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AIS-Catcher

Welcome to the AIS-Catcher documentation. AIS-Catcher is an open-source software package designed to convert your inexpensive general-purpose Software Defined Radio (SDR) into a robust, dual-channel Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. Empower yourself with complete control over maritime data monitoring and sharing without the need for expensive commercial AIS receivers.

Important Disclaimer

AIS-Catcher is intended for hobbyist and research projects only. It is NOT approved for use in navigation or safety-of-life applications.

Read the full disclaimer.

Get Started What is new?

What is AIS?

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a vital maritime safety technology, akin to ADSB used in aviation. AIS enables real-time tracking of vessels by transmitting critical information such as position, speed, and heading over VHF radio frequencies (around 162 MHz). This data enhances maritime navigation safety, situational awareness, and traffic management.

Community Features

Join the vibrant AIS-Catcher community at aiscatcher.org. Our platform offers:

  1. Station Performance Tracking
    Monitor and analyze your AIS receiver's performance, and benchmark it against other stations in your vicinity.

  2. Global Ship Movement Overview
    Gain access to a comprehensive, real-time view of maritime traffic aggregated from our global network of contributors.

Community Site

Free and Open-Source

AIS-Catcher is free and open-source software published under the GPLv3 license. You can easily install it by following our comprehensive installation guide or by visiting our GitHub repository.

View on GitHub

Resources