GME AISS120 AIS Antenna Splitter Instruction Manual

GME AISS120 AIS Antenna Splitter

Product Usage Instructions

About Your AIS Antenna Splitter

• The AISS120 AIS Antenna Splitter is designed to work with an AIS Class B transceiver.
• It ensures proper signal distribution and reception for your AIS system.

Electrical Connections

• Before starting the installation, ensure you have the correct electrical connections as detailed in the manual.
• Properly connect the AIS antenna splitter to the AIS transceiver and VHF antenna following the provided guidelines.

Installation

Preparing for Installation: Mount the antenna at least 3.5m above the deck to meet RF exposure requirements. Ensure the antenna impedance is 50 ohms and that it is connected to the AIS antenna splitter before applying power.

Installation Procedures: Follow the step-by-step installation procedures outlined in the manual. Pay close attention to safety warnings and guidelines for optimal performance.

Operation

Indicator Functions: Familiarize yourself with the indicator functions of the AISS120 to monitor its operation. Refer to the manual for specific details on interpreting indicators.

FAQ

• Q: Can I operate the AISS120 without connecting it to a VHF antenna?
• A: No, it is essential to connect the AISS120 to a VHF antenna for proper functionality and safety.
• Q: What is the recommended mounting height for the AIS antenna?
• A: The antenna should be mounted at least 3.5m above the deck to meet RF exposure requirements.

NOTICES

When reading this manual please pay particular attention to warnings marked with the warning triangle shown on the left. These are important messages for safety, ! installation and usage of the product.

SAFETY WARNINGS

• This equipment must be installed under the instructions provided in this manual.
• Only use this AIS antenna splitter in conjunction with an approved AIS transceiver or receiver purchased from a reputable supplier.
• Do not install this equipment in a flammable atmosphere such as in an engine room or near to fuel tanks.

GENERAL NOTICES

Compass Safe Distance
The compass safe distance of this unit is 0.5m or greater for a 0.3° deviation.
RF Emissions Notice
The information provided in this section assumes the AIS antenna splitter is connected to an AIS Class B transceiver.
The warnings regarding RF emissions provided in the manual for the VHF radio being used with the AIS antenna splitter should also be noted before the installation of the AIS antenna splitter.

Caution: The AIS antenna splitter generates and radiates radio frequency electromagnetic energy. This equipment must be installed and operated according to the instructions contained in this manual. Failure to do so can result in personal injury and/or the malfunction of the AIS antenna splitter and/or the AIS transceiver it is connected to.
Caution: Never operate the AIS antenna splitter unless it is connected to a VHF antenna.

To maximise performance and minimise human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy you must make sure that the antenna is mounted at least 1.5 meters away from the AIS antenna splitter and is connected to the AIS antenna splitter before power is applied.
The system has a Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) radius of 1.5m. This has been determined assuming the maximum power of the AIS transceiver and using antennas with a maximum gain of 3dBi.

The antenna should be mounted 3.5m above the deck to meet RF exposure requirements. Higher gain antennas will require a greater MPE radius. Do not operate the unit when anyone is within the MPE radius of the antenna (unless they are shielded from the antenna field by a grounded metallic barrier). The antenna should not be colocated or operated in conjunction with any other transmitting antenna. The required antenna impedance is 50 ohms.

Warranty

This product is supplied with a standard warranty as defined in the accompanying warranty information. Any attempt to tamper with or damage the product will invalidate the warranty. Disposal of this Product and Packaging Please dispose of this AIS antenna splitter under the European WEEE Directive or with the applicable local regulations for the disposal of electrical equipment. Every effort has been made to ensure the packaging for this product is recyclable. Please dispose of the packaging in an environmentally friendly manner.
Accuracy of this Manual
The AIS antenna splitter may be upgraded from time to time and future versions of the AIS antenna splitter may therefore not correspond exactly with this manual. The manufacturer of this product disclaims any liability for consequences arising from omissions or inaccuracies in this manual and any other documentation provided with this product.

**ABOUT YOUR AIS ANTENNA SPLITTER

**

ABOUT AIS

The marine Automatic Identification System (AIS) is 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 vessels. Position is derived from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and communication between vessels is by Very High Frequency (VHF) digital transmissions.
There are several types of AIS devices as follows:

• Class A Transceivers. These are similar to class B transceivers but are designed to be fitted to large vessels such as cargo ships and large passenger vessels. Class A transceivers transmit at a higher VHF signal power than class B transceivers and therefore can be received by more distant vessels, and also transmit more frequently. Class A transceivers are mandatory on all vessels over 300 gross tonnes on international voyages and certain types of passenger vessels under the SOLAS mandate.
• Class B Transceivers. Similar to class A transceivers in many ways, but are normally lower cost due to the less stringent performance requirements. Class B transceivers transmit at a lower power and at a lower reporting rate than class A transceivers.
• AIS Base Stations. AIS base stations are used by Vessel Traffic Systems to monitor and control the transmissions of AIS transceivers.
• Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Transceivers. AtoNs are transceivers mounted on buoys or other hazards to shipping that transmits details of their location to the surrounding vessels.
• AIS Receivers. AIS receivers will generally receive transmissions from class A transceivers, class B transceivers, AtoNs and AIS base stations but do not transmit any information about the vessel on which they are installed.

Because VHF radios and AIS devices operate within the same frequency range and therefore require the same type of VHF antenna it is possible to utilise a single VHF antenna for both devices by using an AIS antenna splitter.
This AIS antenna splitter is designed to work primarily with AIS class B transceivers, although it will operate equally well with AIS receivers.
It is not recommended to use this AIS antenna splitter with Class A transceivers, Aids to Navigation transceivers or AIS base stations.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

• Figure 1 shows the items included with your AIS antenna splitter purchase. The following sections give a brief overview of each item. Please ensure all items are present and if any of the items are not present contact your dealer.

• Quick Start Guide: The quick start guide gives a handy one-page reference for the installation process.
• VHF Radio Connection Cable: This cable is used to connect a VHF radio to the AIS antenna splitter. The cable has PL259 connectors at either end and requires a SO239 connector on the VHF radio. If your VHF radio does not have a SO239 connector please contact your dealer for details of suitable adaptors.
• AIS Transceiver Connection Cable: This cable is used to connect an AIS transceiver to the AIS antenna splitter. The cable has a BNC connector at one end (for connection to the AIS antenna splitter) and a PL259 connection at the opposite end (for connection to an AIS transceiver with an SO239 VHF connector). If your AIS transceiver does not use an SO239 connector please contact your dealer for details of suitable adaptors.
• AIS Antenna Splitter Unit: Figure 2 shows an overview of the AIS antenna splitter unit. The AIS antenna splitter has many indicators that provide information to the user about the status of the AIS antenna splitter. Please refer to section 4 for more details of the indicator functions. The AIS antenna splitter mounting holes are located as shown in Figure 2. Please refer to section 3.2 for details of how to mount the AIS antenna splitter.
• Power and FM Cable: The power and FM cable connects to the AIS antenna splitter and enables connection to power and an FM radio antenna input.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
The AIS antenna splitter has the following electrical connections as shown in Figure 2.

• Power supply
• VHF antenna connector
• VHF radio connector
• AIS transceiver connector
• FM radio connector

INSTALLATION

PREPARING FOR INSTALLATION
Figure 3 shows a typical installation configuration for the AIS antenna splitter. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the system elements and their connections prior to attempting installation.

In addition to the items provided with your AIS antenna splitter, the following items will be required for installation:
VHF Antenna
Connection to a suitable VHF antenna will be required for the AIS antenna splitter to operate. A standard marine band VHF antenna such as that used with VHF voice radios will be sufficient. Please take note of the warnings in section 1 regarding the use of antennas.

VHF Radio
If you have an existing VHF voice radio connected directly to a VHF antenna, you can disconnect the VHF radio from the VHF antenna and connect them both to the relevant connectors on the AIS antenna splitter.
AIS Transceiver
If you have an existing AIS transceiver connected directly to a VHF antenna, you can disconnect the AIS transceiver from the VHF antenna and connect them both to the relevant connectors on the AIS antenna splitter.
It is necessary to connect the VHF antenna, VHF radio and AIS transceiver for the antenna splitter to function correctly.
FM Radio
The AIS antenna splitter also provides connections for the antenna of an FM broadcast radio receiver. Connection of an FM radio is optional.
Power Cable
The AIS antenna splitter is supplied with a two-meter-long power cable. If you require longer cables to reach your power supply please ensure the cables are capable of carrying currents of up to 200mA on average. Means of connecting the cables will also be required. The use of ScotchlokTM connectors is recommended for this purpose.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
Before beginning the installation of your AIS antenna splitter, please ensure you have the necessary additional items as detailed in section 3.1. It is strongly recommended that you read all of the instructions in this manual before installation.
If after reading this manual you are unsure about any element of the installation process please contact your dealer for advice.
The following sections explain the installation process step by step for each of the main elements of the system.

Step 1 – Installing the AIS antenna splitter
Please note the following guidelines when selecting a location for your AIS antenna splitter:

• The AIS antenna splitter must be fitted in a location where it is at least 0.5m from a compass or any magnetic device.
• There should be adequate space around the AIS antenna splitter for the routing of cables. See Figure 4 for details of the AIS antenna splitter dimensions.
• The ambient temperature around the AIS antenna splitter should be maintained between -10°C and +55°C.
• The AIS antenna splitter should not be located in a flammable or hazardous atmosphere such as in an engine room or near fuel tanks.
• The AIS antenna splitter is fully waterproof to an ingress protection rating of IPx7, however, it is recommended that the AIS antenna splitter is not subjected to extended periods of exposure to spray or submersion.
• It is acceptable to mount the AIS antenna splitter either vertically or horizontally.
• It is recommended that the AIS antenna splitter is installed in a ‘below decks’ environment.
• The AIS antenna splitter should be mounted in a location where the indicators are readily visible as these provide important information on the status of the AIS antenna splitter.

Step 2 – Connecting the VHF Antenna

• Route the cable from the VHF antenna to the AIS antenna splitter and connect to the VHF antenna connector on the AIS antenna splitter as shown in Figure 6.
• A standard marine band VHF antenna or AIS antenna should be used with the AIS antenna splitter. The connector type on the AIS antenna splitter is SO239. Your chosen VHF antenna requires a PL259 connector to mate with this. If your VHF antenna does not use this type of connector please contact your dealer for details of available adaptors.

Step 3 – Connecting the VHF Radio

• Using the VHF radio accessory cable provided with this product, route the cable from the VHF radio to the AIS antenna splitter and connect to the VHF radio connector on the AIS antenna splitter as shown in Figure 7. If the cable supplied is not long enough please contact your dealer for details of suitable extension cables.
• A standard marine band VHF voice radio should be used with this AIS antenna splitter.
• The antenna splitter is DSC-compatible.

Step 4 – Connecting the AIS Transceiver

• Using the AIS transceiver accessory cable provided with this product, route the cable from the AIS transceiver to the AIS antenna splitter and connect to the AIS transceiver connector on the AIS antenna splitter as shown in Figure 8. If the cable supplied is not long enough please contact your dealer for details of suitable extension cables.
• A fully approved marine AIS class B transceiver or AIS receiver should be used with this AIS antenna splitter and requires a SO239 VHF antenna connector to connect to the AIS antenna splitter using the supplied accessory cable.

Step 5 – Connecting the Power Supply and Optional FM Output
The AIS antenna splitter requires a 12V or 24V power supply typically provided by the vessel’s battery. It is recommended that crimped and soldered lugs are used to connect the AIS antenna splitter to the power source. It is recommended that the power supply is connected via a suitable circuit breaker and/or 1A fuse block.

1. Connect the red wire to the power supply positive terminal.
2. Connect the black wire to the supply negative terminal.
3. Connect the White wire to the FM radio antenna input.
4. Join the Blue and Green wires and connect to the FM radio antenna ground.

OPERATION

• Operation of the AIS antenna splitter is automatic and requires no user intervention.
• During operation the antenna splitter will share signals received at your VHF antenna with both the AIS transceiver and the VHF radio.
• When either the AIS transceiver or VHF radio transmits, the AIS antenna splitter will automatically sense the transmission and route the signal to the antenna.
• In the event that both the VHF radio and AIS transceiver are transmitting at the same time, the AIS antenna splitter will give priority to the VHF radio.
• It is not possible for both connected devices to transmit simultaneously using a single VHF antenna. Whilst you are talking on your ! VHF radio no AIS position reports will be transmitted.

INDICATOR FUNCTIONS
The AIS antenna splitter includes three coloured indicators as shown in Figure 10. The state of the indicators provides information regarding the status of the AIS antenna splitter.

The indicators provide the following functions:

• Power – this indicator is illuminated whilst the unit is powered
• TX AIS – this indicator flashes to indicate AIS transmissions
• TX VHF – this indicator flashes to indicate VHF radio transmissions

Note that both the TX AIS and TX VHF LEDs may illuminate when the AIS antenna splitter is used with some brands of VHF radio at the high output power (25W) setting.
This is normal behaviour and does not indicate a fault.

TROUBLESHOOTING

circuit breaker

Check the polarity of power supply connections Check the power supply voltage

‘VHF’ indicator does not illuminate when the VHF Radiotelephone is transmitting| Check the antenna output of the VHF radiotelephone is connected to the antenna splitter input labelled ‘VHF’
‘AIS’ indicator does not illuminate when the AIS transceiver is transmitting| Check the antenna output of the AIS transceiver is connected to the antenna splitter input labelled ‘AIS’
Clicks or pops are heard from a connected FM broadcast receiver| This is normal and may occur during VHF or AIS transmission
VHF or AIS transmission range is reduced| A small reduction in transmission range is normal due to the insertion loss of the antenna splitter
Both the ‘AIS’ and ‘VHF’ indicators illuminate when the VHF radio is transmitting| This is normal operation with some brands of VHF radio and not a fault. The function of the antenna splitter is unaffected

If the guidance given in the table above does not rectify the problem you are experiencing please contact your dealer for further assistance.

SPECIFICATIONS

GME WARRANTY AGAINST DEFECTS

This warranty against defects is given by GME Pty Ltd ACN 000 346 814 (We, us, our or GME). Our contact details are set out in clause 2.7.

Consumer guarantees

1. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.
2. To the extent we are able, we exclude all other conditions, warranties and obligations which would otherwise be implied.

Warranty against defects

1. This warranty is in addition to and does not limit, exclude or restrict your rights under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Australia) or any other mandatory protection laws that may apply.

2. We warrant our goods to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the warranty period (see warranty table) from the date of original sale (or another period we agree to in writing). Subject to our obligations under clause 1.2, we will at our option, either repair or replace goods which we are satisfied are defective.
   We warrant any replacement parts for the remainder of the period of warranty for the goods into which they are incorporated.

3. To the extent permitted by law, our sole liability for breach of a condition, warranty or other obligation implied by law is limited

   • in the case of goods we supply, to any one of the following as we decide –
   • the replacement of the goods or the supply of equivalent goods;
   • the repair of the goods;
   • the cost of repairing the goods or of acquiring equivalent goods;
   • in the case of services we supply, to any one of the following as we decide –
   • the supplying of the services again;
   • the cost of having the services supplied again.

4. For repairs outside the warranty period, we warrant our repairs to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for three months from the date of the original repair. We agree to re-repair or replace (at our option) any materials or workmanship which we are satisfied are defective.

5. We warrant that we will perform services with reasonable care and skill and agree to investigate any complaint regarding our services made in good faith. If we are satisfied that the complaint is justified, and as our sole liability to you under this warranty (to the extent permitted at law), we agree to supply those services again at no extra charge to you.

6. To make a warranty claim you must before the end of the applicable warranty period (see warranty table), at your own cost, return the goods you allege are defective, provide written details of the defect, and give us an original or copy of the sales invoice or some other evidence showing details of the transaction.

7. Send your claim to GME Pty Ltd. PO Box 96 Winston Hills, NSW 2153, Australia.
   Tel: (02) 8867 6000 Fax: (02) 8867 6199 Email: servadmin@gme.net.au.

8. If we determine that your goods are defective, we will pay for the cost of returning the repaired or replaced goods to you, and reimburse you for your reasonable expenses of sending your warranty claim to us.

What this warranty does not cover

• This warranty will not apply to:
  • goods modified or altered in any way;
  • defects and damage caused by the use of non-GME products;
  • repairs performed other than by our authorised representative;
  • defects or damage resulting from misuse, accident, impact or neglect;
  • goods improperly installed or used in a manner contrary to the relevant instruction manual; or
  • goods where the serial number has been removed or made illegal.

Warranty period

1. We provide the following warranty on GME and Kingray products. No repair or replacement during the warranty period will renew or extend the warranty period past the period from the original date of purchase.

CONTACT

• gme.net.au. GME Pty Ltd
• 17 Gibbon Road, Winston Hills NSW 2153, Australia
• Part Number: 310547 Drawing Number: 45906-4

References

• GME Australia | EPIRBS - Handheld Radios - Antennas - Power Products

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