DIGITAL YACHT AIT1500N2K Class B AIS Transponder Instruction Manual

AIT1500N2K Class B AIS Transponder
Instruction Manual

Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your AIT1500N2K Class B AIS Transponder. It is recommended that your transponder is installed by a professional installer.
This Quick Start Guide will provide basic information on the AIT1500N2K to allow you to install and get the AIT1500N2K working. The full User Manual, which covers all of  our transponder family of products, is available to download on the Support section of our website www.digitalyachtamerica.com

Before you start

You will need the following items and tools to complete the installation:

• Class B AIS Transponder.
• Dedicated VHF/AIS antenna and cable (or splitter) – not supplied.
• Access to the NMEA2000 Network where the unit is to be installed and a spare T-Piece (connection point).
• Four M4 screws or other fixings appropriate to the mounting location.

To configure the unit you will need:

• A PC running Microsoft Windows XP®/ Windows Vista®/ Windows 7 or Mac OSX with a free USB port.
• proAIS2 Class B+ AIS Transponder configuration software – Windows and Mac versions of the software are available for download from our “Online CD” at  https://support.digitalyacht.net 
• An MMSI number for your vessel
  Note: You can obtain an MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) from the same authority that issues ship radio licenses in your area. An MMSI may have already been provided with your existing VHF radio license. The MMSI number used for the AIS Transponder should be the same as that programmed into your VHF DSC radio.

If you do not have an MMSI number the AIS Transponder will operate in receive- only mode.
Do not enter an invalid MMSI number.

Installation

Before starting installation select a suitable location for the AIS Class B Transponder. The unit is water resistant; however, it should be installed below the deck in a dry location.  When locating the unit you should consider:

• Routing of power and VHF antenna cables to the unit.
• Provision of sufficient space around the unit for cable connections.
• Routing of the integral NMEA2000 cable to the boat’s NMEA2000 network (backbone).
• Maintaining the compass safe distance of 0.5m.
• Visibility of the front panel indicators.

Installation Step 1 – VHF/AIS Antenna or Splitter

• Install the VHF/AIS antenna (not supplied) according to the handbook instructions supplied with the antenna.
• If you are going to share the boat’s existing VHF antenna i.e. use the antenna for both the VHF and AIS, you will need to install a suitable antenna splitter. It is very important that this splitter is suitable for use with an AIS Transponder as some of the lower-cost splitters only switch one input and are only suitable for use with an AIS receiver. We recommend our SPL2000 “Zero Loss” Technology splitter.
• The AIS antenna connector on the AIT1500N2K is a BNC type connector and it may be necessary to get a PL259 to BNC adaptor if you are connecting a normal VHF  antenna to the AIT1500N2K as these are terminated in the standard PL259 VHF connector.

Installation Step 2 – Locating and Fixing the unit

• The AIT1500N2K has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with an internal antenna which is designed to be used below deck in GRP Fibreglass hulled boats. The GPS antenna is located in the top left corner of the unit behind the Digital Yacht Logo.

• The AIT1500N2K unit must be mounted on a vertical bulkhead so that the GPS antenna (top edge of AIT1500N2K) is pointing towards the sky. Care should be taken to ensure that only GRP fiberglass is between the GPS antenna and the sky, with no metallic or electrical objects above the antenna.

• The location of the AIT1500N2K is critical for good GPS reception and it is strongly recommended that before fixing the AIT1500N2K in the chosen location, that the GPS
  reception is checked.

• The supplied proAIS2 software for PC/Mac is ideal for this purpose. With the unit powered up (from the boat’s NMEA2000 network) and connected via the USB cable to a PC/Mac running the proAIS2 software, view the “GNSS Status” page and ensure there is good GPS reception with the AIT1500N2K in the desired location.
  

Unit Dimensions

• Once you are confident that the AIT1500N2K is in the best location for good GPS reception, secure the AIS Transponder to a flat vertical surface in the selected location,  using four M4 wood screws or other fixings suited to the material the unit is being fixed to.

Installation Step 3 – Connection to the NMEA2000 Network

• The AIT1500N2K will take its power from the NMEA2000 network, but before connecting the AIT1500N2K to the NMEA2000 network, make sure that the power to the NMEA2000 network is turned off.
• The AIT1500N2K has an integral 0.75m NMEA2000 cable terminated in a standard micro male NMEA2000 connector, that will plug straight into a spare female “T  Piece” on many NMEA2000 networks. On some “proprietary” NMEA2000 networks, a special adaptor cable will be required from the manufacturer.
  o Raymarine SeaTalkNG to NMEA2000 Adaptor Cable Part No A06045
  o Simrad Simnet to NMEA2000 Adaptor Cable Part No 24006199

Installation Step 4 – NMEA2000 Interfacing

• A table showing all of the NMEA2000 PGNs (messages) that the AIT1500N2K transmits to the NMEA2000 network is shown below. Some chart plotters do not support all of these PGNs, so please contact the chart plotter manufacturer if not all AIS target types are being displayed.

Installation Step 6 – Power Up

• Turn on the power to the NMEA2000 network which the AIT1500N2K is connected to.
• Verify that the green LED illuminates for a short period and then all four LED indicators on the front of the unit flash once, followed by illumination of the amber and red leds.
• Installation is now complete. The AIT1500N2K needs to be configured using the proAIS2 software – see next section.

Configuration

The AIT1500N2K transponder must be correctly configured for your vessel before operation. All configuration information must be entered carefully as this information will be transmitted to other AIS-equipped vessels and shore stations. The AIS transponder is configured by connecting to a PC or Mac running the ‘proAIS2’ configuration tool supplied. For the purposes of programming, the AIT1500N2K can take sufficient power from the USB cable to communicate with the computer but not to operate as a Class  B+ Transponder which requires an external 12v or 24v DC supply.

• Visit our “Online CD” at https://support.digitalyacht.net and look for the proAIS2 software for Windows or Mac.
  Download the one applicable to your computer and either unzip and run the Setup.exe for Windows or install the proAIS2.dmg for Mac. During installation, the USB  drivers will be automatically installed.

• Plug in the AIT1500N2K USB cable in to your computer and then launch proAIS2. Select the COM port that the AIT1500N2K has been allocated by Windows or OSX.  Click the ‘Connect’ button The computer will now query the AIT1500N2K and display any “Static” boat data stored in the unit. All new units will have no data stored and  so you will just have a series of blank boxes in which you will need to enter your boat’s data (see below).

1. Enter Vessel Name, Call Sign and MMSI

2. Enter vessel dimensions and location of the GPS antenna to the nearest meter.

3. Select the most appropriate vessel type.

4. Click “Write Configuration” to save the data to the AIT1500N2K

5. Read the warning message carefully and proceed only if the MMSI number is correct.

6. If you are configuring a new unit with a new MMSI number then a warning message will be displayed

7. Read the warning message carefully and proceed only if the MMSI number is correct.

8. Should you make a mistake or need to change anything in the future, all configurations and settings, except the MMSI, can be changed by running proAIS2 and following  this procedure again

9. Configuration of the AIS Class B+ Transponder is now complete

*Note: For security reasons the MMSI can only be programmed once. Make sure you enter the correct number and double-check when ProAIS2 warns you regarding MMSI  programming. The MMSI can only be changed by returning the unit to your dealer.

Operation

Once installed and configured correct operation of the AIS transponder should be verified as follows:

1. Check that at least one of the LEDs on the front of the unit is illuminated. If the red ‘Error’ LED is illuminated please refer to the troubleshooting section in the  AIT1500N2K User Manual.
2. Check that the unit has a good GPS lock. If the GPS is locked the Latitude and Longitude will be displayed on the “GPS Status” tab in proAIS2 along with a number of green bars in the signal strength graph.
3. If the unit does not have a GPS fix within a few minutes check your GPS antenna has a clear view of the sky, is to the correct specification and that the GPS antenna cable is connected.
4. Check that the Green ‘Power’ LED on the front of the unit illuminates. This will not happen until the unit has a GPS fixed and has transmitted its first position report. Please allow up to 5 minutes for this to occur. If the Green LED is illuminated you have successfully installed and configured the unit. The proAIS2 application can be closed and the PC disconnected from the unit. The unit requires only a power supply to operate.
5. If you are in an area with other AIS-equipped vessels you can check the “Other vessels” tab in ProAIS2 to view position reports received from other ships.

Troubleshooting

If the green LED is not illuminated after around 5 minutes then please check the following:

1. Is the MMSI number programmed?
   Check the “Diagnostics” tab in proAIS2. If there is a red cross next to the “AIS Transceiver MMSI Valid” item then you have not correctly configured the MMSI.

2. Does the unit have a GPS position fix?
   Check the “Diagnostics” tab in proAIS2. If there is a red cross next to the “GPS position fix” item then the unit does not have a GPS fix. Check your GPS antenna and connections.

3. Is the unit reporting any alarms?
   Check the “Active alarms” area in the “Diagnostics” tab of ProAIS2 & refer to the troubleshooting guide at the back of the ProAIS2 user guide.

4. Is there an external power connection?
   When connected to a computer via USB, the AIT1500N2K can take enough power from the USB port to work as an AIS receiver but not as a Class B transponder. Occasionally if a fault occurs in the boat’s wiring, a fuse blows, or the circuit breaker trips, then the AIT1500N2K will lose external power and only have the USB power. In these circumstances, the AIT1500N2K will receive AIS targets but not transmit its own position and the Red and Yellow LEDs will be lit.

For more troubleshooting information on the AIT1500N2K transponder please consult Tech Note 00036-2012 in the Support section of www.digitalyachtamerica.com

Quick Start Guide for AIT1500N2K V1.00
Tel: + 44 1179 554474
Web: www.digitalyachtamerica.com
E-Mail: sales@digitalyachtamerica.com

References

• Digital Yacht - Light years ahead in marine electronics technology.
• Digital Yacht - Light years ahead in marine electronics technology.
• Digital Yacht Software+Drivers CD
• Digital Yacht Software+Drivers CD

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