AIS overlay radar ???

hardee · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:23 pm Post subject:

Flir would be nice, for sure. I'd love one but I think they are two different animals, and I would not give up my AIS for a FLIR IRS.

Guess it depends on what you are doing mostly.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

thataway · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject:

Harvey,
An excellent write up! Thank you! I have compared the internet AIS and real time reception--some times it is close-other times a significant delay--but rarely right on spot with the on board AIS.

I have the cheapest type of FLIR--and for me, the most useful. The hand held scope. I have to have an open window (disadvantage), and not be able to look at other modalities. I find it useful at close ranges--less than a mile, realistically a few hundred yards. For example coming into an anchorage at dark, where there are few anchor lights. For example both my own canal, the Isthmus (two harbors) at Catalina etc.

FLIR does not extend your range much in fog or smoke. The resolution even of $10,000 units is not good. I have only seen the lower end units in use on small boats. FLIR has its place, but to be the best, you want a unit which pans tilts and zooms. Resolution is going to be 640×480. These units run between $12,000 and $17,000. There are some fixed 320 x 240 units a little over $3,000.

I feel that a unit like the Vesper Watchmate gives far more information for the $$…. There are times when a good antenna and receiver can receive AIS from as much as 40 miles out--regularly from 15 miles out. Yes, there are times the AIS transmitters are turned off. But from a lot of personal experience, wondering what a ship is doing, even with MARPA, it helps a heck of a lot to have any information! For example, many times I have had to call "Ship at XXXXX Lat and XXXXXLong, this is vessel "Thataway"--do you have me on your radar? I am a 46 foot sailing vessel, At Lat XXXX, and Long XXXX proceeding at a speed of 7 knots and a course of 280 degrees."

Then you wait for a response. How many watch standers know what their lat and long is? If you just have the name of the ship, even a description, it makes things so much easier……

Again--one modality of many.

hardee · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:14 am Post subject:

Thank you Bob,

I have played with a couple of handheld units only, but not on the water. FLIR is on the list of "would be nice" but it is somewhere down under a good IS Binocular set which I would have much more use for.

As to AIS range, when on the strait, I frequently see AIS targets on the 24 mile screen. I usually check them for direction of travel, and maybe TCPA.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

thataway · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 5:59 am Post subject:

I agree, I use the stabilized binoculars far more often than FLIR. (I also have a gen 2 night vision scope--and rarely use it either. )

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:02 pm Post subject:

Bought the Garmin AIS A/B for my winter install. Will send pix and report on operation once I get the boat back in the water.

Charlie