"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 15:02:03 +0100, "Meindert Sprang"
wrote:


Larry, your prayers have been heard. By the end of 2004, all SOLAS vessel
are required to have an AIS system, which does exactly what you want. It
transmits position, course, ROT and other info on a VHF packet radio-like
network.

Meindert


Excellent. Have you seen ours on ham radio? http://www.findu.com/

APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) has been online in ham radio
for many years. It was invented to find lost Midshipmen at the Naval
Academy by Bob Bruninga WB4APR, a ham that works there.

Yep. Great system. I too have thought about how to use APRS for boaters. The
problem is regulations. It is illegal to hook up anything to your VHF
yourself, epsecially when it produces something else that voice :-) And to
be of any use, everybody should use it.

Funny thing is, when I thought about how to make AIS available fot jotties,
my idea was to have a simple VHF receiver connected to a computer through a
modem, to enable the average jottie to receive the AIS signals from big
ships to avoid. Sort of radar replacement. Simple, cheap and no hassle with
licenses of regulations. Then someone else pointed out to me that the other
way around, only having a low-cost transponder aboard small yachts would be
very useful for commercial vessels because most yachts are hardly visible on
radar. Well, we'll see when it is available for a decent price....

Meindert