Milltech Marine News

January 2023
Vesper Marine Cortex on Sale while Supplies last

Vesper(Garmin) has officially discontinued the North American version of the Cortex and will soon be releasing a global version. We will only be selling the North American versions at a discount until they are all gone and the global versions are shipping. If you were ever considering the Cortex and boating in North America there has never been a better time to buy. Find out more here.

January 2022
Milltech Marine has been acquired
Milltech Marine, a global leader in marine safety specializing in Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and communications today announced that it has been acquired by former Global Sales Director for Vesper Marine, Jason Young. Check out the news here.

December 2021
Milltech Marine launches Onboard Wireless
With growing interest in our solutions for keeping your boat connected to the Internet while cruising, Milltech Marine has launched a new site - Onboard Wireless - focused exclusively on mobile connectivity solutions. We offer the same personalized pre- and post-sales service as well as specialized content to assist you in building a solution for your needs. Check it out at www.onboardwireless.com.

September 2021
What is our most popular Internet connectivity solution?
Our marine Internet connectivity packages have been a real hit for boaters looking to stay connected while cruising. Wondering which solution is most popular? Check our our latest blog article which answers the question: What is our most popular Internet connectivity solution?

November 2020
Check out our presentations on Seattle Boat Show Live
Hear about the latest developments on AIS here as well as an overview on Vesper Cortex here. We also have a webcast on onboard connectivity here.

October 2020
Did Vesper Cortex just save my boat?!?
Check out our blog article with an overview of the Remote Vessel Monitoring capabilities in Vesper Cortex and some real-world stories on the value of this unique system.

August 2020
The Vesper Cortex product is finally available and initial shipments have gone out to customers!
Curious to understand what all the excitement is about? See our Vesper Cortex: First Impressions blog article with a quick review of unboxing our first Cortex product.

June 2020
Can't decide which AIS transponder to buy?
Check out our blog article "How to Choose an AIS Transponder" here.

February 2020
Download our AIS presentation from the Seattle Boat Show.
Milltech Marine presented a seminar at the Seattle Boat Show titled "Getting the Most from your AIS System". If you would like to download a copy of the presentation, click here.

June 2019
Having antenna issues? Check out our latest blog article.
Getting the VHF antenna connected to your AIS system is probably the most important factor for good AIS performance. Check out our guide here for our top ten antenna tips.

November 2018
US Coast Guard marine safety alert regarding LED lighting interference
Have you experienced AIS or VHF reception issues and have LED lights onboard? Be sure to read this US Coast Guard advisory to learn more.

April 2018
U.S. Coast Guard Takes Aim at AIS Transponder Errors
Improperly programmed AIS transponders are becoming are real safety issue and the USCG is cracking down. See our blog article here for more information.

January 2015
US Coast Guard announces new rules for AIS
On January 30 2015, the US Coast Guard published their long-anticipated new rules for AIS which go into effect on March 2 2015. For more information, see our resource page here.

Same-day Shipping
If placed by 2:00PM EST, Monday through Friday, most orders ship same-day (excluding domestic Class B AIS which must be programmed before shipping).

We Ship Internationally
Use our online Shopping Cart to make sure your location is served and to check shipping options and costs. For more information, click here. Please call or email with any questions.

Home > AIS Transponders > Class B AIS Transponders

Class B AIS Transponders

Class B AIS Transponders are mainly used by recreational vessels and smaller commercial vessels.

Information transmitted by Class B transponders can be "seen" by all AIS receiving equipment. Class B transponders also receive all Class A and Class B AIS transmissions.

All of our Class B transponders are built to high quality, commercial standards and mainly differ in the options available for connecting to other devices.

There are two types of Class B AIS Transponders:

Class B CSTDMA 2-watt: These transponders are the traditional Class B units, have a transmit range of 5-7 miles and use the carrier sense system for getting a transmission slot.

Class B SOTDMA 5-watt: This is a new type of Class B transponder. These units transmit with 5 watts of power and typical transmit 10-15 miles. These use the same self-organized slot management system as the commercial Class A transponders.

For more information on the different classes of AIS transponders, visit the US Coast Guard page here.

Also be sure to check out our AIS Transponder Comparison Guide.

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