ICS Nav6 User manual

Nav6 User Guide
MAN 3008.03
Issue 1.2
ICS Electronics Limited.
Unit V, Rudford Industrial Estate
Ford, Arundel, West Sussex
BN18 0BD
United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]
[e-mail]
Website: www.icselectronics.co.uk
The technical data, information and illustrations contained in this publication
were to the best of our knowledge correct at the time of going to print. We
reserve the right to change specifications, equipment, installation and
maintenance instructions without notice as part of our policy of continuous
product development and improvement. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic
or otherwise without permission in writing from ICS Electronics Ltd. No liability
can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions in the publication, although
every care has been taken to make it as complete and accurate as possible.
Copyright 2001, ICS Electronics Limited. All rights reserved.

Nav6 NAVTEX System User Guide
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Important Information
This equipment is not approved for use by SOLAS convention
vessels within the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS)
It is intended for use by leisure craft and other non-SOLAS
vessels wishing to participate within GMDSS
Safety Warnings
Do not use the sensor as a grab-handle
This instrument is for use as an aid to sailors and should not
lead to a reduction in the level of good seamanship required at
all times
Reception of messages cannot always be guaranteed as this
depends on local radio propagation

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Contents
Quick Start......................................................................................5
Introduction.....................................................................................5
How To Operate Your Nav6............................................................8
NAVTEX Mode...............................................................................9
Setup Mode.................................................................................. 13
Alarm Operation............................................................................ 19
Installation Of Sensor Unit ............................................................ 20
Installation Of Display Unit............................................................ 21
Testing The Nav6 After Installation................................................26
Maintenance and Trouble Shooting............................................... 26
Glossary....................................................................................... 28
Warranty....................................................................................... 29
Packing List And Options.............................................................. 29
Specification................................................................................. 30
Appendix I: NAVTEX Station Database......................................... 32
Appendix II: Message Type Indicators........................................... 34
Appendix III: NMEA Sentences Supported.................................... 35
Appendix IV: Nav6 Menu Structure ............................................... 35

Nav6 NAVTEX System User Guide
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Congratulations on purchasing this superb ICS Electronics Ltd
product. We hope that it gives you many years of reliable and
trustworthy service. Please take the time to read this manual
carefully as it contains some essential information regarding the
operation and maintenance of the product and a useful background
to the NAVTEX system.
We recommend that you regularly visit the ICS website
www.icselectronics.co.uk for information on updates, the availability
of software enhancements, further options and support. The support
pages contain frequently asked questions about the Nav6 that you
may find useful. There is also a NAVTEX database providing a list of
operational NAVTEX stations and their details.
The IMO and various national coastguards also operate informative
websites that you may wish to visit; see
www.icselectronics.co.uk/links.

Nav6 NAVTEX System User Guide
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QUICK START
QUICK STARTQUICK START
QUICK START
You will find this product extremely easy to operate. Please don't be
intimidated by the comprehensive nature of this manual. In reality,
receiving your first NAVTEX messages just could not be simpler.
•Follow the installation guidelines that begin on page 20
•Re-check the cable connections
•Apply power
•If you have not connected a GPS navigation receiver, make sure
that you set the date and time on the start up screen which will
appear
•Sit back and wait for your first NAVTEX message! If you are
within range of a NAVTEX transmitter, you should not need to
wait for more than four hours.
•Refer to “Error! Reference source not found.” for a quick
overview of the menu structure.
•If you then want to get the best from the system: Read the rest of
the manual!
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
What Is NAVTEX?
What Is NAVTEX?What Is NAVTEX?
What Is NAVTEX?
NAVTEX is a worldwide system for the broadcast and automatic
reception of maritime safety information (MSI) in English by means
of a narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy. NAVTEX provides
shipping with navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent
information automatically from a dedicated receiver.
NAVTEX is a component of the IMO/IHO worldwide Navigational
Warning Service (WWNWS) as defined by IMO Assembly resolution
A.706(17). It is included within the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System (GMDSS). Since 1 August 1993, NAVTEX receiving
capability has become mandatory equipment for certain vessels
under the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS).
NAVTEX broadcast information is available to all seafarers, free of
charge.

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How Does NAVTEX Work?
How Does NAVTEX Work?How Does NAVTEX Work?
How Does NAVTEX Work?
NAVTEX transmissions can be sent on several frequencies from
stations situated worldwide. The power of each transmission is
regulated so as to avoid the possibility of interference between
transmitters. Each station is allocated a 10-minute time slot every 4
hours so that many stations can share the same frequency.
The Nav6 receiver stores all messages received from all stations.
Nav6 users can set-up filtering to display only specific message
types from selected stations. Users can choose to display
information from just the single station that serves the sea area
around their position, or from a number of stations.
Display Unit Features
Display Unit FeaturesDisplay Unit Features
Display Unit Features
•The Display Unit uses a high resolution (480 x 320 pixels) backlit
LCD designed to display NAVTEX messages in a choice of text
sizes.
•The display unit contains a large non-volatile memory used to
store NAVTEX messages, the NAVTEX station database, all of
the user settings, filter options and LCD contrast and backlight
levels. All messages and settings are retained during power
down.
•Several messages can be displayed at once (depending upon
the length of the message) and messages can be scrolled up
and down the screen with a single keypress.
•Messages can be filtered and sorted using a number of user
selectable criteria.
•Audible and visible alarms can be set up to indicate reception of
SAR and/or New Messages.
•A sleep mode allows long standby periods with minimum power
consumption, such as when the vessel is left in a marina with
main batteries being trickle charged from the shore.
Sensor Unit Features
Sensor Unit FeaturesSensor Unit Features
Sensor Unit Features
•The Sensor Unit contains a short whip antenna and switchable
receiver that can receive on either 490kHz or 518kHz.
•The sensor communicates with the display unit via a serial
interface. Multiple sensors and displays can be connected
together should an extended system be required.

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What Can My Nav6 Do?
What Can My Nav6 Do?What Can My Nav6 Do?
What Can My Nav6 Do?
•The Nav6 stores all correctly framed NAVTEX messages that it
receives in non-volatile memory, regardless of station, message
type or error rate. The messages to be displayed on the LCD
can be selected from the total set of stored messages by
applying various filter settings.
•Station filters can be setup to display messages from preferred
stations.
•Message type filters can be setup to display only messages of
selected types.
•All messages are retained during power down and are still
available next time the unit is powered up.
How Do I Get
How Do I GetHow Do I Get
How Do I Get The Most Out Of My Nav6?
The Most Out Of My Nav6?The Most Out Of My Nav6?
The Most Out Of My Nav6?
•Use the filter settings to display only the stations and message
types of interest. There are five filter presets that you can
configure to switch the display quickly between different sets of
filtered information; for example: Weather, Navigational
Warnings, New Messages, Selected Stations. Remember that
you can change the presets at any time.
•Set the LCD contrast and brightness. There are three built in
preset values for ‘day’, ‘night’ and ‘sleep’ operations. The day
and night presets are user adjustable.
•Set the text size in NAVTEX mode to suit your needs. Three
sizes are available; small, medium and large, the larger the text
the fewer the number of NAVTEX message lines that can be
displayed.
•Always mark messages as ‘read’ when you have read them; this
way new messages are easily spotted when received (the ‘NEW’
icon will be showing at the top of the screen). You can also set
the display to produce an audible alarm and/or flash the red LED
to indicate when a new message is received.
•Change the function of the LED to suit your needs.
•Change the function of the buzzer to suit your needs
•Set up the time and date after power on. When NMEA date /
time data is available this is done automatically.
•Keep the station database up to date by using the built-in editing
facility.
•Set the menu language. Note that this only changes the menu,

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options and soft-key text – it does not translate the NAVTEX
messages!
HOW TO OPERATE YOUR NAV6
HOW TO OPERATE YOUR NAV6HOW TO OPERATE YOUR NAV6
HOW TO OPERATE YOUR NAV6
Throughout this document, softkey presses shall be indicated by:
PAGE VIEW MODE
And the four dedicated movement keys indicated by:
UP DOWN LEFT RIGHT
Keyboard Layout
Keyboard LayoutKeyboard Layout
Keyboard Layout
Softkeys Softkeys
Left Down Up Right
The Nav6 has eight keys. The centre four of these are a ‘screen
navigation’ pad (left, right, up and down). The four keys situated on
either side of the navigation pad are soft-keys. Their function is
context sensitive. The current function of each of the four soft-keys is
shown on the soft-key menu area at the bottom of the display.
LED and Buzzer
LED and BuzzerLED and Buzzer
LED and Buzzer
The function of the red LED and buzzer can be changed to suit your
needs – see the general setup pages.
Softkey Menu Area
Softkey Menu AreaSoftkey Menu Area
Softkey Menu Area
Current State
Action
Function Page or Function View Mode
Softkey Softkey Softkey Softkey

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The operation of the Softkeys is indicated in the Softkey Menu Area
at the bottom of the display
The upper line of text shows the current softkey setting and the lower
line of text shows the softkey action.
The MODE softkey switches between the two operating modes of
the Nav6: In addition, holding down the MODE softkey for longer
than 2 seconds resets the LCD contrast and backlight to 50% and
selects the LCD setup page. This is useful where contrast and
backlight adjustments have made the screen unreadable.
NAVTEX Mode allows the display of NAVTEX messages and
associated NAVTEX status information. This is only available if a
sensor is (or has been) connected to the display and the NAVTEX
frequency setting on the NAVTEX options page is set to 518 kHz,
490 kHz or Both.
Setup Mode allows various changes to be made to the operation of
the unit in NAVTEX Mode, as well as controlling the LCD, operation
of the LED and audible alarms etc.
NAVTEX MODE
NAVTEX MODENAVTEX MODE
NAVTEX MODE
In NAVTEX mode, the display
consists of a large area dedicated
to displaying NAVTEX messages,
with a status bar at the top, and
descriptions of the softkey
functions at the bottom.
It is possible to scroll up and down
the messages line by line, using
the UP and DOWN keys.
Additionally, you can step through
the display, message by message
using the LEFT and RIGHT keys.
At the top of the display is a status bar:
The status information is displayed as a series of icons. The
meaning of the icons is as follows:

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Message at the top of the display
An alarm is active
NMEA time and date data active
490 kHz reception available
518 kHz reception available
Receiving message now
Signal Carrier, but no message
Sensor communication fault
SAR message received
NEW message received
UTC Time
At the bottom of the screen is the soft-key menu area:
Three different ‘views’ can be selected by pressing the VIEW
softkey:Message View
Sort View
Filter View
NAVTEX Mode, Message View
NAVTEX Mode, Message ViewNAVTEX Mode, Message View
NAVTEX Mode, Message View
The NEXT NEW softkey can be used to move the next new
message to the top of the NAVTEX display where it can be marked
as read by pressing MARK READ. Note that the message that will
be marked as read is shown in the top left of the status bar. This is
particularly useful when the message’s header has scrolled off the
top of the display area.
NAVTEX Mode, Sort View
NAVTEX Mode, Sort ViewNAVTEX Mode, Sort View
NAVTEX Mode, Sort View
The NAVTEX message display can be sorted in one of three ways
by pressing the CRITERIA softkey:
Sort by Station
Sort by Type
Sort by Date
The sort can be further organised in ascending or descending order
by pressing the ORDER softkey.