Marine Automatic Identification System (AIS)

[wb3v]

What is the Automatic Identification System (AIS) used by large ships on the Marine VHF channels, AIS1 on 161.975 MHz (used to be Chan 87), and AIS2 on 162.025 MHz
(used to be Chan 88), with 9.6 kb GMSK FM modulation?

Here is the Coast Guard's answer:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/default.htm

Over this past weekend, I installed a Smart Radio SR161 AIS receiver from MillTech Marine ( http://www.milltechmarine.com/ ), along with an MiniPlex-AIS multiplexer from ShipModul Marine Electronics to feed the chartplotter display on my Raymarine E80 Chartplotter.

I mounted a separate antenna for AIS, a short 3db whip, mounted on the flying bridge, and I have been plotting AIS signals from Delaware to Virginia from my location near Baltimore.

I did run into one snag, the GPS data to my Class D DSC VHF radio was lost when I changed the E80 NMEA port from 4800 bps to 38.4Kbps. I was able to correct that by coupling the E80 NMEA output at 38.4Kbps to the RS232 input of the MiniPlex-AIS. Then the 4800 bps NMEA output #2 feeds GPS data to the VHF radio.

My navigation system setup is Raymarine E80, with the
RS125 GPS sensor,
RD424 24”, 4Kw Radar,
DSM300 "Black Box" Digital Sounder Module
Pathfinder smart heading sensor
and a Raymarine NMEA multiplexer that takes heading sensor data and combines it with input from my ICOM M504 Marine VHF radio. I took the NMEA output of this multiplexer and fed it into the MiniPlex-AIS on input #1, the SR161 NMEA data into input #2, and the output into the E80 NMEA in.

You don't have to have a boat to monitor and plot AIS transmissions. You can view AIS
if you are within VHF range of major ports or over the internet.

wb3v
p.s APRS is next for the boat

 

[ka3jjz]

There's also software available that runs off a soundcard and a discriminator tapped scanner called ShipPlotter that sounds like it does something rather similar to this. There's also a Yahoo group devoted to this software. At 25 Euros, it's not all that expensive, either. 73s Mike

 

[holyshipmon]

ais

I use a SR 161 mounted from milletech marine (189.00), a 36" whip antenna from milletech marine (49.00), a 12v ac/dc adaptor I stole from my kid, and shipplotter software (30.00/yr) to monitor AIS data from the Port of Freeport, TX which is about 8 miles away. I can monitor traffic before I leave for a day of sailing. The shipplotter software is feature rich, and ideal for people who use it as an aid for navigating small craft. I have my shipplotter software sharing to www.shipplotting.com where the information is published to the internet via a google map and is completely free. On good nights I can pick up ships as far as 150 miles off shore and a couple of time I've picked up ships all the way to New Orleans!!

Chris

 

[wb3v]

AIS World Wide

Try this site for AIS World Wide:
http://liveaisworld.yachtmarine.com/LIVEAISWORLD.html

Also, I drew a graphic for my NMEA-0183 signalling on the boat including the AIS receiver that is available on:
http://www.carver33.com

Regards,