User's Manual
Table Of Contents
- 1 Glossary 5
- 2 Notices 6
- 3 Introduction 9
- 4 AIS AtoN product variants 13
- 5 Installation 14
- 6 Transceiver and Sensor Interface connections 19
- 7 Connecting external sensors and systems 23
- 8 Configuration using proAtoN 31
- 9 Operation 50
- 10 Data messages and data sources 51
- 11 Manual configuration 59
- 12 Technical specification 68
- 13 Firmware upgrade procedure 73
- 1 Glossary
- 2 Notices
- 3 Introduction
- 4 AIS AtoN product variants
- 5 Installation
- Figure 3 Typical AIS AtoN transceiver system connections
- Figure 4 Typical AIS AtoN transceiver and Sensor Interface system connections
- 1. Mount the Transceiver in a suitable location on the physical Aid to Navigation.
- 2. Install a VHF antenna according to the manufacturers instructions.
- 3. Install the supplied GNSS antenna.
- 4. Connect any sensor interfaces and light / RACON monitoring signals.
- 5. Connect power to the AIS AtoN transceiver and optional Sensor Interface.
- 6. Configure and commission the AIS AtoN transceiver and optional Sensor Interface via USB (note that this step can be carried out on shore prior to installation in a remote location).
- 5.1 What’s in the box (AIS AtoN transceiver)
- 5.2 What’s in the box (Sensor Interface)
- 5.3 Preparing for installation
- 5.3.1 Tools and wiring accessories
- 5.3.2 VHF antenna and cable
- 5.3.3 PC for configuration
- 5.4 Mounting the AIS AtoN transceiver and Sensor Interface
- 6 Transceiver and Sensor Interface connections
- 6.1 AIS AtoN transceiver connections
- 6.1.1 Power and USB connector
- 6.1.2 18 way Link connector
- 6.1.3 Using the 18 way link connector for direct connection of external equipment
- 6.1.4 VHF antenna connector
- 6.1.5 GNSS antenna connector
- 6.1.6 Earth connection stud
- 6.2 Sensor Interface connections
- 6.2.1 USB connector
- 6.2.2 Sensor 1 connector
- 6.2.3 Sensor 2 connector
- 6.2.4 Link connector
- 7 Connecting external sensors and systems
- 7.1 Connecting sensors and systems to the AIS AtoN Transceiver
- 7.1.1 Light ON/OFF interface
- 7.1.2 Light health interface
- 7.1.3 RACON status interface
- 7.1.4 AtoN Status source and configuration
- 7.1.5 NMEA0183 port
- 7.2 Connecting sensors and systems to the Sensor Interface
- 7.2.1 Isolated analogue inputs
- 7.2.2 Non-isolated analogue inputs
- 7.2.3 Light current sense loop
- 7.2.4 Isolated digital inputs
- 7.2.5 Non-isolated digital inputs/outputs
- 7.2.6 Isolated RS422 / NMEA0183 port
- 7.2.7 RS232 ports
- 7.2.8 SDI-12 interface
- 7.2.9 Relay drive output
- 7.2.10 Input voltage monitor
- 8 Configuration using proAtoN
- 8.1 proAtoN installation
- 8.2 Application layout
- 8.2.1 COM Port selection
- 8.2.2 Read / Write configuration
- 8.2.3 Transceiver configuration mode tabs
- 8.2.4 Sensor configuration mode tabs
- 8.2.5 Synchronisation status
- 8.2.6 Status bar
- 8.3 AIS AtoN transceiver configuration
- 8.3.1 Configuration of ‘Real’ AtoN parameters
- 8.3.2 Message schedule configuration
- Default messages
- Adding additional messages to the schedule
- Access scheme selection
- 8.3.3 FATDMA Schedule configuration
- Channel 1 start UTC
- Channel 1 start slot
- Channel 1 interval
- Channel 2 start UTC
- Channel 2 start slot
- Channel 2 interval
- Example FATDMA schedule
- 8.3.4 RATDMA Schedule configuration
- Channel 1 start UTC
- Channel 1 interval
- Channel 2 start UTC
- Channel 2 interval
- Example RATDMA schedule
- 8.3.5 Virtual AtoN configuration
- Virtual / Synthetic AtoN
- Virtual / Synthetic AtoN Details
- Virtual AtoN schedule
- 8.3.6 Status input configuration tab
- Current status (message 21)
- Light & RACON configuration
- Status bit source
- Status bit logic
- 8.3.7 Alert messages
- BIIT failure actions
- Vessel proximity alert
- Off position alert
- SART Relay Mode
- 8.4 Transceiver diagnostics
- 8.4.1 GNSS tab
- 8.4.2 Serial data tab
- 8.4.3 Diagnostics tab
- AtoN Details
- Power status
- Report generation
- Reported messages
- Active alarms
- 8.5 Sensor configuration
- 8.5.1 Sensor settings
- 8.5.2 ADC settings tab
- Light Current Sense group
- Current Sense ADC Scaling
- Voltage Measurement Scaling
- 8.5.3 Message settings tab
- Message #6 Configuration
- Message #8 Configuration
- 8.5.4 System information
- System Information
- Digital Input Status
- Sensor Health
- 8.5.5 Live data tab
- ADC Data
- 8.6 Other features
- 8.6.1 Offline configuration (applies to transceiver configuration mode only)
- 9 Operation
- 10 Data messages and data sources
- 10.1 Configurations without the Sensor Interface
- 10.2 Configurations with the Sensor Interface
- 10.2.1 AIS AtoN transceiver configuration
- 10.2.2 Configuration of the Sensor Interface
- 10.2.3 Accessing the Sensor Interface shell
- 10.2.4 General Sensor Interface configuration commands
- 10.2.5 Zeni Lite Message #6 configuration commands
- 10.2.6 ADC configuration commands
- 10.2.7 ADC Scaling
- 10.2.8 Message #6 Data Mapping
- 10.2.9 External device support
- 11 Manual configuration
- 11.1 Basic Type 1 AIS AtoN configuration (FATDMA operation)
- 11.2 NMEA0183 / IEC61162 configuration sentences
- 11.2.1 AAR - Configure broadcast rates for AtoN station
- 11.2.2 ACE - Extended general AtoN Station configuration
- 11.2.3 ACF - General AtoN Station configuration
- 11.2.4 AFB - Forced broadcast
- 11.2.5 AFC - AtoN function ID capability
- 11.2.6 AID - MMSI configuration
- 11.2.7 ARW -Configure the receiver turn-on times
- 11.2.8 MCR - Configure proprietary AtoN control
- 11.2.9 MPR - Message configuration of payload re-broadcast
- 11.2.10 TSP - Transmit slot prohibit
- 11.2.11 VER - Version
- 11.3 Proprietary configuration sentences
- 11.3.1 Status Bit Source
- 11.3.2 Status Bit Source Query
- 11.3.3 Light / RACON configuration
- 11.3.4 Light / RACON configuration query
- 11.3.5 General MCR query
- 12 Technical specification
- 12.1 Applicable equipment standards
- 12.2 AIS AtoN transceiver specification
- 12.2.1 Physical
- 12.2.2 Environmental
- 12.2.3 Electrical
- 12.2.4 GNSS
- 12.2.5 TDMA transmitter
- 12.2.6 TDMA receivers
- 12.2.7 Supported AIS messages (transmission)
- 12.2.8 Connector types
- 12.3 Sensor Interface specification
- 12.3.1 Physical
- 12.3.2 Environmental
- 12.3.3 Interfaces
- 12.4 Drawings and dimensions
- 13 Firmware upgrade procedure
- 1. Install and run the 'vxsend' utility (screenshot shown in Figure 33).
- 2. Click the Browse (…) button for the Image file, then navigate to and select the appropriate update file.
- 3. Select the COM port assigned to the AIS AtoN port or AIS AtoN Sensor port, depending on which element is being updated.
- 4. Click 'Start' and wait for the update to complete. Notification is given when the update has completed successfully.
- 5. Power cycle the transceiver and confirm normal operation before it is deployed.
Configuration using proAtoN
Page 42
8.3.7 Alert messages
The transceiver can be configured to transmit text messages for three different alert conditions.
● An addressed or broadcast text message can be transmitted when the transceiver detects a Built In
Integrity Test (BIIT) failure.
● An addressed text message can be transmitted to an approaching vessel if the vessel comes within a
configurable distance of the transceivers location. This function is only available with Type 3 variants
and with full time receiver operation.
● An addressed or broadcast text message can be transmitted when the transceiver determines that it
is off position (see section
8.3.1). This message is in addition to use of the alternate schedule for off
position reporting (if the alternate schedule is enabled) and does not replace that function.
The layout of the alert messages configuration tab is provided in Figure 24.
Figure 24 Alert messages configuration tab layout
BIIT failure actions
This section allows configuration of the text message to be transmitted on detection of a Built In Integrity Test
failure (BIIT failure). Such a failure may indicate a problem with the transceiver and it may be prudent to warn
vessels not to rely on the information provided by the transceiver in this situation. Note that the health of the
transceiver is always transmitted as part of the standard Aids to Navigation position report (message #21),
however the status contained in that message may not be shown on all display systems.
The available actions on BIIT failure are:
● No action - no message is transmitted on detection of a BIIT failure.
● Transmit message #14. A broadcast text message is transmitted on detection of a BIIT failure. The
text content of the message must be defined in the ‘Message text’ box.
● Transmit message #12. An addressed text message is transmitted on detection of a BIIT failure. The
destination for the addressed message is configured on the ‘Real AtoN’ tab (see section
8.3.1).
In addition to configuration of the BIIT failure action a schedule for the associated message must be configured
in the ‘Message schedule’ tab.
● Message #14 Index 1 must be configured if the message #14 action is selected.
● Message #12 Index 1 must be configured if the message #12 action is selected.
Vessel proximity alert
This section allows configuration of the text message to be transmitted on detection of vessel breaching a
defined radius (or guard ring) around the transceiver. This message can be used to warn approaching vessels
of potential collision with the AtoN. The addressed message is automatically sent to all vessels that breach the
guard ring radius.
Congure BIIT failure
message action
Congure vessel
proximity alert action
Congure additional
o position alert action
Congure SART
Relay Mode