class A AIS

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The deal-breaker for me for Class "A" AIS is the fact that you have to program it with voyage data every time you go out.

Theoretically, you even have to reprogram it every time you go from sail to power or back.

This is fine for ships, but not suitable for casual or short-handed sailing.

What does "have to" mean? We have certainly experienced commercial ships with incorrect voyage information showing on their AIS. Even anchored ones moving at quite a clip, as well as ones in transit showing as anchored.

How does the AIS know what the ship is doing or where it is going?

Mark

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by colemj

What does "have to" mean? We have certainly experienced commercial ships with incorrect voyage information showing on their AIS. Even anchored ones moving at quite a clip, as well as ones in transit showing as anchored.

How does the AIS know what the ship is doing or where it is going?

Mark

You have to enter the data every time you leave or arrive or change status. It's designed for well-crewed commercial vessels, not us.

Yes, many ships have the wrong data entered. I would not want to sail around broadcasting Class "A" with the wrong data in it, worse than defeating the purpose.

[Jim Cate]

Yet another reason that I will never join such a rally!

Jim

[Emmalina]

Class A was developed for commercial shipping ! They developed class B for pleasure craft with a lower tx power and less frequent TX so they don't "clutter up" busy ports. Why the ARC require a class A is ignorance or a typo IMHO

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

You have to enter the data every time you leave or arrive or change status. It's designed for well-crewed commercial vessels, not us.

Yes, many ships have the wrong data entered. I would not want to sail around broadcasting Class "A" with the wrong data in it, worse than defeating the purpose.

I see, so class A has data fields that are available to be filled, not that they have to be filled in order for the AIS to work.

If so, then it is simple - just leave those fields blank.

Or fill them with the words most commonly heard out of the mouths of these WARCer's: "We're going around the world!".

Mark

[ka4wja]

Well it looks like MarkJ is correct here guys!!!

RDW, not sure who sent you the World ARC info, or when....but it appears you were given an old doc (with either a typo or old information)....

Originally Posted by RDW

I need to upgrade to class A AIS. Required for World Arc.

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I just checked and the World ARC does not require Class A. It requires either Class A or Class B

http://www.worldcruising.com/CMS/CMS/Library/Safety_Regs/WCC_2015_Safety_Equipment_Regulations_ENG_Web.pdf

There ya go, I just saved you over $2,000!!!!! Raymarine 650 Class B is about $900.

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

This is their safety requirements:
http://www.worldcruising.com/CMS/CMS/Library/Safety_Regs/WCC_2014_Safety_Equipment_Regulations_ENG.pdf
And yes, they require a class A transponder.

Originally Posted by colemj

Strange, the 2015 world ARC is currently swarming around us now, and almost all of them have class B AIS.

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

From 2015 onwards they require class A I think.

Originally Posted by RDW

MarkJ
The the information I received from World Cruising stated class A transponder.
I checked again after your post.
Thanks for trying to save me $
rdw

On first glance, the links appear to be the same document, but they are not!!!

The earlier doc that RDW has...
http://www.worldcruising.com/CMS/CMS...ations_ENG.pdf
Shows "2014" at the top, and "c World Cruising Club, 2013-14" at the bottom of the pages....
(and does list a Class A AIS transponder as being required....by mistake or oversight, I assume...)


The new doc that MarkJ posted the link for....
http://www.worldcruising.com/CMS/CMS...ns_ENG_Web.pdf
Shows "2015" at the top, and "c World Cruising club 2014-15" at the bottom of the pages....
(and this newer doc lists either a Class A or Class B transponder, as being required...)

So....

So, whether the earlier doc was in error or an oversight, etc. I have no idea...
But, it seems clear that going forward the World ARC is requiring either a Class A or Class B AIS transponder....

(and for their racing division, they use the ISAF Cat 1 standards / "special regulations" as their basis of their requirements....)


I hope this helps clarify things....
And, RDW, MarkJ DID just save you $2000!!! (so you owe him a cold Fosters!


fair winds...

John
s/v Annie Laurie

[RDW]

My information came directly from World Cruising.
I have read it again.
I just emailed them for more clarification.
Thanks for everyone's concern and help.
rdw

[ka4wja]

RDW,
Not questioning that World Cruising sent you the doc....
But, look at the doc....does it say "2015" on the top, and "c World Cruising Club 2014-15" at the bottom of the pages???
I assume it says "2014" at the top, and "c World Cruising Club 2013-14" at the bottom of the pages???

Originally Posted by RDW

My information came directly from World Cruising.
I have read it again.

If my assumption is correct, they sent you last year's information....honest error, no big deal!!



Good luck....

BTW, I'm with Dockhead on this one....having to input the additional data all the time, etc. is just one more reason to save the $$$$ and NOT install a Class A unit!!!


Fair winds...

John
s/v Annie Laurie

[RDW]

Looked again and it is titled world arc 2016-2017
I also emailed them for clarification.
rdw

[ka4wja]

Okay, let's see what they say....

Originally Posted by RDW

Looked again and it is titled world arc 2016-2017
I also emailed them for clarification.
rdw

But, remember Jimmy is getting up there in years....and I'm not sure anyone/everyone at the WCC is very well versed in these specifics....
Not to mention that most of these things are never proof-read by anyone technical....


Fair winds...

John
s/v Annie Laurie

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by ka4wja

Well it looks like MarkJ is correct here guys!!!

Yep.

Originally Posted by ka4wja

And, RDW, MarkJ DID just save you $2000!!! (so you owe him a cold Fosters! )

Or eight or ten, along with a nice steak dinner to wash down with them!

[RDW]

Originally Posted by ka4wja

Okay, let's see what they say....
But, remember Jimmy is getting up there in years....and I'm not sure anyone/everyone at the WCC is very well versed in these specifics....
Not to mention that most of these things are never proof-read by anyone technical....


Fair winds...

John
s/v Annie Laurie

Jimmy sold it around 2011. A pretty organized group runs it now. The do several different rallys. To me they appear to do a very good job. The stuff they send out gets read and questioned by the skippers that are trying to meet all their requirements.
rdw

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by ka4wja

Well it looks like MarkJ is correct

Yay!

Well, I hope so!

There would be a large number of rather angry people if forced to change their Class B to Class A. I dont think the W Arc is that stupid. But one never knows.

[goboatingnow]

Class B by the way was developed primarily for fishing boats not yachts etc

[RDW]

It is really going to be interesting how this turns out.
If you want to see for yourself and interested, I emailed mail@worldcruising.com and asked for detailed information about the World ARC 2015-2016. Make sure you are not asking about other lessor rallies or earlier World ARCs.
I may get World Cruising to post to the thread.
Now the real question was can I just plug in a new class a transponder where my old class b was. I think I know from a little reading that the class a has more features, own GPS, own antenna and therefore I can not do a real simple exchange one unit for the other. So for the fun of it lets assume that indeed I have to have a class A transponder, has anyone experience doing the install yourself. I have a Raymarine E 80 chart plotter, raymarine radar and sea talk and also have a lap top connected to the whole mess.
RDW