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FOREWORD
A Word to the Owner of the FA-170
FURUNO Electric Company thanks you for purchasing the FA-170 AIS Transponder. We are
confident you will discover why the FURUNO name has become synonymous with quality and
reliability.
Since 1948, FURUNO Electric Company has enjoyed an enviable reputation for quality and
reliability throughout the world. This dedication to excellence is furthered by our extensive global
network of agents and dealers.
Your equipment is designed and constructed to meet the rigorous demands of the marine
environment. However, no machine can perform its intended function unless properly operated
and maintained. Please carefully read and follow the operation and maintenance procedures in
this manual.
We would appreciate feedback from you, the end-user, about whether we are achieving our
purposes.
Thank you for considering and purchasing FURUNO.
Features
The FA-170 is a universal AIS (Automatic Identification System) for open sea and inland
waterways, capable of exchanging navigation and ship data between own ship and other ships or
coastal stations.
It complies with IMO MSC.74(69) Annex 3, IMO MSC.302(87), A.694, ITU-R M.1371-5 and DSC
ITU-R M.825. It also complies with IEC 61924-2, IEC 61993-2 (Type testing standard) and IEC
60945 Ed. 4 (EMC and environmental conditions).
The FA-170 consists of VHF and GPS antennas, a transponder unit, a monitor unit, and several
associated units. The transponder contains a VHF transmitter, two TDMA receivers on two parallel
VHF channels, a DSC channel 70 receiver, interface, communication processor, and internal GPS
receiver. The internal GPS is a 12-channel all-in-view receiver with a differential capability, and
provides UTC reference for system synchronization to eliminate clash among multiple users. It
also gives position, COG and SOG when the external GPS fails.
The main features are:
• Safety of navigation by automatically exchanging navigational data between ships and between
ship and coast
• Static data:
- MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity)
- IMO number (where available)
- Call sign & name
- Length and beam
- Type of ship
- Location of position-fixing antenna on the ship