Alphatron Marine Pro Line FF-901 User manual

)
Pro
Li~e
FF-901
ALPH~TR e N
Marine
Chart plotterI Fish finder
User Manual
aIphatron mari ne.com

Table or Contents
1. lnlroducllon 5 8.3 Route following 33
1.1 Conventions used 5 8.3.1 Route following options 34
1.2 Keyboards 5 8.3.2 Route following optimization 35
1.3 Touchscreen gestures 6 8.4 Assisted Routing: Easy Routing or
1.4 Software interaction 7 Autorouting 35
2. On Board user manual 8
8.4.1 C-Map Easy Routing 35
3. Getting started 9 8.4.2 NavionicsAutorouting 36
3.1 Switching on 9
9. UserData 38
3.2 SWitching off 9
9.1 Marla! 38
3.3 Initial Settings 9
9.1.1 Adding a new mark 39
3.4 Selecting the software language 9 9.1.2 Editing mark's color, symbol,
3.5 Selecting !he chart language 9 name and description 39
3.6 Setting units, time zone 9.1.3 Editing mark's position 40
and time format 10
9.1.4 Marla! displaying on lho map 40
4. Controlling the display 11
9.2 Routes 40
4.1 Status bar 11
9.2. 1 Creating a new route
41
4.2 The "Map" page
12
9.2.2 Editing route's name
4.3 The "Fish Finder" page 13 and description
41
4.4 The "Engine" page 14
9.2.3 Planned route speed 41
4.5 The "Radar" page 15 9.3 Waypoinls 42
4.6 The split pages
16
9.3.1 Editing waypoint's position 42
4. 7 Data boxes customization 18 9.4 Tracks 43
5. Mapa: Using C-Map 4D,
9.4.1 Editing track's color, name, and
C-Map Max, and Navionics 19 description 43
5.1 Moving around the map 19 9.4.2 Setting up a track generation
5.2 Finding your boat position 19 interval and color logic 43
5.3 Chart Info and Quick Info 20 9.4.3 Converting track to route 44
5.4 Overzoom 21
9.5 Boundaries 44
6. Quick Settings 22
9.5.1 Creating a boundary 45
6.1 Quick Settings with C-Map 9.5.2 Editing boundary's color, name
(4D or MAX) 22 and description 45
6.2 Quick Settings with Navionics 23 9.5.3 Boundary alann 46
9.5.4 Vertices 46
7, General Settings 25 9.6 Locate user data on the map 46
7.1 Export/import of user settings 25
9. 7 Changing userdata default color,
7.2 Keyboard and function keys symbol or prefix 47
settings 26 9.8 Displaying user data 47
7.3 Navigation settings 27 9.9 User data fillers 47
7.4 Display settings 28 9.10 Order ofuser data on the page 47
7.5 Ship Profile settings 29
9.11 Exporting/importing userdata 48
7.6 Loran-e 29 9.12 Deleting user data 49
7.7 Easy Routing orAutorouting
Settings
30
10. A-B function 50
7.8 Internal GPS settings 30
11. Search function 51
8. Go To function 31
12. lldes information 52
8.1 Navigation to a single destination 31
13. MOB 54
8.2 Creating a route 32
14.Aiarms 55

15. Simulation mode
58
16. Map settings 60
16.1 Course prediclnr 60
16.2 Heading line 60
16.3 Map Orientation 61
17. Ports settings 62
17,1 External serial ports
62
17.2 Communication log 62
17.3 NMEA2000 port
63
11.4 Ports output 63
11.5 Input Manager 63
11.6 Offset 64
18. WiFi 65
18.1 Gaplain Cloud 65
18.2 Mirror Control 66
18.3 Radar 66
19. AIS and DSC 67
19.1 AIS and DSC fillers 67
19.2AIS and DSC large! information 69
20. The Fish Finder 71
20.1 Switching on the Fish Finder 71
20.2 Tho "Fish Finder" lull page
71
20.3 Echogram history 72
20.4 Frequency 73
20.5 Display mode and settings 74
20.6 Offset 75
21. The Radar 77
21.1 Radar Compatibility
and Functionality 77
21.2 Switching on the Radar 77
21.3 The "Radar" full page 77
21.4 Radar page settings 78
21.5 Radar echogram and settings 79
21.6 Radar luning
81
21.7 Radar configuration 83
21.8 Radar ovenay on !he "Map"
page 85
22. System massages 86
23. Updates 87
23.1 Software update via WiFi 87
24. Acronyms and definitions 88
25. Contextual menu diagram 92

1. Introduction
The plotter is a computerized electronic chart system, designed as a navigation aid. This manual
describes the core functionality of the software for marine plotters and is valid for different plotter
families, including 9" touchscreen.
The plotter integrates
GPS data with digital charts stored on a micro SO card and can display
additional information from AIS, Fish Finder, and other sensors. Navigating through the plotter
pages is possible using eitherkeyboard or touchscreen.
1.1 Conventions used
Plotters can be controlled using only hardware keys or both hardware keys and touchscreen
operations.
In order to distinguish between hardware keys, menu items, buttons, icons, touchscreen and key
operations, thefollowing mapping is used:
·[POWER], [MENU]· hardware keys are given capitalized and enclosed in square brackets;
• "General Settings", "OK" • menu items and buttons (displayed on the screen) are enclosed
in quotes;
·The words "press", "release" mean operation with hardware keys, located on plotters;
•
The words"tap","swipe" mean operation with menu items, buttons, lists, iconson touchscreen
plotter;
•
The word "select" means choosing an item in two ways:
1. using ajoystick/joypad or a rotorwheel to highlightan itemand[ENTER] keyto select it;
2. using tapgestures fortouchscreen plotters.
1.2 Keyboards
Figure 1.2- Example of touchscreenplotter
Differentplotterfamilies have varied set of hardware keys.
Somekeys arecommon forall plotters; you can seetheirdescription below.
• Thejoystickljoypad can move the cursor around the map (pan the map)
or through menu items.
Press [UP], [DOWN], [LEFT] or[RIGHT]. From nowon
we referin a generic waytojoystick also
to indicatethejoypad;
• Function keys like [F1] are special keys. Each key can perform two functions. A short press
performs the
fiXed function (itcan belabeled on theunitface).A long press (press a key and hold
it) executes asecond functionthat can becustomized by theuser. Thisgivesyoua widerscopeof
User Manual 5

functions that can be executed by pressing function keys. See Par. 7.2 to learn how to customize
the function keys;
- [MOB] is a special key dedicated to man-over-board situation. Pressing "MOB" places a MOB
mark on the current boat position and starts navigation to that place;
- [MENU] opens the main menu if pressed on one of the main pages ("Map", "Fish Finder", "GPS
Status", "Engine Monitor Display''). Also, from a listing page, such as "Marks", "Routes", "Tracks",
etc., pressing MENU moves the cursor to the control buttons located at the top bar of the page;
- [ENTER] is used to confirm an action oraselection. When on the "Map" page, pressing [ENTER]
opens the contextual menu ofa map object;
- [CLEAR]* exits from the current menu or, if you are on the "Map" page and the cursor is away from
the boat position, centers the map on the boat position (home mode);
- [POWER] turns the plotter on/off when pressed and held in. Short press allows switching day/
night
mode of the screen or change the brightness and disable touchscreen, depending on the
plotter family.
*[CLEAR] may also refer to [BACK] or [CLR].
1.3 Touchscreen gestures
/)
Tap (touch the screen for less than 1 second and release your finger): Perform
action corresponding to touch area ofthe screen: select, activate button,
etc.
/)
Long tap (touch the screen and hold your finger for more than 1 second): Open
editable item, e.g. databox.
0
Pan (touch the screen on the "Map" page, keep yourfinger pressed and move in any
direction):
Pan the map.
~
Pinch in I Pinch out (touch the screen with two fingers simultaneously, then move
fingers closer orfurther): Zoom-in I zoom-out on the "Map" page orchange the range
on the "Fish Finder'' page.
79
Rotate (touch the screen with two fingers simultaneously and move them clockwise or
counterclockwise):
Rotate the map.
d
Scroll up-down orleft-right (touch the screen and move yourfinger to the sides): Scroll
through the lists or through Fish Finder echogram history.
G ~
Swipe (touch the top edge ofthe screen with one finger, keep it pressed and move
quickly to the bottom): Open page selector.
~ ~
Two finger drag up and down: Change from 20 to perspective mode and adjust angle,
and back to 20 with C-Map MAX or C-Map 40 cartography. For using this option with
Navionics select 30 chart mode in the "Quick Settings" menu.
6
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1.4Software interaction
Your plotter will display various interface elements, such as icons, buttons, switchers, sliders and
radio buttons while operating the device, and these allowyou to set and control it.
Icons
Icons, such as "Back", "Home", "Close", helptoeasenavigation amongstmenusand dialogwindows.
The [CLEAR] button
is used to return one step backwards or to dose a menu I popup or you can
tap the needed icon directly.
Buttons
Buttons, such as "OK", "Save", ·cancel" are displayed in dialog windows and during userdataedit
mode.
Button selection is performed with the joystick and [ENTER] button: the desired button can be
targeted with thejoystick, while pressing [ENTER] confirms the selection.
Otherwise the tap gesture, directlyon the desired button, performs both targeting and confirmation
actions
at once.
Swltchars
Enabling or disabling switchers can be doneusing joystick to targetthe item and pressing [ENTER]
to enable
or disable the switcher.
Otherwise the tap gesture, directly
on the desired item, switches between enabled and disabled
states.
Sliders
Sliders help to selectand change numericsettings. Valuescan be changed using theslideritself, or
by opening the virtual keyboard to enterthevalue manually.
Using the hardware keys:
1. Use the joystick to targetthe slider;
2. Press [ENTER] to activatethe slider knob: it will change the colorto blue;
3. Movethe sliderknob with the joystick or the rotorwheel to changethe value;
4. Press [ENTER] again to confirm thevalue;
or
5. Press [CLEAR] to cancel.
To open the virtual keyboard, target to the slider and long press [ENTER].
Using the touchscreen:
1. Tap the slider bar to move the knob and change the value;
2. or
3. Tap the knob, and keep your finger pressed, moving right or left to change thevalue;
or
4. Tap the numericvalue to open thekeyboard.
Radio buttons
Almost all the submenus consist of radio button groups. Only one radio button per group can be
selected. Selection is performedwithjoystickand [ENTER] buttons, or by simplytappingthe needed
item to select it.
User Manual 7

2. On Board user manual
This usermanual is built into the plotter software.
You can find it asthe lastitem in the main menu
of each page:
1. Open the main menu
by pressing [MENU];
2. Select "User Manual".
Howto read the manual
1. Press [UP-DOWN] or usescroll gestureto scroll the page;
2. Press [LEFT-RIGHT] to go to the previous or the next page;
3. Press [ZOOM IN-ZOOM OUT] use rotor wheel or pinch in I pinch out gesturesto zoom
the page;
4. Press [ENTER] or use long tapgestureto find a page by number;
5. Press [CLEAR] or tap the "Home" icon to close the manual.
Howto search a keyword:
8
1. Press [MENU] to highlight the "Search" icon and [ENTER] to call a virtual keyboard, or
tap the "Search" icon;
2. Type a keyword in the keyboard: use [UP-DOWN] and [LEFT-RIGHT] to highlight a
letter and [ENTER] to confirm selection, or tap the letters. After entering the keyword,
move the cursor
over "Done" and press [ENTER] button, or tap it;
3. The firstpage with the chosen keyword will be presented and the keyword highlighted;
4. Press [LEFT-RIGHT] to go to the previous or the nextpage containing the keyword;
5. Press [CLEAR] or tap the "ClearSearch" icon to close the search view.
User Manual

3. Gelling sblled
3.1 Switching on
Before powering theplotter on, check fur the conect voltage (1 ()..35) and the correct oonnections with other
instrumenls. Press and hold [POWER] to tum on the plotter.
3.2 Switching off
Press and hold [POWER]ID IMiitch the plotlar off. A counldov.n timer appears on the saeen. If you release
[POWER] before 1he counldol.ln timer reaches zero, 1he plotter 'Nill remain switdled on.
3.3 Initial Settings
When turning the plotter on for the first time, you can change main settings on "Initial Sellings" page
('t.anguage", "Unils", "Formats and Referet ICeS", "Dale and lime", "Engine Setup" and "Ship Profile"). "Initial
Setlings" page 'Nill be also displayed alter restoring ID factory default settings (Par. 7.1 ). This page allows
selecting software language, unils, dale and time format. position formatand engines number.
1. Switch the plotteron andwaitfor the "Initial Settings" page to appearonthe screen;
2. Select the preferred item by pressing [DOWN] I [UP] or tap with your finger. It is possible to
keep thedefault value;
3. Press [ENTER] or tap to confirm the selection;
4. Press [CLEAR], tap"Back" icon of thesubmenu or tapoutside the submenu to return to "Initial
Settings" items list;
5. Afterintroducing all desired changes, select"Confirm";
6. On the Warning- LIMITATIONS ON USE" page press [DOWN] or scroiiiD read the limitations on use;
7. Press [ENTER] or tap "OK" when you reachthe end of the text to acceptthe limitationson use.
NOTE: You mustaccept all the limitations specification on the "Warning- LIMITATIONS ON USE" page in
ortler to use the plotter.
3.4Selecting the software language
To setthe main language ofsoftware:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select"General Settings"> "Language•, then select the preferred language.
3.5 Selecting the chart language
To change the language ofthe map information, fur example, names of geographical objects:
With C-MAP 4-D and C-MAP MAX default cartography:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select "Map Settings" > "Chart Settings" > "Language", then select the chart language from
the list.
User Manual 9

With Navionics default cartography:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select "Map Settings" > "Chart Language", then select the chart language from the list.
3.6 Setting units, time zone and time format
To change unils:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU);
2. Select "General Settings" > "Units";
3. Select an option for each set of units.
To change lime :zooe:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select "General Settings" > "Date and Time";
3. Choose between "UTC" or "Custom" (can be adjusted after"UTC" setto OFF).
If you chose "Custcm:
1. Select the desired zone from the "Custom" submenu;
2. Select "Daylight Saving
lime" (it must be enabled/disabled manually).
To change date and time format
1. Open the main menu bypressing [MENU];
2. Select "General Settings" > "Date and lime";
3. Choose the dateformat and the time format.
10 User Manual

" Controlling lhe diSIIIIJ
The plotterdisplays 6 main pages:
-"Map"
(Par. 4.2);
-"Fish Finder" (Par. 4.3);
-"Engine"
(Par. 4.4);
-"Radar" (Par. 4.5);
-Split"Map I Fish Finder" page (Par. 4.6);
-Split"Map I Radar" page (Par. 4.6).
To change the displayed page:
1. Open the main menu by pressing )MENU];
2. Select"Page";
3. In the widget popup, selecttha desired page using ajoystick cr tap the needed one.
Figure 4 -Pages widgetpopup
-- _o
•
--·--
•
NOTE: Changing pages on the touchscreen plotisrs can be dona also by vertical swipe (from the
top) to call a page widget.Aquickerwayto switch between pages is to setone of thefunction keys
(Par. 7.2) to "Page". As well, some models of plotter can alsohave a [PAGE) key for switchingpages.
4.1 Status bar
The statusbarappears in the upperleftpart of thescreen on everypage.
It can displayverious icons:
-WiFi connection status and thewirelesssignalstrength;
-GPS statusdepending
on the quality of satellite data;
-Remote controllerconnection status;
-Fish Finderconnection status;
-Captain
Cloud connection status.
User Manual
11

.4>- 43°2 3 .9 1 69 'N
'V 6°56.8714 'E
11. 6° 1 0.7 52 NM
Figure4.2.a - Map page
kn
ft
12:52
The "Map" page includes map, cursor box, dalabcxes map mode switch icon and wheel mode switch icon.
~ Quick Settin gs
83 Page
kn
~ Search
~ R outes
/V Tracks
~ Marks
~ Bounda ries
Figure4.2.b -Map page menu
12
User Manual

The cursor box appears on the bottom left of the map and shows the Lat/Lon In home mode,
additionally itshows DSTand BRG when in cursor mode.
Thedataboxesare displayed
on theright part of the screen, itscontentcan be customized (Par. 4.7).
Map mode switch Icon displays thecurrentortentaUon of themapas:
-North Up(NU);
-Head Up(HU);
-Course Up (CU).
The ortentaUon of themapcan be changed by tapping theIcon or from the main menu (Par. 16.3).
Press [ENTER] or long tap the map to open the cursor contextual menu, and [CLEAR] or tap
elsewhere to close it.
Press[MENU]
to open the main menu of the "Map"page.
4.3 The "Fish Finder'' page
Figure4.3.a -Fish Finder page (simulation mode)
The "Fish Finder" page can be available:
- If aBlack Box Fish Finder accessory Isconnected to theplotter;
-Withoutotherconnections in case
of comboplotters.
Formore details aboutthe Fish FinderseePar. 20.
Press[MENU] to open the main menu of the "Fish Finder" page.
User Manual
-- _o
•
--·--
.
13

-!!o~
Tx Settings
...) } I
:: ~
Offset
@
Transducers List
go
General Settings
~
System Messages
~
Port s and
Connectivity
Figure 4.3.b -Menu on the Fish Finder page
4.4 The "Engine" page
- - _o
.
-- · --
.
kn
The plotter can be connected through CAN bus to compatible NMEA 2000 englne(s). to display engine
state and performance.
14
,,l l, ,,
,, , 4 ' 1,
,' 3 x1000 5 "'.,
6' -::
-
7 ::..
R ,·
75 00 s, ,'
,, \I l!f I,11
,' ' 3 x1000 5 ",..,
6' -::
-
7 ::..
RP ,·
75 00 s, ,'
Figure 4.4 -The Engine page
User Manual

Depending on the number of engines, the "Engine• page will look differently. For each engine detected,
the page displays engine RPM gauge, engine temperature, fuel tanks, tiltlbim and alternator potential
data.
The "Engine" page settings are located on ''Quick Settings" and "General Settings" pages:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select "Quick Settings" >"Engine Setup";
or
3. Select "General Settings"> "Engine Setup".
From the "Engine Setup" menu you can:
-setthe number of engines, to be displayed on the page;
-set max RPM value- this setting will be applied as a limit for engine RPM gauge.
In case of engine alanns the following notifications may appear:
Engine Alann Level1 (The message cannot be mute ordismissed.)
Over-heated {in
case of'Over Temperature' alarm)
Low Oil Pressure
Engine
AI ann Level 2 (Touch the bartomute the alarm. The message stayson the screen until
the notification condition is over.)
Low Battery Voltage
Check Engine
Battery Charge
Water
In Fuel
Rev Limit Exceeded
Engine EmergencyStop Mode
NOTE: A Level-1 Engine Alarm can be ignored but not mute. An audible alarm is active for a Level-1
Engine Alarm, even if the buzzsr is set OFF in the alarm settings.
NOTE: the SOG gauge limitcannot beset from this menu. It depends on the vessel type: for each
type the SOG limit is different. You can change the vessel type in "Ship" settings (Par. 7.5).
4.5 The "Radar'' page
The "Radar" page displays the echo from the radar, if a compatible antenna is connecled to the plotter.
The "Radar" page settings are located in the main menu of the page. For more details see Par. 21.
User Manual 15

Figure 4.5- The Radar page
4.6 The split pages
A 41° 48.56 79'N
'V 6°5 4.514 1'E ~
182.4° I 89 .833 NM \!1
Figure 4.6.a- Example of the split Map I Fish Finder page
16
-- _o
•
--·--
•
User Manual

The splitpageIsa screen split between the "Map·and the "Fish Finder" or "Radar"pages. Each half
of the split view has its own main menu. When you open the split page, the active view is always
the "Map" part. In order to operate on the "Fish Finder" or "Radar" part, press [MENU] twice or tap
the needed part of the page.
To open the contextual menu on the "Map" part, press [ENTER] or long tap while the map view is
active. To open the contextual menu on the "Fish Finder" or "Radar" part, press [ENTER] or long
tap on the echogram.
Figure 4.6.b - Example of the split Map I Radar page
User Manual
17

CJI Use Additional Column
Ma1n Col umn
Fi x Position >
Course Over Ground
>
Speed Over Ground
>
Time
>
Bearing
>
Figure 4.7- Databoxesmenuon the Map page
The datawindow isa set of customizable databoxes. Itis presenton the "Map", "Fish Finder" and
"Radar" pages. The boxes may be set up to display various sensor data. In "Quick Settings• you
can selectto enable
or disable data boxes and customize the number of columns and databoxes
content
To customize databoxescontent on "Map", "Fish Finder" or "Radar" pages:
18
1. Long tap the databoxes:
2. or
3. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU] and select"QuickSettings" > "Databoxes";
4. Enable "UseAdditional Column• todisplay two columns ofdataboxes:
5. Selectthe databox from main and additional column and choose the preferred option
from the list;
6. Press [CLEAR] or tap "Back" iconto rerum to thedataboxeslist;
or
7. Tap elsewhere or long press [CLEAR] to exitdataboxesediting.
User Manual

The plotter has a built-In 'WOrld background map, butfor use as an aid to aafe navigation, C-Map or
Navionics detailed maps are required. The plotter is c::ompatible with C-Map MAX, C-Map 40 and
Navtonlcs mapformats on micro SO cant. Demlled maps may be purchaaed on micro SO cards from
either C-Map or Navioni~ authorized reseller$.
To use C-Map (40 or MAX)or Navlonlce detailed maps, Insertthe micro SD cant with chart data Into
the micro SO slot of your plotter.
NOTE: After insefling the C-Map or Navionics micro SO card, the plotter may ask for a restart to
enable chart usage.
5.1 Movingaroundthe map
The map can be &lQ)Iored In different ways. Wheel mode 8\Nitdlloon, located on the top right of the
saeennearthe map
mode switch icon, shows which mode isactive now: zoom, rotata ortilt.
To changethemode on thetouchscteen plotter, tap wtleel modeswitch icon to chooae thepreferred
mode.
Depending onthe plotter, touchscreen gestures or keyboard can be used to movearound the map.
®
@
@
Zoom mode
Use joystickor pan gestureto pan the map.
Use !,ZOOM IN) and !,ZOOM OUl], rctor wtleel or pinch in and pinch out gestures to
change themap scale sothata smaller or largerarea 18 shown on theMap page.
Rotate mode
Use rotorwheel or rotategesturetorotate the map.
nit mode
Use rotor wheel or two flngers swipe to tilt the map. While the map 18 Ulted, ship Icon
displayed as an anrcw.
Rotor wheel actions depend onthe wtleel mode switch icon status.
On thetouchscreenplotters,you can pan, zoomin,zoom out. tilt and rotatethemap with touchSCfeen
gestures in each of the modes.
The plotters with keyboards allow to pan, zoom in and zoom out the map using hardware keys
deaplte thewheel mode switch
Icon S1atUe.
User Manual
19

5.2 Finding your boat position
The mostcommon use of the plotterIs to show your boars currentlocation.
You
can home the cursor to the boat using [CLEAR]. This would center the map view on the boat
position and update
the display as the boatmoves.
On touchscreen plotters you can also use "Backto Fix" icon, located near the cursor box on the
bottom leftpart of the screen.
The "Own ShipOffset"function helps to keep the majority of the area in front of the vessel's position,
so if you tum on this function, the plotterwill take into account your course to locate the boat at the
most comfortable position on the map relative to the actual course.
To
tum screen amplifieron/off:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select"General Settings" > "Ship";
3. Enable/disable "Own Ship Offset" option.
Use
the joystick or tap gesture to move the cursor away from the boars current position and exit
the home mode.
The "Back to Fix After Timeout" function gets back to home mode, centering ship on the map after
30 seconds time-out. You can switch thisfunction on/off:
1. Open the main menu by pressing [MENU];
2. Select"General Settings• >"Navigation";
3. Enable/disable "Back
to FixAfterTimeout".
Figure 5.3- Object's QuickInfopopup and ChartInfo contextual menu on the Map page
20
User Manual