Monday, April 2, 2012

Satellite GPS Allows Better Managed Boat Tracking Yacht Tracking

By Alexander Hunt


GPS technology can make boat tracking yacht tracking smarter, safer and simpler. It can allow vessel location to be closely monitored and controlled. Vessel track devices permit land-based managers to quickly determine the position of a vessel and take corrective action if necessary. They devices are a valuable tool for many users including those responsible for delivery and overall management of a vessel.

Following the position of a vessel at sea is easier than following the movement of people or other objects on land since there are no obstacles (trees, buildings, canyons and so on) to block signals travelling from orbiting satellites to earth-bound receivers and transmitters. Marine track systems to follow vessels across oceans cannot rely on mobile phone networks since their coverage extends only around 10 miles (16 kilometers) offshore. Ocean track systems rely not only on GPS satellites but also on communication satellites.

The track devices are a combined transmitter-receiver, or transceiver for short. They receive transmissions made by GPS satellites from which the devices calculate latitude, longitude and elevation. That data allows vessel position to be determined. The device then uses its transmitter to relay that location data together with the vessel course and speed.

Some devices allow a second set of batteries to be inserted in the device in parallel to allow about 3 years of operation. Some are equipped with an intelligent sensor that will shut down scheduled transmissions after a set period if the vessel has remained stationary, in that way preserving battery life.

A marine satellite monitoring system may be designed in a number different ways. One way is to merge into with an Inmarsat C marine data communication system. This service is provided globally by the telco company Inmarsat. It incorporates 4 satellites geo-stationary positioned high above the earth at the equator.

The service offers various data transfer services such as e-mail, SMS (text messaging), telex, crew calling, remote monitoring, marine chart and weather updates, maritime safety information, maritime security, SafetyNET, FleetNET and, of course, position reporting services.

The dangers of open ocean journeys are substantially mitigated by boat tracking yacht tracking systems. They greatly facilitate vessel management. The system represents yet another successful application of GPS technology. Many skippers and owners believe their cost is good value given the better safety they allow.




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