AIS Decoding

[SCPD]

Evening all. I would like to try some AIS Decoding and i was wondering if anyone else here can point me in the right direction. I live in Queens NY about 1 mile away from the Whitestone bridge and 2 miles from the Throgs Neck bridge. Both are part of the Long Island sound, Little Neck bay and Flushing bay. Is AIS even used here in NY? Thank you in advance for any and all help.

Mike

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Look on the MarineTraffic.com map for your area. It will show the AIS traffic in your area.
Few AIS stations in that area uploading to MarineTraffic.com
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

You can also read up on ShipPlotter decoding software.
http://www.coaa.co.uk/shipplotter.htm

 

[Gator596]

Shipfinder is another similar type website.
Ship Finder | Live Ship Map | AIS Vessel Traffic and Position Tracking

 

[RKG]

Though I haven't been in New York harbor in a long time, I'd expect pretty heavy AIS traffic as NY is now part of a VTS, and AIS is mandatory for large classes of commercial traffic.

 

[SCPD]

Ok i will try these 2 freqs tomorrow. 161.975 and 162.025 do i need to have a discriminator tap? Can anyone recommend something open source (winxp/7)

Thanks again
Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Yes as mentioned on that software page, a tap is required for accurate decoding, unless you have one of those higher end Icom or WinRadios. I'd use a real old radio for something like this...best regards..Mike

[edit] A tip for you hams out there - the 9600 baud out pin on the microphone is usually set up for TCP/IP (a type of packet switching), but should work just fine in this app.

 

[DannB]

AIS in NY(area)

Though I haven't been in New York harbor in a long time, I'd expect pretty heavy AIS traffic as NY is now part of a VTS, and AIS is mandatory for large classes of commercial traffic.

AIS is alive and well in new york harbor i use it everyday....cant work without it...

 

[SCPD]

DannB thanks for the confirmation. Im going to tap my 996t and see what i can find open source.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

If you are looking for something cheap to buy. You can read up on this product.

MarineGadget Radar - AIS Receiver
http://www.radargadgets.com/

 

[redbeard]

I use the Smart Radio SR162

Smart Radio SR162 AIS Receiver

Works very well and covers both channels.

 

[AJAT]

I live in Bayonne right next to the water. I use an old Pro-95 with a tap and can recieve New York Harbor down to the VZ Bridge and up the Kill Van Kull. I am using a Mag mount antenna indoors on a piece of sheet metal. AIS is used by all commerical traffic.

 

[majoco]

SeaClear GPS Navigation Software..

http://www.y-tronic.com/

for the software although I can't use it! 30miles to the sea and then another 50nm to the shipping lanes!

 

[SCPD]

cknizeski: What software are you using?

Thank you for all the replies.

 

[AJAT]

cknizeski: What software are you using?

ShipPlotter. It has a free 30 day trial that just ran out on me. It worked good but I am not sure if I want to buy it. I may look around for free software.

ShipPlotter

 

[SCPD]

cknizeski: Let me know on here or threw PM if you come across anything and i will do the same

 

[ka3jjz]

You can start by looking here..

AIS - The RadioReference Wiki

best regards..Mike

 

[SCPD]

Thanks Mike i will check this out

 

[serbmarine]

Posted in error

 

[majoco]

Ok, fine, you can send the data you receive back to the servers and maybe they will add your data to the gazillions of others - but how do you plot your own data? Like PCHFDL does on to a Google map, can you plot the received ship positions on a local map, whether you have to make it yourself or overlay onto a commercial chart???

 

[serbmarine]

There is a program called OpenCPN that I use for doing just that. It is designed as a Marine Navigation/Mapping software. You can import local charts available free on the NOAA website.

Basically my setup is either SDRsharp using a virtual audio cable to AISmon, which takes the audio converts it into NMEA data and using a virtual serial port you can send the data into OpenCPN.

I also have a scanner and VHF with discriminator output that I will use in place of SDRsharp depending on where I am....

Serb