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Guides

Navigation & communication equipment guides

Buying guides, standards explainers and equipment comparisons, based on what ASPL supplies and services in India.

AIS & Vessel Tracking

AIS transponders, receivers, SARTs and how vessel tracking actually works.

Is AIS mandatory on my vessel in India?
SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 19 decides whether your vessel must carry AIS, by tonnage and voyage type. Many working boats fall outside it, and for them the flag administration sets the rules.
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Class A vs Class B AIS: what's the real difference
Class A and Class B are not simply expensive and cheap versions of the same box. They differ in transmit power, how they claim a slot on the VHF data link, and what they report.
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AIS transponder vs. AIS receiver: which do you need
The difference is one direction of traffic: a transponder transmits your position as well as receiving everyone else's, while a receiver keeps you invisible.
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How to install a marine AIS antenna and splitter
Most disappointing AIS performance traces back to the antenna rather than the transponder: where it is sited, how it is cabled and how the RF side is commissioned.
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AIS SART explained: what it is and when it saves lives
An AIS SART turns a survival craft into a named, positioned target on every AIS display within range. It works differently from a radar SART, and it is a separate device from a personal AIS MOB beacon.
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MMSI full form, meaning and how to register in India
An MMSI is the nine digit identity your AIS and DSC radio broadcast on every transmission. For Indian registered ships it is allotted through the ship registry, and the WPC radio licence application asks for that allotment.
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NMEA 0183 vs NMEA 2000: connecting your AIS to your chartplotter
An AIS transponder is only useful if its data reaches a display, over NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000. Which standard each end speaks, and how many inputs your plotter has, decides whether you need a gateway or a multiplexer.
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AIS for small commercial vessels: a compliance checklist
Workboats, small passenger craft and fishing vessels sit in the awkward middle ground of AIS carriage. This checklist covers what to fit, what to licence and what to verify.
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Can I see other vessels' AIS without a transponder? A receiver-only guide
A receive-only AIS unit puts surrounding traffic on your chart without putting you on anyone else's. It needs no MMSI and draws very little power, but it does nothing to make you visible.
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AIS range: how far can your vessel actually be seen
AIS range is set by antenna height far more than by transmit power. An antenna 4 metres above the water has a radio horizon of about 4.4 nautical miles, and raising it does more than a stronger transmitter.
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AIS and VHF DSC together: how they work as one safety system
AIS tells you who is around you. DSC lets you call them, or raise an alarm that reaches everyone at once.
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Portable AIS trackers for tenders and small craft
A tender or RIB rarely has the power budget, the panel space or the mast for a conventional AIS fit. Portable and self-contained transponders solve that, with some real trade-offs.
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Man-overboard AIS beacons: what they do and who needs one
An AIS man overboard beacon turns a person in the water into a tracked target on nearby AIS displays. It solves a narrow problem, recovery by the vessel the person fell from, and it is not an EPIRB.
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AIS aids to navigation (AtoN): buoys, ports and shore stations explained
AIS is not only for vessels. Buoys, beacons and shore stations use the same two channels to broadcast marks, hazards and even aids that do not physically exist.
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Best AIS transponders for fishing vessels in India
A fishing boat is a hard environment for electronics and a hard place to justify spending. The right AIS class depends on how far out the boat works and whether a rule or fisheries scheme specifies one.
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Marine VHF & GMDSS

Marine VHF radio, DSC, GMDSS sea areas and equipment carriage requirements.

Marine Navigation & Chartplotters

Chartplotters, fishfinders, radar and marine autopilot buying guides.

Aviation Navigation & ADS-B

Portable and panel-mount aviation GPS, ADS-B and navigation databases.

Aviation Headsets & Cockpit Communication

ANR and passive aviation headsets, and cockpit communication basics.

Land Mobile & Two-Way Radio

Analog and digital two-way radio, repeaters and licensing in India.

ATEX & Intrinsically Safe Equipment

Hazardous-area radio certification, ATEX and IECEx explained.

Regulatory & Compliance

SOLAS, IMO, DG Shipping, DGCA and GeM procurement for equipment buyers.

Buying Guides & Comparisons

Head-to-head comparisons and checklists for equipping a vessel, aircraft or fleet.

Industries, Case Studies & Company

What sets ASPL's work in defence, fisheries and offshore apart.

Outdoor, Amateur Radio & Receivers

Trekking GPS, amateur radio licensing and wideband receivers.

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