a boat, via a variety of WiFi 802.11g/b enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops, or through integration with other marine electronics.

The highly sophisticated, Vesper Marine XB-8000 enhances the flexibility, interactivity and convenience of accessing relevant, critical AIS safety informationon-the-water. Designed to overcome the challenges of operating electronics at sea and equip boaters with unparalleled collision avoidance, the XB-8000 sports a low profile design with flexible connection options and operates as a WiFi Access Point to send data to be displayed on a wireless device or as a wireless client for complete integration into an existing network with other marine electronic systems. Providing seamless functionality with smart devices, the adaptive device is compatible with apps such as iNavX™ marine navigation for the Apple iPad allowing users to remotely access AIS information on other applications. The system also remotely interacts with the silent mode feature on an iPhone or iPad for flawless remote  control operation. In addition, the Vesper XB-8000 offers NMEA 2000 support to integrate AIS data with other NMEA 2000-compatible equipment. The system is also NMEA 0183 compatible and features waterproof USB connectivity.

“We are excited to add the AIS XB-8000 Wifi Transponder to our revolutionary collision avoidance system line,” said Mike Ogle, GM Sales & Marketing, Vesper Marine. “The intuitive, feature-packed system provides exceptional networking flexibility and performance that offers boaters the confidence that it will provide alerts to potential dangers – allowing for the ultimate in safety, peace of mind and enjoyment on the water.”

Harnessing the power of Vesper Marine’s sophisticated WatchMate technology, the AIS XB-8000 incorporates a 50-channel GPS receiver and two-channel AIS receiver with high sensitivity for excellent range and timely, accurate information. The XB-8000 incorporates Vesper Marine’s new multiprocessor architecture for fast performance ensuring reliable AIS data and instant data acquisition. The system transmits a boat’s name, size, position, speed and course over AIS channels while simultaneously providing the timely and easy-to-process information boaters need to interpret potential hazards and react accordingly. 

All Vesper Marine AIS devices receive AIS Class A and Class B vessel position; voyage data; navigation aids; AIS safety messages; and meteorological and hydrographical information (where available) including real-time wind, current and tidal data.

The compact XB-8000 AIS Transponder measures 201mm wide x 131mm high x 60mm depth. The device requires only power and connection to VHF and GPS antennas. To view received AIS information, the device requires a NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183 or WiFi connection to a compatible chartplotter, computer or portable device with a compatible app such as iNavX. The low-power system uses less than 4-watts of power and features a 12-24 VDC power supply.   The AIS XB-8000 WiFi Transponder has an operating temperature range of -25°C to +55°C, is waterproof to the IPx7 standard and is protected by a one-year limited warranty.

Availability:

The Vesper Marine AIS XB-8000 WiFi Transponder is currently in the final stages of approvals, pricing and availability to follow. For more information on the AIS XB-8000 WiFi, Vesper’s award-winning line of AIS products, or to learn more about Vesper Marine and its entire product line, please visit www.vespermarine.com.