NASA AIS Engine  
 

This is an AIS receive-only device. It will acquire targets from AIS equipped ships and nav-aids and display these targets in SOB.

All vessels over 300 tons and all passenger vessels are legally required to carry a "Class A" AIS transponder. Many non-commercial vessels are now equipped with "Class B" AIS transponders, the newer model NASA Engine will receive both Class A & B transmissions. 

     
       
   

Features

  
 

  • No drivers are required to use the NASA AIS Engine with SOB.
  • The NASA Engine will receive transmissions on both channels, but not simultaneously
  • The unit is supplied with a 12 volt power cable and a 9-pin serial computer cable. For convenience the engine can also receive NMEA information from a GPS receiver (at 4800 baud only) which it then sends on to the PC with the AIS data.
  • SOB can be used to set the Threshold and Channel used by the NASA Receiver.
  
   

 
   

Specifications

  
 

  • Dimensions - 115 x 100 x 30mm
  • Operating frequencies - 162.025 and 161.975 MHz (2 Channel)
  • DC Power: Voltage - 10 to 16 volts; Current - 43mA
  • Antenna input - 50 ohm BNC (standard VHF radio antenna) 
  • Data connector - 9 pin "D" type 
  • Output format - NMEA 2000/0183 (38400 Baud)
  • ITU-1371 Messages relayed - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11 and 21
  • VDM encapsulation string conforming to ITU-1371
  • NMEA RMC from GPS
  • 90 day warranty

 

 
   

 
   

Notes

  
 


Mounting
The AIS Engine is not watertight so it must be mounted in a position which is dry at all times. 

VHF Antenna
The AIS Engine requires a marine VHF antenna (not supplied). A separate antenna should be installed dedicated to AIS, or alternately the receiver can share the VHF radio's antenna by using the VHF Antenna Splitter (pictured). 
The antenna should be mounted as high as possible to maximise range but should be spaced not less than 1 metre from any other transmitting antenna. The antenna cable should be at least 3 metres long and the antenna should be sited at least 2 metres from the NASA AIS Receiver. The antenna should be a 50 ohm general purpose marine VHF antenna. 
 		  
 

 
       
  Own an older NASA AIS Receiver?
DIY Project		  
 


Fitting Indicator LED's to your NASA Receiver 
The main drawback with the original NASA Engine is that without active targets available, it is impossible to determine whether (1) the NASA device is working; and (2) whether the NASA device and the PC are correctly communicating.

Of course, if you are installing the NASA in an area with active AIS transponding ships, then you wont get as much benefit out of fitting the LEDs (Light-Emitting-Diodes), however there's still an element of "peace of mind" involved with being able to tell, at a glance, that the NASA is at least receiving power.

In an effort to resolve these shortcomings, for less than a dollar, anyone semi-skilled with a soldering-iron can add the components that NASA forgot...

Complete instruction build-page is here.