AISmon can be used to convert NMEA data from an audio source. You can utilize either a radio receiver (VHF receiver or transceiver) or an SDR receiver for this purpose. This method offers a cost-effective alternative to specialized AIS receivers, as it allows you to use a budget-friendly or readily available VHF device along with a PC equipped with a simple sound card (with Line-In) to decode AIS messages. However, note that you may need to tap into the discriminator output of the radio.

The setup process can be relatively complex, depending on the device, and might require additional software to provide AISmon with the necessary audio source. Once the audio source is set up, AISmon will handle the decoding of incoming AIS data and forward it to our database. This guide covers only the setup of AISmon and does not address the prerequisites, which can become quite extensive depending on the receiving device or the Windows operating system used.

Next, access your station on MarineTraffic to verify if the data is being received. Please allow a few minutes for the statistics to reflect a successful reception.