Computer for navigation

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Mr B

$50-00 second hand refurbished HP laptop with 500 GB of memory,
I put a Telstra Dongle with Sim card in it, Plugs into the USB port,
Dedicated to my Free Open CPN for navigation, Back up for my GPS with C maps,
But also gives me the full internet, emails Etc,
I take it home with me and it runs my PC as well, I also use it in my RV where ever I go,

I bought it for the Kimberlys as only Telstra has a service up there,
Its line of site, Doesnt work over the horizon,
Same Reception as a cell phone,

Living aboard for 4 years simply using my $40 android mobile as a hotspot for the whole boat.

[coopec43]

I've just installed a SSD in my Toughbook and now trying to familiarise myself with it. I am very happy with the readability of the screen in daylight.

Now to work out how to install AIS. Maybe I'm mistaken that an AIS receiver is incredibly important but a sender very much less so?

[SeanPatrick]

Originally Posted by coopec43

Maybe I'm mistaken that an AIS receiver is incredibly important but a sender very much less so?

Well, as long as no one else thinks that way ... then sure. Everyone else will have a [working] transmitter and you will see them all - and you can avoid them.


But what if a lot of others think the same way and few to no one has a transmitter? Then you have a lot of boats looking for a signal that isn't there. But surely the "other guy" has a transmitter ... right?



Maybe.


Maybe not.


Don't get me wrong: a receiver is better than nothing. But a transceiver is better than that.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by SeanPatrick

Well, as long as no one else thinks that way ... then sure. Everyone else will have a [working] transmitter and you will see them all - and you can avoid them.


But what if a lot of others think the same way and few to no one has a transmitter? Then you have a lot of boats looking for a signal that isn't there. But surely the "other guy" has a transmitter ... right?



Maybe.


Maybe not.


Don't get me wrong: a receiver is better than nothing. But a transceiver is better than that.

I certainly won't argue with you but it is the fast moving ships that would worry me but they would all have AIS transmitters. Slow moving yachts would worry me so much. I wonder what percentage would have AIS transmitters anyway?

"Is AIS worth fitting?

Leisure craft installing AIS can opt for two different routes. A simple receiver to monitor other vessels’ AIS data is inexpensive and easy to fit. Alternatively you can install a class B transponder which will also transmit your vessel’s data to other craft equipped with an AIS receiver.

Having used AIS B for more than 8,000 miles of sailing over the past two seasons, including a circumnavigation of the British Isles, a dozen English Channel crossings, and a passage to the Azores, I now regard it as one of the most useful gadgets on board.

Thanks for your advice

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by coopec43

I certainly won't argue with you but it is the fast moving ships that would worry me but they would all have AIS transmitters. Slow moving yachts would worry me so much. I wonder what percentage would have AIS transmitters anyway?

"Is AIS worth fitting?

Leisure craft installing AIS can opt for two different routes. A simple receiver to monitor other vessels’ AIS data is inexpensive and easy to fit. Alternatively you can install a class B transponder which will also transmit your vessel’s data to other craft equipped with an AIS receiver.

Having used AIS B for more than 8,000 miles of sailing over the past two seasons, including a circumnavigation of the British Isles, a dozen English Channel crossings, and a passage to the Azores, I now regard it as one of the most useful gadgets on board.

Thanks for your advice

I haven't sailed since I've hooked up AIS, but I like it already because I can see the ships in the two shipping channels before I even leave the dock.

I have it coming in to the Raspberry Pi via a USB RS422/485 Adapter from my SH GX2200 VHF/AIS/GPS then onto the OpenCPN Chart

Green is the Pilot Boat. He's probably going out to get the Pilot off. Ship yellow coming out......he's almost out of the bay and into the Atlantic.

Tide/current is going out.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by coopec43

I've just installed a SSD in my Toughbook and now trying to familiarise myself with it. I am very happy with the readability of the screen in daylight.

Now to work out how to install AIS. Maybe I'm mistaken that an AIS receiver is incredibly important but a sender very much less so?

Obviously a receiver helps YOU avoid them. A transmitter helps THEM avoid you.

I want ships, yachts, anything, to know I am there, my speed and direction, and my ship's name.

[Reefmagnet]

I've got an AIS transceiver on my boat and I love those that just have receivers. And you can always tell who has a receiver only. They're the one's that seem to actively keep out of your way even when they would otherwise be the stand on vessel.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

I've got an AIS transceiver on my boat and I love those that just have receivers. And you can always tell who has a receiver only. They're the one's that seem to actively keep out of your way even when they would otherwise be the stand on vessel.

Receive only is a big step up for those of us used to being without AIS especially those of us Coastal Cruising and dealing with shipping traffic

The ship in the picture outbound is already up to 17.3 knots and he has just now gotten outside the CBBT (Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel)

I wish I had waited for the system to update before I took the picture and then we would know if it was a tanker or container ship plus a few other details .....it was a container ship. (YM Evolution) I looked up his MMSI Number. Draught 12.1 meters

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...ssel:416490000

When they are coming in at that speed they can pop out from behind the Tunnel Islands and be right on you if you are not paying attention

Receive only AIS is still a very nice thing to have.....

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

So is an android tablet that does all that plus has inbuilt GPS without the need of a sim card or data connection all for about 1 tenth of the price.

Even my first gen iPad has Wi-Fi and gps no data plan or SIM card required. Just pick one that does have gps as not all models do.

[Fair_Skies]

SSD. 1TB Drive just bought one for $100. Now replacing all spinning disk... on the other two laptops. I bought then on ebay from Memory labs. I am using old laps for various functions on board. I am looking at using Rose Point's Coastal Explorer to augment the Garmin 7212. That you cannot connect to your computer.... at least I cannot. I put a cheap planner touch screen computer monitor in the pilothouse connected to a laptop.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Fair_Skies

SSD. 1TB Drive just bought one for $100. Now replacing all spinning disk... on the other two laptops. I bought then on ebay from Memory labs. I am using old laps for various functions on board. I am looking at using Rose Point's Coastal Explorer to augment the Garmin 7212. That you cannot connect to your computer.... at least I cannot. I put a cheap planner touch screen computer monitor in the pilothouse connected to a laptop.

You won't believe how much of a difference an SSD makes to response times! I put one in my desktop and one in my (navigation) Toughbook and both computers are virtually instantaneous.

Anyone thinking of installing an SSD make sure you get the correct SSD for your brand/model computer. I say that because there are a whole lot of sellers on eBay offering XXX SSD "packet opened- never used"

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by wingssail

Obviously a receiver helps YOU avoid them. A transmitter helps THEM avoid you.

I want ships, yachts, anything, to know I am there, my speed and direction, and my ship's name.

Transmitting is not "less so" but "incredibly important". Believe me, you very much want them to see you.


The OP can buy an AIS transceiver which he can connect via wifi.

[coopec43]

Lots of other using the Toughbook for navigation too. (Should be some good tips on these threads)

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=...63.f_FNzLgoAms

[aeronautic1]

When not in use as a laptop, it makes a wonderful anchor.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by aeronautic1

When not in use as a laptop, it makes a wonderful anchor.

I'm not sure what you are getting at. Have you had a bad experience with Toughbooks?