AirNav ShipTrax > AirNav ShipTrax Discussion
ShipTrax
tarbat:
--- Quote from: Budgie on February 06, 2012, 11:38:52 am ---Note: The reception to the far south, Kyle of Lochlash, is most likely the local Coastguard helicopter rather than shipping. ;-)
--- End quote ---
Yes, helicopters can play havoc with reception range measurements. I asked Airnav to exclude Type 9 (SAR) messages from the polar chart in ShipTrax. I also get the occasional long-range signal from the west coast:
eyeinthesky:
--- Quote from: Budgie on February 06, 2012, 11:38:52 am ---The atmospherics also play a part in the range that can be obtained.
During summer high pressures I've managed to pick up AIS base stations in the Faeroes, that's something like 250 miles.
I currently use something similar to this Metz Manta which is mounted on my anemometer mast on the chimney of the house at about 45m ASL.
You can see the range map of what I get with this and my Comar AIS-2-USB on MarineTraffic.
Note: The reception to the far south, Kyle of Lochlash, is most likely the local Coastguard helicopter rather than shipping. ;-)
--- End quote ---
Your right I have got ships off Africa-- Italy and India many many times over the years with my ShipPlotter program, i use the Watson 6m/2m/70cm Tribander from Waters & Stanton
Peter:
I had a marine aerial and like Tarbat, found that my Discone mounted outside on the chimney, at half the specialist aerial cost, is far better on AIS. I'm 12 miles inland, but can see to the 40 mile radius, i.e. 25 - 30 miles out to sea under flat conditions, and sometimes as far as Rotterdam under a lift! I don't use an aerial amplifier, that picks up every thermostatic blip and corrupts the data. I do use top quality coax though, UR67 when I bought a 100m. That has been superceeded with lighter, and no doubt a more user friendly replacement!
Peter
Budgie:
--- Quote from: tarbat on February 06, 2012, 11:43:22 am ---Yes, helicopters can play havoc with reception range measurements. I asked Airnav to exclude Type 9 (SAR) messages from the polar chart in ShipTrax.
--- End quote ---
The only problem with excluding Type 9 is that you're also excluding all the rig stand-by vessels and maybe the RNLI Lifeboats as well as the SAR aircraft. Considering that there are only 4 Coastguard Helos in Scotland, and only two of those will normally be flying (one from Stornoway and one from Sumburgh) then it's denying you quite a lot to save very little. ;-)
Lou:
Hi All I`ve been using Shiptrax since saturday,first impressions not bad i`m finding the software a bit clunky like the first iterations of the RadarBox software. I`m used to shipplotter so was surprised not to be able to see the Thames RNLI boats, I could hear them on the marine radio, so now I know why a bit of a bummer really as I live in London my range is quite limited is there a workaround to re-instate. Regards Lou.
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