We find it very useful and use it all the time when underway - to keep track
of large and sometimes faster boats. I also like being able to hail a
vessel by name, as opposed to 'The large tow downbound at market 12'...
We have an AIS transmitter, and though I think most the times commercial
guys ignore us Class-B folks, I know they can see us and can use the info
when needed.
With the costs at times under $500, for a transceiver, and perhaps under
$300, I think it is well worth it.
BTW: There is another way to sort of get AIS info, over the web. Apps on a
smart phone, or web portals like: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ can give
some idea into AIS traffic. But I do not really like it, as the coverage is
spotty (esp away from cities), and there can be at times a large delay in
updated by the time the info gets all the way into the internet, and then
back to you. Better to use a proper local AIS receiver connected to your
chartplotter.
Viking Star
45' Monk Sr. / McQueen
mvVikingStar.blogspot.com
We find it very useful and use it all the time when underway - to keep track
of large and sometimes faster boats. I also like being able to hail a
vessel by name, as opposed to 'The large tow downbound at market 12'...
We have an AIS transmitter, and though I think most the times commercial
guys ignore us Class-B folks, I know they can see us and can use the info
when needed.
With the costs at times under $500, for a transceiver, and perhaps under
$300, I think it is well worth it.
BTW: There is another way to sort of get AIS info, over the web. Apps on a
smart phone, or web portals like: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ can give
some idea into AIS traffic. But I do not really like it, as the coverage is
spotty (esp away from cities), and there can be at times a large delay in
updated by the time the info gets all the way into the internet, and then
back to you. Better to use a proper local AIS receiver connected to your
chartplotter.
Viking Star
45' Monk Sr. / McQueen
mvVikingStar.blogspot.com
