B+/B2 ais

I agree with all the thoughtful points that have been raised in this post. With that said, I would like to offer what I see as another benefit to having the ability to transmit an AIS signal. I’m an old guy and will be doing a lot of solo boating in the PNW, primarily on the Columbia and it’s tributaries. I have kids that love and understand boating, but they still worry about their dad being by himself if something were to go wrong medically, or with the boat, that prevented use of the VHF or cell phone. Having the transmit capability allows your location to be seen by others, not just other boats, and that could be quite beneficial. When at home I often open my AIS app just to look at areas and see who is where. I watched Colby when he was cruising the Columbia not long back. So by transmitting an AIS signal, if my kids know my float plan and don’t see any movement and also can’t reach me, they can make an appropriate call seeking assistance (if deemed necessary), and my location can then be easily found. While I’m not worried about this, it does seem like a nice additional safety feature. I might not have thought this through properly so if I’m off base please say so…

Rob
 
RobMcClain":m626yd58 said:
I agree with all the thoughtful points that have been raised in this post. With that said, I would like to offer what I see as another benefit to having the ability to transmit an AIS signal. I’m an old guy and will be doing a lot of solo boating in the PNW, primarily on the Columbia and it’s tributaries. I have kids that love and understand boating, but they still worry about their dad being by himself if something were to go wrong medically, or with the boat, that prevented use of the VHF or cell phone. Having the transmit capability allows your location to be seen by others, not just other boats, and that could be quite beneficial. When at home I often open my AIS app just to look at areas and see who is where. I watched Colby when he was cruising the Columbia not long back. So by transmitting an AIS signal, if my kids know my float plan and don’t see any movement and also can’t reach me, they can make an appropriate call seeking assistance (if deemed necessary), and my location can then be easily found. While I’m not worried about this, it does seem like a nice additional safety feature. I might not have thought this through properly so if I’m off base please say so…

Rob
Click to expand...

AIS is VHF, fairly low power. It is designed for ships within a couple of miles of each to exchange location, direction, speed, etc., often at night and low viz conditions.

For others to see your position via the internet you need to be in 2/5 watt VHF range of an AIS shore station. If you're in developed areas, this may not be a problem. In remote areas it may not be possible to get your AIS signal onto the internet. I would not count on my AIS info to be on the internet in a timely manner as some sort of emergency signaling device.

If you are concerned about something happening to you and needing emergency services, a PLB is probably a better choice. For communicating with others in remote areas a satellite communicator like InReach is also a better choice than AIS (IMO).
 
ssobol":vs56m033 said:
RobMcClain":vs56m033 said:
I agree with all the thoughtful points that have been raised in this post. With that said, I would like to offer what I see as another benefit to having the ability to transmit an AIS signal. I’m an old guy and will be doing a lot of solo boating in the PNW, primarily on the Columbia and it’s tributaries. I have kids that love and understand boating, but they still worry about their dad being by himself if something were to go wrong medically, or with the boat, that prevented use of the VHF or cell phone. Having the transmit capability allows your location to be seen by others, not just other boats, and that could be quite beneficial. When at home I often open my AIS app just to look at areas and see who is where. I watched Colby when he was cruising the Columbia not long back. So by transmitting an AIS signal, if my kids know my float plan and don’t see any movement and also can’t reach me, they can make an appropriate call seeking assistance (if deemed necessary), and my location can then be easily found. While I’m not worried about this, it does seem like a nice additional safety feature. I might not have thought this through properly so if I’m off base please say so…

Rob
Click to expand...

AIS is VHF, fairly low power. It is designed for ships within a couple of miles of each to exchange location, direction, speed, etc., often at night and low viz conditions.

For others to see your position via the internet you need to be in 2/5 watt VHF range of an AIS shore station. If you're in developed areas, this may not be a problem. In remote areas it may not be possible to get your AIS signal onto the internet. I would not count on my AIS info to be on the internet in a timely manner as some sort of emergency signaling device.

If you are concerned about something happening to you and needing emergency services, a PLB is probably a better choice. For communicating with others in remote areas a satellite communicator like InReach is also a better choice than AIS (IMO).
Click to expand...

I agree with both of these views. However, an AIS track is not something I would rely on If I had an issue with getting a VHF transmission out. I have been in areas where there was no VFH signal, WX or CG or VTS. Yes, I still transmitted the AIS signal but have no idea if anyone was receiving it. If there had been some sort of emergency, I do carry a PLB for that reason. Right now, I am tracing Sandy on his around Vancouver Island trip. He is using the InReach device and even in areas where there is no phone, internet or VHF reception, I have been able to check in on his track and message through the InReach. For a solo traveler, that has got to provide some peace of mind.

Keep in mind, these are different devices for different situations and there is only very minimal overlap and that is not reliable enough.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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With the B+ transmitter, you have a pretty good chance of being picked up on the AIS satellites. Not so much with the plain B GPS.

I agree with Spot or InReach being preferable for tracking. I have found Nebro to be rather glitchy,. I have been trying to follow a boat for about 4 months and it really has been more miss than hit. But it is a cheap way to allow others to track you.
 
A lot of good comments. I do want to say, in reference to what Rob wrote, I too look at the advantage of AIS for my wife to be able to follow me in certain waters. When up at Isle Royale NP, which is pretty much off the grid, she was able to track my AIS everywhere except for a very short distance between Grand Portage and Wendigo. I also like knowing that if I go down somewhere in most navigable waters, there will be a trace of me somewhere, as most are covered by land stations. Now maybe not all will provide my tracking as a free service on some of the internet sites, but that doesn't mean my track isn't available. There are areas that my lower class of AiS may not be watched, but most the big waters I frequent, it is. Again, I just consider it another useful benefit. Colby
 
I appreciate the feedback regarding the safety tracking aspect. For the record, I should clarify I have no health issues and I’ve been boating for 50+ years. I have tracked friends who cruise the lower Columbia and had very good success and accuracy doing so. With this said, the points raised regarding the safety aspect are very well taken and appreciated. I would not want AIS transmission to be my lifeline, nor would I install it for that reason. I just see it as another of the many ancillary benefits for doing so. To date, it seems most areas of the navigable lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers have very good reception. I know if I ever take the boat back into the more remote areas of the PNW that can well be a different story.

Rob
 
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