AIS Transponders & Antennas

Boost situational awareness with AIS.

Out on the water, keeping abreast of the boating traffic around you is essential to the safety of yourself and your crew. AIS (Automatic Identification System) combines GPS and VHF radio technologies with sophisticated digital processing to automatically identify vessels within VHF range and provide valuable information, including each vessel’s speed and heading, relative size and time to their closest point of approach. AIS systems communicate this information without any user interaction. While some AIS transceivers include a digital display, most are designed for use with a compatible multi-function or radar display.

AIS systems consist of an AIS transceiver (also called an AIS transponder) paired with an AIS antenna. There are three types of AIS: Class A, Class B and receiver only.

Class A AIS Transceivers

Class A AIS transceivers are required for many commercial vessels and for passenger ships. Class A units can transmit and receive AIS signals. While they offer more functions than Class B units, their power requirements are much greater.

Class B AIS Transceivers

Class B AIS transceivers are intended for recreational boats and others that are not required to have a Class A unit. Compared to Class A transceivers, they offer a reduced set of functions, which are nevertheless adequate for most recreational boaters. Compared to the 10 second reporting rate of Class A units, Class B units transmit AIS information every 30 seconds. They also do not transmit vessel destination, ETA, draft, IMO Number or rate of turn. However, they require far less power than Class A units. For example, compare the 2W requirement of Raymarine’s AIS650 Class B Transceiver to the 12W requirement of EM-Trak Marine Electronics A100 A100 AIS Class A Transceiver.

Receive-Only AIS

Receive-only AIS receivers do not transmit your boat’s information for other AIS equipped boats to see. While they do not transmit your boat’s position on to the AIS grid, they do allow you to identify the boating traffic in the vicinity of your boat.

Brands of AIS

West Marine offers AIS transceivers from Raymarine, Simrad, EM Trak Marine Electronics, Navico and ACR Electronics.

AIS Registration Requirements

The FCC requires that Class B AIS transceivers be programmed with your boat’s MMSI number and other identifying information by a professional. For how to get this done and for an expanded discussion of AIS please read out West Advisor article Be Safe and Be Seen with AIS.