Simrad MX525A User Manual

www.simrad-yachting.com A brand by Navico - Leader in Marine Electronics

Manual

Simrad MX525A
DGPS Receiver

English

Manual

Simrad MX525A
DGPS Receiver

English

To the best of our knowledge, the content in this
publication was correct at the time of printing.

As we are continuously improving our products we
retain the right to make changes to the product and
the documentation at any time. Updated manuals are
available from our website www.simrad-yachting.com,
and are free to download.

© Copyright 2008 by Navico Holding AS.

Document no: 727007

Revision: A

Date: March 2008

The original language for this document is English. In the
event of any discrepancy between translated versions
and the English version of this document, the English
document will be the official version.

2 | Simrad MX525A

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

THE MX525A DGPS RECEIVER IS AN AID TO
NAVIGATION ONLY. Under no circumstances should

it be used in lieu of authorized government charts.
Its accuracy can be affected by many factors such
as equipment defects, environmental conditions, or
improper operation. The user is responsible for safe
navigation of the vessel. This includes consulting
authorized government charts and exercising common
prudence and navigational judgement at all times.

How to contact us?

Contact your local Simrad dealer for:

Installation, Service, & Technical Support •

Sales of Accessories •

Hardware and Software Upgrades •

Unlike many other consumer electronics industries which
only sell consumer electronic devices, your marine dealer
is often your best advisor for installation and service of
your new GPS receiver. Simrad strongly encourages you
to utilize the knowledge and experience of your sales and
service dealer.

Should you need to contact us directly for new sales,
upgrades, repair service, or technical support, we can be
reached at the following:

International:

MX Marine (USA)

A Division of NAVICO, Inc.

23868 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 201

Torrance, California 90505

USA

[phone] (Telephone)

[phone] (Fax)

www.mx-marine.com

In Europe:

Navico UK Ltd

Premier Way, Abbey Park

Romsey, Hampshire

SO51 9DH

United Kingdom

[phone] (Telephone)

[phone] (Fax)

www.navico.com

Simrad MX525A | 3

Contents

1 General ....................................................... 5

Supplied Equipment ......................................6

2 Operation ................................................... 7

General .......................................................7

Satellite Bases Augmentation System (SBAS) ...7

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

(RAIM) ........................................................8

3 Installation ................................................. 9

MX525A Mounting .........................................9

MX525A Connectors ......................................9

MGL-4 Antenna Mounting Guidelines .............. 11

Antenna Mounting ....................................... 12

Bracket Mount .................................... 12

Antenna Cable Selection .............................. 13

Power Requirement ..................................... 13

Power/Data Cable Assembly ......................... 14

MX525A Connector Conguration .................. 15

Data Interface to MX420/2 or MK12 CDU ........ 16

Data Interface to MX420/8 or MX420/AIS CDU 17

Data Interface to MX5xx CDU ....................... 18

Data Interface to PC or other navigation systems
19

MX525A Programming Cable ......................... 20

4 Specications ........................................... 21

GPS Receiver ..................................... 21

4 | Simrad MX525A

Blank page

General | 5

1 General

This manual describes the operation and installation of
the MX525A DGPS sensor (with the MGL-4 antenna) and
older version MX525 black box DGPS sensor (with the
MGL-3 antenna). Their wiring hook-up is identical and
the antennas are interchangeable.

The MX525A is a blackbox GPS and Differential Beacon
receiver combination. It has a 10-pin connector for power
and data connection and a TNC connector to connect to
an active GPS and Beacon combo antenna.

When connected to an MX-CDU (MX420 or MX5xx), the
MX525A can be controlled to function in several modes,
namely;

GPS only •

DGPS mode in Auto/Database search or Manual •

WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System-US system) •

EGNOS (European Geostationary Overlay System) •

RAIM (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring) •

This sensor was designed to use as:

Source of DGPS positioning for any MX CDU model •

Retrofit for IMO compliant GPS and AIS installation •

D/GPS positioning for ECDIS and other charting •
software

The MX525A can achieve better than 2-meter accuracy
in areas with good beacon differential coverage and
autonomous GPS accuracy better than 5 meters. The
built-in beacon receiver can be operated to do auto­global search, database search or manual mode when
connected to the MX CDU.

Before installing the MX525A, please read this manual
carefully to ensure proper installation and operation of the
unit.

6 | General

Supplied Equipment

The following items are supplied with the MX525A DGPS
Sensor Kit (p/n 9525 200 81000):

Description Part Number

MX525A DGPS Sensor 9525 200 81010
with mounting kit

MGL-4 Combo Antenna 721757

Power/Data Cable assembly, 3 m. 3508 102 70150

Installation Manual 727007

The antenna coax cable for the MGL-4 antenna is not
included in the kit and must be ordered separately.
Several cable lengths are available in stock, please refer
to the antenna cable selection section on Page 8 for more
details.

MX525A DGPS Sensor Kit

MGL-4 Combo
Antenna

MX525A Black Box
Sensor

Installation Manual

3-meter Power/Data Cable

Manual

MX525A
DGPS Receiver

www.simrad-yachting.com

Abrand by Navico - Leader in Mar ine Electronics

Operation | 7

2 Operation

General

The MX525A sensor is an integrated GPS and beacon
receiver unit that is fully automatic and requires
minimal user intervention. It will automatically search
for available satellites as soon as power is applied. The
internal 2-channel beacon receiver continuously monitors
all beacon signals available in a particular location. The
first channel tracks the primary station while the second
channel searches for other nearby beacons. Should
it find a closer station it will automatically switch the
primary channel to the new station. The combined
performance of the high-precision 12-channel GPS and
2-channel beacon receiver provides a more accurate
position fix, usually within 2 meter or less.

When controlled by an MX CDU, the operator can disable
the auto mode and manually select the beacon frequency
desired.

The MX525A works with an MGL-4 (or -3) antenna (a
combined GPS/H-Field Beacon antenna) for better on­board electrical noise immunity.

Satellite Bases Augmentation System
(SBAS)

In areas where land-based beacon stations are not
available, the MX525A can be controlled (using the MX
CDU) to track the Satellite Based Augmentation Systems
(SBAS) like the WASS (US), EGNOS (European), MSAS
(Japan) and GAGAN (India) satellites . These satellites
transmit DGPS correction data (just like the Coast Guard
stations) using the GPS frequency. Refer to the MX CDU
Operator Manual for more details. Turning this feature
ON in the MX CDU will initiate the MX525A to track any
SBAS satellites that are in view. Please be aware that
the SBAS system is not an IMO approved differential
correction system.

8 | Operation

Receiver Autonomous Integrity
Monitoring (RAIM)

RAIM is a special software algorithm in the MX525A
program which provides another layer of safety because
it gives the operator an alarm indication if the GPS
system accuracy exceeds a predefined tolerance. This
feature requires at least five or more GPS satellites to
operate properly. If the position solution falls outside this
tolerance (usually 100 meter) a “RAIM Unsafe” alarm
will be activated in the MX420 CDU. This means that the
accuracy of the position can not be guaranteed at that
point in time. The operator is advised to use the GPS
for navigation with caution until the RAIM indicator goes
back to safe mode (R+).

The RAIM availability is dependent on the number of
usable satellites in view. Planned outage of satellites
due to maintenance or when certain satellites reach their
age of maturity may cause any of the GPS satellites to
become unusable. If less than 5 satellites are available
a “RAIM Caution” (R?) icon will be displayed. If the
GPS system error exceeds 100 meters “RAIM Unsafe”
(R-) icon will be displayed. The operator should take
cautionary measures during this mode.

Installation | 9

3 Installation

MX525A Mounting

The MX525A console is not weather-resistant and must
be located inside the equipment room or pilot house
where it is dry and protected from the elements. Provide
ample clearance around it for good air circulation. Use
the supplied mounting bracket kit to mount it on a
vertical wall.

Locate the MX525A within 3 meters from the MX CDU
junction box. Should there be a need to install the
MX525A much farther away from the MX420 CDU, a
longer cable assembly can be specially ordered from
Simrad.

The MGL-4 antenna is a weather resistant unit and should
be mounted in the open location as shown in the antenna
location diagram.

Below is a list of power-data cable options available from
Simrad:

Part Number Description

3508 102 70150 3 meter cable

3508 102 70170 20 meter cable

3508 102 70180 40 meter cable

Special order only 80 meter cable

MX525A Connectors

Two connectors are located at the back of the unit,
namely:

Power-Data connector (10-pin male) •

RF (TNC female) •

The 10-pin connector provides the means to connect
to external power and the data interface. Please refer
to the chart below for the pin-outs and wiring color
code. The chart also compares the signal interface of
the MX525A DGPS sensor against the MX421B-10 smart
DGPS antenna. Please note the connection similarities

10 | Installation

between them on pins 1 through 8.

The RF (TNC-F) connector is used to connect the MX525A
to a combined DGPS antenna (MGL-3).

Pin # Wire

Color

Wiring Comparison

MX525A MX421B -10

1 BLK Negative Ground

2 RED +9 - 32 VDC

3 BLU MX Proprietary Message (MPM In (-)

4 BRN MX Proprietary Message (MPM In (+)

5 ORG GPS Out (-)

6 GRN GPS Out (+)

7 YEL Beacon Status Out (-)

8 WHT Beacon Status Out (+)

9 PRPL RTCM IN (+) 1 PPS (+)

10 PRPL/

GRY

RTCM IN (-) 1 PPS (-)

TNC COAX To MGL-3 Combo

Antenna

None