Harbour Master (HBM) system requirements
- Internet connection
- HTML 5 browser
- AIS signals for relevant area
- If you provide your own AIS signals
- AIS receiver (capable of receiving class A & B signals)
- VHF antenna + cable
- Dedicated computer running 24/7
The Harbour Master (HBM) user interface can be operated from any of the major browsers , using the latest version. There is no need to install any plugins. The browser must be HTML 5 compatible. To test your browser, you can try http://html5test.com (external link).
AIS signals must be available for your targeted harbour area. If public signals are available you have the option to use these, but it is recommended to provide your own AIS signals or another quality AIS source..
Getting AIS signals ...
There are 3 alternatives to getting AIS signals
- It is recommended to use your own AIS signals. That means having an AIS receiver with a cable and antenna hooked up to a PC. Additionally, the PC must have AIS relay software installed, which retransmits the signals to the HBM server.
- Some places network signals, e.g. from the Coast Guard, can be available. If network signals can be used, there is/should be no installation required to start using Harbour Master.
- Use public AIS signals. No installation is needed. The signals are configured server side. Public signals can be of lesser quality, e.g. loss of signals and delays. Additionally there is no guarantee about future availability.
If you are providing your own AIS signals ....
You should have a stable internet connection to get good quality visit reports. The signals should be received on a computer running 24/7. When it's not running Harbour Master doesn't get any AIS signals and you don't get any reports in that period.
The AIS signals must be relayed to Harbour Master. To do this you need a software or hardware relay. There is freeware relay software available, e.g. AIS Dispatcher. Hardware devices can also be found. We can also provide our own relay server, which can run as a Windows service.
When you sign up, you will receive the setup information for the relay.
If you are behind a firewall, the outgoing port sending the AIS signals to HBM must be opened.