Tracking voyage from home

[cabo_sailor]

Joe,
Appreciate the info. In the past the code requirement was more work than I wanted. I know it's no more and if I eventually get a SSB, I'll definitely get the ticket. But for general ham radio, I'm not the type that would enjoy spending my spare time sending CQ.

It's an option but just not at the moment.

Rich


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[cabo_sailor]

You guys are amazing. OK I'll add the sat phone to my list. But aren't the Iridium phones like thousands of dollars?


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[Mike OReilly]

Another happy inReach user. Friends can see our progress on sea or land. Price is modest, and the two-way global texting is great.

[neophytecruiser]

Contrary to what has been shared in a previous post, it is my understanding, if your boat is equipped with an AIS transponder these signals are now also tracked by satellite (~1997). Vessels transmitting an AIS signal can now be tracked world wide. If your daughter has an Internet connection, she should be able to follow your track, wherever you might be, as long as the transponder is active.

[cabo_sailor]

Sorry, I have an AIS receiver only. The amount of ship traffic where I normally play did not warrant the added expense. Later, maybe.


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[travellerw]

Originally Posted by neophytecruiser

Contrary to what has been shared in a previous post, it is my understanding, if your boat is equipped with an AIS transponder these signals are now also tracked by satellite (~1997). Vessels transmitting an AIS signal can now be tracked world wide. If your daughter has an Internet connection, she should be able to follow your track, wherever you might be, as long as the transponder is active.

No.. I don't think that is true. They have been testing satellite based AIS since 2005, but only on Class A AIS devices.

According to Wikipedia, base stations need to be connected to the internet to make the data available online for class B. Those base stations are mostly run by volunteers so there are gaps. Once out of range of an Internet connected base stations, you will become invisible. So anything truely offshore requires a device like Inreach or Spot!

[Swammy]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

My daughter will be one of our emergency contacts. She asked if there was a way of displaying our position on her computer in real time.

I'm pretty sure there is but I can't remember how it is done or what equipment I need.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Rich


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Rich,

Here is a picture of a recent trip I made with my family and is what can be seen by anyone who has the link you provide them through Delorme

I bought an inreach new, but I really like the suggestion to buy one via ebay or the likes as some do not use them as they originally thought. Myself, I sail upwards of 10k miles per year, so I like it for my family and friends to know where I am. DeLorme inReach - Two-way satellite text messaging, tracking and SOS anywhere in the world

The plan is very flexible. I just activated mine for a trip Ill take next week. I had it not activated last month and didn't pay a thing. I also get OCENS weather on this so I can identify changes and it uses the Iridum network.

Here is a link to what the plan costs. Its cheap in my perspective - DeLorme inReach - Two-way satellite text messaging, tracking and SOS anywhere in the world

The post earlier that spoke of the Iridum phone being superior? I myself will look at that from this guys post, but I assume it is a very high cost vs. this delorme. But, I am open.

Here are the pros of this - Battery life incredible of 4 days without a charge. Robust construction, straight forward website interface, low cost and easy use by people looking at your position or texts. (you can send texts up to 140 characters and can receive texts back in the middle of the ocean if you want to)

Cons - To text in a message is freakin clumsy and slow - think netflix interface when you have to put in your password using a tv remote. Small unit the size of one of those walkie talkies. Why a con? Buy a cover/case for it and put that caribeaner around something whenever you are on deck or at the helm. An errant wave or wind will blow that thing into the water.

[Jman]

Originally Posted by neophytecruiser

Contrary to what has been shared in a previous post, it is my understanding, if your boat is equipped with an AIS transponder these signals are now also tracked by satellite (~1997). Vessels transmitting an AIS signal can now be tracked world wide. If your daughter has an Internet connection, she should be able to follow your track, wherever you might be, as long as the transponder is active.

Nope. AIS transmits over VHF. There are land based stations that are picking these up and presenting it on the Internet, but if you are out of range from land and other AIS receivers, no one knows you are there.


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[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Swammy

Cons - To text in a message is freakin clumsy and slow - think netflix interface when you have to put in your password using a tv remote. Small unit the size of one of those walkie talkies. Why a con? Buy a cover/case for it and put that caribeaner around something whenever you are on deck or at the helm. An errant wave or wind will blow that thing into the water.

I want to clarify this.. Swammy is talking about actually texting on the Inreach device itself. I wholeheartedly agree that sucks..

BUT... If you hook the Inreach up to an Android/Apple cell phone or tablet over bluetooth, then its no different than regular texting (except limited to 160char per text). Actually even better as I have a bluetooth keyboard I also hook up so its super easy.

For my long passage, I bought the unlimited plan for that month. Its a good way to pass the time when I got bored of reading, fishing, ect. I texted friends from the middle of the ocean!

[jreiter190]

I tried that, but the air fairs to fly home and check my computer were killing me. Take my wife--Please!

[Paul Elliott]

(re satellite AIS reception)

Originally Posted by Jman

Nope. AIS transmits over VHF. There are land based stations that are picking these up and presenting it on the Internet, but if you are out of range from land and other AIS receivers, no one knows you are there.

There are now commercial satellite services that do a pretty good job of receiving Class-A AIS from ships at sea, and making this tracking information available -- for a price. I don't know if they can receive Class-B signals. Here is an example: Satellite AIS for vessel tracking - AIS Marine Traffic


This probably isn't appropriate for the OP, however.

[neophytecruiser]

Upon further investigation, the correction made by Travellerw is spot on. Here's what I subsequently learned from the tracking website: Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - AIS Marine Traffic

The MarineTraffic system does not cover all the seas of the world, but only specific coastal areas where a land-based AIS receiver is installed. Vessels appearing on the live map are equipped with an operational AIS transponder and they sail within the reception range of an AIS receiver installed on the land. Possible reasons for a vessel's position not picked up and displayed on the live map are:

The vessel is not equipped with an AIS transponder or the transponder is not operational or the transponder is not properly working
The vessel sails in an area where no nearby AIS receiving station exists
The transmission power of the vessel's AIS transponder is not enough in order for a land-based station to receive the signals. This depends on the type of the transponder, the type and the height of the antenna and the quality of the cabling
Especially for vessels equipped with a Class-B AIS transponder, the transmission power of AIS signals is much lower than the power of a Class-A transponder and therefore the reception range in much more restricted
The AIS transponder of the vessel is not configured to transmit the correct information (e.g. MMSI number, ship's name etc.)

My apologies for my previous mis-information. I, too, would recommend the SPOT tracker as an economical means of transmitting position information. We got ours before the DeLorme was available. Given the choice of the two, I'd be inclined to favor the DeLorme.

[wrwakefield]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

My daughter will be one of our emergency contacts. She asked if there was a way of displaying our position on her computer in real time.

I'm pretty sure there is but I can't remember how it is done or what equipment I need.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Rich


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Hi Rich,

If you have the capability of sending email from where you intend to cruise look into Farkwar.com- a free tracking site created by a fellow cruiser...

We use a combination of cell data, and when that isn't available, our Iridium Sat phone to send position reports to Farkwar. [We also intend to buy an IridiumGo once we outgrow our current sat phone data plan... Currently sat phone is most cost effective by half, but is not unlimited data like the IridiumGo plan...]

In case this is helpful.

Cheers!

Bill

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Swammy

Cons - To text in a message is freakin clumsy and slow - think netflix interface when you have to put in your password using a tv remote. Small unit the size of one of those walkie talkies. Why a con? Buy a cover/case for it and put that caribeaner around something whenever you are on deck or at the helm. An errant wave or wind will blow that thing into the water.

That's why I paid a bit extra for the Inreach SE. It sits secured in a sheltered spot behind the dodger and I can use my smartphone via Bluetooth to do any texting required with a decent keyboard.

[jessehunt]

Class A (commercial vessels) my use satellite, but Class B (pleasure craft and small fishing vessels) transmitters operate on VHF. If you are out of range of VHF, no signal.