NAUTICAST B2 User manual

PRODUCT MANUAL
Class-B AIS Transponder
Prod.no. 300 1001
Prod.no. 300 1020
Nauticast GmbH
Lützowgasse 12-14 / 3.OG
1140 Vienna, Austria
T: [phone]
F: [phone]
[e-mail]

DISCLAIMER
Although Nauticast GmbH strives for accuracy in all its publications this material may contain errors or omissions and is
subject to change without prior notice. Nauticast GmbH shall not be made liable for any specific, indirect, incidental or
consequential damages as a result of the usage of this manual. Please visit our website for the latest manual revision at
www.nauticast.com.
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
This document is protected by copyright law. Copying or duplicating be it physically or electronically for any usage other
than the operation of a Nauticast B2 AIS System is prohibited and any offender may be liable to the payment of damages.
Dieses Dokument ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Weitergabe oder Vervielfältigung dieser Unterlage ist ausschließlich
zur Unterstützung des Betriebes eines Nauticast B2 AIS Systems zulässig. Zuwiderhandlungen verpflichten zu
Schadenersatz.
Ce document est protégé par le droit d'auteur. Toute redistribution ou reproduction de ce document est autorisée
exclusivement pour appuyer le fonctionnement d'un système AIS B2 Nauticast. Les contrevenants seront passibles de
dommages-intérêts.
Este documento está protegido por derechos de autor. Cualquier redistribución o reproducción de este documento está
permitida exclusivamente para apoyar la operación de un sistema AIS B2 Nauticast. Los infractores quedan obligados por
daños y perjuicios.
GENERAL WARNINGS
An AIS device is a means of communication and relieves the skipper from standard communication for the coordination of
course information with other ships and the traffic control. AIS devices are no navigation devices and do not replace good
seamanship or any other navigational aids such as RADAR. It is the responsibility of the skipper to ensure safe operation
of the ship and to gain knowledge of water, current hazards and other navigation-relevant information.
The function of AIS equipment may be affected by internal and external influences or by defects. Influencing factors are,
for example, electromagnetic environment, interference from other radio emissions, weather, "visibility" and availability of
satellites of the positioning system, physical obstacles to VHF propagation or the quality of the device and in particular the
antenna installation. It is therefore necessary to regularly check the functioning of the AIS and the quality of the data
output by the AIS.
The compass safe distance of this unit is 0.55m or greater for 0.3° deviation.
Every AIS device needs to be registered with the competent authority for radio communication. In most countries the
operation of an AIS unit is included under the vessel’s marine VHF license provisions. The vessel onto which the AIS unit
is to be installed must therefore possess a valid VHF radiotelephone license which lists the AIS system and the vessel Call
Sign and MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number. Please contact the relevant authority in your country for more
information.
NOTE FOR OPERATION IN THE USA
In the United States the MMSI and static data may only be entered by an authorized dealer; the end user of the equipment
is not authorised to enter or change their own vessel data.
If your AIS transceiver has not been pre-configured please contact your dealer for details of how to have it configured.
LIMITED WARRANTY
This product is warranted against factory defect in material and workmanship for a period of 24 months from the date of
purchase. During the warranty period Nauticast GmbH will repair or at its option, replace the product at no cost to the
buyer. In any warranty case please contact your dealer or Nauticast GmbH, Lützowgasse 12-14 / 3. OG, 1140 Vienna,
Austria (see Contact & Support information). This warranty does not apply if the defect is caused by mechanical or electrical
forces beyond the specifications in this manual or as a result of service or modification by unauthorized personnel. For
authorized service partners see our homepage www.nauticast.com or contact Nauticast support directly.
Warranty and certification void if device is opened.
© 2019 Nauticast GmbH
Nauticast is a protected trademark of Nauticast GmbH

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
Index
1WHAT IS AIS? ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 THE AIS STANDARD ........................................................................................................................................ 5
1.2 THE "AIS FAMILY".......................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2.1 Class A........................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2.2 Inland AIS ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2.3 Class B ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2.4 AIS Base Station ............................................................................................................................................ 6
1.2.5 AIS AtoN (Aids to Navigation) Stations ......................................................................................................... 6
1.2.6 AIS SAR (Search and Rescue Aircraft)............................................................................................................ 6
1.2.7 AIS SART (Search and Rescue Transmitter) ................................................................................................... 6
1.2.8 AIS EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and AIS PLB (Personal Locator Beacon).............. 6
1.3 INFORMATION TRANSMITTED BY AIS TRANSPONDER............................................................................................... 6
1.4 TRANSMISSION INTERVALS................................................................................................................................ 6
2INSTALLATION.................................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1 CONTENTS OF THE NAUTICAST B2 SET (P/N:300 1001)......................................................................................... 7
2.2 SOFTWARE PREREQUISITES ............................................................................................................................... 7
2.3 INSTALLING THE LINK2AIS SOFTWARE ONTO YOUR PC ............................................................................................ 7
2.4 ENTER YOUR SHIP’S DATA ................................................................................................................................. 7
2.4.1 Connecting the Nauticast B2 to your PC ....................................................................................................... 7
2.4.2 Configuring Software and Nauticast B2 static data...................................................................................... 9
2.4.3 Transferring and saving static data to the Nauticast B2 ............................................................................ 10
2.5 INSTALLING YOUR NAUTICAST B2 HARDWARE ON THE VESSEL ..................................................................................11
2.5.1 Installation hints ......................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5.2 Warnings..................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5.3 Mounting the Nauticast B2......................................................................................................................... 12
2.5.4 Connecting the antennas ............................................................................................................................ 12
2.5.5 Connecting Power ....................................................................................................................................... 12
2.5.6 Installation Check........................................................................................................................................ 12
3CONNECTING EXTERNAL EQUIPMENT ...............................................................................................................13
3.1 CONNECTING TO A PC.....................................................................................................................................13
3.2 CONNECTING TO OTHER MARINE EQUIPMENT VIA NMEA0183................................................................................13
3.3 ALARM OUTPUT /CONNECTING AN ALARM RELAY ................................................................................................13
3.4 SILENT MODE................................................................................................................................................14
3.5 EXTERNAL LED STATUS INDICATORS (OPTIONAL DATA CABLE P/N 300 1004 REQUIRED)................................................15
3.6 USING DIFFERENT ANTENNAS............................................................................................................................15
3.6.1 GPS Antenna ............................................................................................................................................... 15
3.6.2 VHF Antenna ............................................................................................................................................... 15
4OPERATION OF YOUR NAUTICAST B2................................................................................................................17
4.1 NOTE..........................................................................................................................................................17
4.2 INTERPRETING STATUS LEDS............................................................................................................................17
4.2.1 PWR............................................................................................................................................................. 17
4.2.2 TX (Timeout)................................................................................................................................................ 17
4.2.3 ERR - Error ................................................................................................................................................... 18
4.2.4 CH1 and CH2 –channel information........................................................................................................... 18
4.3 DATA PORT MESSAGES (NMEA 0183) .............................................................................................................18
4.4 STANDARDS .................................................................................................................................................18

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
5MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING .........................................................................................................19
6CONTACT & SUPPORT INFORMATION ...............................................................................................................19
7TECHNICAL DETAILS...........................................................................................................................................20
7.1 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION.................................................................................................................................20
8APPENDIX..........................................................................................................................................................21
8.1 APPENDIX A–BLOCK DIAGRAM ....................................................................................................................21
8.2 APPENDIX B–PIN LAYOUT /CABLE CONNECTIONS ............................................................................................22
8.3 APPENDIX C–DIMENSIONS NAUTICAST B2......................................................................................................23
8.4 APPENDIX D–GPS ANTENNA.......................................................................................................................24
8.5 APPENDIX E–VHF ANTENNA .......................................................................................................................25
8.6 APPENDIX F–DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY...................................................................................................26
8.7 APPENDIX G–BSH CLASS BTYPE APPROVAL ...................................................................................................27
8.8 APPENDIX H–FCC CLASS BTYPE APPROVAL....................................................................................................28
8.9 APPENDIX I–DIAGNOSTICS AND TROUBLESHOOTING..........................................................................................29
History of Changes in this Product Manual
Software/firmware dependencies
This revision of the manual is valid for the latest software/firmware versions listed below.
Date
Version
Status
Comments
2018-01-31
2.5
Release
Adaptations to Link2AIS 4.0
2019-02-28
2.6
Release
Communication test
Date
B2 Firmware
Status
Comments
2017-10-31
FW3033-010
Release
Improvements for firmware update
2018-06-27
FW3033-12
Release
Communication test, internal
optimizations for transmission behaviour
Date
Link2AIS
Status
Comments
2017-10-31
4.0
Released
New menu structure, Silent Mode Switch,
collission warning
2018-05-16
4.1
Release
Status bar, Communication test
2018-09-07
4.2
Release
Update for Link2AIS, guided
troubleshooting, vessel types added,
display corrections for HR Screens and
Windows scaling

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
1WHAT IS AIS?
1.1 The AIS Standard
AIS stands for "Automatic Identification System". AIS-devices permanently send and receive
standardized digital messages with significant ship information such as vessel name, MMSI, callsign
and navigational data on two exclusively reserved channels of the marine radio band (channel 87B
161.975 MHz and channel 88B 162.025 MHz). This allows vessels to be identified without eye contact
and their position to be located (eg. at night, in bad weather, at blind spots of the radar or at a great
distance). AIS devices thereby increase the safety of the navigation and contribute to the avoidance
of collisions. For the participation in the AIS network technically only a corresponding AIS device is
necessary.
AIS is a worldwide standard based essentially on 2 pillars:
•International Telecommunication Union (ITU) radio standard: currently ITU-R M.1371-5 and
M.825-3 and M. 1084-5.
•AIS International Maritime Organization (IMO) Standards of Operation: IMO Resolution
MSC.74 (69) Annex 3
AIS devices are part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
1.2 The "AIS family"
The AIS standard is not only supported by devices on ships, but increasingly also on land by base
stations, on marine and river infrastructure such as buoys, offshore platforms, on aircraft in the
framework of sea rescue operations and as a personal safety device.
The following exhibit illustrates a typical AIS network in which multiple AIS-equipped ships and
systems communicate with each other on land and in the air.
1.2.1 Class A
Class A devices comply with the highest AIS standards and are typically installed on all major vessels
(carriage requirement for vessels above 300 gross tons since 2004). On large vessels AIS targets, ie
other ships, are visualized on very large electronic chart systems (ECDIS). This ensures that even
small ships are visible when sending out AIS messages. Class A devices transmit at 12.5W and take
precedence over Class B devices in overcrowded regions when transmitting.

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
1.2.2 Inland AIS
AIS is not only used at sea but also on inland waterways. There are minimal differences to the
class A standard.
1.2.3 Class B
Class B devices are simplified devices for recreational shipping and transmit with 2W transmission
power. With a good antenna installation and generally favorable conditions this allows for up to
15 km range.
1.2.4 AIS Base Station
AIS base stations of naval authorities serve to monitor and control shipping. Base stations can also
control the functions of AIS devices (eg. broadcasting intervals).
1.2.5 AIS AtoN (Aids to Navigation) Stations
AtoNs mark facilities such as buoys, platforms, wind farms and provide navigation support. AtoNs
can also transmit (encrypted) individual messages, for example, to forward sensor information.
1.2.6 AIS SAR (Search and Rescue Aircraft)
AIS for helicopters and aircraft participating in Maritime Search and Rescue operations.
1.2.7 AIS SART (Search and Rescue Transmitter)
Is in a lifeboat or on a life jacket and sends AIS position signals in an emergency. These are received
by AIS-equipped ships within a radius of up to 10km and can facilitate the search operation. SART
do not trigger a distress alert (GMDSS emergency procedure).
1.2.8 AIS EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and AIS PLB (Personal Locator
Beacon)
EPIRBs and PLBs are functionally very similar devices that issue a distress alert (GMDSS emergency
procedure) with position notice. EPIRBs are associated with a boat, PLBs with a person. Traditionally,
satellite signals have been sent. Now additionally or exclusively AIS signals are sent out.
1.3 Information transmitted by AIS transponder
The following table contains data sent by Class A devices. Information sent by Class B is in blue
and bold print:
• Vessel Name
• Vessel Dimensions
• Status
• MMSI Number
• Vessel Type
• Draught
• Position
• Rate of Turn (ROT)
• ETA
• Speed (SOG)
• Navigational Status
• True Heading
• Call Sign
• IMO Number
• Cargo
• Course (COG)
• Destination
1.4 Transmission Intervals
AIS devices send different messages with different standardized content. For example, static ship
data such as the ship's name will only be sent out every 6 minutes independent from the position
report (same for class A and class B). Dynamic data such as speed and course over ground are
transmitted by Class A equipment at intervals of 2 sec (speed> 23 knots) up to 3 min (ship at
anchor), and in class B equipment at intervals of 5 sec to 3 min.
The Nauticast B2 transmits position reports (Message 18) at intervals of
• 30 seconds: when sailing (SOG)> 2kn;
• 3 minutes when sailing (SOG) <2kn
The transmission intervals can be controlled by base stations and also depend on the availability of
time slots in the transmission area.

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
2Installation
2.1 Contents of the Nauticast B2 Set (p/n: 300 1001)
(*: contents of Nauticast B2 device (p/n: 300 1020)
Before proceeding with the installation of the Nauticast B2 please check the contents of the box,
which includes:
•The Nauticast B2 AIS transponder (p/n: 300 1010) *
•Mounting plate *
•Power Cable *
•USB Cable *
•VHF Antenna with connection cable and mount
•GPS Antenna with connection cable and mount
•Data Cable for NMEA0183 (p/n: 300 1012) *
•Printed manual (English, 32 pages) *
•USB data card with documatation and software:
oNauticast B2 Product Manual (EN, DE, ES, FR, NL, PL)
oNauticast B2 Product Sheet
oLink2AIS Setup
oLink2AIS User Guide
The installation should be completed in 3 separate steps. Complete each step before proceeding to
the next:
1. Install the Link2AIS software onto your PC (Windows).
2. Enter your ship’s data (MMSI, Vessel Name, Call sign, Length, Beam, ship type) into the
Link2AIS software and save them onto the Nauticast B2 (only USB connection necessary).
Install your Nauticast B2 hardware on your vessel.
2.2 Software Prerequisites
The Link2AIS-software is designed to operate with Microsoft Windows operating systems. The
recommended minimum system requirements are:
•Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10
•Recommended screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 (although the Link2AIS-software can
operate on screens with smaller resolution, with the use of scroll bars).
•One free USB port –minimum USB 2.0.
•A pointing device (mouse or equivalent).
•An Internet Browser used for the help system.
2.3 Installing the Link2AIS software onto your PC
The Link2AIS-software is in the ‘software’ folder of the USB data card or may be downloaded from
the homepage of Nauticast GmbH (https://www.nauticast.com/en/cms/downloads). Unzip the
package when necessary, double click on ‘setup.exe’ to start the installation process. Follow the
screen prompts to install the Link2AIS software.
A Start Menu folder and a shortcut on your desktop will be created with the name 'Link2AIS'. This
short cut should be used to launch the application.
2.4 Enter your ship’s data
2.4.1 Connecting the Nauticast B2 to your PC
Connect the Nauticast B2 to your PC/notebook where Link2AIS is installed. We recommend using
the USB connection as then no other external power source is necessary for the Nauticast B2. If you
use the data cable (p/n 300 1012 or 300 1004) for connecting, the Nauticast B2 needs to be
connected to a 12VDC or 24 VDC power source and and the serial connection established after that.
Make sure the device is recognized correctly by your PC (Windows shows a message on the task
panel what COM port has been assigned).
Alternatively the connection for programming the Nauticast B2 may also be established via the
Nauticast W1 Serial to Wifi server (TCP protocol).

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
•Start the Link2AIS software program on the PC.
•Open the connection settings: Start - Connection
•By pressing ‘Scan Ports’ the software checks the available ports for the device and gives
you a suggestion when an AIS device is found. The serial port (port number can be found
in the device manager of Windows) can also be selected manually from the menu. Click
'Save' when the right port is selected. For the Nauticast B2 115200 bps need to be used.
•If you are using the Nauticast W1 for programming the Nauticast B2, please use
analoguos settings as in the exhibit below. Detailled instructions can be found in the
Product Manual of the Nauticast W1.

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
2.4.2 Configuring Software and Nauticast B2 static data
•Once a connection is established, you can start programming static data into the
Nauticast B2. Any error messages shown during USB-only connection can be ignored
(such as send and receive errors, position errors etc.). There is a context based Help
available. The help system is started by pressing the F1 key on your PC or via the menu
‘? – Link2AIS Help’.
•The functions of Link2AIS are arranged in several menus. The menu will adapt
dynamically to the the connection status and device type connected. Hence not all menu
entries shown below may be visible.
•Open ‘AIS – Ship Static Data’. This will display the 'Static Data' for the connected
Nauticast B2. This includes the vessel's name, call sign, MMSI number and other fixed
information. For a Nauticast B2 in factory settings, the fields will be empty.
Enter all vessel information in the appropriate fields:
•MMSI number - enter the vessel's Maritime Mobile Service Identity number (see warning
and further notes regarding MMSI below!)
•Repeat input of the MMSI to prevent typos
•Call Sign - enter the vessel's radio call sign (7 characters minimum)
•Ship name - enter the name of the vessel (20 characters maximum)
•Select the appropriate vessel type from the drop down menu.
•Enter the vessel’s dimensions as follows, rounded to the nearest meter:
oDimension A - distance from GPS antenna location to bow
oDimension B - distance from GPS antenna location to stern
oDimension C - distance from GPS antenna location to port
oDimension D - distance from GPS antenna to starboard

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B2 Product Manual 2.6
2.4.3 Transferring and saving static data to the Nauticast B2
CAUTION:
For security reasons the MMSI cannot be changed by the end user once they are
programmed. Please check the number entered carefully. You can change all other static
data (except the MMSI) at any time by running Link2AIS, should the need arise. If the
MMSI is programmed incorrectly or has to be changed lateron date you have to contact
your Nauticast dealer or Nauticast GmbH (www.nauticast.com) for a MMSI reset.
When you have entered all of the vessel's data click the 'Save' button to program this configuration
into the AIS transponder. A warning will be displayed asking you to verify the MMSI number. Please
check the MMSI.
•if the MMSI is not correct, click the 'No' button to cancel programming of the MMSI.
•Click the 'Yes' button if the MMSI is correct.
The ‘Identification’ window will refresh and show the current vessel information stored in the device.
The MMSI number will be displayed with a grey background, to indicate that it has been programmed
and cannot be changed.
You can now disconnect the device from the USB cable / PC and install the hardware on your vessel.
A PC is not necessary for normal operation but can be useful to display AIS data, maps and system
status.
For additional information about the Link2AIS software please refer to the Link2AIS Software User
Guide (‘Help –Link2AIS-Help’, section Documentation).