DIY Antennas, QRP, SDR & Ham Radio Projects from VU3DXR
Every vessel larger than 300 gross tons is legally required to broadcast its identity, position, speed, and heading every few seconds on VHF radio. With a $25 RTL-SDR dongle and free software, you can receive, decode, and map those live transmissions from your living room — no licence required, no nautical background needed. This guide walks you through the AIS standard, the hardware and software stack, antenna options, and how to contribute your decoded data to global ship-tracking networks.
PortaRF is a compact all-in-one portable SDR combining HackRF-class wideband RF (≈1 MHz–6 GHz) with integrated PortaPack Mayhem firmware and battery operation. A handheld spectrum analyzer, receiver, and signal tool for RF exploration, field testing, and wireless research.
Meet the HackRF Pro from Great Scott Gadgets. This powerful successor to the HackRF One features a 100 kHz to 6 GHz range, built-in TCXO, and USB-C for advanced SDR development