US Coast Guard AIS data validation service

[Cpt Pat]

I operate a volunteer AIS receiving station for marinetraffic.com, aprs.fi, aishub.net and vesseltracker.com.

It's a little disturbing to see how many AIS transponders (those that transmit vessel AIS data) are misconfigured. Especially since, presumably, most were professionally configured.

If your AIS transponder-equipped vessel is near or passes by a USCG VTS station, you may be able to see a report on the validity of your AIS basic data configuration here:

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/aisSearch/index.php

It's also a good confirmation your data is being seen by the USCG.

It's probably easiest to look up your boat with its MMSI. Under the column "Errors" you should see "NO" in green.

Click "view" in the search results to see your configuration details. All the data fields should be green. See attachment below for an example.

Technical questions should be sent to the USCG - not me.

Note: If you have a Class B transponder, it won't send your vessel's "draft." Only Class A transponders send the vessel's draft.

If you paid good money to have your transponder programmed, and it has errors, I suggest you have that "professional" correct the errors.


73
N8QH

[smac999]

This is why the USA is stupid. The mmsi gets programmed by the seller before you buy it. The seller or buyer is not going to know where the antena is installed when it’s still in the box. I’m guessing many people have blank lenghts and widths?

In Canada we get the cd in the box. (And the box is normally shipped from USA...) . And can program after installing. After we know where the ant Went.

[Cpt Pat]

Originally Posted by smac999

This is why the USA is stupid. The mmsi gets programmed by the seller before you buy it. The seller or buyer is not going to know where the antena is installed when it’s still in the box. I’m guessing many people have blank lenghts and widths?

In Canada we get the cd in the box. (And the box is normally shipped from USA...) . And can program after installing. After we know where the ant Went.

There is no difference in the United States.

Only the MMSI requires special access to change - if the MMSI is mis-programmed, pure havoc can ensue. All of the other settings can be reprogrammed by the user. To my knowledge, all new AIS transponders sold in the US come with the software (CDs) in the box.

The reason some vendors insist on setting all of the vessel-specific settings is... boaters don't have a reputation for being very computer savvy and they don't want the technical support burden after the sale. And, some can pick up a little extra money for the programming service.

If you didn't get the software, you should demand it from the vendor or download it from the manufacturer.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Cpt Pat

If your AIS transponder-equipped vessel is near or passes by a USCG VTS station, you may be able to see a report on the validity of your AIS basic data configuration here:

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/aisSearch/index.php

I get no results, whether I enter MMSI, call sign or documentation number. I've been in all the major ports of the US Northeast. I've had other vessels call me, and I show up on the various AIS tracking sites, so I know AIS is working.

[Dsanduril]

When did you last broadcast AIS in a US port?

VIVS contains AIS static data on vessels that broadcasted on U.S. navigable waterways within the last 30 days. In order for information to display in VIVS, the vessel’s AIS broadcast must be detected by the Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS), no more than 30 days of the VIVS query.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

When did you last broadcast AIS in a US port?

Ahhh. Didn't see that, thanks!

Yeah, my boat is out of the water for the winter right now

[johnjuliano]

Tres, Tres Cool.

I do get an odd error on antenna position. Our antenna is on the port, aft corner of our boat on the pushpit. It may not like the zero answers for distance from port and stern.

[Jdeuel]

Originally Posted by smac999

This is why the USA is stupid.

Didn't you give us Justin Beiber and Nickelback?

[TackSeason]

I am in the USA, you always have an option to set any unit up yourself. However some vendors only advertise a price that includes. You can always get a better price for the same unit somewhere else if you install it yourself.
It only took a few minutes to setup my Raymarine AIS, and it doesn’t have any errors.
I think we have two things going: one is that vendors can use fear of messing up the setup to charge high prices, because they imply that if you make a mistake it has to be sent back to the factory(which would only be true if you messed up the MMSI), and also a lot of boat owners are not like the users of this forum who want to do things themselves so they have a better understanding-they just want it to work and if it doesn’t work they just hire someone.

[Bay Breeze]

There is sooo-much more to "stupid in the USA" - Oh, Canada, it's not just AIS programming, But thanks for the info

Originally Posted by smac999

This is why the USA is stupid. The mmsi gets programmed by the seller before you buy it. The seller or buyer is not going to know where the antena is installed when it’s still in the box. I’m guessing many people have blank lenghts and widths?

In Canada we get the cd in the box. (And the box is normally shipped from USA...) . And can program after installing. After we know where the ant Went.

[boat driver]

As much as some people have negative opinions about the AIS programming, it is by the installer or manufacture's representative.Charging extra to program is a purchaser's ignorance that the sales is breaking the law. The reason for manufacture programing specifically deals with end user's the inability to install the correct information and therefore be unwittingly transmitting incorrect information or knowingly transmitting incorrect information -example is a larger vessel than actually is- incorrect identification, and stupid names that are not in conjunction with documentation. In the Class A commercial installations the regulations are very strict with penalties- in the class b policing the information is near impossible.
So before jumping on the regulators consider that this is a regulatory response to public psychology.

[Cpt Pat]

Originally Posted by johnjuliano

Tres, Tres Cool.

I do get an odd error on antenna position. Our antenna is on the port, aft corner of our boat on the pushpit. It may not like the zero answers for distance from port and stern.

Your supposition is correct: the validator doesn't like zeros.

Since everything else looks good, I wouldn't concern myself with the "errors."

BTW, the "antenna position" configuration refers to the position of the AIS unit's GPS antenna, not the VHF transmitting antenna. On a really large vessel, the accuracy of the "positional reference" becomes very relevant for collision avoidance. On a small boat -- it's proportionally less important.

If another vessel plans to pass within 1 meter of your boat - and hits it because of a 1 meter error - that's not much of an excuse!

[Smokeys Kitchen]

After you start transmitting, how long does it take to show up in the data base?

[Smokeys Kitchen]

I just started transmitting 5 minutes ago, and I already show up on marinetraffic.com, but I am not in the CG data base

[Cpt Pat]

Originally Posted by Smokeys Kitchen

After you start transmitting, how long does it take to show up in the data base?

I believe the database is updated once per day. So, you may have to transmit up to 24 hours.