Whitefish Bay AIS not reporting

Random Vessel Passage
Mr Link
Posts: 1198
Joined: December 6, 2014, 3:43 pm

Re: Whitefish Bay AIS not reporting

Unread post by Mr Link »

All free AIS sites, including Boatnerd and Marine Traffic, rely on their own network of volunteers to host local radio receivers to receive AIS signals. The signals are then transmitted over the internet to a central location to be compiled and displayed on a mapping program. Some receivers are set up to also share their signal with a worldwide "clearinghouse" so that any tracking program can receive their signals. But most receivers are dedicated to a particular tracking site.

Boatnerd's local receiver covering that area is likely down. It could be an equipment malfunction, it might need to be reset due to a power outage, or it could be hosted at a location that is only online seasonally. (Many businesses and cottages near Whitefish Point close up for the winter.)

The only way to get anywhere close to complete AIS coverage of the Lakes is to pay for a subscription to a satellite-based AIS service. Those subscriptions typically start at several hundred dollars per month, and often only update ship positions every few hours. The cheapest option is to monitor several free AIS sites like Boatnerd, Marine Traffic, SiiTech, Ship Finder, Vessel Finder and others. Each has its strengths and weaknesses as far as coverage, features and ease of use.
Cdr Bob

Whitefish Bay AIS not reporting

Unread post by Cdr Bob »

The M.V. Algolake and several other M.V. are at anchor in Whitefish Bay waiting out the gale--none of their AIS are report on Boatnerd AIS--any thoughts as to why ?
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