Software Radio Technology (SRT) Announce New AIS Products
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:56 am
Software Radio Technology in the United Kingdom (SRT) have announced several new products for the automatic identification system (AIS) market.
HF-AIS
SRT has coined a new acronym: HF-AIS, which means high-fidelity automatic identification system. HF-AIS is described as new technology in reception and demodulation of AIS radio signals into their data content. SRT says that HF-AIS is a decoder technology "more commonly found in high-end communication devices such as 4G mobile phones where very high data rates are required. [HF-AIS] ensures reliable decoding and processing of all AIS messages in real time--which in turn ensures that the end user sees everything. When combined with SRT's superior radio reception sensitivity, the difference for the user can be dramatic."
The choice of HF for use in the acronym to mean high fidelity is a bit awkward. Because AIS is a radio based protocol, one would generally think HF refers to high-frequency, not high-fidelity.
Concurrent with the announcement of the new receiver-demodulator technology of HF-AIS, SRT has also introduced new products that utilize the method.
Artemis Class-B SOTDMA Transponder
SRT has introduced a new Class-B transponder product, the Artemis. The Artemis is an enhanced Class-B device, using a 5-Watt transmitter power and capable of participating in the self-organizing time-division multiple access (SOTDMA) protocol used by Class-A AIS Transponders. Typical Class-B AIS transponders only use a 2-Watt transmitter and use a different protocol, called carrier-sense time-division multiple-access (CSTDMA) to participate in AIS communications.
Apollo Class-A Transponder
While unlikely to be applicable for use in small boats, SRT has also introduced an improved Class-A AIS transponder, the Apollo model. It is said to based on an entirely new hardware design. The use of HF-AIS demodulator methods is presumed to be included.
AIS Changing Role
The automatic identification system (AIS) was conceived and designed to be a safety device: a collision avoidance system. Commercial vessels with AIS would be able to see other AIS vessels, know their identity, course, speed, and other data, and make use of this information to avoid collisions. AIS has now changed from that initial collision-avoidance purpose and has become a global vessel tracking system. A white paper from SRT discusses this changing role for AIS.
A good summary of the differences between Class-A, Class-B SOTDMA, and Class-B CSDTMA AIS transponders can be found at the website of the Coast Guard of the USA.
HF-AIS
SRT has coined a new acronym: HF-AIS, which means high-fidelity automatic identification system. HF-AIS is described as new technology in reception and demodulation of AIS radio signals into their data content. SRT says that HF-AIS is a decoder technology "more commonly found in high-end communication devices such as 4G mobile phones where very high data rates are required. [HF-AIS] ensures reliable decoding and processing of all AIS messages in real time--which in turn ensures that the end user sees everything. When combined with SRT's superior radio reception sensitivity, the difference for the user can be dramatic."
The choice of HF for use in the acronym to mean high fidelity is a bit awkward. Because AIS is a radio based protocol, one would generally think HF refers to high-frequency, not high-fidelity.
Concurrent with the announcement of the new receiver-demodulator technology of HF-AIS, SRT has also introduced new products that utilize the method.
Artemis Class-B SOTDMA Transponder
SRT has introduced a new Class-B transponder product, the Artemis. The Artemis is an enhanced Class-B device, using a 5-Watt transmitter power and capable of participating in the self-organizing time-division multiple access (SOTDMA) protocol used by Class-A AIS Transponders. Typical Class-B AIS transponders only use a 2-Watt transmitter and use a different protocol, called carrier-sense time-division multiple-access (CSTDMA) to participate in AIS communications.
Apollo Class-A Transponder
While unlikely to be applicable for use in small boats, SRT has also introduced an improved Class-A AIS transponder, the Apollo model. It is said to based on an entirely new hardware design. The use of HF-AIS demodulator methods is presumed to be included.
AIS Changing Role
The automatic identification system (AIS) was conceived and designed to be a safety device: a collision avoidance system. Commercial vessels with AIS would be able to see other AIS vessels, know their identity, course, speed, and other data, and make use of this information to avoid collisions. AIS has now changed from that initial collision-avoidance purpose and has become a global vessel tracking system. A white paper from SRT discusses this changing role for AIS.
A good summary of the differences between Class-A, Class-B SOTDMA, and Class-B CSDTMA AIS transponders can be found at the website of the Coast Guard of the USA.