DIY AIS receiver with just software and an old scanner

[henkm]

Found this in a Dutch news group:
http://www.shipplotter.com/

What you need, apart from the programme, is an old scanner or VHF that can be tuned to 161.975 and/or 162.025 MHz. And of course a PC or laptop.
An extra VHF antenna can easily be made from a lenght of antenna cable (that may also serve as a backup for your normal VHF antenna, I'll post the recipe if someone is interested).

The scanner will need a 'discriminator'-outlet, which is just two wires soldered on the right place.
About that right place:
http://www.discriminator.nl/index-en.html
(or else on) http://www.mods.dk

For myself, I will wait for the NASA-engine (february?), and then probably decide not to buy it, because AIS only shows what it shows, and nothing more.
But I'm tempted.

Henk


--
Windy, isn't it: http://www.filo.nl/users/kortweer/indexeng.htm

 

[bendyone]

Looked at the NASA unit at LIBS - they do not do any software for it. You need a chart plotter package - only tested with Chartwork about £450.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Just looked at your signature link,, most useful!!!

David

 

[Amphitrite]

Looks like a good software to use with the Nasa Blackbox, which shall be available end-february at 129 quids.... Any experiences yet with old scanners?

 

[Anthony]

Works well, got it working quite easily just by adding a resistir to my VHF to create a dicrminmator output, plugged it into laptop and away it went