Tracking for SWMBO

[Scillypete]

Another vote for the spot tracker, I have been using mine for four seasons now its very reliable, 99 euros a year subscription which kind of makes you want to use it regularly. you can set it up to text whoever with your current postion and a short preset message at the same time it will also post to your facebook page if you set it up to do so letting friends know your position and they can then follow your progress. Don't just switch it on and leave it on as it will put out a position every ten or twenty minutes so decide before you go whether to send out a position every 6, 12 or 24 hours.
http://www.findmespot.eu/en/index.php

 

[prv]

But in any event AIS on yachts is receive only.

Can tell you've not visited the Solent in the last five years or so

No reason a yacht can't transmit AIS, and many do.

Pete

 

[rivonia]

That surprises me if true. Who is picking up AIS signals from the middle of Biscay (and how?) to forward them on to the Internet?

Pete

try www.marinetraffic.com This gives world wide AIS coverage

Good luck

Peter

PS I have just zoomed into BISCAY and watched a few yachts. Put the curser over and it comes up with the details

 

[single]

try www.marinetraffic.com This gives world wide AIS coverage

Good luck

Peter

Don't the signals get relayed by other ships and a/c?

 

[Graham_Wright]

I append the response from McMurdo re the comparison between FastFind and Spot etc.

"Thanks for your inquiry.

SPOT YellowBrick and InReacch do support non emergency messaging and tracking features that are not possible with a 406 PLB.

SPOT is basically a personal tracking unit with an SOS button that links to a call handing service. These devices have air time running costs via yearly subscription service.

Some of these tracking type devices do have geographic limitation in coverage, were as 406 PLBs do have full global coverage and completely free of airtime costs.

A big benefit of the 406 PLB is that it’s a one off purchase cost, nothing else to pay until first battery change time 6 years later on.
However, the 406 PLB should only ever be activated in a life threatening situation (it’s not a tracking device as such unless it’s an emergency life threatening situation you are in).

Most importantly, as the 406 PLB emergency alert is delivered directly into the coast guard rescue centre the speed the accuracy of the SAR response can be assured rather than relying on the services of a third party call centre as used in the case of SPOT etc.

I trust this information is of help.

Best regards
Robin P George
Marine Product Manager
Mob: +44 (0) 7738 046584
DDI: +44 (0) 2392 623977

 

[prv]

Don't the signals get relayed by other ships and a/c?

Why would they do that?

Handling AIS data on the Internet is essentially a hobbyist activity, albeit an increasingly organised and monetised one. I suppose they might pay a shipping company to receive AIS transmissions and relay them via Inmarsat or whatever satellite link the ships have, but it seems unlikely that the shipping company would be interested unless the fee was quite substantial.

Pete

 

[Oldhairy]

With MMSI I suppose I could call up any big ship around and ask if they could pass on my (= their) position.

Not a snowballs chance.... I have more than enough on my plate as it is.

 

[maby]

That surprises me if true. Who is picking up AIS signals from the middle of Biscay (and how?) to forward them on to the Internet?

Pete

There is a satellite based AIS receiving network in operation based on low earth orbit satellites, but the coverage is not 100%. I don't think it monitors class B transmissions either.

 

[oldvarnish]

To get back to tracking - I've used both Spot and InReach. Both will track you very nicely. Where the InReach scores is that you can have a two-way text conversation (if you want that sort of thing) anywhere on the ocean via an InReach when you Bluetooth it to your mobile phone. InReach is a much more versatile bit of kit than Spot.

It's a small point, but Spot coverage is less good at higher latitudes.

 

[Scillypete]

I append the response from McMurdo re the comparison between FastFind and Spot etc.

"Thanks for your inquiry.

SPOT YellowBrick and InReacch do support non emergency messaging and tracking features that are not possible with a 406 PLB.

SPOT is basically a personal tracking unit with an SOS button that links to a call handing service. These devices have air time running costs via yearly subscription service.

Some of these tracking type devices do have geographic limitation in coverage, were as 406 PLBs do have full global coverage and completely free of airtime costs.

A big benefit of the 406 PLB is that it’s a one off purchase cost, nothing else to pay until first battery change time 6 years later on.
However, the 406 PLB should only ever be activated in a life threatening situation (it’s not a tracking device as such unless it’s an emergency life threatening situation you are in).

Most importantly, as the 406 PLB emergency alert is delivered directly into the coast guard rescue centre the speed the accuracy of the SAR response can be assured rather than relying on the services of a third party call centre as used in the case of SPOT etc.

I trust this information is of help.

Best regards
Robin P George
Marine Product Manager
Mob: +44 (0) 7738 046584
DDI: +44 (0) 2392 623977

Which is why apart from the Spot tracker I carry an EPIRB, as far as I'm concerned they do two very different jobs

 

[Graham_Wright]

try www.marinetraffic.com This gives world wide AIS coverage

Good luck

Peter

PS I have just zoomed into BISCAY and watched a few yachts. Put the curser over and it comes up with the details

So presumably all these vessels are carrying ClassB?