Em-Trak AIS Class B User manual

AIS Class B transceiver
Installation and operation manual

Thank you for purchasing this AIS Class B transceiver.
This product has been engineered to offer you the highest level of
performance and durability and we hope that it will provide many years of
reliable service. We constantly strive to achieve the highest possible quality
standards, should you encounter any problems with this product, please
contact your dealer or su[email protected] who will be pleased to offer any
assistance you require.

Table of contents
Page 1
Table of contents
1 Notices ............................................................ 4
1.1 Safety warnings ............................................................................. 4
1.2 General notices.............................................................................. 4
2 About your AIS class B transceiver ............. 8
2.1 About AIS....................................................................................... 8
2.2 Static and dynamic vessel data ..................................................... 9
2.3 Important information for US customers ........................................ 9
2.4 Special features ............................................................................. 10
2.5 Product range ................................................................................ 11
2.6 What's in the box? ......................................................................... 12
2.7 Website support tools .................................................................... 12
2.8 Mobile app ..................................................................................... 13
2.9 Transceiver overview ..................................................................... 13
3 Installation ...................................................... 15
3.1 Preparing for Installation ................................................................ 15
3.2 Installation procedures................................................................... 20
4 Configuring your AIS transceiver................. 32
4.1 Switching on your AIS transceiver for the first time ....................... 32
4.2 Configuring your AIS transceiver ................................................... 32
4.3 Introduction to proAIS2 .................................................................. 33
4.4 Installing proAIS2........................................................................... 33
4.5 Configuration using proAIS2 .......................................................... 33
4.6 WiFi and Bluetooth Configuration using ProAIS2 .......................... 34
4.7 Configuration using the CONNECT-AIS ........................................ 37
5 Operation ........................................................ 38
5.1 Using the AIS transceiver .............................................................. 38

Table of contents
Page 2
5.2 Switch functions ............................................................................. 38
5.3 Indicator functions ......................................................................... 39
6 Voyage Data Recorder................................... 41
7 Technical Information.................................... 42
7.1 NMEA 2000 PGN List .................................................................... 42
8 Troubleshooting............................................. 45
9 Specifications................................................. 47
10 List of abbreviations...................................... 50

List of figures and tables
Page 3
List of figures and tables
Table 1 Product variants................................................................... 11
Figure 1 Items included with the product ........................................... 12
Figure 2 AIS transceiver overview ..................................................... 13
Figure 3 Electrical connections to the AIS transceiver....................... 14
Figure 4 Typical installation configuration without antenna splitter.... 16
Figure 5 Typical installation configuration with antenna splitter......... 17
Figure 6 AIS transceiver dimensions ................................................. 21
Figure 7 AIS transceiver mounting..................................................... 22
Figure 8 External GNSS antenna mounting....................................... 23
Figure 9 Position of the GNSS antenna connector ............................ 24
Figure 10 Position of the VHF antenna connector ............................... 24
Table 2 Colour coding of wires in the accessory cable..................... 26
Figure 11 Connecting an external switch............................................. 27
Figure 12 Connecting to the NMEA0183 data port .............................. 29
Figure 13 Position of the VHF radio connector .................................... 30
Figure 14 Connecting the power supply .............................................. 31
Figure 15 Typical mobile devices for WiFi and Bluetooth connection.. 35
Figure 16 Indicator location on the AIS transceiver unit ...................... 39
Table 3 NMEA 2000 PGN List .......................................................... 44

Notices
Page 4
1Notices
1.1 Safety warnings
1.2 General notices
1.2.1 Position source
All marine Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceivers utilise a satellite
based location system such as the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)
network.
The accuracy of a GNSS position fix is variable and is affected by factors
such as the antenna positioning, how many satellites are used to determine a
position and how long satellite information has been received for.
When reading this manual please pay attention to warnings
marked with the warning triangle shown on the left. These are
important messages for safety, installation and usage of the
product.
!
This equipment must be installed in accordance with the instructions
provided in this manual.
!
This AIS transceiver is an aid to navigation and must not be
relied upon to provide accurate navigation information. AIS is
not a replacement for vigilant human lookouts and other
navigation aids such as RADAR. The performance of the
transceiver may be seriously impaired if not installed as
instructed in the user manual, or due to other factors such
as weather and or nearby transmitting devices. Compatibility
with other systems may vary and is reliant on the third party
systems recognising the standard outputs from the transceiver.
The manufacturer reserves the right to update and change
these specifications at any time and without notice.
!
Do not install this equipment in a flammable atmosphere such
as in an engine room or near to fuel tanks.
!

Notices
Page 5
1.2.2 Compass safe distance
The compass safe distance of this unit is 0.2m or greater for 0.3° deviation.
1.2.3 RF emissions notice
Caution: The AIS transceiver 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 AIS transceiver malfunction.
Caution: Never operate the AIS transceiver unless it is connected to a VHF
antenna.
To maximise performance and minimise human exposure to radio frequency
electromagnetic energy you must make sure that the antenna is mounted at
least 1.5 metres away from the AIS transceiver and is connected to the AIS
transceiver 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 in order 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 co-located or operated in
conjunction with any other transmitting antenna. The required antenna
impedance is 50 Ohms.
1.2.4 Warranty
This product is supplied with standard warranty as defined in the
accompanying warranty information.
1.2.5 Disposal of this product and packaging
Please dispose of the AIS transceiver in accordance with the European
WEEE Directive or with the applicable local regulations for 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.

Notices
Page 6
1.2.6 Accuracy of this manual
The AIS transceiver may be upgraded from time to time and future versions
of the AIS transceiver may therefore not correspond exactly with this manual.
Information contained in this manual is liable to change without notice. 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.
1.2.7 Radio Equipment Directive
The manufacturer of this product declares that this product is in compliance
with the essential requirements and other provisions of the Radio Equipment
Directive 2014/53/EU and as such displays the CE mark. The RED
declaration of conformity is provided as part of this documentation pack. The
declaration of conformity is provided with the product document pack.
1.2.8 FCC notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
WARNING: It is a violation of the rules of the Federal
Communications Commission to input an MMSI that has not
been properly assigned to the end user, or to otherwise input
any inaccurate data in this device.
!

Notices
Page 7
1.2.9 Industry Canada notice
This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables
aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux
conditions suivantes:
1. L'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et
2. L'utilisateur de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi,
même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le Fonctionne-
ment.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du
Canada.

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 8
2 About your AIS class B transceiver
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 Navigation Satellite
System (GNSS) 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 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. They also transmit Class A
transceivers are mandatory on all vessels over 300 gross tonnes on
international voyages and certain types of passenger vessels under
SOLAS regulations.
●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. AtoN’s are transceivers
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 transceivers, class B transceivers, AtoN’s and AIS base
stations but do not transmit any information about the vessel on
which they are installed.

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 9
This product is an AIS Class B transceiver.
2.2 Static and dynamic vessel data
There are two categories of information transmitted by an AIS transceiver:
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 GNSS receiver.
Static data is information about the vessel which must be programmed into
the AIS transceiver. This includes:
●Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
●Vessel name
●Vessel call sign (if available)
●Vessel type
●Vessel dimensions
In most countries the operation of an AIS transceiver is included under the
vessel's marine VHF license provisions. The vessel on to which the AIS unit
is to be installed must therefore possess a current VHF radiotelephone
license which lists the AIS system, vessel Call Sign and MMSI number.
2.3 Important information for US customers
There are specific laws in the USA regarding the configuration of AIS class B
transceivers.
If you are a US resident and intend to use your AIS class B transceiver in US
waters, you should make sure that your retailer has configured your product
prior to supplying it to you. If your AIS transceiver has not been pre-
configured please contact your dealer or [email protected] for details of
how to have it configured.
An MMSI number is required in order for the AIS transceiver to
operate. Please contact the relevant authority in your country for
more information.
!

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 10
2.4 Special features
Some variants of this AIS Transceiver are WiFi and Bluetooth enabled,
allowing for AIS data to be streamed from the transceiver to a 3rd party
device or to the em-trak app “CONECT-AIS”.
WiFi and Bluetooth enabled transceivers also provide an in-built vessel data
logger which will continuously record its own GNSS position and can be
downloaded using proAIS2 or CONNECT-AIS.
In the United States of America, the MMSI and static data must
only be entered by a competent installer. The end user of the
equipment is not authorised to enter their own vessel data.
!

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 11
2.5 Product range
The em-trak AIS Class B transceivers are available with several different
feature options
This manual covers the following product variants. See table below.
Table 3 Product variants
Model No Transmission
standard
Internal
antenna
splitter
WiFi and
Bluetooth
Voyage
data
recording
B921 CSTDMA No No No
B922 CSTDMA No Yes Yes
B923 CSTDMA Yes No No
B924 CSTDMA Yes Yes Yes
B951 SOTDMA No No No
B952 SOTDMA No Yes Yes
B953 SOTDMA Yes No No
B954 SOTDMA Yes Yes Yes

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 12
2.6 What's in the box?
Figure 1 shows the items included with your AIS transceiver purchase. The
following sections give a brief overview of each item. If any of the items are
not present contact your dealer or supp[email protected].
Figure 1 Items included with the product
2.7 Website support tools
The em-trak website has various tools to support the installer and user (See
www.em-trak.com/installation):
●proAIS2 software tool. configure the AIS transceiver. Please refer to
section 4for details of the configuration process and how to use the
proAIS2 tool.
●English and alternative language versions of the product manual.
The manual should be read thoroughly prior to any attempt to install
or use the AIS transceiver.
Documentation
pack
Class B AIS transceiver
Power and
data cable
FLEXI-FIT
™
bracket
system
Fixings
kit
VHF radio
accessory cable
(B923, B924, B953
and B954 only)

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 13
2.8 Mobile app
An em-trak mobile app CONNECT-AIS is available for Apple and Android
devices from the App store and Google play.
2.9 Transceiver overview
Figure 2 AIS transceiver overview
NMEA 2000NMEA 2000Power and data
B921, B922, B951 and B952
NMEA 2000Power and data
B923, B924, B953 and B954
VHF antennaGNSS antenna VHF radio GNSS antenna VHF antenna
indicator lights
Mounting bracket
indicator lights
Mounting bracket

About your AIS class B transceiver
Page 14
2.9.1 Electrical connections
The AIS transceiver has the following electrical connections:
●Power supply
●NMEA0183 data ports for connection to chart plotters or other
NMEA0183 compatible equipment
●USB for connection to a PC or Mac
●External switch input for silent mode control
●NMEA2000 port for connection to an existing NMEA2000 network.
In addition on the B921, B922, B951 and B952 transceivers there are two
other connections for the VHF antenna and a GNSS antenna. Figure 3 shows
an overview of the electrical connections to the AIS transceiver.
On the B923, B924, B953 and B953 transceivers there are three other
connections for the VHF antenna, VHF Radio input and a GNSS antenna.
Figure 3 shows an overview of the electrical connections to the AIS
transceiver.
Figure 3 Electrical connections to the AIS transceiver
Power in
Switch
NMEA0183
devices
AIS Class B
transceiver

Installation
Page 15
3 Installation
3.1 Preparing for Installation
Before starting the installation you will need to download the manual and
ProAIS2 software from the em-trak website www.em-trak.com/installation. If
you have a WiFi and Bluetooth enabled variant you can configure the unit
using your mobile phone and CONNECT-AIS, the app available for download
from the App Store and Google Play.
Figure 4 shows a typical installation configuration for the AIS transceiver
without an antenna splitter.
Figure 5 shows a typical installation configuration for the AIS transceiver with
an antenna splitter.

Installation
Page 16
Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the system elements and
their connections prior to attempting installation.
Figure 4 Typical installation configuration without antenna splitter
Power in
Switch
NMEA 2000
Chartplotter
VHF antenna
USB
NMEA 0183 device
GNSS antenna
(Optional)
AIS Class B
transceiver

Installation
Page 17
Figure 5 Typical installation configuration with antenna splitter
In addition to the items provided with your AIS transceiver the following items
may also be required for the installation:
3.1.1 Screwdriver
A small flat-headed screwdriver will be required to tighten the screw in the
mounting bracket.
Power in
Switch
NMEA 2000
Chartplotter
VHF antenna
VHF radio
USB
NMEA 0183 device
GNSS antenna
(Optional)
AIS Class B
transceiver

Installation
Page 18
3.1.2 VHF antenna
Connection to a suitable VHF antenna will be required for the AIS transceiver
to receive and transmit.
The standard transceiver variants will require an AIS antenna (tuned to
162MHz) for optimum performance.
Transceiver/splitter variants will require a broadband antenna (tuned to
159MHz) so it will be compatible with both VHF radio (156MHz) and AIS
(162MHz). Please take note of the warnings in section 1regarding the use of
antennas.
3.1.3 Optional switch
A switch can be connected to the transceiver to enable and disable
'silent mode' (see section 3.2). A latching toggle switch is recommended for
this feature.
3.1.4 VHF antenna cable
Please check that the VHF antenna you intend to use has sufficient cable to
reach between the VHF antenna and the AIS transceiver unit. If it is not
sufficient you will need an extension cable. RG-58 or RG-8X can be used for
short distances, however for longer runs we would recommend a low loss
cable like RG-213. For reference the VHF antenna connector type on the AIS
transceiver unit is SO 239, and it is intended to mate with a PL 259 connector.
3.1.5 Power cable
The AIS transceiver unit is supplied with a two metre long power and data
cable. If you require a longer cable to reach your power supply, please ensure
the it is capable of carrying currents up to 2A peak / 200mA nominal for the
B92x variants, and 2.5A peak / 220mA nominal for the B95x variants. Means
of connecting the cables together will also be required, and we recommend
ScotchlokTM connectors for this purpose.
3.1.6 Chart plotter
Your AIS transceiver can be interfaced with a chartplotter to display other
vessels equipped with AIS. Please refer to the user manual supplied with
your chart plotter for details of how to connect and configure your chart plotter