AIS Update

[Talbot]

I thought it might be of interest to you users on the other side of the pond to see why UK people are happy to use AIS. The image shows traffic density in the more important areas, there are gaps shown which are not due to lack of ships, but lack of receivers fowarding to the shared resource at www.shipplotter.com. I am very happy with the software provided by them. The outline of UK behind is somewhat blurred due to resolution chosen and file size, but is a satellite photo which has been calibrated to the GPS co-ords.

[Paul Elliott]

(I posted this in the topic "Frickin' Google Earth": http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...6&postcount=23, but this ought to be interesting to AIS freaks...)

This is only marginally about Google Earth, but you might be interested anyway. If you are following AIS technology (and you should be), take a look at the AIS receiver performance I am getting from my house, about 50 miles north of San Francisco. I have put together some tools to display ship tracks on Google Earth, as received on my equipment (not in real-time, yet).

I have put some images and the GE trackfile on the VALIS blog, here:
http://www.sailvalis.com/wordpress_1/?p=129 I've put up an image on the blog that shows the local traffic in and out of San Francisco bay, and if you download the trackfile you can zoon in and out to your heart's content.

All this data on display was captured over a two-day period a few days ago.

Here is an example of the range I have been getting:

[Talbot]

if you want to use google earth and real time, then the latest version of Shipplotter software enables you to do that, it also enables users to share the AIS data in real time (see my previous post).

[sinbad7]

As a retired captain and boatie I am now without a ship,
living in Brazil and enjoying my retirement.

Through the advancement of technology and the AIS
concept, I find I can still keep in touch with my old
ships, having joined the 'shipplotter' group of radio hams
without the need for complicated certificates.

The shipplotter software is available at a very reasonable cost
(see www.shipplotter.com) and will enable you to
share AIS ship information with the other members over
the internet. All you have to prepare are the calibrated
maps/charts of the areas you are interested in and the
ships data will be displayed in real-time in shipplotter.

Most members have also aquired an AIS receiver or collect
their local AIS data via their VHF radios for sharing with others.

I bought an SR162 receiver and a good VHF antennae
mounted on the roof which gives me up to 70 nm range,
monitoring most of the Costa Verde coastline in Brazil.

I am using an interesting way of sharing with my friends,
by combining AIS data, uploaded automatically to my
website at 10 min intervals, with Google Maps/Earth.
Check it out here:
www.yachtmarine.com/instruments/AISLIVE.html

There are presently AIS stations all over Europe, Canada,
the USA and South America.

This could also be interesting for those of you with access
to internet onboard.

Happy Cruising!!

[kimberlite]

I see targets all day long on long island sound.
i use 32 mile range.
i get boats moving and boats at anchor. there is never a time that i dont see a target within 15 minutes .
fair winds,
eric