Is AIS in the house?

[Larry H]

Tim,

I suspected that the radar will not display the AIS signals.

How about my second question?

How do you hook up an AIS receiver to a computer? What program will it display on?

Thanks,

Larry H

[timflan]

I don't know...I've never done it! But most of the manufacturers mention most of the charting applications. Here are some links:

http://www.shinemicro.com/RadarPlusSM161R2.asp
(scroll down to "Software Tested" near the bottom)

http://www.milltechmarine.com/SR161.htm
(scroll down to "Software support")

http://www.seacas.com/oscomm/internal.php?osCsid=dd5b92b5f62523c7a748518bbd808eb5
(scroll down...you get the idea.)

Good luck!

[Pat Anderson]

Shine Micro shows it running with Coastal Explorer...

[thataway]

Larry, it will not work with a dedicated radar.

The lap top is fairly easily accessed for AIS. You can buy one of the Milltec recievers, a GPS, VHF antenna and the Serial cable which attatches to the Milltec reciever, with a serial to UBS adaptor. The GPS (USB) and AIS reciever plugs into the USB ports. You can run a number of chart plotting programs. Milltec comes with SeaClear and then you can down load or get the NOAA charts on DVD. For about $300 or so dollars you will have it all on the laptop.

I will be using a dedicated chart plotter, just because I don't want to fool around with a computer at the helm, but that is probably the cheapest way to go if you have a lap top.

[RichardW]

According to Byrdman, AIS is used by tows on the Cumberland River. I know that Ingram Barge company is a primary towing company on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and am told that they have AIS on their fleet.

Does anyone know what other Barge companies travel the Cumberland and if they use AIS transponders.

I plan a cruise on the Black Warrior River fairly soon and would like to know if any tow companies on that river use AIS. The Warrior, in places, is narrow and winding making barge traffic awareness a real safety issue. I know that the Parker Barge Company has more that a dozen tows on the Warrior and their are others. Any information would be appreciated as I plan to install AIS at some point in the near future.

[Captains Cat]

In the new West Marine 2008 catalog, they have the new two-way AIS unit for $995 with the caveat that it will not be sold until type approved, which they estimated at Feb 2008!

Charlie

[thataway]

I found the ACR transponder on page 67 for $999.99 (West price--may be less at some of the online sellers.) I also found the RayMarine AIS reciever in the Catalogue @ $ 979.99.

There is some question as to when the type B AIS transciever (which is what most of us will be using in the recreational boats). There seems to be a problem with MARitel (The entity which has leased the VHF spectrum for communications, other than the public and government channels). This seems to involve the use of channels Channels 87B (161.975 MHz) and 88B (162.025 MHz) for AIS. The designation of Channels 87B and
88B for AIS in the United States is consistent with establishment of a seamless global AIS framework. But in the US, these channels were put aside for "Public correspondance"--ie part of the spectrum leased by MARitel. However, this was posted on Panbo today:
"We heard from the FCC that it looks like the AIS Second Report and Order will be on the Commission's Agenda for the Feb. 26 meeting. There is a *chance* that the item will be voted on before that time.”
Also referenced is this:
http://rtcm.info/sc121/038-2008-SC121-DIST.pdf
This gives some clarification of the issues, and stresses the importance of FCC approvial of the Class B AIS units.

Lets hope that this is resolved and that we can buy a Class B transciever at a decent price (I was surprised that we would find the ACR initially for less than $1,000.) I suspect that the prices will come down with time.

Incidently the RayMarine comes with a VHF radio antenna splitter. I think that it is better to use a separated antenna, and one which is tuned for the upper part of the Marine VHF band (162 Mhz).

[timflan]

Well I've done my part. Today I got my receive-only SR161 installed and working. I had been waiting for Class B units to become available, so now that I've finally put receive-only on my boat, it's a virtual certainty that Class B will be approved within two weeks.

Remember, you heard it here first.

[timflan]

I've posted my summary of ALL costs incurred to accomplish full installation of receive-only AIS aboard Two Lucky Fish. The article is up at Navagear: AIS On-The-Cheap

[thataway]

Tim,
Why did you use a clam shell rather than a "Cable Clam" or a coax packing gland type of fitting? I assume that you filled the hole under the ss clamshell ventillator with silicone rather than polysulfide.

[timflan]

Only one reason I used a clam shell: That's what had been used for the other antenna! When it was set up by EQ Marine, I assume.

And no, I used polysulfide exclusively, but I doubt very much of the polysulfide made it into the hole. I drilled the hole just large enough for the cable to fit, so there's no effective way to apply any material to the inside of the hole.

If it were cored with balsa, I would have painted the inside surfaces with epoxy and let it set up, but since it's monolithic fiberglass the whole way through, I didn't need to do that.

I just packed lots of polysulfide around the cable and pushed the clam shell over it. If it fails, I will probably drill holes for the clam shell and mount it the conventional way.

Anyway, let me be clear that I don't claim to be doing any of this RIGHT! I just do my best, and I publicize what I've done. I learn a lot when folks ask why I did it that bonehead way instead of the easy way everybody else does it!

So let me ask: Why should I have filled the area under the clam shell with silicone? I don't know this.

[thataway]

I have used the packing gland type of fittings if I was just putting the cable thru the cabin top. If I had to put a larger fitting (such as the radar or GPS) I use the Cable Clam. The issue is will there be a leak around the cable? How easy will it be to remove the fitting and thread another cable thru? Definately if the top is cored, you need to undercut the core, fill with epoxy and then redrill/smooth to the cable size. Will the clam shell ventillator pull off with polysulfide?--probably not. I have used the clam shell over the transom on the inside and on the inside of the boat on the overhead. I use very short screws, which don't go thru the overhead. I also fill the hole with silicone, to assure that it will not leak.--
I believe that the way I do it, will allow for easier replacement, and is less likely to leak.

Maybe that is "old fashioned"--but the way that I do it.

[thataway]

Well, the AIS "B" didn't get on the FCC 26th Feb adjenda for even discussion, let along approval, and so far is not on the next meeting (March 19th)--so something still delalys the approval of the "B" system for recreational boats.

[hardee]

Thanks Dr Bob for keeping us up on this. I do still have an interest here.
Harvey
SleepyC

[timflan]

I've got my Shine Micro Class-B AIS transceiver up and running on Two Lucky Fish. I've been writing about it over at Navagear.

Up and running
Installation details
Underway