Enhance Maritime Safety with the Furuno FA170 AIS Display
In the demanding world of marine navigation, staying ahead of potential hazards is crucial. The Furuno FA170 serves as a dedicated 4.3-inch color LCD display unit, designed to bring Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to life right at your fingertips. This compact powerhouse visualizes symbols for nearby AIS-equipped vessels, AIS-SARTs (Search and Rescue Transmitters), coastal stations, and various aids to navigation—all within VHF range. Mariners rely on it for real-time situational awareness, turning raw AIS signals into actionable insights that support collision avoidance.
What sets the FA170 apart is its seamless integration potential. It outputs critical AIS data to ECDIS, radar overlays, or other navigational systems, creating a unified bridge experience. Whether you’re maneuvering in congested shipping lanes or navigating foggy coastal waters, this display helps you track vessels with precision, reducing the risk of close-quarters situations.
Robust Connectivity and Expansion Options
The FA170 is engineered for modern bridge setups, boasting versatile connectivity. It features six bidirectional in/out ports, three dedicated input-only ports, a single LAN port for networked operations, and an alarm output via contact closure. This setup allows effortless connection to multiple sensors and displays, ensuring your AIS information flows freely across your navigation suite.
Compliance is non-negotiable at sea, and the FA170 is fully Bridge Alert Management (BAM) ready, aligning with IMO MSC.302(87) standards. This means it handles alerts intelligently, prioritizing and routing notifications to keep your crew informed without overwhelming the watch officer.
Powerful Target Management and Messaging
Capable of storing up to 2,048 AIS targets and AIS-SARTs, the FA170 keeps a comprehensive log of your maritime neighborhood. Tap into a target list to summon detailed pop-up info, including vessel name, position, course, speed, and more. Need to communicate? Generate AIS messages or request a name query directly from the unit. When threats emerge, a dedicated dangerous target list pops up, highlighting vessels on potential collision courses with visual and audible cues.
Stay connected beyond visuals—exchange short safety-related messages with specific MMSI holders or broadcast to all AIS vessels via VHF. With storage for 20 transmitted and 20 received messages, you’ll never lose track of vital comms during extended voyages.
Intuitive Display and User Experience
The heart of the FA170 is its vivid 4.3-inch color LCD screen, boasting a WQVGA resolution of 480 x 272 pixels. The viewing area measures 95.04 mm wide by 53.856 mm high, perfect for console mounting without dominating space. Brightness adjusts across 18 steps, adapting to harsh sunlight or dim night watches for optimal readability every time.
Compact and rugged, this display unit mounts easily in tight pilothouse areas. Note that it functions standalone as a display—pair it with a compatible Furuno AIS transponder like the FA-170 series for full transmit/receive capabilities.
Real-World Applications for Every Voyager
Fishermen scanning for gear conflicts, cargo ships threading busy straits, or pleasure craft exploring remote archipelagos—all benefit from the FA170’s clarity. It shines in SAR operations, spotting AIS-SART beacons amid clutter, and supports VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) interactions. By overlaying AIS on your existing nav screens, it layers intelligence over radar echoes, helping discern friend from potential foe in low-visibility scenarios.
Investing in the FA170 means prioritizing safety without complexity. Its straightforward interface minimizes training time, letting even relief crews operate it confidently.
Detailed Technical Specifications
Display: 4.3-inch color LCD, 480 x 272 dots (WQVGA)
Viewing Area: 95.04 (W) x 53.856 (H) mm
Brightness: Adjustable in 18 steps
Target Capacity: Up to 2,048 AIS targets and AIS-SARTs
This display unit arrives ready for installation—ideal for upgrades or expansions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Furuno FA170 display show?
It displays symbols for AIS-equipped vessels, AIS-SARTs, coastal stations, and navigation aids within VHF range, along with detailed target info and dangerous target alerts.
