Featured AIS Feeder of September 2026: Jakes (ZS1TP) from South Africa

Jakes, Our AIS Feeder in South Africa

This month, we are featuring Jakes (ZS1TP) from South Africa, a ShipXplorer feeder who has been contributing AIS data to ShipXplorer since May 16, 2026. Jakes operates both an AIS station for tracking vessels using a Raspberry Pi 3B, based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Cape Town

Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa and the seat of the country’s Parliament. It is also the country’s oldest city and the second-largest city by population, after Johannesburg. Located in the Western Cape, Cape Town is the province’s largest city and forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

Photo Source: SkyPixels, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

His setup is a great example of how feeders can build and improve their own receiving stations using relatively simple equipment and a bit of experimentation.

His Setup 

Jakes uses a custom-built J-Pole antenna resonant at 162 MHz, which he designed and built himself. The antenna is mounted approximately 2.5 meters above the roof pitch, with the overall setup reaching around 3 meters above ground level. His location sits approximately 22 meters above sea level.

AIS Antennas Operated by Jakes

AIS Antennas Operated by Jakes

The installation uses brackets mounted to the side of his house, supporting a 6-meter pole and a 3-meter pole. Jakes describes the setup as a work in progress, with ongoing improvements to the station.

Jakes And His Antenna Setup

His advice to other feeders is straightforward:

“Height is your friend!”

And he has already seen the benefits.

A Station Reaching Beyond 690 km

 The record reception of a vessel approximately 691 kilometers (373 nautical miles) away, off the coast of Namibia, shows just how far a well-positioned AIS station can reach under favorable conditions.

ShipXplorer AIS Station (SXASD0001948)

The reception occurred shortly after he raised his antenna by approximately one meter. Rather than assuming it was simply an unusual reception event, Jakes cross-checked the vessel's position across several AIS platforms to verify the data. The result was accurate, making it an especially exciting moment for his station.

Finding the right frequency

Jakes recommends building an antenna that is resonant at the received frequency. His antenna is designed around 162 MHz, which is close to the two standard AIS frequencies:

• AIS 1: 161.975 MHz
• AIS 2: 162.025 MHz

When designing the antenna, Jakes consulted several amateur-radio resources and antenna calculators. He also used AI models to help with the calculations and dimensions.

For anyone starting their own feeder station, his experience demonstrates how antenna design, elevation, and continuous experimentation can significantly improve reception range.

Discovering ShipXplorer 

The feeder discovered ShipXplorer while looking for platforms where he could contribute his AIS data.

“I was genuinely excited to find ShipXplorer; it was exactly the kind of great service I was looking to support.”

One of his favorite aspects of the platform is the way coverage is presented on the local map. He describes the interface as clean and uncluttered, while particularly enjoying the ability to hover over individual vessels and immediately access their information.

A growing feeder community

From a custom-built antenna in South Africa to a vessel receiving the signal nearly 700 kilometers away, Jakes' station demonstrates the role individual feeders can play in expanding real-time maritime and aviation coverage.

We want to thank Jakes (ZS1TP) for contributing to both the ShipXplorer community and for sharing his experience with other feeders.

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