I just completed installing a Vesper Marine XB-8000 AIS transponder on
Sanderling and have it up and running. Reason I installed it after so
many years and miles of cruising is based on the strong recommendations
of several listees and friends who have recently completed cruises of
the inland rivers and felt that AIS was a good resource for safer
navigation in an area frequented by big commercial tows and blind curves!

Now I'm curious about how to get our position to display on web sites
such as MarineTraffic.com (MT.C) so our friends can follow us on our
upcoming cruise. It's obvious from checking the MT.C web site that a lot
of pleasure boats show up. I had assumed all along that once our AIS
transponder was functioning, we'd "automatically" show up on the MT.C
web site. Not so, at least not yet! The MT.C web site explains how to do
it using several different methods, all involving an internet or cell
connection to send position and ship data to their web site; the
explanations can be accessed by clicking on the "Live Map"-"Cover your
area" tab on the MT.C main site.

Are any of you using AIS and reporting your position to MT.C? If so, how
are you providing the data to MT.C (or any other similar site)?

--
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young              Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling                            Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler                      Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/

".... Are any of you using AIS and reporting your position to MT.C? If so,
how are you providing the data to MT.C (or any other similar site)? ..... "

Yes, we just link to our MMSI number:
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/datasheet.aspx?datasource=ITINERARIES&MMSI=
366847830  or http://tinyurl.com/cnt369t

The thing is, the MT master AIS database gets its information from folks who
have set up AIS receivers and send what they can see back to Marine Traffic
via the Internet.
(http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/addyourarea.aspx?level1=150)

We have found that around most major cities there is good coverage, and our
tracking can be seen.  However, once we get into the sticks all is lost.  Of
course, if one wanted, and had an internet connection on their boat, you
COULD set up your own 'MT Receiver' and send AIS traffic back to them.  A
kind of Mobile MT-AIS-Hot-spot!

Of course, this is all secondary to the primary usage of AIS - which shows
other vessels on our chart plotter / AIS display screen.  Though I have
known a few people who use iPhones and the Marine Traffic web site for their
'poor mans' AIS receiver.  The downside, apart from coverage gaps as you
have noted, is a potential large lag between where the ship actually is, and
when the data works its way through everything to update the MT website.

-al-

Viking Star
45' Monk Sr. / McQueen
mvVikingStar.blogspot.com