ShipPlotter displays complete information about ships that
are within VHF range of your position using the Universal
Automatic Identification System (AIS).

AIS is a system that ships use to communicate their positions
to each other as part of the global maritime safety system.
From December 2004, all ships over 300 tons must carry an AIS
system which broadcasts information about the ship to any
suitably equipped receiver.AIS uses very short bursts of high
speed data on two VHF channels in the marine band. The two
frequencies used are 161.975 (Marine ch 87) and 162.025 (ch
88) MHz. Ships broadcast their identity, position, course,
speed and destination so that other ships can take account of
their movements. Using a low cost radio scanner tuned to one
or other of these channels and ShipPlotter software running
on your PC, you will be able to see a radar-like real-time
map (below) of all the large ships manoeuvring in your area
together with information about their destination, estimated
time of arrival and even the dimensions of each vessel.

http://www.coaa.co.uk/shipplotter.htm

Download File Size:3.37 MB

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