Comar Systems AST300 User manual

USER MANUAL AST300
AIS / VHF ANTENNA SP
LITTER
SKU 001-10
16
AST300
-MA-v02r07
SKU 003
-1016
2017
-08-15
ENGLISH

AST300
3
CONTENTS
1AST300 AIS / VHF ANTENNA SPLITTER .................................................. 4
2DOCUMENT............................................................................................. 5
2.1 About This Manual ............................................................................................. 5
3NOTICE.................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Copyright............................................................................................................6
4GENERAL NOTICES ................................................................................ 7
5INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 8
5.1 Parts List............................................................................................................. 8
6MAJOR DIMENSIONS.............................................................................. 9
7INSTALLATION....................................................................................... 10
7.1 Before you Start................................................................................................ 10
7.2 Installing the Unit.............................................................................................. 10
7.3 Installation Step 1............................................................................................. 10
7.4 Installation Step 2............................................................................................. 10
7.5 Installation Step 3............................................................................................. 11
7.5.1 Connection Diagram ........................................................................... 12
8OPERATION........................................................................................... 13
9FAULT FINDING..................................................................................... 14
9.1 Power LED not illuminated ............................................................................... 14
9.2 ‘VHF’ LED does not illuminate when VHF Radiotelephone is transmitting...... 14
9.3 ‘AIS’ LED does not illuminate when AIS Transponder is transmitting.............. 14
9.4 Clicks or pops are heard from a connected FM Broadcast Receiver ............. 14
9.5 VHF or AIS reception range is reduced ........................................................... 14
10 SPECIFICATION..................................................................................... 15
10.1 Physical ............................................................................................................ 15
10.2 Electrical ...........................................................................................................15
10.3 Operational.......................................................................................................15
10.4 Environmental .................................................................................................. 16
10.5 Additional Information ...................................................................................... 16
11 SAFETY AND SECURITY........................................................................ 17
12 LIMITED WARRANTY ............................................................................. 17

AST300
4
1AST300 AIS / VHF ANTENNA SPLITTER

AST300
5
2DOCUMENT
2.1 About This Manual
This Manual provides installation, operating Instructions and fault-finding procedures for the
equipment to which it relates.
After installation, this manual should remain with the vessel to which it relates.
This manual may also be made available in electronic Portable Document Format (PDF). In PDF
format, the following categories are all enabled as active hyperlink references: (1) The titles of each
section; (2) document cross-references; (3) the table of contents.
This document may therefore be navigated quickly and effectively by using a mouse or other pointing
device to activate each of these hyperlinks. This is a printer friendly document, designed to be
printed 2-sided as a booklet with A5 pages on A4 stock paper.
Document name: Date: Details: Author:
MA-AST300-v02r06 2017-07-31 First issue PK, JS
MA-AST300-v02r07 2017-08-15 Power cable colours corrected JS

AST300
6
3NOTICE
3.1 Copyright
The copyright and all rights of a like nature in respect of this publication in any part of the world are
the property of COMAR SYSTEMS LTD. (COMAR).
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, whether
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, nor stored in any information retrieval
system of any kind, nor used for tendering or manufacturing, nor communicated to any other person
without the written permission of COMAR.
The recipient of this document, as its registered holder, must exercise due diligence in ensuring that
the above conditions are observed (Errors and Omissions Excepted).
Any enquires relating to this document or its contents should be addressed, in writing, in the first
instance to COMAR SYSTEMS LTD.
COMAR SYSTEMS
Vittlefields Technology Centre
Forest Road
NEWPORT
Isle of Wight
PO30 4LY
UNITED KINGDOM
tel:
[phone]
email:
[e-mail]
web:
www.comarsystems.com
COMAR SYSTEMS
reserves the right to make changes to its products and specifications without notice

AST300
7
4GENERAL NOTICES
SAFETY: Make sure the power supply is switched off before you make any electrical
connections to the unit.
INSTALLATION: This equipment must be installed in accordance with the instructions
provided in this manual. Failure to do so could result in poor performance, personal injury
and/or damage to your vessel and/or connected equipment.
CABLES: The supplied cables should only be cut, shortened or lengthened by an
appropriate supplier.
COMPASS: The compass safe distance of this unit is 0.5 m or greater for 0.3° deviation.
In accordance with a policy of continual development and product improvement, hardware and
software may be upgraded from time to time, and future versions of equipment may therefore not
correspond exactly with this manual.
When necessary, upgrades to the product will be accompanied by updates or addenda to this
manual. Information contained in this manual is liable to change without notice.
Comar Systems Ltd. disclaims any liability for consequences arising from omissions or inaccuracies
in this manual and any other documentation provided with this product.





AST300
8
5INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on the purchase of your Comar AST300 AIS Transponder Antenna Splitter.
The AST300 allows your existing VHF antenna to be used by both a VHF radiotelephone and an AIS
transponder or AIS Receiver.
The AST300 also includes an output antenna connection for FM broadcast receivers, providing a
third use for your existing VHF Antenna.
This manual describes the installation and operation of the AST300.
●It is recommended that your Antenna Splitter is installed by a professional installer.
●Before operating the unit you should familiarise yourself with this user manual.
5.1 Parts List
On delivery, carefully inspect the contents of the packing case. Note any damage or any missing
items. Ensure that the correct parts are included for your application.
*Note: RF Connectors:
Connector PL259 (male plug) will mate with connector SO239 (female socket)
Item: Description: No.
included:
COMAR
SKU Number:
1 AST300 Splitter Unit with mounting bracket 1 001-1016
2 VHF RF Patch lead, PL259-PL259 male connectors, 1 m* 1 004-7564
3 AIS RF Patch lead, BNC-BNC male connectors, 1 m 1 004-7565
4 RCA Phono Plug (no cable) 1 004-7112
5 AST300 Manual 1 003-1016

AST300
9
6MAJOR DIMENSIONS
All dimensions mm:

AST300
10
7INSTALLATION
7.1 Before you Start
You will need the following items and tools to complete the installation:
●Class ‘B’ AIS Transponder or AIS Receiver
●VHF Antenna and cable (either pre-installed or new)
●Access to 12 V dc or 24 V dc power supply where the unit is to be installed, via a 1 A rated fuse
or circuit breaker
●Connector block or junction box for power connections
●Four M4 screws or other fixings appropriate to the mounting location
7.2 Installing the Unit
Before starting installation select a suitable location for the Antenna Splitter. The unit is intended for
installation below deck, in a dry location. When locating the unit you should consider:
●Routing of the power and antenna cables to the unit
●Provision of sufficient space behind the unit for cable connections
●Maintaining the compass safe distance of 0.5m
●Visibility of the front panel indicators
7.3 Installation Step 1
●Secure the Antenna Splitter to a flat surface in the selected location. Use four 5mm wood screws,
or other fixings suited to the material the unit is being fixed to
●The unit may be installed in any orientation
7.4 Installation Step 2
Refer to section 7.5.1 Connection Diagram.Make the electrical connections to the Antenna
Splitter as follows:
●Remove the VHF Antenna cable connection from your VHF Radio and connect it to the connector
labelled ‘Antenna’
●Connect the 1m patch cable to the socket marked “VHF Radio” & to your VHF Radiotelephone
Antenna connection
●Connect the 1m patch cable to the socket marked “AIS” to your AIS Transponder Antenna
connection
●Optionally connect the antenna input of an FM Broadcast Receiver to the connector labelled
‘AM/FM’ RCA Socket.