On Feb 27, 2:37 pm, "DaveC" wrote:
On Feb 22, 6:23 am, Daniele Fua wrote:

I am looking around for an AIS receiver, good and not too expensive. I
am a sail cruiser. Is there any strong reason for buying a true 2
parallel channel receiver? I found this receiverhttp://www.yachtbits.com/easyais/easyais_ais_receiver.php
which appears to be quite good but it is not clear whether it is truly
parallel or duplexing.
Any advice?

Regards
Daniel

The AIS system has the ship's transmitter alternating the two
frequencies on a sporadic interval but have all information
transmitted every five minutes. Using one channel means you'll get the
vital data i.e. position, course and speed frequently enough but all
the other ship's data would be slower coming. AIS uses channels within
capability of your VHF radio, 161.875 and 162.025, but most don't
decode the signal (wait and see for the next round of DSC / VHF
radios?). You can get the signal using a plain old VHF scanner and
decode it using your laptop or PC, if you want to do it on the cheap,
see ShipPlotter.com andhttp://www.discriminator.nl/index-en.htmlfor
which scanners work and how to get the signal to your laptop.
The device you've identified above only gives the raw NMEA ascii
data over a serial line. You'll need a compatable front end device to
display it, ie. Furuno, Garmin, etc ($$$$) GPS plotter. OBTW you will
need a GPS to show where YOU are on any unit unless you want to
reduce LAT-LONG readings in your head. [:

The EasyAIS is not a true dual channel receiver.
Also, "the AIS is just for fun" idea is pretty bogus. Ask any cruisers
who've used a receiver while sailing in the vicinity of ships in
limited visability.
Lots of info about AIS at www.panbo.com.

?? "any cruiser" = "any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without *anything*
that require electricity .....

IMHO

Bjarke


"navnut" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 27, 2:37 pm, "DaveC" wrote:
snip

Also, "the AIS is just for fun" idea is pretty bogus. Ask any cruisers
who've used a receiver while sailing in the vicinity of ships in
limited visability.

Yes, and you can give a party without alcohol and survive on rice as
your daily meal ... I agree Bjarke, but must admit, I find it
fascinating and I have a lot of fun with all the new gadgets ... not
necessary, but "nice to have" ... In fact, a lot - if not most - of boat
electronics are "the toys of the man" ... the only difference to our
childrens toys - is the price ...

--
Flemming Torp
Gimle/DEN-61

"Bjarke M. Christensen" bjarkeNG@grevestrand_punktum_danmark skrev i
en meddelelse ...
?? "any cruiser" = "any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without
*anything* that require electricity .....

IMHO

Bjarke

On Feb 28, 4:41 pm, "Flemming Torp" fletopkanelbolle2rp.danmark
wrote:
Yes, and you can give a party without alcohol and survive on rice as
your daily meal ... I agree Bjarke, but must admit, I find it
fascinating and I have a lot of fun with all the new gadgets ... not
necessary, but "nice to have" ... In fact, a lot - if not most - of boat
electronics are "the toys of the man" ... the only difference to our
childrens toys - is the price ...

--
Flemming Torp
Gimle/DEN-61

"Bjarke M. Christensen" bjarkeNG@grevestrand_punktum_danmark skrev i
en bercity.dk...



?? "any cruiser" = "any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without
*anything* that require electricity .....

IMHO

Bjarke- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you Fleming. AIS is my cheapo radar for when I'm solo and need
to catch a few winks. I may be hove to or under auto-steering in which
case we may meet unfortunately since neither of us carry AIS
broadcasting equipment but I'm sure we'd fare much better than in
meeting a cargo ship in the fog. Hopefully, I'll have the scanner
running Channel 16, DSC and AIS along with the depthfinder and GPS
feeding all into a PC which will have the sense to wake me should
something not be cricket. I still have a compass, barometer and chart
though and will continue to use them. I'd like to have a sextant but
will survive as long as GPS and DR work. I welcome every technological
"toy" I can afford if it improves my security but I still embrace sea
worthiness and common sense and any defense against manmade perils.
Leif Ericsson never had to worry about super tankers.

On Feb 28, 10:16 pm, "DaveC" wrote:
On Feb 28, 4:41 pm, "Flemming Torp" fletopkanelbolle2rp.danmark
wrote:



Yes, and you can give a party without alcohol and survive on rice as
your daily meal ... I agree Bjarke, but must admit, I find it
fascinating and I have a lot of fun with all the new gadgets ... not
necessary, but "nice to have" ... In fact, a lot - if not most - of boat
electronics are "the toys of the man" ... the only difference to our
childrens toys - is the price ...

--
Flemming Torp
Gimle/DEN-61

"Bjarke M. Christensen" bjarkeNG@grevestrand_punktum_danmark skrev i
en bercity.dk...

?? "any cruiser" = "any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without
*anything* that require electricity .....

IMHO

Bjarke- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you Fleming. AIS is my cheapo radar for when I'm solo and need
to catch a few winks. I may be hove to or under auto-steering in which
case we may meet unfortunately since neither of us carry AIS
broadcasting equipment but I'm sure we'd fare much better than in
meeting a cargo ship in the fog. Hopefully, I'll have the scanner
running Channel 16, DSC and AIS along with the depthfinder and GPS
feeding all into a PC which will have the sense to wake me should
something not be cricket. I still have a compass, barometer and chart
though and will continue to use them. I'd like to have a sextant but
will survive as long as GPS and DR work. I welcome every technological
"toy" I can afford if it improves my security but I still embrace sea
worthiness and common sense and any defense against manmade perils.
Leif Ericsson never had to worry about super tankers.

"Leif Ericsson never had to worry about super tankers."

Exactly. And, thanks largely to Walmart and containerized shipping,
there's more cargo vessels than ever, and they often can not see well.
Add good radar and AIS, and they're going faster. That's the real
world.

""any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without *anything* that
require electricity ..... "

That's the sound of youthful bravado, or someone who hasn't actually
done much offshore sailing.

Decades ago I sailed many thousands of miles with no electronics
except VHF. At first we even used kerosene running lights...really
foolish!

I totally agree with Flemming. And I did write "can", not will or should. My
point was that you should have the ability to do without. My point was not
to ban equipment. In fact I do have myself, apart from electric running
lights, gps, plotter, wind instruments, wheel pilot, weather receiver, vhf
and so on. And Im even planning to add an AIS receiver.

But I'll always be able to sail without. Being a offshore sailor I guess you
accept that equipment do break and that you have to be able to cope without.

Bjarke


"navnut" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Feb 28, 10:16 pm, "DaveC" wrote:
snip

?? "any cruiser" = "any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without
*anything* that require electricity .....

IMHO

Bjarke- Hide quoted text -

snip

""any sailor" can sail in *any weather* without *anything* that
require electricity ..... "

That's the sound of youthful bravado, or someone who hasn't actually
done much offshore sailing.

Decades ago I sailed many thousands of miles with no electronics
except VHF. At first we even used kerosene running lights...really
foolish!