SeaTraceR AIS B User Manual
Contents
1. S 287 Class B AI S Transponder FCC ID RIKS287 USER MANUAL AR ELECTRONICS LTS ox gb Le ISO HH Regkutened Firm About this manual This manual contains details and recommendations for the programming installation and use of the SeaTraceR S 287 Class AIS Transponder from SevenStar Electronics Ltd Please read through the installation notes carefully BEFORE attempting to connect power to the unit The unit will need programming with your MMSI before it will be fully functional Please note that incorrect installation or operation may void your warranty Unpacking The carton contains your SeaTraceR Class B AIS transponder with mounting bracket and integral power lead this User Manual a combined serial NMEA data cable and a CD ROM containing programming software an electronic copy of this manual and additional information To install and operate the unit you will also need a 12Vdc nominal power source a VHF antenna and a GPS antenna these should be separate from other antennae fitted to the vessel Note BEFORE installation your vessel s MMSI and other data needs to be entered into the unit This may be performed using SevenStar s proAlS software but note that for US territories the FCC have ruled that this must be done by an appropriately qualified person such as a Suitably trained installer or dealer Furthermore it is a Federal offence to knowingly enter an unauthorised MMSI or fa2. 20 seconds GPS Reporting Rate The rate at which your vessels GPS position is sent to your plotter can be set during programming if required Non active Alarm Reporting Non active alarm messages are suppressed by default but can be selected if required Warnings VHF Antenna Connection Connecting a badly mismatched VHF antenna leaving the VHF antenna port disconnected using a poor quality or poorly jointed cable or Shorting the VHF antenna port will activate the internal VSWR alarm causing the unit to stop sending position reports and may cause damage to the transponder Radio Frequency Exposure This equipment generates and radiates radio frequency electromagnetic energy and if not installed and used accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference or even personal injury Never switch on the equipment without the VHF antenna properly connected To maximise performance and minimise human exposure to RF energy always mount the antenna at least 1 5 meters from the transponder This system has a Maximum Permissible Exposure MPE radius of 1 5m assuming max antenna gain of 3dbi Use of higher gain antennas would require a greater MPE radius and is not recommended The VHF antenna should be mounted at a minimum vertical distance of 3 metres from the head of any person standing on deck order to meet international safety directives on Maximum Permissible Exposure MPE Specific Abso
3. Unit should operate normally when fault is fixed Unit powers up but yellow LED comes on Poor or broken GPS antenna connection poor antenna position GPS signal blocked either physically or by excessive electrical noise Shore station has requested Class B silent mode Heavy local AIS traffic has blocked your AIS transmission Unit should recover when the condition is removed V NW N Unit powers up but red LED comes on Poor or broken VHF antenna connection poor antenna position gt Interrupted or out of range power connection GPS has been unable to lock on even after 30 minutes Unit should recover when the condition is removed If the Red LED illuminates continuously even after correcting these items the unit should be switched off for a few minutes then tried again If the fault persists it can be assumed to be faulty and should be switched off power removed Consult your dealer or technician Unit powers up with just green LED on but no data is displayed gt Poor or incorrect data cable connection to plotter or PC Plotter or PC not configured or not able to receive AIS sentences Note If you connect a PC running the Windows utility HyperTerminal or similar to the serial port you should see log data sent regularly If your terminal settings are correct and you still get no data either the cable of the unit must be faulty Other vessels report they can t see my vessel name or call sign This data is no
4. chart software to make sure you are displaying the AIS targets in the most useful way It may be possible to filter what is shown to avoid too much clutter in crowded waterways and make sure you are not using too large a range relative to your speed AIS targets are usually shown as triangles giving position and heading A vector may also be shown to indicate speed over ground SO yOU can assess any collision risk Aids to navigation AtoNs such as buoys channel markers and lighthouses are being increasingly identified by AIS transmissions at regular intervals Shore stations will also be capable of creating virtual AtoNs where a warning will appear on your chart in the appropriate position without there being a buoy physically in position This is likely to be used for temporary situations such as wrecks or buoys which are out of position For maximum help in poor visibility AIS should ideally be combined with radar Radar can show passive targets such as debris or vessels not equipped with functioning AIS transmitters AIS will help to identify targets acquired by radar plotting aids such as MARPA which can give automatic warnings of close approach e Always plan to keep a safe margin to avoid close quarters situations at least 0 5nm closest point of approach CPA and more for vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre Aids such as AIS and MARPA can give a false sense of security so don t forget to use the Mk 1 Eyeball t
5. have the LEDs visible in case you do ever need to check the unit CAUTION The SeaTraceR unit is designed for operation in the temperature range 25 C to 55 C Do not install or use the SeaTraceR unit in environments which exceed this range CAUTION Do not install the SeaTraceR unit in an environment where it can be subject to excessive exposure to water CAUTION The casing of the SeaTraceR unit is NOT isolated from the negative terminal of the supply and therefore it is recommended that the unit is not attached to metal parts of the vessel This avoids any potential ground loop problems CAUTION BE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT TOOLS AND SAFETY EQUI PMENT WHEN INSTALLI NG THE UNIT AND THE ANTENNAS IF IN DOUBT ASK A PROFESSI ONAL TO INSTALL IT FOR YOU 3 Connecting the SeaTraceR WARNING DO NOT connect the SeaTraceR unit to a mains line AC electrical supply as an electric shock or fire hazard could result CAUTION Do not connect the SeaTraceR unit to a DC supply exceeding 15 6 V or reverse the supply polarity Damage to the unit may result VHF antenna For best performance use a VHF antenna that covers up to 162 025MHz not all do Mount as high on the vessel as practical for best performance clear from obstruction or other antennas and it must be fitted with a 50 ohm TNC plug These connectors were designed for use marine environments and provide splash proof connection when mated Adaptor
6. 422 NMEA either may be used The pin connections are shown in the following diagram as seen looking at the rear panel 1 2 3 4 5 Data cable detail 6 7 8 9 SeaTraceR PC serial port Data connector on rear panel of SeaTraceR WI RE PC plug connections LA 6 8 09 o Note wire colours may vary from that stated If in doubt buzz it out A chart plotter PC or other display device may be connected to the SeaTraceR via an appropriate cable assembly The default baud rate of the data link is 38 400 Baud with 8 data bits one stop bit and no parity No handshaking is used The data interface conforms to IEC 61162 1 If your NMEA device only has one Tx and one Rx line use the ve signals above and join the ve wires together and use them as the NMEA common Using your new transponder Switching on When the 12V supply is switched on all four LEDs visible on the front panel of the unit will flash twice The red green and blue LEDs will then go out leaving the yellow LED lit All GPS receivers need to lock onto the signals from at least 3 satellites before they can compute a position so there is a delay before full operation is available this process may take up to 30 minutes worst case if the GPS receiver is starting from cold no previous position information When this has been achieved there is a further short delay until the unit transmits its first position report message 18
7. IS units acting as aids to navigation AtoNs can also be fitted to fixed and floating navigation markers such as channel markers and buoys Class A units are a mandatory fit under the safety of life at sea SOLAS convention to vessels above 300 gross tons or which carry more than 11 passengers in International waters Many other commercial vessels and some leisure craft also fit Class A units Class B units are now becoming mandatory fit in several countries as they look to improve their security and safety Class B units are designed for fitting in vessels which do not fall into the mandatory Class A fit category The SeaTraceR is a Class B unit Information Transmitted and Received Class A units transmit their IMO number if known MMSI Call sign and Name length and beam ship type time course over ground COG speed over ground SOG heading navigational status rate of turn draught cargo type destination and safety related messages via a short message service SMS facility Message lengths are variable with static and voyage related information being transmitted less often Class B units transmit their MMSI Call Sign and Name length and beam ship type time course over ground COG speed over ground SOG and heading Standards This product complies with all the necessary standards under the European R amp TTE directive for Article 3 1 a 3 1 b 3 2 and 3 3 e The following standards have been followed in
8. MMSI you will not be able to change it just like DSC Class D radios If you need to change it in the future for a new vessel it can be unlocked reset by one of our distributors The proAIS software can be used to read and change the other data and user programmable options at any time if needed in the future See pages 13 14 for more information about the proAIS software and p16 for details of Silent Mode and SRM options which can be programmed Your dealer can also assist you with programming just make sure you have your vessel information with you And please complete all the data fields to get the most out of your new AIS transponder 2 Mounting the unit It is recommended that the unit is attached to a solid wooden fibreglass or composite surface with gt 15mm long self tapping screws or similar Position the unit and the cables so that any water running down the wires drips off rather than collecting on the unit Note the bracket provided can be used to mount the unit in several orientations simply unscrew the black knurled thumbscrews and fit the bracket in the orientation that suits you Once installed you can think of the unit as a computer modem you should have no need to check it regularly so mount it out of the way where it will not be knocked or subject to excessive vibration temperature sunlight fuel or water It should be mounted at least 0 5m from any magnetic compass It makes good sense to
9. RS232 RS422 connections may be used RS232 is intended for connection to PC serial ports and similar devices RS422 is a balanced wiring system in which ve and ve signals are used to give good immunity to noise These can be used to connect to NMEA ports on plotters etc It is allowable in many cases to just use the ve connections and ground Ov but this will be more susceptible to electrical noise Data message types vary with the activity a During programming the data message types are proprietary to the SeaTraceR b Power up messages On power up the unit will report details of the firmware versions residing in the unit C In normal AIS transponder operation each message received over the VHF Data Link VDL is decoded and relayed on to the display unit as a VHF Data Link Message VDM d Also as part of normal operation the SeaTraceR s VHF data link own vessel messages VDO transmitted over the VDL are also sent to the display unit e GPS own position reporting messages the frequency of these can be programmed if required f AIS regional channel assignment messages ACA received These are derived from an incoming VHF Data Link message message 22 or from a DSC message g AIS channel management information source ACS messages h Alarm messages ALR TXT can be sent to the display unit and Alarm acknowledgement messages ACK received from it Many internal checks are performed and it is possib
10. T BNC CSTDMA COG CR CS DC DGNSS DSC GLONASS GNSS GMSK GPS HF IMO LED LF LNA MF Positive Negative AIS Regional Assignment Channel Assignment Message Acknowledgement AIS Channel management information source Audio frequency shift keying AIS Alarm Message Aid to Navigation Automatic Identification System Built In Integrity Testing Bayonet fitting type RF connector Carrier Sense Time Division Multiple Access Course over Ground Carriage Return Carrier Sense Direct Current Differential Global Navigation Satellite System Digital Selective calling Global Navigation Satellite System alternative to GPS Global Navigation Satellite System GPS Glonass Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying Global Positioning Satellite System High Frequency International Maritime Organization International Electrotechnical Commission Light Emitting Diode Line Feed Low noise amplifier Medium Frequency MKD Minimum Keypad and Display MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity MPE Maximum Permissible Exposure NMEA National Marine Electronics Association PC Personal Computer Presentation Interface RF Radio Frequency RTCM Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services RX Receive or Receiver RFI Radio frequency interference SAR Specific Absorption Rate SMS Short Message System SOG Speed over Ground SRM Safety Related Message TDMA Time division Multiple Access TNC Threaded type coaxial c
11. affected by factors such as the antenna positioning how many satellites are used to determine a position and how long satellite information has been received for It is desirable wherever possible therefore to verify both your vessels AlS derived position data and other vessels AlS derived position data with visual or radar based observations The compass safe distance of this unit is 0 5m or greater for 0 3 error as per specification In accordance with a policy of continual development and product improvement the SeaTraceR hardware and software may be upgraded from time to time and future versions may therefore not correspond exactly with this manual When necessary upgrades to the product will be accompanied by updates or addenda to this manual Check on web site Please take time to read this manual carefully and to understand its contents fully so that you can install and operate your AIS system correctly and get the full benefit Information contained in this manual is liable to change without notice SevenStar Electronics Ltd disclaims any liability for consequences arising from omissions or inaccuracies in this manual and any other documentation provided with this product Accessories available 5 588 Combo AI S GPS Antenna only one antenna to install SX 272 VHF Antenna Splitter allows the SeaTraceR to share your existing VHF radio antenna Check web site for latest info http www sevenstarelectronics com Ins
12. ce in the design manufacture sales and marketing of marine safety electronic apparatus and other high tech communications equipment SevenStar s S 701 SART Search And Rescue Transponder set new standards in marine electronics and its innovative digital design enabled it to be the first to be shipped globally as non hazardous cargo It is EU Wheelmark and FCC approved and it has since captured around 75 share of the latest market segments SevenStar also designs bespoke transponders for both marine airborne use Both the SeaTraceR Class B AIS transponder and SeaVieweR dual AIS GPS Receiver have followed the same market leading philosophy and both use the latest digitally defined radio techniques to achieve and exceed the demanding IEC AIS Class B specification released during 2006 The robust 65 rated powder coated aluminium enclosure and versatile stainless steel mounting bracket have been designed to service both the professional vessel market and the safety conscious leisure user equally SevenStar is approved and audited annually to ISO 9001 2008 Its GMDSS SOLAS products are Wheelmark approved and the company is audited annually by Bureau Veritas APPENDICES List of Appendices e Options e Warnings e Antennas and antenna mounting e What serial data is sent or received e Description of LED indicators e Trouble shooting guide e More about AIS e Standards SeaTraceR Specifications e Glossary Opt
13. ges with their UTC time received and the MMSI of the sender The exact use of these messages is not defined Serial data This page displays the raw NMEAO183 serial data being processed by the SeaTraceR There is a facility to create a log file where received NMEA data can be logged Commands Under this tab there are some more user selectable options for your SeaTraceR unit You can set the port data baud rate and how often GPS data and alarm data is output via the serial link Depending on software version installed you may also be able to select silent mode and or set up amp send a Safety Related Message Maintenance SeaTraceR unit 15 sealed against ingress of water or dust to 65 There are no user serviceable parts inside and the unit 15 protected against tampering so DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE UNIT No regular maintenance is required other than wiping down with a soft cloth as necessary and keeping the connectors in good condition WARNING Unauthorised opening of the SeaTraceR unit or use outside recommended conditions will invalidate the warranty CAUTION Avoid using chemical solvents to clean the SeaTraceR as some solvents can damage the case or label material NOTE The SeaTraceR unit contains no user serviceable parts Contact your Service Agent for repair if necessary About SevenStar SevenStar was created in 2002 by committed professional engineers with extensive experien
14. goes out Error RED Fault condition exists This red LED indicates when lit one of the following status conditions e Transmitter lockout timer 1 second max has operated e GPS is unable to gain lock even after 30 minutes e antenna VSWR is out of range poor connection badly sited antenna e Power Supply is out of range e Background noise level is above the threshold level 77dBm Poor connection and or poor antenna siting Rx Data BLUE Data is being received This blue LED indicates when it flashes that a valid AIS message has just been received This will be lit frequently in a busy environment Alternatively if the SRM option is invoked the blue LED can be programmed to indicate that an SRM has just been sent in which case the blue LED will remain lit for approx 20 seconds after each SRM is sent Trouble shooting guide With all electronic equipment unexpected or severe transient conditions may leave the equipment in a locked up state Every effort has been made to prevent this occurring with the SeaTraceR If you think this may be the case simply disconnect switch off the power connection leave for a few minutes and then reconnect the power If you have reason to think your transponder is not working correctly check the following before contacting your technician or dealer Unit shows no LEDs lit sends no data for display gt Faulty power connection or in line fuse blown
15. ions Silent Mode Safety Related Message your business depends on temporary periods of position reporting silence it is possible to fit a switch to your vessel that will temporarily disable the Transmit function of the SeaTraceR called Silent Mode An external switch will need to be wired to pins 1 and 4 of the data connector See wiring connections on 10 of this manual It must be stressed that this compromises the safety of your vessel and other vessels and must NOT be done without careful consideration During programming the function of pins 1 amp 4 of the serial data connector can be set to select silent mode with either a continuous switch closure normal setting or a momentary switch closure Alternatively the Safety Related Message function can be selected the SeaTraceR has the capability of sending what is called a Safety Related Message SRM when instructed transmitted as VDL message number 14 At the time of printing it is currently undecided who should listen and or respond to any such messages so we recommend leaving the settings set to select Silent Mode by a continuous switch To change click the appropriate radio button then click Save to AIS to store new settings Blue LED function the blue LED usually flashes to indicate the receipt of an AIS message However if you select the SRM function the blue LED may be programmed to indicate that an SRM has just been sent LED stays on for approx
16. le to suppress all but active alarms i It is possible to modify the behaviour of the SeaTraceR slightly under switch control see Options section VDM VDO ACA GPS ACS ALR TXT and ACK messages conform to NMEA 0183 Please refer to NMEA 0183 for full details of these AIS messages Description of LED Indicators Status GREEN All OK This green LED indicates when lit that power has been connected correctly to the transponder that the transponder hardware has been programmed that the operating software is present and running that GPS lock has been acquired and position data transmitted and that the VHF port appears to be connected correctly TX Timeout YELLOW Unable to Tx lost GPS Warning This yellow LED indicates when lit that the SeaTraceR transmitter is currently prevented from transmitting If the unit has not been able to transmit a position report during the last expected two reporting intervals either because of loss of GPS lock or for operational reasons such as a Message 23 quiet period high channel load conditions etc the yellow LED will illuminate It will also illuminate if the user has chosen to use the silent mode option This is a warning condition only and indicates that your vessels position is not currently being reported to other vessels Reception of other vessel AIS information by the SeaTraceR is not affected When the unit is able to commence reporting again the yellow LED
17. level to the SeaTraceR GPS antenna connector Antenna gain cable loss should be more than approx 15dB The GPS antenna to be used for AIS use must be a dedicated antenna i e not shared with any other GPS receiver Installation of the GPS antenna is critical for the performance of the built in GPS receiver that is used for correct timing of the transmitted data and also for the supply of navigational information should the main navigational GPS fail We strongly recommend that e The GPS antenna is mounted in a slightly elevated position and free of shadow effect from the ship s superstructure e The GPS antenna has a free view through 360 degrees with a vertical angle of 5 to 90 degrees above the horizon As the received GPS signal is very sensitive to noise and interference generated by other onboard transmitters ensure that the GPS antenna 15 placed as far away as possible from radar Inmarsat and Iridium transmitters and ensure the GPS antenna is free from direct view of the radar and the Inmarsat beam e t is also important that any MF HF and other VHF transmitter antennas are kept as far away as possible from the GPS antenna Try to keep the GPS antenna at least 3 meters away from these antennas What serial data 15 sent or received As mentioned above the serial port is used for programming the unit as well as for passing on the AIS data received from other vessels AtoNs and shore stations Note Either
18. lse static data Please contact your dealer if you need assistance or advice Once programmed and installed the SeaTraceR Class B AIS transponder will be able to automatically exchange MMSI vessel name position call sign course and speed data with other vessels and shore stations Other suitably equipped vessels will be able to see your position clearly Connect your SeaTraceR unit to your chart plotter or PC with the data cable provided to SEE the full benefits of AIS you will then be able to see the ID position speed and course of all AIS equipped vessels in range Please now take the time to read the rest of this manual to get the best from your Class B AIS Transponder Please dispose of any unwanted packaging responsibly User Manual Contents Warranty statement Declaration of Conformity Radio Licensing General Notices Accessories available I nstallation 3 easy steps Programming your transponder 2 Installing the unit Connecting the SeaTraceR Serial Port Connection Using your AIS transponder Getting the most out of AIS Your proAlS software Maintenance About SevenStar APPENDICES Further info Options Antenna choice and mounting What serial data is sent or received Description of LED indicators Trouble shooting guide about AIS Standards Product Specification Glossary Warranty This product carries a 2 year return to fac
19. o confirm the situation and to navigate according to the Collision Regulations e The Collision Regulations are not negotiable but if you are uncertain of another vessel s intentions and they have an AIS transmitter then you will be able to readily call them on as you have their call sign and vessel name proAlS software If you have been provided with a CD ROM with your SeaTraceR it contains a soft copy of this manual plus some interesting and informative software called proAIS In order to use it load the software onto your PC then connect your SeaTraceR to your PC using the serial 9 way cable provided to a suitable serial port If your PC does not have a serial port you can connect using a USB to serial adaptor widely available from computer stores Connect 12v power to the SeaTraceR start the proAIS software make sure the correct port on your PC is selected and then click the Connect button proAl S allows you to program your vessel data into the Transponder this has to be done by a dealer or other competent person USA and also select some user options see p16 It alSo offers you a number of ways of looking at the AIS data being processed by your SeaTraceR Transponder and also at the operation of the integral GPS receiver There are a number of pages arranged as tabs across the top of the page Static Data This page displays the static data relating to the vessel including the MMSI which must be p
20. onnector TX Transmit or transmitter UTC Universal Time Co ordinated VDM AIS VHF Data Link Messages VDO AIS VHF data link own vessel messages VHF Very High Frequency VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio Please Note The latest version of this manual is available in the Downloads section of our website along with further information which may be of interest http www sevenstarelectronics com
21. pursuance of this 62287 1 2006 03 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems Class shipborne equipment of the automatic identification system AIS Part 1 Carrier sense time division multiple access CSTDMA techniques 60945 2002 08 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems General requirements Methods of testing and required test results 61162 1 Maritime navigation radiocommunication equipment and systems Digital interfaces Part 1 Single talker and multiple listeners 61108 1 GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS GNSS Part 1 Global positioning system GPS Receiver equipment Performance standards methods of testing and required test results EN 301 843 1 v2 1 Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters ERM Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC Standard for marine radio equipment and services Part 1 Common technical requirements EN 50383 2002 Basic standard for calculation and measurement of electromagnetic field strength and SAR related to human exposure from radio base stations and fixed terminal stations for wireless telecommunications system 110MHz 40GHz EN60950 1 2001 Information technology equipment Safety Part 1 General requirements SeaTraceR Specifications Internal GPS Receiver Electrical Interfaces Connectors VHF Transceiver Output Power Channel Bandwidth Channel Step Modula
22. rer of the unit if you are in doubt about it most manufacturers are issuing free upgrades for their units Power Connect a 12V DC power source 9 6 15 6V capable of supplying 2A peak to the DC power lead brown red positive black blue negative 15 STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT IN LINE FUSE IS USED RATING 2A View of SeaTraceR rear panel Connector for active GPS Connector for VHF antenna Antenna includes 5v feed 4 wt 4 ted i2v i f gt 4 GPS VH LAITC AIA A ANTENNA i ANTENNA ANTENNA L active s SECA 267021 E be 2 cm Manufactured in the UK Power cable Data and Programming Connector Data cable detail Plug grey connector into SeaTraceR i External 3 switch for i Silent Mode or eh Oise SRM function if required E Ui data Also check REN i programming Soc E set to See note at i Correct mode bottom of next 9 or serial to USB convertor Serial Data Connection There is a 9 way D type male connector mounted on the rear panel of the SeaTraceR transponder This connector is used initially to program the unit with your MMSI vessel name and other vessel data and then once the transponder is installed to send data about other vessels to your plotter or PC software for display The connector provides input output of data in two different formats RS232 and RS
23. rogrammed before the unit will function as a two way transponder and alSo some user programmable options See page 6 of this manual and p16 GPS Status This tab shows the status of the internal GPS receiver and includes GPS Signa Levels the current position fix course and speed as well as bar graphs of the strength of the GPS satellite signals being received This can be used to verify correct GPS antenna connection and operation Diagnostics This tab shows the internal condition of the SeaTraceR It includes the information used to drive the LED s on the unit front panel software version numbers Internal power Supply measurements and some statistics on numbers of messages received on each of the two AIS VHF channels When you turn on you will see the conditions change as GPS lock is achieved and messages are received and transmitted Other vessels This page displays messages received from other vessels transmitting AIS data in your vicinity Data from Class transponders 15 Shown in black text and that from Class B Transponders is shown in blue text MMSI vessel name and call sign IS displayed along with speed course and latitude longitude estimate of each vessels distance from you is also given Safety messages Al S equipped vessels have the ability to send text Safety Related Messages either in Broadcast or Addressed mode This page allows you to see any such messa
24. rption Rate SAR Failure to adhere to these limits could expose persons within the 3 metre radius to RF radiation in excess of the recommended MPE SAR limits Antennas and Antenna Mounting VHF antenna for AIS use The VHF antenna employed for AIS use gt Must be suitable for marine shipboard applications index of protection ruggedness means of mounting etc gt Should be omni directional and vertically polarised with a bandwidth sufficient to maintain VSWR lt 1 5 over the frequency range 156 163 MHz As a minimum the 3dB bandwidth must cover the two AIS channels and the DSC Channel gt Should ideally be a dedicated antenna i e not shared with any other VHF transmitter receiver gt Should be mounted with at least a two metre vertical separation distance from any other VHF antenna used for speech or DSC communication but see also the section Radio Frequency Exposure Warning above GPS Antenna The GPS antenna used must be of the active type i e it should incorporate a low noise amplifier and must be suitable for marine Shipboard applications index of protection ruggedness means of mounting etc It must be capable of running from the 5v that is fed up the GPS coax cable Most 5v active GPS antennas will work well with the SeaTraceR on short to medium cable lengths If you need to use long cables then you may need to select an antenna with a higher gain in dB to deliver an acceptable signal
25. s are available for different connector types See safety warning in Appendices about antenna positioning GPS The SeaTraceR unit requires a 5v powered active GPS antenna Suitable for a marine environment and the down lead will need to be terminated in a TNC 50 ohm plug The SeaTraceR feeds 5v to the antenna automatically via the GPS antenna lead you do not need a Separate supply Alternatively SevenStar have developed a combined GPS AIS antenna for use with its AIS products This makes installation quick and easy Ask for details on our Marine quality SX 588 combo antenna Data order to see the data from approaching vessels and aids to navigation you need to display the messages the SeaTraceR receives and decodes To do this you need to connect a chart plotter laptop PC PC serial terminal or other display device to the SeaTraceR Serial NMEA data port 9 way male sub D connector on the rear panel To connect to a PC or similar device use the cable provided to connect to the PC serial port CAUTION ONLY WORKS THE RIGHT WAY ROUND See diagram on 10 To connect to a NMEA instrument use the NMEA RS422 connections on the cable provided connections are shown on p10 Note that the software in the display device must be configured for AIS operation AND must be able to receive the standard Class B operation NMEA sentences This external display unit software is not part of the SeaTraceR transponder package consult the manufactu
26. t the 9 way serial NMEA port on the unit to your laptop PC or chart plotter which must be running software capable of reading and displaying AIS B data using the data cable provided Alternatively you can use the SX 588 combined GPS AIS antenna available from SevenStar which makes installation even easier 1 Programming the transponder Before any AIS Class B Transponder will operate fully you need to program in a few very simple details about your vessel IIA Vessel name Call sign Vessel Type 4 Dimensions including position of GPS antenna mtd Note In US territories the FCC has mandated that this data must be entered by a qualified professional person and it is a Federal offence to knowingly enter false data To program the SeaTraceR you will need to run SevenStar s proAIS programming software Connect the serial port on your PC to the unit to be programmed using the cable provided see p10 Notes If you do not have a serial port use a commercially available USB to serial converter If you need to extend the cable use a standard serial cable extender If you are using the NMEA RS422 option the extender must be fitted at the SeaTraceR end You will also need to connect 12Vdc power to the unit using its normal power lead Check the correct com port is selected and click Connect Follow the on screen instructions on the PC and enter the data as requested Note that once you confirm the
27. t transmitted as often as the MMSI etc so it can take a little while to appear on screen up to 6 minutes Also this data message was only introduced in 2006 so older receiving equipment will need updating to receive display it correctly More about AIS The marine Automatic Identification System AIS 15 a location and vessel information reporting system It allows vessels equipped with AIS to automatically and dynamically share and regularly update their position speed course and other information such as vessel identity with similarly equipped craft and with shore stations Position information 15 derived from a Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS such as GPS and communication between vessels or between vessel and shore is by VHF digital transmissions on channel 87B at 161 975MHz or on channel 88B at 162 025MHz The system can cope with large numbers of vessels close proximity because a sophisticated and automatic method of time Sharing the radio channel is used to ensure that blocking of individual transmissions is minimised and any potential degradation of the expected position reporting interval is indicated to the user If the unit suffers extreme channel overload conditions it will always recover to normal operation AIS Classes There are two classes of AIS unit fitted to vessels Class A and Class B In addition AIS base stations may be employed by the Coastguard port authorities and other authorised bodies A
28. tallation 3 easy steps Installing the SeaTraceR is straightforward using simple tools but you will need to check you have everything ready first The unit must be programmed with your MMSI vessel name size etc In US territories this must be done by a suitably qualified installer or dealer The MMSI is usually listed on the vessel s radio license If you do not have one you will need to apply for one ask your dealer or Coastguard if in doubt Mount the unit safely out of the way in a protected place You have to connect up the unit the connections are shown below SealraceR AIS Class CAUTION do NOT connect to 24 volt power supply This will cause internal damage and will invalidate your warranty Transponder 12Vdc nom Red brown ve VHF antenna NMEA serial data GPS antenna cable The SeaTraceR comes with a 1metre supply lead for you to connect up to your vessel s 12Vdc supply it is strongly recommended that you fit an in line fuse 2A rated b VHF antenna mount as high on the vessel as practical for best performance clear from obstruction or other antennas and must be fitted with a 50 ohm TNC plug See page 15 c GPS antenna this must be an ACTIVE type has a built in amplifier Mount with a clear view of the sky away from any possible sources of interference Must be fitted with a 50 ohm TNC plug See page 16 d To view the received vessel positions etc connec
29. tion Modes RX Sensitivity Compass safe distance Indicators Operator options Value 180 x 110 x 40 mm L x W x H 900g DC 9 6 15 6V Average power consumption 4W Peak current rating 2A IEC 61108 1 compliant RS232 38 4kBaud bi directional RS422 NMEA 38 4kBaud bi directional VHF Antenna connector TNC 50 ohm coaxial on rear panel GPS Antenna connector TNC 50 ohm coaxial on rear panel RS232 serial RS422 NMEA serial silent mode 9 way sub D male connector PC serial connector on rear panel 12Vdc nom Power Integral 1 metre twin core lead red brown ve In line fuse strongly recommended Transmitter single channel 2 Independent simultaneous VHF Receivers One of which is time shared between AIS and DSC Frequency 156 025 to 162 025 MHz in 25 kHz steps 33dBm 1 5 dB 2 watts nominal 25kHz 25kHz 25kHz GMSK AIS TX and RX 25kHz AFSK DSC RX only 9600 b s 50 ppm GMSK 1200 b s 30 ppm FSK Sensitivity 107dBm 25kHz Message Error Rate 20 Co Channel 10dB Adjacent Channel 70dB IMD 65dB Blocking 84dB IEC 60945 Operating Temperature 25 C to 55 C IEC 62287 Section 5 Cat b protected from the weather 0 5 metre Status TX timeout Error Rx Data a Silent mode b Optional safety related message SRM c Blue LED function d baud rate e error amp GPS report rates Glossary ve ve ACA ACK ACS messages AFSK ALR AtoN AIS BII
30. tory warranty against defects due to faulty manufacture or materials i e 2 years from date of manufacture In the event of a problem please follow the simple trouble shooting guide in this manual before contacting your dealer Declaration of Conformity Intended EC country of use SevenStar Electronics Ltd declares that this product is compliance with the essential requirements and GB FR ES SE other provisions of the R amp TTE directive 1995 5 EC AT NL PT DK full Declaration may be viewed or downloaded from our NO BE IT FI web site at www sevenstarelectronics com IE LU GR CH The product carries the CE mark notified body number and alert symbol as required by the R amp TTE directive C 01680 The SeaTraceR is approved by BABT and BSH in the EU and by USCG and FCC and carries the FCC ID RIKS287 Radio Licensing IMPORTANT In most countries the operation of an AIS unit is included under the vessels marine VHF licence provisions The vessel on to which the AIS unit is to be installed must therefore possess a current VHF radiotelephone licence that lists the AIS system and the vessel Call Sign and MMSI number Please contact the relevant authority in your country for more information General Notices The marine Automatic Identification System AIS uses a satellite based system such as the Global Positioning Satellite GPS network to determine position The accuracy of these networks is variable and is
31. whereupon the yellow LED will go out and the green LED will illuminate indicating that the unit is now operating correctly The blue LED will flash each time an incoming AIS messages is received unless the SRM function has been selected see p16 ATO P m T a oe AIS Class Transponder 5 287 CONFORMS TEC 62207 1 SEVWENSTAR ELECTRONICS LTO UE FL D 2 gt wa a I ER La EJ ROR RX CERTIFIED BY TIMEOUT DATA BAST BSH USCG PEC F EF YELLOW RED Power amp Unable to Fault Data FUNCTI ON Status OK transmit detected Your AIS Class B Transponder is now fully working Your plotter or PC if connected and set correctly should now show you all Al S equipped vessels within range and remember this includes all commercial vessels 300 tonnes which HAVE to fit AIS transponders and AI S equipped AtoNs and racons as well as the growing numbers of leisure craft and work boats now fitting these units And of course your position will also be shown on THEIR displays Getting the most from AIS Some hints and useful advice e Switch it on Your SeaTraceR consumes less than 4 watts less than a single nav light Only switch it off when you are safely tied up in harbour e Keep it fully operational then other vessels Coastguard or VTS Vessel Traffic Services in port areas will be able to call you if they see you running into danger e Read the manuals for your plotter or
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