User's Manual

Introduction
9
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Overview
Simrad’s AI50 is an Automatic Identifi cation System (AIS). It is an
autonomous and continuous information reporting system, operating
in the VHF maritime mobile band. It allows AIS equipped vessels to
automatically and dynamically exchange and display information with
similarly equipped vessels and shore based traffi c stations. Fig. 1.1
The AI50 uses a sophisticated automatic digital time sharing technology
which allows a large number of similarly equipped vessels within
VHF range of each other, to time share the same radio channel without
interference. This enables the automatic exchange of static information
like; MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identifi er) Number, Vessel’s Name,
Call Sign and Type. Also dynamic data like; Position, Course, Distance
and more, from ship to ship, and from ship to shore based traffi c stations.
The advantages of the AI50 are:
Increased awareness of the current shipping situation within your
VHF range through the exchange of data between vessels.
Improving traffi c management in busy shipping lanes through
exchanging information between vessels and shore based traffi c
stations.
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Fig. 1.1 - AI50 Class B Transceiver