If you want to monitor digital modes that use FSK or PSK (e.g. POCSAG, FLEX, ERMES and AIS), you get the best results if you use the unfiltered audio from your receiver. You can find that signal at the discriminator of your receiver. A discriminator is the 'heart' of an FM receiver. After the discriminator, audio filters and amplifiers follow that may heavily distort a digital signal. If you want to decode and monitor digital (FSK and PSK) systems seriously, a discriminator tap is an absolute prerequisite.

The object of the Foundation is to collect and research information relating to small boat pilotage, navigation and operations (including information relating to climate and weather conditions and remoter areas where other sources of information are scarce or non-existent) and to disseminate this information through the production of books, charts, lectures, meetings, internet or such other media or means as may be appropriate.

The final goal of the MICROTRANSAT challenge is to sail across the Atlantic ocean with a fully autonomous sailing boat. The boat are supposed to be small (less than 4m), fully autonomous and unmanned (no other energy than sun and wind) and cheap (it is supposed to be developed in an academic context, as a support for research and/or teaching)