DeLorme / Inmarsat SAILOR TT-3026D / Mini-C / LRIT / tracking

[nickrj]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience/knowledge about Mini-C/LRIT/asset tracking? I'm borrowing a friends Inmarsat Sailor TT-3026D Mini-C unit for a trip across the Pacific next month, and I'd like to do automated time interval tracking - ie. x hours send position. I think this is possible with Polestar - however it's a bit of an old clunky enterprise thing where they chart the points on C-Maps which are only accessible via a special dashboard. I actually just want my own tracking data in a usable format (XML, etc).

Does anyone in the marine industry know how I can get this data affordably with Mini-C? If not, I have a DeLorme Inreach so I could perhaps manually update my position daily, but again, I don't think I can access my own tracking data.

I wish these companies would open up access to peoples own data, instead of wrapping it around other clunky systems...

nick.

 

[nickrj]

This place used to be full of knowledgeable people! Two recent posts and not a single reply! Fair winds!

 

[Bilgediver]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience/knowledge about Mini-C/LRIT/asset tracking? I'm borrowing a friends Inmarsat Sailor TT-3026D Mini-C unit for a trip across the Pacific next month, and I'd like to do automated time interval tracking - ie. x hours send position. I think this is possible with Polestar - however it's a bit of an old clunky enterprise thing where they chart the points on C-Maps which are only accessible via a special dashboard. I actually just want my own tracking data in a usable format (XML, etc).

Does anyone in the marine industry know how I can get this data affordably with Mini-C? If not, I have a DeLorme Inreach so I could perhaps manually update my position daily, but again, I don't think I can access my own tracking data.

I wish these companies would open up access to peoples own data, instead of wrapping it around other clunky systems...

nick.

Your question is a little bit ambiguous which may be why no one has replied. LRIT is an IMO system set up to allow vessels to be automatically tracked especially with the increase in pirate activity. As small vessel operators can be very careful with the CASH then the inexpensive Sat C system was adopted for some vessels. The Sat C system is very basic and sends text form messages. For LRIT a GPS antenna was added to the system and presumably enough chips to take the NMEA position course and speed data and convert this to a basic formatted message. The system can be set to send messages automatically as and when required . No doubt the CSAT system is then programmed where to send these messages. This could be the Flag State Register for tracking is vessels or an agency such as Pole Star where for a subscription owners can view their vessels on line. This basically follows the APRS system set up by radio hams many years ago where data is fed to servers where it gets to web pages for public display.

I can see no reason why you cannot send your SAT C messages to a private email address where they could be input manually or otherwise to your own system.

The Delorme does something similar but is more in the public domain.

If you were a radio ham then you could use the APRS system where you send data via VHF SSB or Iridium and the positions are displayed on easily accessed web pages. One way of sending data is in preformatted Winlink E mails. The system fprwards these to APRS.

Not sure if this helps you.

 

[E1_1966]

Nick,

LRIT is run by port state control, or their appointed representative running a system. If you are on a yacht, then you probably won't need to have LRIT. Its a pig to setup and takes 2 days to have an approved test completed.
What tracking companies, such as pole star, purple finder, fleetviewonline etc, do is send a position pole request to the sat-c terminal, which returns a single packet (1/4 kbit) with name/ position/ course/ speed etc.
All well and good if you want someone else to have your tracking information. But if you want to have this data yourself onboard, then it would have to be emailed back to you.
There are other things around, send me a PM if you want to chat further,
Cheers
E1