On Fri, 16 Dec 2005 08:37:11 +0100, "Steve Lusardi"
wrote:

Dave,
I have a high interest in AIS ability. I have no desire to reinvent the
wheel. Will you be selling your system?

We have already been selling the system for about 7 years now. We only added
AIS capability about 1 year ago though, and ARPA is something new that the
latest client is looking for. In the past we have been using it mostly with
dedicated Inmarsat tracking systems as well as proprietary UHF tracking
systems.

However, it's not just a viewing package - it's a full Command & Control
package used mostly by oil companies to manage their crewboats, supply boats,
anchor-handling tugs, drilling rigs, etc. Recently the local Coast Guard has
just bought it, so we have been adding new features.

So, as you an imagine, it's not a cheap package - it's based on MapInfo
Professional 8.0 GIS, and a licence just for that is getting on for US$2000
before we even get to our software that integrates into it.

There is a freeware package around that can decode AIS signals from the cheap
(or expensive) AIS receivers (or transceivers) and display them on maps, if
that is all you are after. Or there is Ship Plotter
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shipplotter/ for more info) which is cheap but
does a good job even without an AIS receiver - uses a normal radio receiver &
a PC sound card!

Dave