"Børge Wedel Müller" wrote...
Hi Group

I've heard you had a discussion about AIS for leisure crafts (eg
sailboat), so I have just started "listening" to this news group.

Could you "kick-start" me on the subject?

Thanks
/Boerge


AIS and DSC are the new technologies for receiving
position reports of other boats in your vicinity.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is on marine VHF channel 70 (156.525 MHz)
Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts are on two VHF marine
channels 87 (161.975 MHz) & channel 88 (162.025 MHz).


Here is a link to a popular AIS receiver:

http://www.nasamarine.com/AIS/AISENGINE.html

Here are some web pages that further describe AIS and DSC

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/default.htm
http://www.sailmag.com/05feellison.qrk.pdf
http://www.amcom.nl/marine/icom_ic_m421.htm

If you want to use the sound card to decode and display AIS data on your
laptop see this web page:

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

Here are a few more interesting links:

http://www.xmradio.com/weather/
http://www.xmradio.com/weather/av_subscription_pkg.pdf
http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap376c/

http://www.nasamarine.com/press/pdfs/sx35.PDF
http://www.nasamarine.com/press/pdfs/sx35pract.PDF
http://www.nasamarine.com/press/press.html