4.02.2012

GPS Technology Can Make Boat Tracking Yacht Tracking Safer And Easier

By Alexander Hunt


Modern GPS technology makes boat tracking yacht tracking easy. The technology pinpoints the location of a boat and allows it to be followed constantly by managers and others onshore. Vessel tracking devices are a valuable tool for both mariners and land-based managers. Various alternative system configurations are possible depending on vessel specifics. They are all generally inexpensive, simple to install and operate and permit vessel location to be shown on an electronic chart or computer-based map.

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.

The system consists of a receiver to receive data from GPS satellites and a transmitter to transmit that and other data to a communication satellite and then to servers onshore. The device installed on a vessel to perform these jobs is a transceiver (short for transmitter-receiver).

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 units are simple to install on a yacht or boat. The units a small measuring about 3 X 15 X 10 cm (height x length x width). They can be installed in a few minutes on a dedicated mounting bracket or using automotive adhesive tape. The units are usually weather proof and can be positioned within deck or hull fittings provided they have direct line-of-sight to orbiting satellites.

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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