Features

AIS-catcher is a tool for decoding and analyzing AIS signals from ships, enabling vessel movement monitoring, situational awareness, and maritime community contributions.

Core Capabilities

Multi-Platform Support

• Runs on Windows, Ubuntu/Debian, Raspberry Pi, OSX, and Docker
• Easy installation via scripts and pre-built Docker images
• Web GUI available for Raspberry Pi and Docker deployments

High-Performance Architecture

• Sensitive decoder optimized for maximum SDR performance
• Lightweight C++ implementation for efficient resource usage
• Neon/SSE acceleration support
• Multi-channel decoding capability across multiple SDRs

Flexible I/O System

Input Sources

• Wide SDR hardware support (RTL-SDR, AirSpy, AirSpy HF+, HackRF, SDRPlay)
• NMEA data over network connections
• Serial devices
• NMEA2000 via SocketCAN

Output Options

• NMEA format and JSON output
• UDP/TCP/WebSocket streaming
• HTTP push capabilities
• MQTT broker publishing
• Database storage (PostgreSQL)
• OpenCPN integration
• File-based logging

Web Interface

Built-in Web Viewer

• Interactive map with vessel plots
• Station dashboard
• Message visualization graphs
• Dark mode support
• Mobile-friendly design
• Extensible plugin system

Web GUI Management (Raspberry Pi & Docker)

• Service control (start/stop)
• Input/output configuration
• System settings management

Database Integration

PostgreSQL Features

• Configurable table structure
• Vessel tracking tables
• Message logging
• Station metadata storage

Advanced Features

Multi-Channel Support

• Dual RTL-SDR capability
• Multiple frequency band monitoring
• Separate AIS channel processing
• Performance benchmarking

Modular Design

• Customizable processing pipeline
• Experimentation-friendly architecture
• Maintainable codebase
• Plugin support for extended functionality

Community Integration

• Data sharing via aiscatcher.org
• Local performance tuning
• Real-time position reports from nearby stations