AIS

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jacko

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Any of you guys have this new style VHF?

Should I add this into my electronics add on?
 
If I hadn't just bought a new VHF last year, I would be getting one with AIS this year.
 
Do you think having it broad cast who you are is an advantage? From what I was told that it overlays who you are onto others plotters. I think that is a cool feature, but at the same time there goes any privacy of who you are.
 
If you want privacy you should be able to turn it off.
 
So that is cool, you can click in, and get details. Speed, Direction, Photo of the vessel. DAM!
 
I have had a Navonics AIL300 class B transponder on my Garmin network for 2 seasons and love it.
If you have a NMEA2000 network they are a snap to install. I recommend a seperate VHF antenna for the AIS and a stand alone transponder. I have a class B transponder. The transmitter can be turned on and off as well. In receive only mode it draws less current.
Beware though the transmitter can be turned on remotely by the CG they can even change the channels the unit operates on if needed. A test last summer in the North East by the USCG caused some minor problems with some AIS equipped vessels.
All in all I think it is a great safety device.
Bill
 
Safety is a good thing all in all. I am really leaning toward this. And it is not that much more then a regular radio.
 
If you are a relatively small fiberglass recreational vessel, in heavy fog, with lots of big commercial traffic (some of it moving quickly - like high speed ferries), I would think that an AIS transponder would be very comforting to have.
 
The Standard Horizon 2100 and 2150 VHF radios have AIS receivers only that can be set to display AIS info on your chartplotter. I am shopping for one now.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jacko

Safety is a good thing all in all. I am really leaning toward this. And it is not that much more then a regular radio.

Click to expand...

I assume you are talking about a receive only application? I can't say I have seen a VHF/AIS radio that does both transmit and receive on AIS. I also think it is a nice option for a group of boats traveling together to keep position reports on each other if you get caught in the soup. I like the ability to be seen over AIS as well as see others.
Bill
 
If anyone is hesitating to buy an AIS transmitter they should not be worried about someone remotely turning on their transmitter. If they really want privacy they can simply turn off the power source. There is no possible way that the CG can sneak aboard your both and push in a circuit breaker that you have pulled out. And they can only get a picture of your boat is you have submitted one to the IMO (which is not required).

AIS is great. Even the receive-only systems can help immensely. Simply knowing the name of the ship or ferry bearing down on you so that you can hail them by name would seem to be a good thing even if they could not get your info.

Mike
 
If I am going to be in a traffic area where AIS is relevant, privacy is the last thing I want. in fact in general, when I am at sea here in US and Canada coastal waters, I'd like as many people as possible to know where I am.

Now, to be a hypocrite, I must admit AIS is way down The List. Radar, a couple of VHF radios and a set of big air horns does just fine for our purposes in the meantime. I think it's highest value is on some of the twisty inland waterways with barge traffic. Though again, VHF solves that to a large degree.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
I .have all the above George so having an AIS transponder was the natural progression.
I agree you could turn off the power to the AIS unit but at that point you wouldn't have the benefit of seeing other ships that are equipped with AIS. I enjoy watching the screen load up with targets from 60 plus miles at night when there is extended radio propagation.
You really can see the shipping lanes when you have an AIS unit.
Bill
 
There's 3 levels of AIS

1) Commercial. It transmits and receives frequently

2) Pleasure. I transmits and receives.

3) Receive. Like the SH 2100. It receives and pipes the info to you AIS ready Plotter.

Prices have come down and units are getting better all the time. Keep in mind that the unit you buy may need a GPS antenna and VHF antenna added. What used to be $1000s can be had for $350.
 
While it was awkward to use because of the small screen I was able to see the vessel positions on my iphone.I imagine a tablet would be much better.
 
If AIS is too expensive, or you are worried about privacy, at least have a radar deflector for when you are underway in bad weather. It's not expensive and is a better option then having nothing.
 
AIS would be critical if

1) you boat in the shipping lanes and

2) The area is normally foggy.

I don't want to be a hood ornament on the front of a mega ship.

It takes a ship about 11 minutes to come up over the horizon and be on you. A high speed ferry is even faster.
 
I often use web based AIS in Coast Guard Aux. missions, in particular "make way" patrols where we clear out salmon fisherman who are anchored in the shipping channel. I use Marinetraffic.com as well as "shipfinder," an Iphone App. I've seen no cause to purchase an AIS receiver. Instead, I recommend using both programs simultaneously....one on a laptop and the other on an Iphone or Ipad.
 
Greg, last time i checked those programs had considerable time lag. Have they changed to real time? Of course you still don't have the collision calculations and direct MMSI calling.... but heck, I use none of the above today!
 
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