WideLink B600 AIS Class B Transponder ( SOTDMA ) USER MANUAL
COPYRIGHT The entire contents of this instruction manual, including any future updates, revisions, and modifications, shall remain the property of AMEC at all times. Unauthorized copies or reproduction of this manual, either in part or whole, in any form of print and electronic media, is prohibited. The contents herein can only be used for the intended purpose of this manual. DISCLAIMER AMEC is devoted to publish and maintain this product manual.
WARNING! WARNING: The device must be installed and configured in conformity with the provided instructions in the manual by qualified installer in order to ensure the device performance. WARNING: It is the responsibility of the operator to handle the AIS device with care. The device cannot replace human vigilance. Therefore it is important to keep a diligent outlook at all times.
TABLE OF CONTENT 1 2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION .........................................................................................................6 1.2 CLASS A VS. SOTDMA CLASS B VS. CSTDMA CLASS B ............................................................... 8 1.3 EQUIPMENT IN THE BOX ..............................................................................
1 System Overview 1.1 Product Description WideLink B600 is an SOTDMA AIS class B, the next evolution of AIS technology. Its 5W transmit power, higher reporting rate and professional grade time division management make B600 an overall more advanced product compared to AIS class B based on CSTDMA scheme. The globally approved device contains 1 VHF transmitter, 2 AIS receivers on 2 VHF channels and 1 MCU with cutting edge software defined radio technology.
Location of GPS antenna on the ship Dynamic data: Position of the vessel Course over ground (COG) Speed over ground (SOG) True heading It receives also safety related messages (SRM) from other vessels or persons who are in distress. SOTDMA Class B AIS broadcasts ship´s static data every 6 minutes.
1.2 Class A vs. SOTDMA Class B vs. CSTDMA Class B A brief comparison between class A and class B AIS is illustrated in the following table. WideLink B600 is an SOTDMA class B AIS transponder. Type of AIS Class A AIS Class B SOTDMA Class B CSTDMA Primary Access Scheme SOTDMA (Self-organizing) SOTDMA (Self-organizing) CSTDMA (Carrier-Sense) Standard IEC 61993-2 IEC 62287-2 IEC 62287-1 5W 2W No mandate Transmit Power 12.
1.3 Equipment in the Box Upon receiving the product please verify items in the box. If any is missing, please contact your local AMEC representative immediately.
2 Installation 2.1 Installation Procedures Please familiarize the manual content before installation. Depending on your hardware configuration, use the following recommended steps to install the device.
2.2 Mounting Device Main Unit The following guidelines should be noticed when selecting the environment to install your AMEC WideLink B600: Do not install the device in a flammable or hazardous atmosphere such as in an engine or generator room or close to fuel tanks. Installation of the device should be undertaken in a safe environment without being exposed to any splashing water or rain. There should be adequate space around the device for routing of cables.
2.3 VHF Antenna Installation The quality and positioning of the antenna are the most important factors dictating AIS performance. It is recommended that a VHF antenna with omnidirectional vertical polarization be specifically tuned for marine band. Since the range of VHF signals is largely decided by line of sight distance, the VHF antenna should be placed as high as possible and at least 5 meters away from any constructions made of conductive materials.
2.4 GPS Antenna Installation Install the GPS antenna where it has a clear view to the sky, so that it may access the horizon freely with 360° degrees. 5˚ Ensure a free 360˚ horizon with a vertical observation of 5˚. Figure 4 3m The recommended horizontal distance between GPS antennas and other antennas is 3m. GPS Antenna Locations It is recommended to keep the GPS antenna out of the transmitting beam of high-power transmitters such as Inmarsat devices and radar.
2.5 Connecting with NMEA 0183 Devices WideLink B600 supports two NMEA 0183 ports and external silent mode switch with its 12-pin data cable. The default NMEA 0183 baud rates are 38400-bps (high speed) and 4800-bps (low speed). User can change the baud rates using the provided configuration utility. Typically the high speed setting is primarily for chart plotter connection, while the low speed setting can be used for NMEA 0183 compatible instruments. WideLink B600 NMEA 0183 supports multiplexer function.
2.6 AIS Silent Mode Connection When Silent Mode is required, it is possible to connect an external toggle switch to WideLink B600. Connect the toggle switch between the purple and brown wires to enable Silent Mode function, as depicted in Figure below. An optional Tx Switch Box (part number SB-181) is available from AMEC for Silent Mode activation.
2.7 Connection to NMEA 2000 Network The WideLink B600 is equipped with NMEA 2000 interface with LEN=1. The device is able to send AIS data and forward received GPS data (from NMEA 0183) via NMEA 2000 network to other NMEA 2000 devices. For further applications e.g. heading sensor connection, please refer to supported PGN in 5.3. An updated PGN list is available at AMEC website under Support/FAQ.
2.8 Connecting Power Cable Connect the WideLink B600 to vessel´s power source as illustrated below. The device requires a 12V or 24V DC power supply (9.6 to 31.2V) capable of supplying 2A peak current @12V DC. Always use a minimum 3A fuse panel before connecting directly to battery or power supply. Power on the power source will turn on the device unit automatically. B600´s power cables are marked with bullet connectors.
2.8.1 Alarm Relay WideLink B600 supports internal alarm relay with its 8-pin power cable. Connect the alarm relay to an audible alarm device or the ships alarm system, if available. The maximum switching current is 1 A. The maximum switching voltage is 250 VAC, 220 VDC.
3 Configuring Your WideLink B600 For configuration and firmware upgrade purpose, B600 series can be powered only by USB. When USB power is in use, the device will not transmit any data. To configure the Wi-Fi of B600W, user needs a regular 12/24V DC power supply. The AMEC AIS Class B SO-TDMA Configuration is a powerful tool allowing users to set up the transponder and make real time diagnosis. A more detailed user guide of Configuration software can be found in the “Help” of the configuration software.
3.1.2 Serial Port Connection After the USB driver is installed and the device is recognized as a “Virtual Com Port”, launch the Configuration Software, select Option in the menu bar, then Connection, and “serial port”. There are 2 options to connect the software with your device: Auto: The system will scan all connected ports and their available baud rates and establish connection automatically. Manual: Configure baud rate and port manually. The default baud rate is 115200.
3.2 Programming your vessel data After the device is successfully connected with the Configuration Software, click on the “STATIC DATA” tab.
4 GET STARTED The device starts up whenever the connected power source is ON. It will operate automatically when the device has been properly configured and GPS/VHF antennas are properly installed. The device transmits its own ship positions depending on vessel´s moving speed and should receive information of other vessels in the vicinity. The operation status of the device can be observed with the LED lights on the unit. Description of the LED indications is provided in the following section. 4.
4.2 Micro SD Card Data Logging The WideLink B600 records voyage data onto a micro SD card in .txt format. The compatible micro SD card types are listed as follows: Standard “SD” with maximum 2GB size Standard “SDHC” with maximum 32GB size Supported data format: FAT12/16 by SD, FAT32 by SDHC Insert the Micro SD card into the slot as shown below and data logging will start immediately. When the device begins recording, the green SD LED indicator blinks.
4.3 Wi-Fi Configuration (WideLink B600W only) WideLink B600W has high performance Wi-Fi module and antenna built in. It can work in Access Point Mode or Client Mode. The information below details the information required for connecting the WideLink B600W to another device using Wi-Fi. 4.3.1 Access Point Mode WideLink B600W is featured with powerful Wi-Fi performance supporting wireless connection with up to 32 mobile devices.
Figure 15 Connect to Mobile Devices SSID (Service Set Identifier): The SSID for the WideLink B600W is AIS-WiFi. When user wants to create their own SSID, just input the preferred SSID in the SSID field and then press “Configure Device”. Password: By default the Wi-Fi network has no password. Users are allowed to create their own key with an alpha-numeric password between 8 and 63 characters long. The password can include symbols (!?*&_) and spaces. System IP: Default system IP is 192.168.2.
4.3.2 Client Mode WideLink B600W is able to join an existing Wi-Fi network. When clicking on „Client”, it can take up to 30 seconds until WideLink B600 scans all available Wi-Fi networks. Pick the network you want to join and enter the password and click on “Connect”.
4.4 Built-in Integrity Test (BIIT) With BIIT (Built in Integrity Test) function, the WideLink B600 is constantly monitoring and testing the integrity of the AIS device.
4.6 Introducing AMEC AIS App The AMEC AIS App is a complimentary App with the purchase of an AMEC AIS WideLink B600W. The App enables users to monitor the surrounding AIS traffics on your smart phone or tablet PC wirelessly. The AIS targets are displayed clearly in radar view or in an alphanumeric vessel list format. Data of own vessel can be traced in real time. The App also offers various safety features to help users be alerted during their voyage.
5 SPECIFICATIONS 5.1 Product Specifications APPLICABLE STANDARDS ISO MSC. 74(69) Annex IEC 60945 Ed. 4.0:2002 ITU-R M. 825-3:1998 IEC 61108-1 Ed. 2.0:2003 ITU-R M. 1084-5:2012 IEC61162-1 Ed. 5.0:2016 ITU-R M. 1371-5:2014 IEC61162-2 Ed. 1.0:1998 EN 300 440 V2.1.1 (Final Draft) IEC 62287-2 Ed. 2.0:2017 EN 301 489-1 V2.1.0(Draft) / EN 301 489-3 V2.1.0(Draft) EN 300 328 V2.1.1 EN 301 489-1 V2.1.0(Draft) / EN 301 489-17 V3.1.
GPS Antenna Connector VHF Antenna Connector NMEA 2000 NMEA 0183 (RS-422) CONNECTION INTERFACE TNC (Female) SO-239 (Female) Standard connector Support two NMEA 0183 interfaces Default baud rate 38,400 & 4,800bps Configurable and separate Tx/Rx baud rate Standard IEC 61162-1 / IEC 61162-2 sentences Set by dedicated pins in the 12-pin cable Set by dedicated pins in the 8-pin cable Mini-B type, waterproof ENVIRONMENTAL Operating Conditions IEC 60945 “protected” category Operating Temperature -15°C ~ +55°C (+5
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6 TROUBLESHOOTING The transmitting LED (Green color) is not illuminated, why? The Class B device requires GPS information from GPS antenna before making AIS transmission. Please check if your GPS antenna is connected correctly. The Tx LED will flash orange every 5 seconds meaning that the device is still acquiring a GPS fix and therefore not ready yet to make transmission. For each transmission, the Tx LED indicator will flash once quickly.
Please make sure that both VHF and GPS antennas and their cables are working properly and not damaged. Return the unit to your dealer/service partner for technical check. Why is the Wi-Fi signal weak and how can I improve it? The router is too far from the client devices. To improve the Wi-Fi signal strength reallocated the device to a more central location. There might be intervening barriers (e.g. a large expanse of metal) that is blocking the Wi-Fi signals.
7 ABBREVIATIONS AIS COG CPA CSTDMA SOTDMA DSC ECS ETA GPS IMO MMSI SOG TCPA TDMA UTC VHF VTS Automatic Identification System Course Over Ground Distance to Closest Point of Approach Carrier-Sense Time Division Multiple Access Self-Organized Time Division Multiple Access Digital Selective Calling Electronic Chart System Estimated Time of Arrival Global Positioning System International Maritime Organization Maritime Mobile Service Identity Speed Over Ground Time to Closest Point of Approach Time Division Mul
8 FCC INTERFERENCE STATEMENT NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
9 RF Exposure Warning WARNING: This device generates and radiates RF electromagnetic energy and must be installed and operated according to the instructions contained in this manual. Failure to do so may result in product malfunction and/or exposure to potentially harmful levels of radio frequency radiation. WARNING: Never operate this device unless it is properly connected to a VHF antenna.
AMEC WORLDWIDE WARRANTY Limited warranty Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Worldwide Limited Warranty (hereinafter the “Warranty”), AMEC warrants that its products, when properly installed and used, will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of twelve (12) months, from the date of first purchase (the ‘Warranty Period’) For the purposes of this warranty, ‘date of first purchase’ means the date that the product was purchased by the first retail customer
Appendix: How to Determine Serial Port If you PC/laptop does not have available serial port, you may use a RS232-to-USB adapter. To find out the proper serial port for connection use the following instructions. Windows 7 or VISTA version: Click on “Start” Select “Control Panel” Select “Device Manager” Click Port (COM&LPT) Windows 8 and 8.
Alltek Marine Electronics Corporation 14F-2, No. 237, Sec. 1, Datong Rd., Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City, 22161, Taiwan Tel: +886 2 8691 8568 Fax: +886 2 8691 9569 Email: service@alltekmarine.com Website: www.alltekmarine.
