Weatherdock easyWATCHBOX User manual
easyWATCHBOX
Manual
NMEA-Alerting Unit: A087
Revision 1.5
Page 3 of 19 pages
EN
General warnings
All marine Automatic Identification System (AIS) units utilize a satellite
based system such as the global positioning satellite (GPS) network to
determine position. The accuracy of these networks is variable and is af-
fected 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. Therefore it is desirable wherever possible to verify
both your vessels AIS derived position data and other vessels AIS derived
position data with visual or radar based observations.
Warnings and precautions
It is the sole responsibility of the owner/operator of the ship to com-
mand the vessel safely and to be in full control of all operating condi-
tions during the entire travel time. By mistaken conduct of the operator
of a ship equipped with a easyWATCHBOX if the operator does pay un-
divided attention to operation and surrounding condition damage or
personal injury may be caused in the event of an accident.
Caution:
It is the duty of the operator to handle the easyWATCHBOX with care.
The device cannot release you from your obligations of due diligence!
Thus it is important at all times to keep a proper lookout.
All trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their re-
spective owners.
© 2016 Weatherdock AG
Copying of this document and giving it to others and the use or commu-
nication of the contents thereof, is forbidden without express authority.
Offenders are liable to the payment of damages.
Page 5 of 19 pages
EN
Table of Contents
1Scope of delivery .....................................................................................6
2Mounting and Installation .......................................................................6
2.1 Electrical installation ................................................................................. 6
2.2 Mechanical installation ............................................................................. 8
3Using the easyWATCHBOX....................................................................8
3.1 LED Indication ........................................................................................... 9
3.2 Buttons ..................................................................................................... 10
3.3 CPA Function .......................................................................................... 11
3.4 Additional Features................................................................................. 12
3.4.1 Setting the modes ......................................................................... 12
3.4.2 Battery low...................................................................................... 13
3.4.3 External horn.................................................................................. 14
3.4.4 Auto Dial-up.................................................................................... 14
3.5 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 15
4Technical Data ........................................................................................ 16
5Contact and Support Information .......................................................16
6License Agreement................................................................................17
7Warranty ..................................................................................................17
Page 6 of 19 pages
EN
1Scope of delivery
easyWATCHBOX
Manual
Cable clamps
2Mounting and Installation
2.1 Electrical installation
The easyWATCHBOX is equipped with 5 colored wires.
Power (+) (12-24VDC) - red
Power (-) - black
NMEA (+) - white
NMEA (-) - green
Special Function (+) - grey
The AIS output must be set to 38400 baud data rate.
If you have a chart plotter connected to the AIS, you just connect the
easyWATCHBOX in parallel. (Please see following figure)
Page 7 of 19 pages
EN
Electrical self-check:
The easyWATCHBOX has got an internal self-check, which gives you in-
formation, about the status of power, GPS and AIS data.
The Bat.-low LED should always light up green.
If it lights up red, the supply voltage is too low.
When no AIS data is available (AIS receiving unit is turned off, or
maybe a broken wire), or CPA-alert is deactivated, the LEDs for time
and distance are turned off at all.
When GPS and AIS data are going into the easyWATCHBOX, the ac-
tual setting LEDs (one for time and one for distance) show green
light.
The blinking of LEDs for time and distance indicates the standby
mode of the easyWATCHBOX (GPS data is available, AIS data not).
When AIS signals are being received, the LEDs are lighting up.
When AIS signals are missing or lost for at least 30 sec (so only GPS
data are available), the easyWATCHBOX changes over to standby
mode again and the LEDs start blinking.
The easyWATCHBOX needs GPS-NMEA data and AIS-NMEA data. Only
when both data are available, the watch box can calculate the distance
to other ships and possible collision scenarios.
Page 8 of 19 pages
EN
2.2 Mechanical installation
The easyWATCHBOX is not sealed and therefore intended only for use
inside of ship. It can be mounted with 4 screws.
Please ensure that there is a gap between the back of the device and
the wall or floor, to not decrease the volume of the integrated buzzer.
3Using the easyWATCHBOX
The intended purpose easyWATCHBOX is an alerting device, which anal-
yses the NMEA data output of an AIS receiver or AIS transponder.
On the basis of these data it analyses alarm situations like AIS-SART
(Search and Rescue Transmitter), or it calculates collision scenarios.
Whenever an alarm situation is detected, the LEDs show, which kind of
alarm has occurred and the internal buzzer gives a loud signal.
With the buttons you can either turn on and off the acoustic alarms or
you can set-up the collision alarm parameters (alarm distance and time).
ATTENTION:
The collision alarm is only available, when the AIS has got also GPS data
on the NMEA output.
The AIS-SART alarm works almost with all AIS systems in the market.
Moreover the easyWATCHBOX features a deep discharge protection, an
external horn drive and a trigger function for an auto dial-up device.
(See chapter 3.4)
Page 9 of 19 pages
EN
3.1 LED Indication
Collision:
Lights up, in case of danger of collision with another vessel or AIS-
target.
AIS SART:
Lights up, when an AIS-SART signal was received.
Bat. low:
Changes from green to red, when the battery voltage falls below a
dangerous limit
Time LEDs (5, 15 and 30 min):
Indicating the time limit, that you have selected for Collision warn-
ing (CPA)
Distance LEDs (100, 200, 500 m):
Indicating the radius limit that you have selected for Collision warn-
ing (CPA).
Page 10 of 19 pages
EN
3.2 Buttons
Mute SART Alarm:
By pressing this button, the AIS-SART buzzer alarm is turned off. To
turn it on again, please press this button for more than 3 seconds;
you hear as confirmation a short double tone.
Settings:
With the both "Settings" buttons the Collision parameters can be
changed.
By pressing both “Settings” buttons together for more than 3 sec,
the collision alert is turned off. The Time and Distance LEDs will go
out.
To reactive CPA Alert, simply press one of the both “Settings” but-
tons.
ATTENTION: After 30 minutes all disabled alarms are turned on auto-
matically for your safety!
Page 11 of 19 pages
EN
3.3 CPA Function
A "Collision" means more precise in technical terms: CPA "Closest Point
of Approach". The easyWATCHBOX devices have a built-in feature,
which calculates the CPA with every received AIS target.
You can now set a safety radius (around your ship). If a target ship en-
ters your safety radius (in this example 500 m) within the stated time
limit (here 30 minutes) the CPA alarm occurs.
You may change the radius and the time by the "Settings" buttons.
Possible safety radius: 100 m, 200 m and 500 m.
Possible time limits: 5 min, 15 min and 30 min.
Some recommendations:
If you are sailing in areas with very few vessels around, you should in-
crease the radius and time.
A radius of 100 m and a time of 5 minutes is suitable in high traffic ar-
eas. Here you get a lot of collision alarms, so you can reduce the alarm
to those, which are indeed critical.
CAUTION:
When the easyWATCHBOX gives a collision alarm, double check the situ-
ation on the chart plotter for identifying the dangerous vessel.
Only vessels, which do have a properly working AIS aboard, are able to
trigger the CPA alert in the easyWATCHBOX!!
However a good seamanship and keeping a lookout
is always essential!
Page 12 of 19 pages
EN
3.4 Additional Features
The easyWATCHBOX has three additional features that can be con-
trolled via the grey wire:
Deep discharge protection
External horn drive
Trigger function for an auto dial-up device
3.4.1 Setting the modes
1. Turn off the easyWATCHBOX
2. Press the “Mute SART Alarm” button and keep it pressed
3. Turn on the easyWATCHBOX
4. Recognize the row of LEDs turning on
5. After the buzzer beep, release the “Mute SART Alarm” button
With every repetition of this procedure the three possible modes are
stepped through. It will always toggle between the functions "Horn"
"Switch" and “Auto Dial-up”.
When the right row of LED is lighting up, the "Battery-Low" function is
active:
Page 13 of 19 pages
EN
When the middle row of LED is lighting up, the “external horn” func-
tion is active:
When the left row of LED is lighting up, the “Auto Dial-up” function is
active:
3.4.2 Battery low
To avoid your battery from draining, it is possible to connect an external
switch, a relay or a battery load (e.g. a refrigerator), which will be
turned off, when a "Battery low" alert occurs.
In normal operation the board voltage is transferred with grey cable
and has a current capacity of 4A
The easyWATCHBOX recognizes if it is a 12VDV or 24VDC system.
In a 12VDC system the “Battery low” function switches at 10,3V.
In a 24VDC system the “Battery low” function switches at 20,6V.
Page 14 of 19 pages
EN
3.4.3 External horn
The grey wire can be connected to an external horn.
This might be useful, if the internal buzzer cannot be heard for some
reason.
When the internal buzzer turns on, this wire has got the supply voltage
+12 V or +24 V (up t0 4 A can be drained).
All type of alarms are duplicated from the internal buzzer.
3.4.4 Auto Dial-up
Valid with Firmware >= 0.0.4
With the Auto Dial-up function you can trigger an Auto-Dial device to
send a text message or do a phone call to pre-saved numbers.
With receiving an AIS SART/MOB the grey wire is set to + power supply
voltage for four minutes.
If you press the “Mute SART Alarm” push button, the output is also
muted.
This means that this button also prevents a new Dial-up for 30 minutes.
When you don´t mute the unit you´ll hear a SOS Morse sounding
(. . . - - . . .) every time a SART/MOB telegram is received. After four
minutes the Auto Dial-up output is being switched off.
When still receiving an AIS SART/MOB signal the next 4 minutes interval
is triggered.
As long as this output is active, the time is not retriggered.
Page 15 of 19 pages
EN
3.5 Troubleshooting
Problem
Cause
Solution
No LED is on
No Power supply or
low voltage
Double check
that the supply
voltage (12V or
24V) is con-
nected.
No green LED (for
distance and time
setting).
No valid GPS data
are going into the
easyWATCHBOX
Or
CPA-Alert is deac-
tivated.
Check if cables
are connected in
right order.
Check if AIS-
Class B is receiv-
ing GPS
Check if AIS-
Class B has GPS
data output ena-
bled.
Green “Settings“
LEDs are blinking
No AIS data are
available
Check if AIS-
Class B is receiv-
ing AIS targets.
(In areas with
plenty of ship
traffic it’s not
unusual to re-
ceive no AIS tar-
gets.
Page 16 of 19 pages
EN
4Technical Data
Parameter
Value
Power
DC (12 V / 24 V)
Average power consumption 6 mA @ 12V DC
Electrical Interfaces
NMEA0183, 38400 baud
External switch:
Output of supply voltage (12V or 24 V).
Max current: 4A.
5Contact and Support Information
Although WEATHERDOCK strives for accuracy in all its publications; this
material may contain errors or omissions, and is subject to change with-
out prior notice. WEATHERDOCK shall not be made liable for any spe-
cific, indirect, incidental or consequential damages as a result of its use.
WEATHERDOCK components may only be used in safety of life devices
or systems, with the express written approval of WEATHERDOCK, as the
failure of such components could cause the failure of the
WEATHERDOCK device or system. If these fail, it is reasonable to assume
that the safety of the user or other persons may be endangered.
Contact your local dealer for WEATHERDOCK AIS support.
Weatherdock AG
Sigmundstraße 180
90431 Nürnberg
Tel: +49 [0] 911-376638-35
www.easyAIS.com
Page 17 of 19 pages
EN
6License Agreement
By using the easyWATCHBOX you agree to be bound by the terms and
conditions of the following warranty.
PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.
Weatherdock grants you a limited license to use the software embedded
in this device (the “Software”) in binary executable form in the normal
operation of the product. Title, ownership rights, and intellectual prop-
erty rights in and to the Software remain in Weatherdock AG. You
acknowledge that the Software is the property of Weatherdock and is
protected under the German copyright Laws and international copyright
treaties. You further acknowledge that the structure, organization and
code of the software are valuable trade secrets of Weatherdock and that
the Software in source code remains a valuable trade secret of
Weatherdock AG. You agree not to decompile, modify, reverse assemble,
reverse engineer or reduce to human readable form the Software or any
part thereof or create any derivate works based on the software. You
agree not to export or re/export the software to any country.
7Warranty
This Weatherdock product is warranted to be free from defects in mate-
rials or workmanship for 24 month from the date of purchase. Within
this period, Weatherdock will at its sole option repair or replace any
components that fail in normal use.Such repairs or replacement will be
made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor, provided that the
customer shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty
does not cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident or unauthorized
alteration or repairs.
The warranties and remedies contained herein are exclusive and in lieu
of all other warranties express or implied or statutory, including any lia-
bility arising under any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a par-
ticular purpose, statutory or otherwise.
In no event shall Weatherdock be liable for any incidental, special, indi-
rect or consequential damages, whether resulting from the use, misuse,
or inability to use this product or from defects in the product.
Page 18 of 19 pages
EN
Weatherdock retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or
software or offer a full refund of the purchase price at its sole discre-
tion. Such remedy shall be your sole and exclusive remedy for any
breach of warranty.
If you choose to use the easyWATCHBOX, it is the sole responsibility of
the owner/operator of the easyWATCHBOX to secure the easyWATCH-
BOX so that it will not cause damage or personal injury in the event of
an accident. It is the sole responsibility of the operator of the boat to
operate the boat in a safe manner, maintain full surveillance of all boat-
ing conditions at all times, and never become distracted by the Easy-
WATCHBOX to the exclusion of safe operating practices.
Weatherdock AG
Sigmundstraße 180
90431 Nürnberg
Tel: +49 [0] 911-376638-35
www.easyAIS.com
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