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Thread: Satellite Tracking of AIS signals, can this be a tracker solution ?

  1. #21
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    May 2012
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    I agree that allowing the entire planet to track a vessel's progress is a little creepy, though ever since the invention of radiotelegraph long distance racers have been reporting in with their positions, and those positions were then printed in newspaper articles. I suppose it's the immediacy of technology that causes concern.

    I'm not drawing any comparisons with trackers and sextants, which I agree are two separate topics. I am only observing that resistance to modern navigation and safety technologies is a matter of personal taste - not philosophical defensibly. It's like arguing that "blue" is better than "orange." I personally believe it's best to be skilled at both modern and ancient methods. I have GPS and a sextant/almanac/accurate clock aboard. Since I work in a related field of technology, I am probably the last person to defend the invulnerability of GPS. It can and has failed. As long as the Earth's magnetic field doesn't significantly change (not apt to happen soon) and the Earth stays in it's current orbit, there's nothing more reliable than a good compass and the position of the objects I can sight in the sky. Beyond sight of land, I want backups to anything that depends on electronics. For reliability: use a sextant. For accuracy: use GPS.

    As far back as 1968, when nine sailors set off on the first single-handed circumnavigation of the globe nonstop, those competitors closely followed one another’s progress from radioed position reports. From those reports, they developed a deep bond with their fellow competitors. I don’t feel that knowing another sailor’s progress reduces competitiveness, but instead enhances comradery. But that may illustrate a deeper difference in our outlooks: When I sail, I feel I am competing only with myself and my ability to interpret nature’s challenges.
    Last edited by pbryant; 08-28-2013 at 12:25 PM.

  2. #22
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    You should enter the race and among other things, compete for the Navigator's Trophy. It sounds like you could win it.

    Not taking anything away from your posts here, but we've found that discussing these topics with those who have not done the race is rarely fruitful. Like the Infiniti commercials: (Race the SHTP once) "and you'll understand." Way back in the archives you can find me railing against SSB's. They are no longer required BTW, but now that I've done the race a couple of times I realize how much an SSB adds to the overall experience.

  3. #23
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    Jan 2010
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    What does Jackie think? Given the sensible and reasonable safety requirements already in place, the yellow brick represents a costly and unnecessary addition to the requirements (as entertaining and/or reassuring it may be for family and friends). If people want their families and friends to see them offshore, perhaps they can go-pro themselves and upload the video via Sat Phone. As far as I can tell, that is essentially what the yellow brick offers, given the safety requirements already in place. Currently each boat is required to have a vhf radio with masthead coaxial, a handheld radio with gps capacity, a liferaft, SSB or satphone and an epirb. The yellow brick should be an optional piece of equipment rather than mandatory unless someone can prove that it is necessary for the safety of the sailor (rather than his/her boat). I don't see what additional safety quality it offers the sailor, and that should be the point of mandatory regulation. Was Dirk happy to get his boat back? Sure. Did the yellowbrick notify the authorities? No. Not to belabor the point, but wouldn't he have been better off heeding the advise of Dr Weaver and had antiobiotics on hand?

    Another detail is that, @ a recent board meeting it was suggested that the yellow brick had a more expensive overall price tag than $300/boat. We should certainly know what the true expense of it is before we even consider making it mandatory for any race.

  4. #24
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    May 2012
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    For those who want tracking, the Delorme products cost about $300, use the same Iridium satellite constellation as the Yellowbrick, and have the ability to send and receive text messages. You can also pair them with a smartphone via Bluetooth, or use the InReach SE model standalone. http://www.inreachdelorme.com/produc.../inreachse.php. They claim the product is immersible, though I haven't tested that claim.

    I have the InReach SE on my boat (I don't trust smartphones around sea water) and both the tracking and messaging have so far worked flawlessly. I bought it at REI. I have it attached to an interior bulkhead where it locks up GPS and transmits just fine through the cabin roof fiberglass.

    The downside is: they only run continuously for about 4 days without a recharge. I use a USB charger to keep mine continually recharged. I built the 5 volt regulator for the charger using a switching-mode regulator because it saves about 3 watts over using an ordinary analog off-the-shelf 12 volt automotive USB charger. If you don't care about saving 3 watts, you can use any USB charger. Yes, if my vessels loses all electrical the beacon will stop after 4 days (after the week it would take for my 500 A/H of batteries to go dead). By then, something really bad has happened since I have ample PV power generation and in such extremes I'll have probably set off the EPIRB anyway.

    There are monthly usage charges.
    Last edited by pbryant; 08-29-2013 at 08:45 AM.

  5. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobJ View Post
    You should enter the race and among other things, compete for the Navigator's Trophy. It sounds like you could win it.

    Not taking anything away from your posts here, but we've found that discussing these topics with those who have not done the race is rarely fruitful. Like the Infiniti commercials: (Race the SHTP once) "and you'll understand." Way back in the archives you can find me railing against SSB's. They are no longer required BTW, but now that I've done the race a couple of times I realize how much an SSB adds to the overall experience.
    Thanks Bob. I may do just that. All my long distance sailing single handed thus far has been in the gales of the Baltic and scraping ice off the deck in the environs of the Stockholm archipelago (burrrrr!). It'd be nice to have a warm and relaxing sail to Hawaii. Now if I can only find lifeline stanchions that don't force me to poke holes in my cabin deck....

    As a long time Ham, I don't know what I'd do without SSB on board. After a few days of solitude, I either call out a CQ or start talking to a volleyball named Wilson.
    Last edited by pbryant; 08-28-2013 at 05:30 PM.

  6. #26
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    Sep 2007
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbryant View Post
    I have the InReach SE on my boat (I don't trust smartphones around sea water) and both the tracking and messaging have so far worked flawlessly. I bought it at REI. I have it attached to an interior bulkhead where it locks up GPS and transmits just fine through the cabin roof fiberglass.

    The downside is: they only run continuously for about 4 days without a recharge. I use a USB charger to keep mine continually recharged. I built the 5 volt regulator for the charger using a switching-mode regulator because it saves about 3 watts over using an ordinary analog off-the-shelf 12 volt automotive USB charger. If you don't care about saving 3 watts, you can use any USB charger.
    I just ordered the Inreach SE for permanent installation on Beetle, and am very pleased to learn that it worked when mounted below-decks on your boat. I bought mine through Cabela's (REI was sold out, Delorme didn't have any), it arrives next week.

    I will also be powering the unit from the microUSB cable (Delorme states they are working on a 'charging sleeve', but don't have one yet). Can you show me how to make your switching regulator? Or point me in the right direction to get one?

    thanks much!

    - rob/beetle

  7. #27
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    Jul 2012
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    [QUOTE=pbryant;7555] Now if I can only find lifeline stanchions that don't force me to poke holes in my cabin deck....

    I've had this idea of using a router with a bit of the same height as the core material that you insert into the drilled out hole and then gouge out the core leaving the top and bottom GRP and creating flanges that are then filled with epoxy and then re-drilled for the exact size for the mounting hardware. Plunge routers can be had in various sizes as well as stops for other micro power tools like a Dremel. I would make up a template which would make the work go faster with allot less stress.

    mark
    Last edited by knotbum; 08-29-2013 at 08:00 AM.

  8. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by tiger beetle View Post
    I Can you show me how to make your switching regulator? Or point me in the right direction to get one?

    thanks much!

    - rob/beetle
    I've replied by private mail. I used a Recom switching regulator. Details are here: http://www.alliedelec.com/search/pro...x?SKU=70051997

  9. #29
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    Thanks Mark. That sounds much more elegant than using a bent nail in an electric drill to remove the coring. But I still feel that I'd experience less emotional trauma from drilling holes in my own cranium than in my pristine 51 year-old deck.

  10. #30
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    I think the Olson's and Santa Cruz's have their stanchions installed that way (into holes in the gun'l). Perhaps give Ron Moore or Elkhorn Composites a ring?

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