Gps

[Jaxboat]

Are GPS navigation systems just receivers? Or can a GPS navigation system be used to locate a lost or stolen boat?

[Tim B]

GPS just gives a position. You need to transmit it to somewhere, which is easiest to do (wirelessly) via GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) ie. via the mobile phone network.

How you connect this up depends entirely on the hardware you have (or can pay for :-) ) and what services the marina offers, whether you need constant tracking, etc.

Could be an interesting bit of kit.

Cheers,

Tim B.

[TeddyDiver]

Not sure about this, but are there any EPIRB device sending the location on demand?

[marshmat]

Not sure about EPIRBs that can respond on remote request in case of a stolen boat. Every 406 EPIRB that I've seen can only be activated locally- either by automatic hydrostatic release if the boat sinks, or manually.
You might be thinking of the Boomerang ( good article on it at http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/boomerang.htm ) It's a small, hidden "black box" device that operates through the cell phone network. They've been used on heavy equipment for a while and are now becoming popular for cars, I think they work on boats too provided the boat is within cellphone range. Vehicle's stolen, you call them, they triangulate its position and send appropriate forces to recover it. Not GPS-based and it works inside shipping containers and warehouses. You can't buy the thing everywhere yet, though.

[Jaxboat]

What's the offshore range for the cellular kind of transmission? And how expensive is the far range GPS transmitters?

[Ike]

Yes you can get transmitters that transmit the position of your boat. It's just like having lo-jack or On Star.

[Ocean Lines]

SeaKey by Volvo is one satellite-based product that does exactly that. I have it on my boat. It is offered on many production cruising boats these days.

[Jaxboat]

how much does it cost?

[Ocean Lines]

its not cheap, about $300 per year, but includes geo-fencing, trip monitoring, free cruise concierge service (marina reservations, etc.) as well as low-voltage and high-water alarms; all of which are valuable to me since I'm more than an hour away from my boat. It's all satellite-based with sensors in the hold and a gps/transceiver unit up on the flybridge (under the helm). I can turn it off during the winter and back on in the spring if I want to save money.

[Jaxboat]

Thanks, What about cost of the equipment/installation?

[Ocean Lines]

forgot to mention; it also has a distress key that will send an emergency satellite signal to the SeaKey 24-hour monitoring base. They will then attempt to contact me via the info I've filed with them; if they don't reach me they will call the USCG with the reported lat/long. Also, unlike calling "Mayday" on VHF Ch. 16, I can use the distress key to have them call me and then contact SeaTow or Towboat US on my behalf for a less-significant situation.

[Ocean Lines]

not sure about installation costs; since it was built-in at the factory. It would NOT be a very difficult DIY project, and therefore also leads me to believe not more than a couple of hours for a marine tech. One battery sensor; one high-water sensor, and a power lead and data lead to the control module/transceiver. Pretty simple; no external antenna required. I know the geo-fencing works because I've forgotten to turn it off (via phone or Internet) before leaving on a cruise and had them call me on my cell phone to ask if I was aware that my boat was leaving the designated radius. Oops.

[Kay9]

Here shortly when DSC is fully implemented you can get the computer program and a DSC VHF and you can poll any DSC equipped vessel to see where it is, its speed, course, owner.

Its all part of the GMDSS requirements.

K9

[NAVIS]

Automatic Identification System (AIS)


will do what your looking for.


They are mandetory on most commercial vessels comming into the USA and a lot of other countries.


T boats are also now required to carry them






Here is a link with all the specs

http://www.samyungenc.com/eng/index.asp