AIS Experience Offshore?

[hellosailor]

Just wondering...those of you who have AIS and have run it offshore, are you seeing commercial traffic actually RUNNING their AIS equipment offshore?

I was thinking that it is getting less unreasonable in price, and in theory, if it is being used...it would give more warning of crossing traffic, one more option when ships are running without radar watch or deck watch. (Which we all know happens, on both recreational sailboats AND commercial shipping, all too often.)

If their AIS is actually just ignored and left running...well, at least that's one more way to get a headsup. But are they running?