AMEC WideLink B600 Class B SOTDMA AIS Transponder

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5
0
5
On sale $799.00
Retail Price:$899.00
Your Savings:$100.00(11%)
In Stock
Part Number:AMEC-B600-PA02

Choose Options

Bundled options
AMEC CUBO-162 VHF/AIS Antenna Splitter (+$200.00)
MA-700 External marine-grade GPS Antenna (+$69.00)
AMEC SB-181 Silent-mode Switch Box Kit (+$44.00)
Vesper SP160 Splitter (+$150.00)


Quick & Easy Online Form

Free Class B AIS Programming


FCC regulations require Class B AIS units to be programmed with MMSI and vessel information before shipping to US addresses. Milltech Marine provides this service free of charge.

Common Questions About MMSI


To make it more convenient for you to provide vessel information, we have prepared this quick and easy online form. Please complete and submit at time of order.
We are required to have proof of valid MMSI, so please also send a copy of the issuing document.
If you do not have a copy of your MMSI assignment, contact the issuing authority or organization. To search the FCC licensing database, click here. For BoatUS information, click here.
Go here if you do not have an FCC Ships Station License and MMSI and wish to obtain one.

WideLink B600 is an SOTDMA (Self-Organizing Time Division Multiple Access) AIS class B - the next evolution of AIS technology. Its 5W transmit power, higher reporting rate and professional-grade time division management make B600 an overall more advanced product compared to AIS class B based on CSTDMA (Carrier-Sense Time Division Multiple Access) scheme.  

This globally-approved transponder contains 1 VHF transmitter, 2 AIS receivers on 2 VHF channels and 1 MCU with cutting edge software defined radio technology. Its internal GNSS receiver with 50 channels is able to process signals from GPS, Gallieo, Beitou and Glonass with differential capability. It receives DSC, time-sharing with AIS receivers. 

The B600 also supports the transmission of AIS message 27 for enabling enhanced long-range AIS reception by satellites equipped with AIS receiving systems, such as Orbcomm. While this allows for the potential for a satellite to pick up your AIS transmission, it does not guarantee you will be seen continuously by an AIS satellite. This option can be turned on or off in the AMEC AIS Configuration utility.

Its enhanced housing with IPx7 waterproof and shock and temperature robustness is ideal to survive harsh marine environments. A chartplotter and PC can be easily integrated using its NMEA2000, NMEA0183 and waterproof USB port. Note the USB port uses a baud rate of 115,200bps. Its built-in data logger can record AIS data on micro SD card. This product includes a portable "puck" GPS antenna. If you require an external marine-grade GPS, please add our optional MA-700 GPS antenna to your shopping cart.

The B600W Wi-Fi wireless model includes everything in the base model and adds the ability for client devices such as iPads or other mobile devices to connect wirelessly to the B600 and receive AIS, GPS and multiplexed NMEA data for use in mobile apps such as Navionics, iNavX, SeaIQ, iSailor and more. See our guide to iPad navigation apps here

Connection Diagram

Note: Milltech Marine bundles the AMEC Portable GPS Antenna with the B600.

In the Box

  • AIS SOTDMA Class B Transponder
  • 12pin data cable
  • 8 pin power cable
  • Mini USB to USB Cable
  • TP3x3/4 Screws
  • User Manual
  • Software CD
  • AMEC Portable GPS Antenna

About AMEC

Founded in 2006, Alltek Marine Electronics Corp., also known as AMEC, is a ISO9001:2000 certified company that designs and manufactures marine electronic equipment. More than half of the company's engineering talent has over 10 years of hands-on experience, including extensive experience with military projects. AMEC products are known for excellent build-quality, reliability, performance and value. Milltech Marine is the US distributor for AMEC marine products.

5 Stars
Mr.
I just installed the B600W and am very pleased. The unit is smartly packaged and surprisingly light. The documentation is good and installation was fairly easy. I had an issue with the wifi not operating correctly initially, but Milltech and Amec support is outstanding - just took a reset of the wifi function using the usb configuration program and everything started humming. I was detecting AIS vessels at 80 nm (a 90' mast on the boat no doubt helps :-). I don't have a way to judge transmission distance yet, but my vessel started showing up in online AIS tracking services after a while - almost a whole day for MarineTraffic and VesselTracker , but local AIS receivers with MarineTraffic showed immediately.
Did you find this helpful?  12 of 13 Found Helpful
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from San Diego, CALIFORNIA. on 7/11/2017
5
5 Stars
More frequent updates, more power!
Just installed one of these on my sailboat Grace. Have had it running for a couple of months. It definitely appears that my data is getting out to people more frequently than with my older Class B unit, which is good in crowded Puget Sound.
Did you find this helpful?  4 of 5 Found Helpful
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from Seattle, WA. on 12/14/2017
5
5 Stars
Very good
Bought my AMEC B600 in October 2017 and has been using it since then. Service from Milltech has been very good. When AMEC released new firmware without info, I emailed Milltech Marine about it and got information about its content. Very pleased with that customer service after I bought my unit. The AMEC B600 is performing as expected. Extra plus for the AIS msg 27 (transmitted on VHF channel 75+76) for Satellite AIS which is perfect for ocean sailing and other areas with poor coastal coverage. Got the chance to test it with a specialized receiver and can verify that it is transmitting on AIS-1, AIS-2, AIS-3 and AIS-4 frequencies as it should. Note for ocean sailors: DO NOT use "specialized" AIS-antennas as they are for AIS-1 and AIS-2 only and perform poorly for AIS-3 and AIS-4 (channel 75 + 76, which are the satellite long range AIS frequencies)...
Did you find this helpful?  3 of 4 Found Helpful
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from Sweden. on 7/29/2019
5
5 Stars
Boater
I recently purchased the B600 as my older Camino-101 could not do NMEA2000 and my newly installed Simrad plotter could not do NMEA0183. I had been considering upgrading when the new AIS Class B spec had come out. As a plus, the GPS antenna for the old unit works fine with this one, so no ripping out wires and upsetting half the wiring loom! When installing, once configured, this unit was receiving right away, even with no antenna! And the NMEA2000 is truly plug-n-play. Contacts on the plotter almost instantly. Only had the boat out once since I installed the B600, but I have noticed no loss in reception (over the old Camino-101), and when I checked my AIS track on my house tracking system, it almost totally matched what my handheld Garmin (track log generator) produced at 2 second plotting interval. We didn't go far, but I was still impressed. I hope to get farther out into the Sound next time, and see just how much that extra couple Watts worth of power helps my range. So far, I'm really happy with this unit. Definitely worth the money!
Did you find this helpful?  2 of 3 Found Helpful
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from Ucluelet, CAnada. on 6/21/2019
5
5 Stars
Great Class B AIS
After some research and talking with Doug at Milltech, I decided to go with the AMEC B600. I connected the B600 into my Raymarine via NMEA2000 backbone and everything works great! One of the reasons I chose to buy the AMEC B600 was the ability to connect a laptop via USB. I currently run Coastal Explorer and wanted to display AIS data. I had some issues initially with CE not auto-detecting the B600 during install. After talking to Doug he was able to walk me thru the proper setup. I’m very happy with the B600’s performance. Milltech was always quick to respond to any email questions too. Great customer support!
Did you find this helpful?  2 of 3 Found Helpful
Reviewed by: (Verified Buyer)  from Gig Harbor Wa. on 3/12/2019
5

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