Although most larger customers want to host their vessels location on their own computer, many single boat owners do not want to go to that expense. For them we offer as part of the airtime charge a hosting service. The cost is already included in the airtime charge and the service is hosted on our own server. The simple concept means that you can go to any internet equipped computer and overlay the location of your vessel(s), on one of the many internet mapping services.

Clicking on the 'To the MAP' link will take you straight to the facility, But  you will get so much more from it if you take a moment to learn how to use it.

There are no passwords to worry about with the standard map program The icons you will see are some customer's vessels, where the customer has decide to not password protect them. You may also see some of our own and friends motor vehicles, used to make the display more interesting (UK based boats are not 'live' as often as UK vehicles).

Screen 1 (below): This is the first screen you will see. Please take a moment to memorise what the tabs do.

(Screen 1)

Screen 2 (below): Road maps are of little use to boats and so you will find the 'Satellite' view, will often be of more interest. This especially true when looking at parts of the world where maps are not so good. The one shown below shows an area on the Hamble River, not far from our offices.

(Screen 2)
 

Screen 1 and then 3: Clicking on the 'Report' tab takes you quickly to the last week's locations, listed by days. If you now select a day, a new screen will open (screen3 below). If there is good data for that day, you will see the time of all the 'fixes' on the left. You will also see an approximate speed of the vessel across the water and with some power boats, if the ignition is on, or off. You may also see some of our own and friends) vehicles, to make it more interesting.

You can click on a time and go to where the unit was then. Note your first click also gets entered into the start time box (see 06:19 below) Now click on a second time (we used 06:49) and you will go to that location.

Now for the fun bit - Click on 'Update' link and the map will draw the locations along the way. You can click on any icon to see the time there (in this example 06:39). The plot used is an actual journey, taken by a dive boat carrying one of our portable units out in Egypt.

(Screen 3)
 

A few notes

  • It is important to understand, the  'Satellite' view, of the Hamble used in screen 2 above, does not actually show the target boat 'live'. This is because the satellite images used, are at least a few years old. Perhaps one day people (other than the CIA) will be able to see things live, but not just yet!

  • Due to a number of factors, all standard satellite location fixes can be a few meters 'off'. Therefore 'in the real world' the fix may show you actually on you neighbour's mooring as opposed to your exact berth. 

  • Along with the graphic history shown above, we hold records for a further three months (or until a unit is removed) and can therefore retrieve old historical information if needed.

  • All units can be password protected allowing only those you give the password to, to see your units location.

  • Update time settings are typically every 3 minutes when moving for motor and sail boats and every 30 minutes when not. With portable and power boats it is normally every minute when moving. Racing boats can be set to, every ten seconds when moving.   

 

  

To the Live Map Web Site