How to Set Up an SDR AIS Receiver with AIS-catcher (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’ve ever wondered how websites like MarineTraffic track ships in real time, the answer lies in something called AIS, and the good news is, you can set up your own receiver at home. With just a small USB radio dongle and a simple antenna, you can pick up live signals from vessels nearby and decode them right on your computer or Raspberry Pi.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up a Software Defined Radio (SDR) AIS receiver using AIS-catcher, a powerful, open-source AIS decoder. You don’t need any prior experience, we’ll explain what everything means and guide you step by step, from installing the software to seeing real-time ship messages on your screen.

What Is AIS?

AIS stands for Automatic Identification System, a safety system used by ships to broadcast their position, speed, course, and identity. These messages are sent over VHF radio waves and can be picked up by anyone with a receiver. AIS helps prevent collisions and makes maritime traffic visible both on land and at sea.

What Is SDR?

Software Defined Radio (SDR) lets your computer do the work of traditional radio hardware. By plugging in a small USB device (an SDR dongle), you can receive a wide range of radio signals, including AIS. In this guide, we’ll use an SDR dongle to listen to VHF AIS messages and decode them with AIS-catcher.

Materials Needed for an SDR AIS Receiver

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• RTL-SDR dongle (e.g. Nooelec NESDR, RTL-SDR Blog V3)

• VHF antenna (marine band, tuned for ~162 MHz)

• Raspberry Pi (Model 3 or later) or any PC (this guide is based on Windows OS)

• Internet connection (for updates, optional data sharing)

• Basic tools:

  • USB extension cable (optional but helps with placement)

  • Waterproof enclosure (if deploying outdoors)

For more info on how how to set up the hardware, check out our post here.

Step 1: Install AIS-catcher on Windows

AIS-catcher can run on Windows, but it requires a few setup steps to get your system ready. We’ll walk through everything from installing the necessary tools to running AIS-catcher with your SDR dongle.

What You'll Be Doing

1. Install Zadig to set up your SDR drivers

2. Download and extract AIS-catcher for Windows

3. Run AIS-catcher via Command Prompt

1. Download & Install SDR Drivers with Zadig

Your RTL-SDR won’t work until the correct drivers are installed.

Steps:

1. Download Zadig:https://zadig.akeo.ie

2. Plug in your RTL-SDR dongle via USB.

3. Run zadig.exe as Administrator.

4. In Zadig:

   • Go to Options → List All Devices

   • From the dropdown, choose RTL2832U (or something similar.. in our case it is NESDR SMArt v5)

   • For the driver, choose WinUSB (NOT libusb or others)

   • Click Install Driver

   
   
   
   

   

   
   

If you don’t see SDR dongal name, try unplugging and replugging the dongle.

2. Download AIS-catcher for Windows

Steps:

1. Go to the GitHub Releases page:https://github.com/jvde-github/AIS-catcher/releases

2. Download the latest AIS-catcher_Windows_x64.zip

3. Extract the ZIP file to a folder (e.g., C:\AIS-catcher)

   
   

3. Run AIS-catcher on Windows

Now that AIS-catcher is downloaded and extracted, it’s time to run it and test that it works.

We’ll do this from the Windows Command Prompt.

1. Open Command Prompt

• Press Win + R

• Type: cmd

• Press Enter

This opens a black terminal window.

2. Navigate to the AIS-catcher folder

Type the following:

Then press Enter.

3. Run AIS-catcher in test mode

Now type:

Then press Enter.

This launches AIS-catcher in verbose mode. It should show:

• SDR hardware being detected

• Sample rate and gain settings

• (If you're near ships) live AIS messages

Step 2: Configure AIS-catcher for Live AIS Reception

In this step, we’ll run AIS-catcher with proper flags to start decoding live AIS messages from ships around you. This means setting frequency, gain, and the correct SDR device (if you have more than one plugged in).

1. Understand the Basic Command Format

The general format to run AIS-catcher is:

Let’s break down the most useful options:

Option	Description
-v	Verbose mode (shows debug output)
-u freq	Set frequency in Hz (e.g. 162000000)
-g value	Set gain (e.g. 49.6, or auto)
-d index	Choose which SDR device to use (default = 0)
-A	Enable both AIS channels (standard for full reception)

2. Recommended Command (Dual-channel AIS, Auto Gain)

This does the following:

• -A listens to both AIS frequencies:

  • Channel 1: 161.975 MHz

  • Channel 2: 162.025 MHz

• -g auto lets AIS-catcher automatically choose the gain setting

• Uses default device (-d 0) unless otherwise specified

You should see continuous outputs like this:

These are raw NMEA AIS messages being received in real time.

 3. Optional Output Modes

You can also direct the output to a text file or a network socket:

To log AIS messages to a file:

To send AIS messages over TCP (e.g. to OpenCPN):

This opens a TCP server on port 10110 — other apps like OpenCPN can connect to this to visualize ships on a map.

Troubleshooting AIS-catcher on Windows

If AIS-catcher isn’t working as expected, don’t worry, most issues are easy to fix. Below are the most common problems and how to resolve them.

Use the table below to identify and fix common problems when running AIS-catcher.

Problem	Likely Cause	Solution
No supported devices found	- SDR dongle not detected- Drivers not installed correctly	- Unplug/replug the SDR into a different USB port- Open Zadig, select RTL2832U, and install the WinUSB driver
No AIS messages showing	- You're not near ships- Poor antenna placement- Gain too low or too high	- Try: AIS-catcher.exe -A -g auto- Move antenna outdoors or near a window- Ensure antenna is VHF (~162 MHz)
AIS-catcher window opens and closes instantly	- You're double-clicking the .exe file instead of running it from the terminal	- Open Command Prompt- Navigate to the folder:cd C:\your file path\AIS-catcher.x64- Run with: AIS-catcher.exe -A
AIS-catcher shows messages, but nothing in OpenCPN	- OpenCPN isn't connected to AIS-catcher's network output	- Run AIS-catcher with:AIS-catcher.exe -A -t 127.0.0.1 10110- In OpenCPN, go to Options > Connections→ Add TCP connection to 127.0.0.1, port 10110
Garbled output or low message quality	- Signal too weak or overloaded- Antenna placement issue	- Lower gain, e.g.: -g 38.6- Use better antenna- Place antenna higher with clear line of sight
AIS-catcher says "No such file or command"	- You're trying to run the folder, not the .exe file	- Use Command Prompt- Type: cd C:\your file path\AIS-catcher.x64Then run: AIS-catcher.exe -v

Bonus: Connect AIS-catcher to OpenCPN

ow that AIS-catcher is running and decoding AIS messages, you can display live ship traffic on a chart using OpenCPN, a powerful, free marine navigation app.

Here’s how to connect OpenCPN to AIS-catcher on the same Windows PC using a TCP network connection.

1. Launch AIS-catcher with TCP Output Enabled

In Command Prompt, run

This does two things:

• -A: Enables dual-channel AIS decoding (both 161.975 MHz and 162.025 MHz)

• -t 127.0.0.1 10110: Starts a TCP server on your machine, sending decoded messages to port 10110

Keep this window open while using OpenCPN.

2. Open OpenCPN

If you haven’t installed it yet, download it here:

👉 https://opencpn.org

Once installed, launch OpenCPN. You’ll see a basic world chart.

3. Create a TCP Network Connection

1. Click the Options icon (gear icon at the top)Or go to: Tools > Options

2. Navigate to the Connections tab[Screenshot: OpenCPN Options window]

3. Click "Add Connection"

4. In the new connection window, select:

   
   

Field	Value
Connection Type	Network
Protocol	TCP
Address	127.0.0.1
DataPort	10110

Click OK to save

Back in the Options window, click OK again to close and apply the connection.

4. Enable AIS Target Display

1. In OpenCPN, go to the Ships/AIS tab in Options

2. Check the box: “Show AIS targets”[Screenshot: Ships/AIS settings panel]

3. Click OK to save

   
   

Next Steps: Contribute AIS Data with Purpose

If you've successfully set up your AIS receiver, you're already helping decode the movement of ships around the world. But what if your data could do more?

WAKE is building a decentralized AIS network that rewards contributors, not corporations, for sharing maritime data.

🌍 Whether you’re running a home receiver or deploying a remote node, your AIS feed could power a more open, transparent maritime future.

🔗 Join the WAKE waitlist to start contributing.