Poor man's AIS app.

[Boo2]

...May I respectfully suggest that any decent malt whisky/whiskey or any other spirit (we tested this on rum a few weeks back) only needs a drop of water at room temperature.

I'm surprised that water alone can disguise the disgusting taste of whisky ?

Boo2

 

[Amulet]

I use marine traffic all the time for fun. It's no use at sea because you need signal to get to get it, and the data can be stale - and I mean 10 minutes stale sometimes. That's two miles for a vessel doing 12 knots! I do spend all my time at home watching who's doing what.

A really useful thing (not available from all vessels) is the ability to see what the wind is really doing in a given location.

 

[maxi77]

I use marine traffic all the time for fun. It's no use at sea because you need signal to get to get it, and the data can be stale - and I mean 10 minutes stale sometimes. That's two miles for a vessel doing 12 knots! I do spend all my time at home watching who's doing what.

A really useful thing (not available from all vessels) is the ability to see what the wind is really doing in a given location.

Agreed latency is the big problem wih all web based AIS, Ten minutes is good I have seen 24 hours plus. Iwould suggest that if AIS needs to be used on a boat you NEED the real stuff. Web based services cannot be relied upon to show you the real picture .

 

[Jungle Jim]

Not that I am recommending using it in anger at all, but I used the app on my phone on the Red Funnel last week from Cowes to Southampton as a test to see how many of the yachts around us I could 'see'. It was updating almost instantaneously, and picked up immediately the maneuvering of the poor bloke who decided that with the RedJet approaching from the port side, the Red Funnel from the starboard and the Bramble bank somewhere ahead, getting the hell out of Dodge was a good idea

 

[ShinyShoe]

Not that I am recommending using it in anger at all, but I used the app on my phone on the Red Funnel last week from Cowes to Southampton as a test to see how many of the yachts around us I could 'see'. It was updating almost instantaneously, and picked up immediately the maneuvering of the poor bloke who decided that with the RedJet approaching from the port side, the Red Funnel from the starboard and the Bramble bank somewhere ahead, getting the hell out of Dodge was a good idea

I think that entirely depends on the AIS source. At a guess that is from So'ton VTS and that they feed it pretty much live.

But if its coming from a volunteer's own receiver they may not configure to be so intensive.

 

[jamie N]

2 parts whisky, then 1 part water. Drink and savour, consult Marine Traffic, repeat whilst safely anchored with a CQR.

 

[zoidberg]

I use a free AIS app occasionally but haven’t yet seriously considered buying an AIS or proper chart plotter - but buy one if you fancy it as we all have different wants ( I wouldn’t set off without running hot water for a shower underway or an ice maker for my malt whiskey.

Barbarian! Off to the lead mines...