AIS Vessel Tracking
Track ships and vessels via AIS (Automatic Identification System) on 161.975 / 162.025 MHz.
Open AIS Dashboard
Status
Status: Standby
Vessels: 0
Antenna Guide
Marine VHF band (162 MHz) — stock SDR antenna will NOT work well
Simple Dipole (Cheapest)
- Element length: ~46 cm each (quarter-wave at 162 MHz)
- Material: Wire, coat hanger, or copper rod
- Orientation: Vertical (AIS is vertically polarized)
- Placement: As high as possible with clear view of the water/harbor
Commercial Options
- Marine VHF whip: ~$20–50, designed for 156–163 MHz band
- Discone: ~$30–50, wideband coverage including marine VHF
- Collinear: Higher gain (~6 dBi), best for coastal monitoring
Placement Tips
- Height is critical: AIS is line-of-sight. Roof or mast mount is ideal
- Range: At 10m height, expect ~25 NM (46 km) range over water
- LNA: Nooelec Lana or similar broadband LNA, mount at antenna
- Coax: Keep cable short. RG-58 loses ~4 dB per 10m at 162 MHz
Quick Reference
| AIS Channel A |
161.975 MHz |
| AIS Channel B |
162.025 MHz |
| Quarter-wave length |
46 cm |
| Modulation |
GMSK 9600 baud |
| Bandwidth |
25 kHz |
| Polarization |
Vertical |