The AIS unit I discovered the issue with is a B&G NAIS500. I'm sure all Navico units would be the same. As far as I can tell, the actual manufacturer for Navico units is Alltech Marine Electronics Corp (AMEC). I would also presume all AMEC units regardless of whose name is on it would present the same issue. The MFDs I'm aware of that play an integral part in this issue are Standard Horizon (model CP300I) and Garmin (model 740S).
The issue occurs when the suspect AIS measures a low or zero SOG, whereupon it sets COG as invalid. The suspect MFDs do not display an icon without a valid COG. However, the AIS vessel is listed in the AIS List. So the MFD knows the vessel's location but does not display the icon on the chart. When the AIS vessel's SOG increases, the COG becomes valid and the icon is then displayed on the chart.
Looking further into this issue I found other AIS units set COG as valid when SOG is low or zero. So these AIS units' icon will be displayed on the suspected MFDs. Also, other MFDs (verified on B&G Zeus Touch and Raymarine A series) will display an icon even when COG is invalid.
For my setup, I also found that if Heading is sent to the NAIS500 it will transmit this parameter in AIS Message 18 and the suspected MFDs will then display an icon. This lead me to conclude that the suspected MFDs need at minimum either a valid COG or valid Heading to display the icon. If both are invalid then the icon is not displayed. Heading can be sent via NMEA0183 or NMEA2000, I tested both with success.
If you have a suspected AIS and want to be seen on all MFDs but do not want to wait for firmware updates, then look into sending Heading to your AIS.
Has anyone else noticed this issue? Was a particular vessel's icon display sometimes and not at other times? Could this difference be attributed to being underway versus anchored or moored? Do you have a Navico, McMurdo, or AMEC AIS and someone didn't see you on their MFD? Do you have a Garmin, Standard Horizon, or other MFD and didn't see a known AIS vessel on your MFD? If known, who produced the AIS that wasn't displayed?
]]>The way it seems you do it on my setup is to touch the radar return, touch the menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen, then, since the "radar options" is not in the first page of items, you need to scroll up the list to get to "radar options", then hit "finish acquire"...
By which time the boat in question has probably collided with you in the fog.
Not to mention the fact that if its cold and wet the touch screen doesn't always recognize your finger tips or does the wrong thing as you drag your hand across the screen. Again, by which time you have collided with the Kobiashi Maru or the high speed ferry in the fog.
I've heard there are "fast paths" or quick screens you can create in the Zeus units, but the documentation is so bad I can barely figure out how to create a route from the manual.
Admittedly, I'm a long time E120 Raymarine user having a tough time adapting to ONLY touch screen and a lot of new paths...
Rick
Hanse 575 # 161
S/V Black Diamond
Portsmouth, RI
I have eS97 Raymarine display which is about 1 year old. Latest LightHouse v19.x. Recently I purchased Raymarine AIS350 receiver which is the only SeaTalk device attached to the display. It is attached via spur cable without any T (direct wire from the AIS unit to the display - Raymarine support confirmed that its ok).
The problem is the plotter doesnt see AIS. AIS is turned on and green light acts as if signal is being received (bright and dim green light). I dont know whats going on :( any help or ideas greatly appreciated.
p.s. in the diagnostic menu there isnt much to see for AIS but I do see numbers running up for transmit but zero for received.
Thanks again
]]>The rest of the boat is NMEA 2000. I want AIS data NMEA 2000 to a dedicated display.
I see two options:
1. Install a NMEA 0183 to NMEA 2000 interface.
2. Updating the VHF to a model that have a AIS receiver and a NMEA 2000 output.
My concern with alternative 2 is the AIS splitter??? But perhaps that is not an issue? Will both the FA-50 AIS and the VHF AIS be able to listen at the same time when a splitter is installed??
]]>My sailboat has a swim ladder on the stern but if they are unconscious, they would still need to be lifted out of the water. Unlocking the lifeline at the port or starboard side is the best route back in the boat especially since the stern has the stern rail obstructing passage.
My idea, please tell me yours, is to thru-bolt a plate on the side of the hull where a 12" pipe could be welded vertically. The top of the pipe is open and the bottom is capped. Another L shaped pipe about four feet long on each leg could then fit inside the fixed pipe and could swing from side to side. The free end could have a pulley attached. A 5:1 block and tackle could then hook onto the victim's harness (all crew are required to wear) with the other end hooked to the toerail or other fixed object allowing a 200# man to be lifted with just 40# of pull.
]]>Our speeds were 3-6 kts SOG except during tacks, where we might drop to 2. It pretty clearly shows all of the tacks, buoy roundings and most of the times I can recall bearing away on the course. There are intermediate positions which would be consistent withtime intervals, and I would expect that Marinetraffic downsamples to give a cleaner track.
]]>Our speeds were 3-6 kts SOG except during tacks, where we might drop to 2. It pretty clearly shows all of the tacks, buoy roundings and most of the times I can recall bearing away on the course. There are intermediate positions which would be consistent withtime intervals, and I would expect that Marinetraffic downsamples to give a cleaner track.
]]>So, do any of u guys have to deal w/ hearing disability (translated: nearly deaf :-). If so, how have you handled the various buzzers, alarms, outputs, etc.
A funny aside... I was casually preparing one of my infrequent gourmet meals (normally it's canned and smeared on bread ;-) and heard all this commotion and a bunch of people running up the dock... Seems I'd disturbed happy hour and my smoke detector was going off... I didn't hear a thing and they were about 30-40 yards away (must be some loud). As they were pulling off their fire fighting gear ;-), one noted I was quietly enjoying my own happy hour and 'belonged to say' that if I wasn't on fire, perhaps I could turn off the damn alarm... funny, but not so funny...
I do have a trusty 4-legged first mate, who to date doesn't understand her 'hearing eye' role although her guard dog skills are still irritatingly there :-), especially since she thinks Pelicans, actually all sea birds, are intruders
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Regards Bob
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