AIS Transponders

[doris]

It has been suggested on another thread that buying a news AIS transponder is a waste of money because the position doesn’t appear on any screen, certainly not on a radar screen. Class B (and class A) AIS signals are displayed on the ship's bridge with their lat and long on a three line text display. Ships use radar for collision avoidance. You don't appear on any screen, - you have to hope that someone looks at a 3 line text display and then goes and plots your position on their radar screen and updates it every few minutes. Your class B AIS will show up on some yachts' plotter screen but only if they have the latest AIS gear. So, not really worth £700 and counter productive as any feeling of safety is an illusion and may cause you to make decisions based on the ship seeing you.

ISAF have decreed that for any ORC class 1or 2 events having a transponder is now a requirement. This means £6-800 needs to be spent on something that is of very dubious value.

Any commercial experts out there that can give us some ammo or guidance?

 

[wotayottie]

Doesnt surprise me - my limited time on the bridge of big ships has always shown less up to date kit than many a well equipped private yacht. I guess the difference is between someone running a business and a hobby sailor buying toys.

nevertheless, it will come and even if it currently is patchy, it's probably worthwhile