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For product support please see www.digitalyacht.co.uk 

              Page 7 

AIT2000 Installation & Operation Manual

 

VERSION 1.01 

ABOUT YOUR AIS CLASS B TRANSPONDER 

2.1 

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 a number of types of AIS device as follows: 

Class A transponders 

These are similar to class B transponders, but are designed to be fitted to large vessels such as cargo ships and 
large passenger vessels. Class A transponders transmit at a higher VHF signal power than class B transponders and 
therefore can be received by more distant vessels. They also transmit Class A transponders are mandatory on all 
vessels over 300 gross tonnes on international voyages and certain types of passenger vessels under SOLAS regu-
lations.   

Class B transponders 

Similar to class A transponders in many ways, but are normally lower cost due to the less stringent performance 
requirements.  Class  B  transponders  transmit  at  a  lower  power  and  at  a  lower  reporting  rate  than  class A  tran-
sponders.   

AIS base stations 

AIS base stations are used by Vessel Traffic Systems to monitor and control the transmissions of AIS transponders.   

Aids to Navigation (AtoN) transponders 

AtoNs are transponders mounted on buoys or other hazards to shipping which transmit details of their location to 
the surrounding vessels.   

AIS receivers 

AIS receivers will generally receive transmissions from class A transponders, class B transponders, AtoNs and AIS 
base stations but do not transmit any information about the vessel on which they are installed. 

This product is an AIS Class B transponder. 

2.2 

Static and dynamic vessel data 

There are two categories of information transmitted by an AIS transponder: static and dynamic data. 

The vessel's dynamic data, which includes location, speed over ground (SOG)  and course over ground (COG),  is 
calculated automatically using the internal GPS receiver.   

Static data is information about the vessel which must be programmed into the AIS transponder. This includes: 

 

Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) 

Summary of Contents for AIT2000

Page 1: ...For product support please see www digitalyacht co uk Page 1 AIT2000 Installation Operation Manual VERSION 1 01 AIT2000 Installation Operation Manual...

Page 2: ...ation for US customers 8 3 WHAT S IN THE BOX 9 3 1 Digital Yacht Software and Driver CD 9 3 2 GPS Antenna 10 3 3 Power Data and USB Cables 10 3 4 Electrical Connections 10 4 INSTALLATION 12 4 1 Prepar...

Page 3: ...N 1 01 5 8 USB Connection optional 19 5 9 Connecting to a power supply 20 6 CONFIGURING YOUR AIS TRANSPONDER 21 6 1 Plugging the AIT2000 in to a Windows PC 21 6 2 Plugging the AIT2000 in to a Mac 22 7...

Page 4: ...he antenna positioning how many satellites are used to determine a position and how long satellite in formation has been received for 1 3 Compass safe distance The compass safe distance of this unit i...

Page 5: ...in compliance with the essential requirements and other provisions of the R TTE directive 1995 5 EC The product carries the CE mark notified body number and alert symbol as required by the R TTE dire...

Page 6: ...ence that may cause undesired operation of the device This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES 003 Le pr sent appareil est conforme aux CNR d Industrie Canada applicables aux apparei...

Page 7: ...assenger vessels under SOLAS regu lations Class B transponders Similar to class A transponders in many ways but are normally lower cost due to the less stringent performance requirements Class B trans...

Page 8: ...e AIS system vessel Call Sign and MMSI number An MMSI number is required in order for the AIS transceiver to operate Please contact the relevant au thority in your country for more information 2 3 Imp...

Page 9: ...DE DIGITAL YACHT SOFTWARE AND DRIVER CD 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 3 1 Di...

Page 10: ...nternational Class B Transponder specification states that a transponder must have its own GPS to ensure that it can work entirely on its own without being reliant upon other external equipment The GP...

Page 11: ...t plotters and other NMEA0183 compatible equipment USB for connection to a PC or Mac External switch input for silent mode control on power data cable NMEA2000 port for connection to NMEA2000 compatib...

Page 12: ...0 appropriate to the mounting location A suitable 1 x14TPI thread mount for the GPS Antenna not supplied Connection to a suitable VHF antenna will be required for the AIS transponder to operate A stan...

Page 13: ...losed the AIT2000 stops trans mitting and when the switch is open the AIT2000 starts transmitting again 4 3 VHF antenna cable Please check that the VHF antenna you intend to use has sufficient cable t...

Page 14: ...manual supplied with your chart plotter for details of how to connect and configure your chart plotter for use with AIS devices For NMEA 0183 data connections your chart plotter should be configured t...

Page 15: ...S transponder for routing of cables See drawing below for details of the AIS transponder dimensions The ambient temperature around the AIS transponder should be maintained between 25 C and 55 C The AI...

Page 16: ...nna or splitter to the AIS transponder and connect to the VHF connector on the AIS transponder A standard marine band VHF antenna or AIS antenna should be used with the AIS transponder The con nector...

Page 17: ...t 2 RX Table 1 5 5 Connecting a Silent switch optional A toggle switch can be connected to the AIS transponder to provide remote control of silent mode Connect the toggle switch between the White and...

Page 18: ...d Output 1 port to the chart plotter Please ensure your equipment is configured to use the correct baud rate for the port it is connected to On many vessels fitted with a modern VHF Radio that require...

Page 19: ...sition Report 129793 AIS UTC and Date report 129794 AIS Class A Static and Voyage Related Data 129800 AIS UTC Date Inquiry 129801 AIS Address Safety Message 129802 AIS Broadcast Safety Message 129810...

Page 20: ...source It is recommended that the power supply is connected via a suitable circuit breaker and or 3A fuse Connect the red wire to a 12V or 24V power supply positive terminal Connect the black wire to...

Page 21: ...es AIS transmissions Once your AIT2000 is configured it is not necessary to run proAIS2 again unless you want to use it for controlling or fault finding the AIT2000 If you do not have a compatible cha...

Page 22: ...vers CD Rom 6 3 Running proAIS2 Locate the proAIS2 application on your computer and launch the program You will see a screen like the one shown at the top of the next page In order for the program to...

Page 23: ...01 Figure 8 You should enter the following information in order to configure your AIS transponder Your unique MMSI number The Vessel s Registered Name Vessel type VHF Call sign Vessel dimensions and...

Page 24: ...the unit being returned to Digital Yacht Once you have checked that the data is correct click the Write Configuration button and you will see the final warning window shown in Figure 10 If you are 10...

Page 25: ...nutes the AIT2000 should make its first transmission report five green ticks should be displayed as shown in Figure 11 From this screen it is also possible to control the AIT2000 and stop it transmitt...

Page 26: ...000 is now transmitting your position and as long as the Green LED is illuminated you can be sure that the AIT2000 is working correctly The unit is constantly monitoring the supply voltage GPS positio...

Page 27: ...optional silent mode switch or via proAIS2 and this combination of indicators is illuminated to show that the trans mitter is disabled Red and Blue indicators This indicates that a system error has oc...

Page 28: ...he transciever is located where the internal GPS antenna has a clear sky view or that an external GPS antenna is properly connected and installed Review the GPS signal strength graph available in proA...

Page 29: ...enna connector BNC External GPS antenna connector TNC USB type A 1m cable NMEA2000 standard connector with 1m cable 12 way power input NMEA0183 External switch VHF Transponder Transmitter x 1 Receiver...

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