AIS question - Photos showed up on Profile

FootballFan

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,567
Florida
Boat Info
Marquis 59
Engines
MTU Series 60
I have AIS which transmits our boat.

Recently @carterchapman were discussing why sometimes he can see us, other times not. Resolved that issue. I have what I call the "old" radio and the "new" radio on the helm. New radio is always on - only turn on the old radio when I want/need a second radio. AIS is tied to the old radio. Now I understand to always turn the old radio on.

In the process I was on my iPad trying to track our boat. Discovered when I searched on the boat, found the description of the boat - there were photographs (3) of the boat. I was shocked, I had never uploaded pics of the boat - how did they get there?

Digging a bit - determined the pics were taken south side of Venice, FL in the ICW. It is us, zoom in, wife is running the helm, I am walking around aimlessly without any purpose on the flybridge. It is us.

Are there people out there who take photographs of boats and submit to the AIS apps and websites????

Has anyone else experienced this?

BTW - I thought they were very good pictures of our boat - no complaints.
 
There is an option to upload pictures on marinetraffic.com
So anyone can upload pics of any vessel I’m guessing.
90F23181-F298-49D9-93C4-7EF35C373148.png
 
So, not trying to hijack your thread but do you leave your radio on ALL the time, or just when you are operating your boat?

The reason I ask is that there are several boats in our harbor that seem to have their AIS broadcasting all the time, even when they are in their slip. They happen to be right by the harbor mouth, so everytime I leave or come back into the harbor my AIS alerts start going batsh*t. And its right when I need to be paying attention to other things. Always have to take my eyes off the water to disable the alarms. Drives me nuts.
 
So, not trying to hijack your thread but do you leave your radio on ALL the time, or just when you are operating your boat?

The reason I ask is that there are several boats in our harbor that seem to have their AIS broadcasting all the time, even when they are in their slip. They happen to be right by the harbor mouth, so everytime I leave or come back into the harbor my AIS alerts start going batsh*t. And its right when I need to be paying attention to other things. Always have to take my eyes off the water to disable the alarms. Drives me nuts.

When my boat is tied up, not moving, everything is off. I agree, I see the same thing, and bugs me.

I never leave the dock without the radio on. But not "both" radios on. I am always monitoring 16 when leaving a dock to be aware of what is around me. I might choose to have the second radio on - or not.

Now I am much more cognizant of having the second radio on. We regularly transit across and through the Tampa ship channel. I really want those boats to see me.
 
The photos are clearly from shore.

Is there someone sitting out there taking pictures and uploading?
 
What does turning your radio on have to do with broadcasting AIS? My AIS is a stand alone Vesper 6000, it is always broadcasting as long as my battery solenoids are engaged.
 
We have a seperate AIS unit also vesper so turning it off is more complicated than a radio. There is an option to install a “kill switch” on the vesper units.
 
What does turning your radio on have to do with broadcasting AIS? My AIS is a stand alone Vesper 6000, it is always broadcasting as long as my battery solenoids are engaged.

I don't know. I thought I was always broadcasting - but I wasn't. Previous owner had set this up.

Last trip - @carterchapman commented in a txt message he did not see me moving. That started the investigation.

I do know when the old radio is turned on I broadcast - when it is off I don't.
 
So your VHF has AIS built in makes sense if it’s on your broadcasting and vice versa.

Well, when I say "old" radio - its really not that old. Just not as new as what I call the "new" radio.

Will readily admit, not the smartest in the discussion. I like AIS, glad I have it. But not totally conversant on configuration options.
 
To my knowledge there are no VHF radios currently in production that have both transmit AND receive of AIS, (Vesper is coming out with one soon). That being the case, you must have an external AIS transmitter. It's possible, I suppose, that unit has some kind of interface that requires your VHF to be on. Perhaps they share a splitter which is only active when the radio is on? If that's the case, your AIS is always transmitting, it just doesn't have an antenna when your VHF is off. (probably not good for the AIS hardware)
 
Simrad makes a full receiver and transponder now.
 
I was told there is a way people get paid to submit and upload photos of boats on marinetraffic - most photos are not submitted by the owners
 
My VHF Antenna shares duty with my Vesper XB-8000 and the VHF radio. The antenna cable runs to a splitter and then from the splitter to the AIS Transponder and the VHF Radio. I also wired in a ON/OFF switch to the XB-8000. I can selectively turn AIS transmission and reception OFF if the situation warrants.

Jaybeaux
 
My boat has the Garmin AIS800 which is independent of the VHF but uses the VHF antenna. There are a couple of bozo's that leave theirs on in our marina when slipped. My MFD's are always alarming. I have a Carling switch on the helm that when pressed up the AIS receives and transmits, when in the center position the AIS is powered off, and when in the down position the AIS only receives. This drawing is how it's wired -
Detwork Diagram 17 Nov 2019MiscWiring.jpg
 
This drawing is how it's wired -

I checked it for spelling errors and found none this time. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we're glad you're finally paying attention to detail. :D
 
My AIS has its own radio built in (Westmarine 1000) and I have a AIS ON/OFF switch. Confession - I've always left mine ON - figured if the boat got stolen I might get lucky and track it!! Listening to you guys, I guess I better turn it OFF when I leave.
 
This thread has been enlightening for me. Have on my list to discuss with the previous owner, get the details about how AIS is setup on my boat.

It's interesting, that one radio really appeared to have impact. I was looking at MarineTraffic, could see where I turned it on. I checked this morning, shows the boat at the correct location, but the last update signal was the day I docked the boat and turned the radio off a couple of weeks ago.
 

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