Satellite tracking

[scruff]

Hi.

In preparation for the JC-2014 I'm planning on taking Minerva out of the Clyde and heading northwest out into the Atlantic for a week, turn around then head back home.

Family members have indicated their desire to be kept abreast of my travels and to know that I am OK.

Now, just as there will be no Tesco's on Rockall, I'm not counting on having mobile coverage out in the Atlantic either.

Does the hive mind have any experience in SPOT tracker's or are their any better devices I should be looking at??

I'm not interested in a communication device to call home, but the ability to upload my location every few hours to google maps would be pretty cool.

Many thanks,

 

[snorkmaiden]

This might be your solution.
http://oceanracetrack.com/gettracked.aspx

I think you could also consider an active AIS - not only would it make you visible to boats with AIS receivers (all big ships & many fishing vessels). Your family should see you on their home computers. Not sure about power consumption but if not in a shipping lane, why not just turn it on at agreed times?

No experience of either, just thinking... We have AIS receiver & that's a big plus when crossing the channel.

 

[oldvarnish]

Google 'inReach Delorme '. Done me proud the length of the atlantic.

 

[prv]

I think you could also consider an active AIS - not only would it make you visible to boats with AIS receivers (all big ships & many fishing vessels). Your family should see you on their home computers.

Only if there's an AIS receiver connected to the Internet within range, which is unlikely a week out into the Atlantic.

Pete

 

[lenseman]

Only if there's an AIS receiver connected to the Internet within range, which is unlikely a week out into the Atlantic.

Pete

Actually Pete, you are a little out of date. Snorkmaden is absolutely correct as there now is full AIS coverage across the vast oceans of the world and as she quite rightly states, and active AIS transmitter would be a useful device to let other ships know you are in the area.

http://www.exactearth.com/products/exactais-viewer/

What you are stating is the MarineTraffic does not cover beyond the coast which is also true.



.

 

[tarik]

I am heading off to Gibraltar next week, I have a Spot tracker - it will do everything I want, regularly updates location for friends and family - direct to their phone and also via a dedicated web site tracking.


Fair winds

David

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Sailed Faro to Horta a few weeks ago. we had a spot tracker which worked all but a 36hr period where no updates were received.
However, earlier today the guy I sailed with had to abandon ship about 400nm north of Horta after hitting something and taking on more water than he could pump. He sent a SPOT SOS and activated my PLB which I had left on board. The PLB set the rescue in motion about 30 minutes after it was activated. The SPOT SOS message was only received 12 hours after it was sent due to poor coverage.

Spot is fine for following but a dedicated EPIRB or PLB is a must for rescue.

He's fine and on a Spanish fishing vessel heading for Vigo. His boat, a 1962 Vertue is sinking at position 43°23'16N 022°15'55W :-(

 

[Gargleblaster]

I've used a SPOT Tracker twice to the US and back and twice to the Azores. If gives just about 100 percent coverage for the whole North Atlantic, I think. The only day's people don't receive my message when I press the button is when I try and use it in the cabin, when it is too rough to use it outside.

I understand the Yellowbrick is very good, but the annual fee is about 3 times that of the SPOT. But you do get worldwide coverage.

In terms of AIS I used a Vesper Watchmate in 2011 crossing the Pacific. the only problem was that there was so little traffic it only reported CPA and TCPA coming into major ports.

I've just bought a radio incorporating an AIS reciever [Radio Ocean RO4800] and have been using it this year in the Atlantic. The only problem is that it has a really annoying alarm that it is impossible to sleep through. I've got it set down to one mile. But anything that even for a second turns across my path, even if it is 50 miles away it goes off. Surprisingly when I look at the target list if I leave it on for long enough it will report targets over 300 miles away. I don't understand how this works given the liited range of VHF.