larry wrote:
Marc Heusser d wrote in
:

I have seen how unreliable echos from glass fibre reinforced polyester
boats are (and how unreliable echos at least smaller passive radar
reflectors of the 90ø aluminum sheets type give on quiet waters).



If you're going to buy anything to make you a big target on the SHIPS and
large yachts....buy an AIS TRANSPONDER, which makes you as big as an
aircraft carrier.

All ship over 300 gross tons now have full AIS aboard, as do the big
yachts, to make them look big.


I'm still waiting to upgrade my AIS receiver for a
transponder. At least I can see and identify a threat and
call by name on VHF.

From 'The Pilot' the magazine of the United Kingdom
Maritime Pilots' Association, quoting a working harbour pilot:
"With respect to the type of equipment installed, the
overwhelming majority of vessels are fitted with the minimum
required to comply with carriage regulations! These are
small alpha numeric displays which at the absolute basic
level have to display at least three targets. I have seen
such minimal three line units on ships and for all practical
purposes they are totally useless. Other systems cram a list
of many targets into the small display (typically 9cm x
12cm) which renders them illegible and again these are
totally useless.
It is of extreme importance to the Class B user to be
aware that there is no statutory requirement for SOLAS
vessels to be able to display AIS targets on a screen merely
a requirement to provide a simple alphanumeric Minimum
Keyboard and Display (MKD). To meet the minimum requirements
this display need show no more than three ships at any one
time detailing bearing, range and name of ship. Therefore
Class B users must understand that their vessel may not be
appearing as a 'bright beacon' on the displays of the
majority of SOLAS vessels. Although IMO requires all new
radars fitted after 1 July 2008 to have good AIS display
capabilities, existing radars will not have to be upgraded
and so it will be many years before AIS data can be
effectively used for navigation on many SOLAS vessels."