Ais

[markpierce]

Anybody "out there" have an AIS transmitter, let alone a receiver?* Transmitters often*send incorrect speed, destination information, etc., but do show location and boat/ship identity.* I'm contemplating acquiring a transmitter, letting the tugs, ferries, freighters, and passenger ships know I'm there.*

Looking forward to your input!

 

[r-rossow]

There are*some heavy discussions going on over at Panbo whether Class B AIS can be filtered out by the big guys or not.

 

[markpierce]

I'm not interested in other websites; I'd rather spend time with you guys.

 

[Keith]

r-rossow wrote:



There are*some heavy discussions going on over at Panbo whether Class B AIS can be filtered out by the big guys or not.

*I think the answer was 'No".

 

[magicbus]

I am a big fan of a receiver, but MHO is that is we all had transmitters it would really clutter things up. If you check out the AIS site you can see some areas with a LOT of traffic and they are all commercial this morning - a Saturday in the summer will quadruple the transmissions. If I were to switch to a transmitting AIS I would make sure I could set it to receive-only when I wanted to.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

Dave

-- Edited by magicbus on Monday 20th of December 2010 07:45:04 AM

 

[sunchaser]

AIS is simple, cheap and very useful. Plus it quite nicely overlays on any of the modern charting programs.* I*have a Simrad Class B with its own small panel display and it ties into my Nobeltec and NN3 systems.

The instrument I have least (not) used in the past many decades -* my oil filled compass. I would not make a compass the center of attention on your panel, few do anymore unless they are building a Duck or Seahorse. Today, IMHO, *the most versatile instrumentmay may well be an IPad with GPS and charting (and AIS*??) - who woulda thunk?

-- Edited by sunchaser on Monday 20th of December 2010 07:47:08 AM

 

[Steppen]

I have an SR161 receiver that feeds AIS targets to my computer and Coastal Explorer. We have used it between Puget Sound and Southeast Alaska. Wouldn't go without having AIS. Love it. Nice to know the name, speed, direction and closest point of approach with all the big boys on the inside passage.

But....not everyone uses AIS (most fishing boats don't and too many Canadian tugs don't) and there is always the inaccurate info being presented (like moored at 16 knots). I don't really think the Class B transponders for recreational vessels are that useful. As others have said the more recreational boats using AIS the more cluttered the screens will be. In daylight with good visibility I can pickout and avoid most everyone. At night or in fog it is nice to see who else is out there.

I'm in no hurry to buy an AIS transmitter for my little boat.

 

[markpierce]

I woke up this morning realizing the transponder is very expensive and the receiver is relatively cheap.* So, I'm dropping the idea of AIS.

 

[Phil Fill]

Some one mentioned the new VHF had DSC, AIS and hailer that makes bell/whistle sound. At the Seattle Boat Show I am going to look and price them as we need a new VHF so may as well get the whole deal.* I also will look at the new Broad Band radar as*a back up for our 30+ mile one.***********

 

[sunchaser]

My Simrad was $850 to purchase plus about $150 for the antenna.

 

[Steppen]

Phil Says:

Some one mentioned the new VHF had DSC, AIS and hailer that makes bell/whistle sound.*
*************************************************************************************

All fixed mount VHFs produced since October 1997 have had DSC as a standard feature.* There are a number of models by various manufacturers that include a hailer/fog feature but you will still need to purchase a separate exterior speaker.* The AIS feature is*available from ICOM, Standard Horizon and some other manufacturers but*increases the cost significantly.

 

[Phil Fill]

Wooo.* Maybe next year as I already have made out the to to due/want*list and budget for next year.* 4 boat units.* Anyway its on my futrue wish list.* Maybe my wife would like a new VHF for Christmass?*NOT!*

 

[Tomas]

Standard Horizon has the GX2100 and GX2150 both of which include an AIS receiver. I just purchased the newer GX2150 because it will allow simultaneous display of AIS information while using the fog horn/bells/etc., apparently the 2100 will not allow you to use the fog horn in conjunction with the AIS display.

The asking price at Overtons was $399 for the 2150 and $299 for the 2100. Was able to apply a 15% coupon, found on the internet, and purchased for about $340, including shipping and no sales tax.

I am not associated with either Overtons or Standard Horizon.

Tomas

 

[rwidman]

Tomas wrote:

Standard Horizon has the GX2100 and GX2150 both of which include an AIS receiver. I just purchased the newer GX2150 because it will allow simultaneous display of AIS information while using the fog horn/bells/etc., apparently the 2100 will not allow you to use the fog horn in conjunction with the AIS display.

The asking price at Overtons was $399 for the 2150 and $299 for the 2100. Was able to apply a 15% coupon, found on the internet, and purchased for about $340, including shipping and no sales tax.

I am not associated with either Overtons or Standard Horizon.

Tomas

You can get it from this well respected vendor:

http://www.boemarine.com/

for a little* less with free shipping and no sales tax.


*


-- Edited by rwidman on Monday 20th of December 2010 01:53:49 PM

 

[Tomas]

Ron, I couldn't find the 2150 at boemarine.com, they do offer the 2100 model for $340, about $40 higher than available from several other vendors. Tomas

 

[rwidman]

Tomas wrote:

Ron, I couldn't find the 2150 at boemarine.com, they do offer the 2100 model for $340, about $40 higher than available from several other vendors. Tomas

You're right.* I was thinking of the "old" model, not the brand new 2011 one.* I'll bet if you call them they will have it at a good price.

I participate in another forum and BOE is very well thought of on that forum.* And unlike Overtons or the like, the folks at BOE install and use the equipment they sell so they can provide advice.* Shipping is free over a certain amount and I believe they will price match.

I know they have a liberal return policy also.* I bought the wrong transducer for my MFD and they replaced it for me.* I needed a special mount for my GPS antenna and they sent me one at no charge.

*

 

[Roostor]

Tomas wrote:

Was able to apply a 15% coupon, found on the internet, and purchased for about $340, including shipping and no sales tax.

I am not associated with either Overtons or Standard Horizon.

Tomas

Where*on the internet* can I find that discount?....I tried Ggling it but couldn't find it.

Thx GX2150B looks to be*the answer for having to puchase yet another piece of equipment.*

 

[Tidahapah]

AIS Reply Quote Edit Post

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Guys,
As part of my recent mini refit I purchased and fitted an AIS system.
After a lot of research and internet scanning I originally was going to get a unit from the US as it would be by far the least expensive way to go.
At the recent Sancutary Cove Boat show at the Gold Coast in Qld Aus I came upon a transponder kit (send & receive) from Oceantalk.
Complete kit under a $1000.00 (thats Aus dollars).
Kit included transponder box, VHF ant, GPS ant, cables for connection to computer or plotter and software.
After getting a a couple of brackets made for the ants it was a piece of piss to install and all up I had it running in about an hour or so.
I have it connected to my nav computer that runs Nobeltec VNS .

I have not used it in anger yet but only run it in port where it picks up any yacht, fishing boat running an AIS system.
It also picks up ships passing thru the pilot boarding grounds out to the east of Mooloolaba.

I think this is an excellent system and an absolute bonus for cruising out wide where the big boys go.
Having been at sea all my working life on tankers I know how we don't show up on radar and nobody takes any notice of the small cruiser.
Being able to track a close vessel , have their name and call sign is the absolute bonus.

Benn


This is from AIS discussion about July this year.
have used the system offshore since then and glad to have it as an extension of my Nav equipment
Benn

 

[Tomas]

Roostor

The coupon I used expired 12/13. I checked and found the following offer for 15% off thru 12/31, Try the following:


http://www.befrugal.com/coupons/store/overtons


Don' know what they are currently doing on shipping.

Tomas

 

[Arctic Traveller]

markpierce wrote:

I woke up this morning realizing the transponder is very expensive and the receiver is relatively cheap.* So, I'm dropping the idea of AIS.

For under $200, a black box AIS receiver is a huge bargain.* As you know S.F. bay, and the Delta can get very foggy. An AIS will buy you a lot of piece of mind.....Arctic Traveller

*

 

[markpierce]

You're probably right, Traveller, however ...

I'm not sure that I'll be able to effectively process the*additional information from an AIS receiver, at least at my current level.* Although I've sailed 24' to 28' auxiliary sailboats in the Bay Area for 15 years (in the 60s and 80s), mostly in races where weather isn't chosen, I've never*piloted with electronic equipment: no radio, no radar, no depth finder, no GPS; only compass, *charts, and speedometer.* My trawler will have that stuff, but at this point I'll wait until I become accomplished with those instruments, and then reassess the need for AIS.

I wonder.* Is there an affordable radar that incorporates AIS data?* That is, objects transmitting AIS data are*described on the radar screen adjacent to the object on the screen?

 

[Arctic Traveller]

I understand your concern, but the data is simply over layed on your plotter screen.* You see an icon that show's the ships direction of travel right on the chart.* Nothing could be easier, no skill needed.* Some of the units with dedicated screens that look like small radars might be a another story,(and far more expensive) but with the inexpensive black box unit, you simply plug it into your plotter / computer and the info is displayed.* Should you want further info, simply place the cursor over the desired ship, and a box opens up that gives all the info, such as ship name, size, speed, heading etc.*** I think it works better than radar (for those ships that are broadcasting a signal that is)

Here's the unit I use (I have no connection with the company)

http://www.milltechmarine.com/Smart-Radio-SR161-AIS-Receiver_p_167.html

Here's a screen shot of what you might see

https://milltechmarine.3dcartstores.com/assets/images/ce-ais.jpg


...............Arctic Traveller

-- Edited by Arctic Traveller on Friday 24th of December 2010 11:42:48 AM

 

[cd30ketch]

My first boat was hit by an out of control tow and I got to sit a watch in slow motion as the 800 foot monster closed in on me and "T"Bone my sailboat, pushing it and its forward barges onto a rock jetty. I decided that day that my next sailboat was going to have AIS B. Now when I see the tows coming I hail them by name, thanks to the AIS. Knowing that they should be able to see me is also a comfort.

Yes I can see the future problem of clutter from tons of pleasure craft on a chart. The first thing people can do is turn them off while tied to the dock. My unit is also made so its transponder can be turned off any time I want.

 

[Larry M]

As more and more pleasure boats have Class B AIS, the discussion on big boats being able to filter out the B's continues.

See the December 28th post on Panbo.***

http://www.panbo.com/archives/2010/12/class_b_ais_filtering_the_word_from_dr_norris.html#more

 

[markpierce]

So, if the big boats could filter out small boats from their radar screens, would they opt for that?

 

[rwidman]

markpierce wrote:

So, if the big boats could filter out small boats from their radar screens, would they opt for that?

Being mostly fiberglass, they might not show up anyway.

*

 

[koliver]

I often call and advise someone whose radar image is poor or non-existent, so they will be encouraged to go get a better radar reflector. At least they will know their boat presents a poor target.
I was in a line astern of 6 boats going past Alert Bay in the fog, and had a fishboat going the other way past us call and report the quality of each of our returns. I found that a valuable call, as it identified the effectiveness of each of our reflectors and sent one of us to the store for a better one.

 

[Marin]

I often wonder about the true effectiveness of radar reflectors. We have our radar on all the time we're running. It's been interesting to see the differences in boat targets. We often get a very strong return from a boat that has no reflector at all, and we often get weak returns from boats that do. And we often get returns from boats that have no reflectors that are just as strong as the returns from boats that do.

Many fiberglass cruisers we encounter have no reflectors at all, yet their returns are usually quite strong. I attribute this to the returns from the metal in the boat--- engines, galley equipment, outboard motors for their dinghies, power davits if they have them, anchors, and so on.

We often get very strong returns from the small sport fishermen that are running around. Perhaps from their outboard motors or inboard/outboard engines? None of them carry radar reflectors.

We very often get a strong return from a boat that is oriented toward us in one way, and then when that boat turns or passes us so it's oriented to us in a different way, the return gets much weaker.

We always get a strong return from Carey's lobsterboat even if it's a long ways away. I attribute this in large part to the heavy-duty aluminum davits he designed and installed to carry his Bullfrog dinghy over the transom. Also the outboard motor on this dinghy.

In at least one instance I recall, we were boating in thin fog and approaching Obstruction Pass and there were a number of strong returns ahead of us that proved to be sport fishing boats in the the 16' to 25' range. When a weaker return showed up on the far edge of this cluster of boats we assumed it was another sport fisherman. The return remained weak as it approached, so imagine our surprise when it proved to be a 45 or 50 foot cruiser, complete with radar reflector.

So I would not automatically assume that because a person's boat shows up strong or weak on another boat's radar that a radar reflector or lack of one is the cause. There seem to be many factors at work to determine the strength of a particular boat at a particular angle to you.

-- Edited by Marin on Thursday 30th of December 2010 08:24:57 PM

 

[markpierce]

Marin, just*how strong are radar returns on all-steel boats?

 

[Marin]

markpierce wrote:

Marin, just*how strong are radar returns on all-steel boats?

I'm sure we have enountered plenty of all-steel recreational boats but we have not picked them out as such by sight.

The only all-steel boats we have encountered that we knew were all steel are the Washington State ferries, various oil tankers and bulk carriers, tug and barge combos, and the big tractor tugs that escort the tankers.* Needless to say, their returns are rather noticeable.