Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Guest wrote:There are a few antenna options. The biggest is about 42" high with cross arms. Its basically heavy wire so the only weigh a few pounds.
I think the supplier will work with your situation. you just have to initiate the communication.

Hello and thanks for all your thoughts,info and now I understand the situation that Boatnerd AIS is not tied directly into the governments site, I should have known better!!!hi hi!
Amateur radio has a similar network call APRS very similar to AIS functionality. I don't dabble with APRS myself but have commercial pilot Ham that I have talked to on Ham in the plane while he has a break. He told he has a portable APRS it's has Gps built in and Vhf handheld he has taped to side window in cockpit. And I've followed him around the US and like the Boatnerd AIS it's all volunteer on the different nodes being on line. It would be Amateur radio anymore if Hams were set-up and paid to keep a complete network with battery back/etc etc.
I'm assuming Boatnerd is making use of Internet. Ham radio does also but there are those who really get into and keep packet radio VHF and HF links up all the time. But what happens if his job moves he moves and there goes the network he had set for an area.
Oh yes no I don't have a permanent location but a brother-in-law has his grandfathers old cabin on Hill Island just east of the the port Dolomite. Been going up the UP since 81 and wife's grandfather use to one of those life saving guys that rowed out to save boats distress. Scares me every time I think about it. Early 1900's Grans Island and Whitefish point!
By wife wants to buy little house in St Ignace and move permanently,but she's having medical issues and I'm like allot of my friends WiNTER!!!hi hi!! Althought I've been told by a minsiter that services part Cedarville and a Church near Brevort lake snow is not as bad as when he lived in Pennsylvania.
Again thanks all those who enlightened me on the Boatnerds AIS. I am still going to look into that Marine site someone gave me as I am curious TNX.
All the best!
Paul

There are a few antenna options. The biggest is about 42" high with cross arms. Its basically heavy wire so the only weigh a few pounds.
I think the supplier will work with your situation. you just have to initiate the communication.

Guest wrote:My understanding is that this information is not coming from Government source towers but from volunteer towers hooked up to the internet. I think some of the International AIS sites are getting sponsorship from major shipping companies and insurance underwriters as well as internet advertising on there web pages.

there are AIS sources, that ask, if you want put a tower on your property? I don't know what that means in size etc..... some say a roof tower, depending on the area...

My understanding is that this information is not coming from Government source towers but from volunteer towers hooked up to the internet. I think some of the International AIS sites are getting sponsorship from major shipping companies and insurance underwriters as well as internet advertising on there web pages.

I don't know where Boatnerd AIS gets there AIS information, but its likely a network of volunteers. If you go to the MarineTraffic.com site you can select to see their tower locations. The lower part of the St Marys river and the upper end of Lake Huron are in need of volunteers to put up towers. AIS.Boatnerd seems to use some of the same tower sources but not all and some different ones.
Paul if you have a location near the lower end of the St Marys, with your ham experience, you are an ideal guy to get involved. If they think you have the right location and ability MarineTraffic. com will send you an antenna, cable and modem. You just need to provide the tower or mount and an internet connection. I believe Siitech.com and other shipwatcing AIS sites will do the same.

Guess wrote:I am assuming there is/or are network/connectivity issues and not Boatnerds computers. Boats upbound St. Mary's show up until just north side of Neebish then disappear. Probably out of range of GOEAIS tower @ Gotesville. The Neebish ferry is missing,also.
Is there a Government site (URL) to check on network issues or is that proprietary/security no no?
I have not seen anyone else note problems. I'm retired Telephony,military & Licensed Ham and have worked with networks/troubleshooting outages and have been trying glean what info's available. Old habits we nerds have!Hi HI!
And I just checked 1348hrs something back on-line. Ah yes I remember intermittents, the hardest thing to troubleshoot!!
This has been showing up for the last 7-10 days.
Tnx
Paul
N8BUU

There are numerous black out areas, but there are sites avail...... off the SAT. keep in mind, there are no towers, covering the oceans.

I am assuming there is/or are network/connectivity issues and not Boatnerds computers. Boats upbound St. Mary's show up until just north side of Neebish then disappear. Probably out of range of GOEAIS tower @ Gotesville. The Neebish ferry is missing,also.
Is there a Government site (URL) to check on network issues or is that proprietary/security no no?
I have not seen anyone else note problems. I'm retired Telephony,military & Licensed Ham and have worked with networks/troubleshooting outages and have been trying glean what info's available. Old habits we nerds have!Hi HI!
And I just checked 1348hrs something back on-line. Ah yes I remember intermittents, the hardest thing to troubleshoot!!
This has been showing up for the last 7-10 days.
Tnx
Paul
N8BUU