How does AIS work on a boat?

AIS works via a combination of GPS, VHF radio, and an AIS transponder. The transponder broadcasts a ship's information, such as speed and heading (information gathered by GPS, of course), the ship's name, port of origin, size and draft, and more, over VHF frequencies 161.975 megahertz and 162.025 MHz.

How do you use the AIS boat?

Just place the chart plotter's cursor on an AIS icon, and a list of valuable information unfolds. The ship's name and radio call sign are shown. This means you can pick up a VHF and hail a specific vessel that may be posing a threat.

Can ship turn off AIS?

A ship's crew may turn off its AIS broadcast for a variety of legitimate reasons, but this behavior may indicate that a vessel is hiding its location and identity to conceal illegal activities like fishing in no-take protected areas or entering another country's waters without authorization.

How far can AIS transmit?

AIS enables authorities to reliably and cost effectively monitor fishing vessel activities along their coast line, typically out to a range of 60 miles (depending on location and quality of coast based receivers/base stations) with supplementary data from satellite based networks.

What is a AIS on a boat?

Automatic Identification System, more commonly known as AIS, first became available to recreational boaters about 10 years ago and has proved a significant addition to boating safety. For any boater who wants every layer of protection available, AIS is a godsend.

How AIS Works - Operation of AIS

Do I need a special antenna for AIS?

Though the two frequencies are close, having an AIS antenna for your AIS system, will optimize performance. VHF antennas can work on AIS, yet the frequency of 162 MHz they will be operating at, is at the high end of the operable bandwidth of the antenna, where performance is not ideal.

Do I need VHF with AIS?

For AIS Transmit and Receive, you need two pieces, a VHF Radio with DSC built-in plus an AIS Transponder.

What are the problems caused by installation of AIS?

Limitations of AIS

The position received on the AIS display might not be referenced to the WGS 84 datum. Over-reliance on the AIS can cause complacency on the part of the OOW. Users must be aware that erroneous information might be transmitted by the AIS from another ship. Not all ships are fitted with AIS.

How do I know if my AIS is transmitting?

If you get green across the board then the unit itself is transmitting. Note if you don't get a check for TX position reports then check to see you have a valid GPS signal. The unit will not transmit unless it has a valid GPS position.

How much does an AIS system cost?

AIS receivers are built by all the major electronics manufacturers, plus a few specialty companies. Cost generally ranges between $200 and $400.

When AIS can be switched off?

Fishing vessels may be required to carry AIS, but any vessel may switch off its AIS if the master believes continual operation may compromise the safety or security of the vessel.

Why do some ships turn off their AIS units?

Pursuant to IMO guidelines, if the master believes that the continual operation of AIS might compromise the safety or security of his/her ship or where security incidents are imminent, the AIS may be switched off.

Why the ship master is allowed to switch off the AIS in specific areas?

AIS as an anti-piracy measure

Because of this security concern, the IMO amended its AIS guidelines in 2003 to allow ship masters to switch off the AIS in specific areas where the threat of attack by piracy or terrorists are imminent.

Can I connect my GPS to the AIS?

Our very popular AMEC CAMINO-101 Class B AIS transponder can now either use its internal GPS system coupled with the AMEC external antenna or it now supports using an external GPS device connected through the inbound NMEA port.

What is the basic principle of AIS?

PRINCIPLES OF AIS

The principle of AIS is to allow automatic exchange of shipboard information from the vessel's sensors – inputted static and voyage related data – between one vessel and another and between a vessels and a shore station(s).

How often does your AIS transmit data?

AIS transponders automatically broadcast information at regular intervals. Navigational status data is transmitted every 2 to 180 seconds, depending on a vessel's activity. In addition, voyage related data is broadcast every 6 minutes.

What VHF channel does AIS use?

AIS transponders and receivers use two VHF radio frequencies: 161.975 MHz (AIS1, or channel 87B) and 162.025 MHz (AIS2, or channel 88B). The USCG has asked the Federal Communications Commission to authorize any US vessel to operate AIS on these two channels under its existing ship station license.

Why is my boat not showing on AIS?

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.

What happens to AIS If GPS fails?

If the external position sensor fails the AIS unit cannot use the internal GPS receiver and no position will be transmitted. The difficulty we are now led to understand is this failure cannot normally be detected by the onboard user, and therefore how would the user know the vessel has a faulty AIS.

What is the difference between Class A and Class B AIS?

Class A AIS transponders are required to have a DSC (156.525 MHz) receiver, external GPS, heading, and rate of turn indicator, and can also transmit and receive safety-related text messages. Class B AIS transponders operate using Carrier-Sense TDMA (CSTDMA) broadcast mode and transmit at a power level of 2 watts.

How do you send a message to another ship in AIS?

Send AIS messages

Select Message: Use this dropdown box to select any existing message. Message Name: This field shows the name of the message when you select it. Message Type: Select the type of AIS message from this dropdown box. You could choose the Broadcast Safety message or the Addressed Safety message.

What vessels must have AIS?

The following vessels must have on board a properly installed, operational Coast Guard type-approved AIS Class A device: (i) A self-propelled vessel of 65 feet or more in length, engaged in commercial service. (ii) A towing vessel of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower, engaged in commercial service.

What is the best AIS antenna?

The Shakespeare 396-1-AIS Classic AIS Antenna would be a better choice as either a dedicated AIS antenna or an antenna used with a splitter given the optimal tuning at 158 MHz – a bit closer to the 162 MHz AIS sweet spot – and its broader bandwidth (6 MHz within 2.0:1 VSWR).

How do you connect an AIS to a chartplotter?