SEAPILOT Class-B AIS Transponder

VHF Marine Band radios, protocol, radio communication theory, practical advice; AIS; DSC; MMSI; EPIRB.
jimh
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SEAPILOT Class-B AIS Transponder

Postby jimh » Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:06 am

If you like products made in Sweden (like Volvo automobiles, for example), you may want to consider an Automatic Identification System (AIS) Class-B transponder made by SEAPILOT, who have introduced an AIS Class-B transponder they call the AIS CTRX Graphene.

seapilot-wifi-aisSmall.png
SEA PILOT Class-B AIS CTRX Graphene
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There are four model variations:

--AIS CTRX Graphene, the basic model

--AIS CTRX Graphene+, with an integral antenna coupler that permits sharing one antenna between the AIS and a VHF transceiver

--Wi-Fi AIS CTRX Graphene, with an integral WiFi base station to permit wireless communication between the AIS and smartphone devices of AIS and GPS data

--Wi-Fi AIS CTRX Graphene+, with both WiFi and antenna coupler add-on's

All models provide interfaces to the device using protocols and connections via:

--NMEA-0183

--NMEA-2000

--and USB

The CTRX Graphene is developed and manufactured in SWEDEN, and is said to receive and send all AIS messages according to Recommendation ITU-R M.1371-4 (Technical characteristics for an automatic identification system using time-division multiple access in the VHF maritime mobile band).

More information can be found at the Seapilot website or from their literature.

Seapilot characterizes the AIS CTRX Graphene as a "third generation" device. Seapilot is a subsidiary of TRUE HEADING, their parent company, which also makes professional-grade AIS devices.

True Heading have also produced and published a short audio-visual presentation that explains quite thoroughly the general concept of AIS. See

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RYBlMI7UU8

The configuration of this AIS device uses the familiar proAIS software, which makes me speculate that under the hood one may find the familiar SRT building blocks used by many AIS Class-B transponder brands. There is nothing wrong with using the SRT building blocks, as they are good products.