NASA AIS, How does it work?

[Saddletramp]

My new (to me) boat has AIS. I can turn it on but that is about all. It says it has no signal from the gps, I have a Navman chartplotter on the boat.

I have not dug about behind to see if there are any wires that should be connected.

Are there any instructions available? Would it work ie read the data put out by ships without the GPS?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[pvb]

If you mean the badly-named Nasa AIS Radar, it does need a GPS input in order to operate. You can download the manual for it from the Nasa website.

 

[Pye_End]

Ships give out their GPS position (amongst other things), so although you can get it to work if you input your position into the unit, it is only really useful if you connect your GPS up to it. Otherwise the unit does not know where the ships are in relation to you.

 

[VicS]

Beaten to it. the "manual" is HERE

[--word removed--]+ Ctrl + plus to rotate it if you end up like me with it on its side

 

[Allan]

Did you miss an "f" out of your reply?
Allan /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Saddletramp]

Got the intructions now thanks - will investigate the wiring now.

 

[pappaecho]

radar = r=RADIO A=AIDED D=DIRECTION A=AND R=RANGING

Yup, when fed with a gps signal so it knows where it is, it does everything above.
Also known as "passive radar" as it knows where you are, and not vice versa - much used in Military applications to who had got their radar switched on and so reveal themselves.
Unlikethe military version it relies on transponders which supposedly are meant to be programmed with course, destination, name of ship etc, and should be fitted to all ships above 250 tonnes.
Surprisingly in the Solent we do see the odd ship without it switched on, and almost invariably they are flying foreign flags. Cant think why?

 

[awol]

Always thought it was "RAdio Detection And Ranging" though I have heard "RAdio Detection of Azimuth and Range".

Both versions fit the NASA AIS rather well.

 

[PCUK]

RAdio Direction And Range!

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Did you miss an "f" out of your reply?

[/ QUOTE ] Oh shift! I must have done.
Found out now how to get the "rotate" tool, and a few more, on the tool bar

 

[pappaecho]

I have a 1942 Radar operators manual from my fathers days - it states as I posted above, clearly using the word "aided"