Raymarine Ray90 VHF Radio + AIS700 Bundle Class D DSC

The Raymarine T70424 bundles two related communications products into one package: the Ray90 fixed-mount VHF radio and the AIS700 Class B AIS transponder. For boats that need both - the typical serious cruising / sportfish / sailing boat that wants modern VHF capability plus full AIS transmit-and-receive - the bundle is meaningfully cheaper than buying both components separately and means matched-vendor compatibility for the integrated install.

The Ray90 - what makes it different from a typical fixed-mount VHF. The Ray90 is a black-box VHF radio - the radio's electronics are in a remote-mounted black box that hides in the boat's electrical compartment, while the user-facing controls and display are in a separate handset that mounts at the helm. This architecture has two meaningful advantages over traditional integrated VHF radios. One: the helm panel stays clean and uncluttered (no large radio chassis taking up dash real estate. the handset is smaller). Two: the multi-station capability. A single Ray90 black box can drive up to 2 wired handsets at different helm locations - so a boat with both an inside helm and a flybridge helm can have a handset at each, both controlling the same VHF radio. Cheaper integrated VHFs require buying separate radios for each helm. the Ray90 architecture is meaningfully more elegant and cheaper at scale.

25-watt commercial-grade transmitter. The Ray90's transmitter delivers the full marine VHF maximum of 25 watts (legally maximum allowed). Commercial-grade specification means the electronics are designed for sustained transmit duty cycles (typical recreational VHF transmits a few seconds per call. commercial use can transmit minutes at a time during weather discussions, traffic coordination). The Ray90 handles either workload without thermal stress on the transmitter. For typical recreational use, the 25-watt power gives the maximum VHF range that the laws of physics and antenna height permit (typically 20-30 nautical miles to a similarly-equipped vessel, more to a shore-based receiver with a tall antenna).

Class D DSC with integrated GPS-input. Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is the modern marine VHF standard for distress signaling and routine calling. Press the dedicated red distress button, and the radio transmits a digital distress message containing the boat's MMSI number and GPS position - the Coast Guard receives the distress with full position and identification data, even if the operator can't speak. Class D is the recreational / smaller commercial variant of DSC (Class A is the larger commercial variant required by SOLAS-class vessels). The Ray90 is GPS-capable - input your boat's MMSI number during initial setup, connect a GPS source (NMEA 2000 from the boat's network, or the optional GA150 passive GPS antenna), and the radio is ready for full DSC operation.

72 NOAA weather channels with weather alert. The radio receives all 72 NOAA weather channels (the full North American weather broadcast frequency set) plus the weather-alert channels that broadcast severe weather warnings. The weather-alert function automatically triggers an audible alarm when NOAA broadcasts a severe weather alert in your area, even if you're not actively listening to the weather channel - critical for offshore cruising where weather changes faster than the operator might notice.

Channel scanning, dual-watch, tri-watch. Three scanning modes for monitoring multiple channels simultaneously. Channel scanning: the radio cycles through all USA / Canadian channels and stops on any active channel. Dual-watch: the radio monitors Channel 16 (the international hailing and distress frequency) plus one selected channel, alternating attention. Tri-watch: monitors Channel 16 plus two selected channels. For boats that need to monitor harbor traffic on Channel 12 / 14 / 22A while staying on 16 for emergencies, tri-watch is meaningful.

Built-in loudhailer and fog signal generator. The Ray90 doubles as a loudhailer (PA system) - connect an external PA horn (sold separately - typical 30-watt marine PA horn), and the operator can broadcast voice to the deck or to nearby vessels through the horn. Useful for docking instructions, hailing nearby boats, or emergency announcements. The fog signal generator automatically produces the appropriate fog horn signal pattern (for a power-driven vessel making way, for a sail vessel, for a vessel at anchor) per the COLREGS (international navigation rules). Useful in fog conditions where manual fog horn signaling would be tedious over hours of low visibility.

The AIS700 - Class B SOTDMA AIS transponder. AIS (Automatic Identification System) is the marine traffic awareness system - vessels equipped with AIS transmit their position, course, speed, vessel name, MMSI, and other identification data, and AIS-equipped receivers in the area display all those vessels as targets on the chartplotter screen. The AIS700 is a Class B SOTDMA transponder - both transmits your boat's AIS data and receives all other AIS targets. Class B is the recreational / small-craft variant (Class A is the SOLAS-required commercial variant). SOTDMA is the modern transmission protocol that gives Class B AIS units priority access to time slots when transmitting in busy AIS environments (older Class B CSTDMA units can drop transmissions in heavy AIS traffic). For a serious offshore boat, the AIS700 is meaningful safety equipment - other vessels see your boat on their AIS systems, and you see them on yours, even in fog or at night where visual contact is impossible.

NMEA 2000 + NMEA 0183 connectivity. Both the Ray90 and the AIS700 connect to the boat's NMEA 2000 marine network for data integration. Position data from a GPS source on the network feeds both units. AIS targets from the AIS700 display on networked chartplotters. DSC distress receipts on the Ray90 propagate to chartplotters for tracking. NMEA 0183 connectivity supports older legacy GPS sources and chartplotters.

Multi-station expandable to 2 handsets. The Ray90's multi-station design accepts up to 2 wired handsets connected to the same black box. Boats with multiple helms (typical of larger sportfish boats, some cruisers, sailboats with cockpit and below-decks operations) can mount one handset at each location, both controlling the same radio. Each handset has full radio controls. switching between handsets is automatic based on which one is in use. Additional handsets are sold separately.

Lithium-ion battery in handset. The handset has a small internal lithium-ion battery that powers it for brief periods if the boat's main 12V power is lost - useful for dock-to-dock voice communication during shore-power transitions or for very brief emergency operation if the boat's electrical system fails. The black box itself requires 12V boat power for actual radio transmission.

Optional external GPS. The Ray90 has an internal GPS receiver, but for installs without good GPS antenna line-of-sight (typical of below-decks helm installs, or boats with metal hardtops over the helm), the optional GA150 passive GPS antenna provides external GPS reception. The external antenna is a small ($30-50 separate purchase) puck antenna that mounts on the boat's exterior with clear sky view, connected to the Ray90 via a small antenna cable.

Install. Mount the Ray90 black box in a protected equipment location (engine compartment, electrical locker). Mount the handset(s) at the helm location(s). Mount the AIS700 black box in a protected equipment location (typically near the radio's black box for shared antenna routing). Connect the VHF antenna to the Ray90's antenna port (the AIS700 also requires its own antenna, or shares with the VHF via an antenna splitter). Wire 12V power to both units. Connect NMEA 2000 to the boat's network. Configure each unit's MMSI number per the included documentation. Total install time is typically 6-10 hours for a competent boat owner with reasonable mechanical and electrical skills.

Two-year limited warranty applies to both products. Standard Raymarine warranty terms.