Now you see it...

[The Grocer]

I don't know how many of you check the NTMs regularly, but the last paragraph of the linked page makes interesting reading - especially if you don't have a Class A AIS system fitted...

NLB NTM 2/2011

It's been around a while; but if you come to a sudden unexpected stop you may now have another (feeble) excuse.

[Erin]

Quite a clever use of the system IMV if I understand it correctly. But only any good if you have AIS on board obviously.

[martini]

I had noticed a couple of these AtoN's appearing on marinetraffic.com in the US, a natural progression of the AIS system really, good idea

Just read at the bottom about "virtual AIS stations", what a great idea assuming the transmitting station is within reasonable range of the position of the "virtual target".

[jwalker]

Virtual stations... erm, ghost targets, shiver me timbers lads, there be mysteries on this ocean...

[Erin]

Hmmm. Methinks you could have some fun with the right kind of 'modified' AIS transmitter. Create some imaginary obstacles in the ocean. All it'd take is a fixed GPS lat/long input, which wouldn't be hard to generate. Oooh, a real can of worms being opened here . Far more fun that GPS jamming. Not that I would condone or even want to suggest behaviour of that sort.

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by Erin

Hmmm. Methinks you could have some fun with the right kind of 'modified' AIS transmitter. Create some imaginary obstacles in the ocean. All it'd take is a fixed GPS lat/long input, which wouldn't be hard to generate. Oooh, a real can of worms being opened here . Far more fun that GPS jamming. Not that I would condone or even want to suggest behaviour of that sort.

Never!

But when you try it out - for experimentation only - let us know on here!!

[chris123]

Originally Posted by The Grocer

I don't know how many of you check the NTMs regularly, but the last paragraph of the linked page makes interesting reading - especially if you don't have a Class A AIS system fitted...

I don't think you need to have a class A AIS - you should be able to pick up message 21 for AtoN data on a class B AIS, or an AIS receiver.

What you do need to have is a device (ie chart plotter or radar) that can decode and display the AtoN data, primarily message 21 as per the link.

Cheers

Chris

[chris123]

Originally Posted by martini

Just read at the bottom about "virtual AIS stations", what a great idea assuming the transmitting station is within reasonable range of the position of the "virtual target".

I'm not sure if it is fully in place yet or still a work in progress, but the plan is that AIS will have a guaranteed coverage up to 30 miles off the coast, and in practice it will be up to 50 to 80 miles.

The beauty of the system is that AIS base stations are networked so that data for virtual AtoNs can be shared around the network and shared between countries, so I expect there won't be many places where a virual AtoN cannot be used (barring local VHF blackspots)

Cheers

Chris

[alystra]

Mmm! How long before those difficult and expensive to service navigational buoys disappear?

[Bern Hanreck]

AIS , Radar & suchlike are all very good , but you cannot beat a lookout with a bit of common sense...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...tland-12689927