OOPS! the AIS didnt work today so we turned around. Spent ~45 minutes on the phone with the Garmin help line... sweet lady and lots of tricks to try but no success. THEN i called my install friends at Y.E.S. and they, --- surprise -- took my call. Kenny @ YES spent time on the phone with me 4 separate times walking me through it. (like somebody telling Stevie Wonder how to adjust his Carburetor.) With his patience and my hunt and peck, we got it going. (i had to pull out some electrics and use a multi meter)
So we are back on for departure ala #2 in the morning! tonight we are back on the mooring ball. all is still set for departure, so our start should be easy. (i have the generator running with the AC on, so the crew is happy about everything again)
AIS rocks on! xo skip
The automatic identification system (AIS) is an automatic tracking system used for collision avoidance on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS). When satellites are used to detect AIS signatures, the term Satellite-AIS (S-AIS) is used. AIS information supplements marine radar, which continues to be the primary method of collision avoidance for water transport.[citation needed]
Information provided by AIS equipment, such as unique identification, position, course, and speed, can be displayed on a screen or an ECDIS. AIS is intended to assist a vessel's watchstanding officers and allow maritime authorities to track and monitor vessel movements. AIS integrates a standardized VHF transceiver with a positioning system such as a GPS receiver, with other electronic navigation sensors, such as a gyrocompass or rate of turn indicator. Vessels fitted with AIS transceivers can be tracked by AIS base stations located along coast lines or, when out of range of terrestrial networks, through a growing number of satellites that are fitted with special AIS receivers which are capable of deconflicting a large number of signatures.
