---------------------------------------------------------------------- rtl_ais, a simple AIS tuner and generic dual-frequency FM demodulator OS: Linux-Windows-OSX. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ COMMAND LINE ------------ Use: rtl_ais [options] [outputfile] [-l left_frequency (default: 161.975M)] [-r right_frequency (default: 162.025M)] left freq < right freq frequencies must be within 1.2MHz [-s sample_rate (default: 24k)] maximum value, might be down to 12k [-o output_rate (default: 48k)] must be equal or greater than twice -s value [-E toggle edge tuning (default: off)] [-D toggle DC filter (default: on)] [-d device_index (default: 0)] [-g tuner_gain (default: automatic)] [-p ppm_error (default: 0)] [-R enable RTL chip AGC (default: off)] [-A turn off built-in AIS decoder (default: on)] use this option to output samples to file or stdout. Built-in AIS decoder options: [-h host (default: 127.0.0.1)] [-P port (default: 10110)] [-T use TCP communication as tcp listener ( -h is ignored)] [-t time to keep ais messages in sec, using tcp listener (default: 15)] [-n log NMEA sentences to console (stderr) (default off)] [-L log sound levels to console (stderr) (default off)] [-S seconds_for_decoder_stats (default 0=off)] When the built-in AIS decoder is disabled the samples are sent to to [outputfile] (a '-' dumps samples to stdout) omitting the filename also uses stdout Output is stereo 2x16 bit signed ints Examples: Receive AIS traffic,sent UDP NMEA sentences to 127.0.0.1 port 10110 and log the senteces to console: rtl_ais -n Tune two fm stations and play one on each channel: rtl_ais -l233.15M -r233.20M -A | play -r48k -traw -es -b16 -c2 -V1 - --------- COMPILING --------- Make sure you have the following dependencies: - librtlsdr - libusb - libpthread Get the source code: git clone https://github.com/dgiardini/rtl-ais Change to the source dir cd rtl-ais then type make Test running on E4000 rtl SDR: ./run_rtl_ais_deb_test.sh ------- INSTALL ------- On Linux, copy the rtl_ais file to a binary path, i.e. /usr/bin, or /usr/local/bin. ------------ KNOWN ISSUES ------------ The [-p ppm error] parameter is essential for rtl_ais to work. The ppm error is the frequency deviation in parts per million from the desired tuning frequency, and the real tuned frequency due to the crystal oscillator deviation. This figure is different for each device, it's very important to know this value and pass this parameter to rtl_ais. Some instructions for get the ppm error are here: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/how-to-calibrate-rtl-sdr-using-kalibrate-rtl-on-linux