AIS Systems

[DMCI]

AIS, the Automatic Identification System, similar to aviation transponder technology, provides the boater with the ability to broad cast his position obtained from his gps automatically over his VHF and similarly receive position information and have his plotted over on the GPS units of similarly equipped vessels. Helmar calls this the poor man's RADAR. Very cool in my view.

What is AIS?

AIS will place a triangular icon on the chart plotter’s screen that represents any vessel sending out AIS signals. This includes most commercial vessels, which are required by law to have it, as well as numerous recreational craft with owners who are discovering the safety benefits of AIS. Just place the chart plotter’s cursor on an AIS icon, and a list of valuable information unfolds. The ship’s name and radio call sign are shown. This means you can pick up a VHF and hail a specific vessel that may be posing a threat. Additional information includes the vessel’s length, beam and draft, its exact position, speed and heading, its rate of turn and even the calculated closest point of approach (CPA) and the time it will happen (TCPA). Commercial ships often also transmit vessel type, port of origin, destination and even the type of cargo, including hazardous materials.

Since AIS operates on VHF frequencies, it can receive this vital information even though you may not see the vessel, such as when nearing the entrance to a marina or crowded commercial harbor or when there is boat traffic behind a low hill, building or other structure. In this sense, AIS can see targets that radar cannot.

AIS Types
There are two types of AIS: Class A and B transponders and receive-only sets. Class A is commercial grade, Class B the cheaper recreational version. Both not only receive AIS data but also broadcast information about your boat. A Class B-equipped boat should appear on the plotting screens of all other AIS-equipped vessels within about five to 10 miles. However, as with radar, you should never assume that another vessel has seen you and will take action to avoid a collision. But even a receive-only AIS receiver can help by making it easier to call the other vessel by name.

AIS can be added to your boat in several ways. You may already have most of the equipment you need to enjoy AIS right now. Most recent multifunction GPS/chart plotter models, including those from Furuno (furuno.com), Garmin (garmin.com), Lowrance (lowrance.com), Raymarine (raymarine.com), Simrad (simrad-yachting.com), Si-Tex (si-tex.com) and Standard Horizon (standardhorizon.com), accept an AIS add-on module, though an additional VHF antenna or antenna splitter is needed. Most multifunction display manufacturers offer AIS add-on modules with receivers starting at about $500 and transponders at $900. Aftermarket black box receivers start at about $200 and transponders at $500, and all AIS gear tends to work well with other electronics because they all use standard National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data protocols. AIS units are also built into VHF radios and also stand-alone Class B transponders that have their own plotting. In any format, AIS is a great way to see and be seen.

* * * * *

[Gwilliamson]

I have one of those apps as well. Mine only shows USA and its www.navionics.com I have had it now for must have been 6 years or so, and I think paid a one time fee for 9 bucks. Now I see it has all Kinds of options, charts and stuff available.

I will have to go look at the one you got and check it out too

so i have that but i like the oncourse better because the ais is integrated.

but the other day i was researching standalone nav via phone or tablet (with cellular offline) and they are getting close.

i'm thinking of getting this device that runs through the app sonar phone through the app store. it is basically a transducer that pairs to a device via wifi and will split screen with navionics. the transducer kits run 200-500 bucks.

i like the idea of this for the sake of if i decide to leave my boat in a harbor long term i can take my tablet with me and won't be ripped off, and it also keeps me from being obsolete.

[Gwilliamson]

I use marinetraffic.com. I haven't used vesselfinder.com, so I don't know how they compare. You can filter the type of vessel you want to see and even animate a vessel's track over the previous 24 hours. You do need a data connection. The attached image is a screen shot from my phone. I think I paid less than $5 for it. It doesn't seem to show Navy ships and most Coast Guard, so it might not be useful if you're a rum runner. The image does show the Henry Blake, but it's a larger boat with a crane, maybe a buoy tender. Why would the Coast Guard name a boat after a fictional army colonel?

It will show USCG vessels if they are on a job IE; bouy tender. or in port layed up but other then that they stay low key.

[Helmar]

They also have an app that is a stand alone nav app called OnCourse from the AppStore. Ive been playing with it at work, and uses google maps. Ill make a further review on it when i use it on my smaller boat.

I have one of those apps as well. Mine only shows USA and its www.navionics.com I have had it now for must have been 6 years or so, and I think paid a one time fee for 9 bucks. Now I see it has all Kinds of options, charts and stuff available.

I will have to go look at the one you got and check it out too

[Gwilliamson]

They also have an app that is a stand alone nav app called OnCourse from the AppStore. Ive been playing with it at work, and uses google maps. Ill make a further review on it when i use it on my smaller boat.

[Gwilliamson]

If you guys arent looking to soend the coin on the transponder and just wanna see what vessels are doing in your area than look no further than the marine traffic app. I use it in my room on the boat at work to monitor what the traffic is doing. Pretty neat, if you do the membership you can get the details and all that jazz.

[Helmar]

I use marinetraffic.com. I haven't used vesselfinder.com, so I don't know how they compare. You can filter the type of vessel you want to see and even animate a vessel's track over the previous 24 hours. You do need a data connection. The attached image is a screen shot from my phone. I think I paid less than $5 for it. It doesn't seem to show Navy ships and most Coast Guard, so it might not be useful if you're a rum runner. The image does show the Henry Blake, but it's a larger boat with a crane, maybe a buoy tender. Why would the Coast Guard name a boat after a fictional army colonel?

See, I had No idea things like this was even available.
Could I be the only one that didn't know this I wonder.

Thanks Guys

[Helmar]

Helmar,

it appeared to me that when the snow is falling, etc. that there is not as much activity on this site so rather than checking it every day I check it "periodically".

Thinking more about AIS systems, rather than try to receive AIS information and therefore attempt to plot it, the minimum configuration would be to have a transmitter (VHF radio) with a little red button on it. I believe the function of the little red button is to send the equivalent of a Mayday signal on channel 70 if memory serves that immediately notifies rescue services. Perhaps someone more familiar with this function can way in here. If you don't need AIS capability and are not required to carry it then the little red button is more than adequate.

Note the little red button:

[img] http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=JN.AuK...d=1.9&rs=0&p=0 [/img]

My radio does that Mayday signal if I press it but I was looking for the ad on of the stand alone AIS unit to work with some sort of inexpensive monitor system
Taking that poor mans radar a step further.
Maybe I should ask the question this way.
What is the least expensive way to have a AIS system

[Stan D]

I find that I occasionally use the poor mans poor mans RADAR in the form of this site:
http://www.vesselfinder.com/

As long as you are near a cell signal and have a data plan, this is a great tool for locating and identifying vessels in your area. Unfortunately, it is technically receive only, so there is not broadcasting of our puny vessels to the big boys. Still, a good way to keep out of trouble

I use marinetraffic.com. I haven't used vesselfinder.com, so I don't know how they compare. You can filter the type of vessel you want to see and even animate a vessel's track over the previous 24 hours. You do need a data connection. The attached image is a screen shot from my phone. I think I paid less than $5 for it. It doesn't seem to show Navy ships and most Coast Guard, so it might not be useful if you're a rum runner. The image does show the Henry Blake, but it's a larger boat with a crane, maybe a buoy tender. Why would the Coast Guard name a boat after a fictional army colonel?

[DMCI]

Helmar,

it appeared to me that when the snow is falling, etc. that there is not as much activity on this site so rather than checking it every day I check it "periodically".

Thinking more about AIS systems, rather than try to receive AIS information and therefore attempt to plot it, the minimum configuration would be to have a transmitter (VHF radio) with a little red button on it. I believe the function of the little red button is to send the equivalent of a Mayday signal on channel 70 if memory serves that immediately notifies rescue services. Perhaps someone more familiar with this function can way in here. If you don't need AIS capability and are not required to carry it then the little red button is more than adequate.

Note the little red button:

[img] http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=JN.AuK...d=1.9&rs=0&p=0 [/img]

[TheBronze]

I find that I occasionally use the poor mans poor mans RADAR in the form of this site:
http://www.vesselfinder.com/

As long as you are near a cell signal and have a data plan, this is a great tool for locating and identifying vessels in your area. Unfortunately, it is technically receive only, so there is not broadcasting of our puny vessels to the big boys. Still, a good way to keep out of trouble

[Helmar]

Wow, Thanks Dave
Man, you were right there watching. Glad your still here by the way !!

Most of us that have radios in our boats have the standard VHF I was wondering what might be a lessor expensive option to get into this.
Like what type of GPS/fish finder system has the capibilites of displaying the AIS information and what might be the lessor expensive AIS unit to put in line.

I am just thinking about this as I am sure this will come up. Allot of us can't spend as much time on the water as we want and when we do, it would be nice to know some of the least amount we can get by with to make that happen.

[DMCI]

Helmar, it seems you have asked what we engineers call a nontrivial technical question. AIS radios functionality is an augmentation to some VHF radios in that they offer it as either transmit/receive or receive only. The AIS signal is a coded signal now required to be transmitted by most commercial vessels (e.g. tankers, container ships, trawlers) which will be picked up and decoded by AIS equipped VHF radios. The problem you have is that now you have to have a way of displaying the position information. The way I am doing it and is often done is by position plotters which display charts that are referenced to GPS signals. Without a way to display relative position data interpretation of the position signal data is extremely technical and requires special charts, etc. I strongly suggest working with your electronics vendor and have him guarantee or at least demonstrate compatibility.

if it would ever stop raining long enough for me to get my boats loaded, it is my intention to join at some point. First will be the 16 Skagit, and then the 18 Skagit.

[Helmar]

Dave, are you still checking in ?

If I was to put a radio in my boat and wanted the AIS, I found most of them were RX only. Like it required a different AIS unit for TX.
Is there a good combo that you know of ? Maybe a good Icom radio and a AIS RX /TX unit?

I am sure you have already been looking at that stuff anyway.

Hope all is well and you can get your boats wet this coming season.

[Skagit Hideaway]

The Admiral on this boat demanded the Garmin 7212, which is almost as nice as the 7215. It appears that for accurate RADAR overlay and MARPA functionality, you need the separate, 3 axis rate gyro/compass heading sensor - $899 list. There's no end in sight