Unless otherwise indicated, all documentation and operating
software contained within this product or distributed with this
product is copyrighted by Vesper Marine Ltd. All rights are reserved.
Except for short quotations in a review, no portions of this document
or the software contained within this product may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written
permission of Vesper Marine Ltd.
Portions of this product may use software licensed under the GNU
GPL or a modified GPL. Source code for the applicable software is
available upon request from Vesper Marine Ltd.
Technical Accuracy
The information contained in this document is to the best of our
knowledge correct at the time of publication. However, we reserve
the right to change specifications, installation and operating
instructions without notice as part of our ongoing product
development and improvement programs.
No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions in this
document, or any other document provided by Vesper Marine Ltd,
although every effort has been made to ensure it is as complete and
accurate as possible.
- 2 -
General Warnings
The AISWatchMate works in cooperation with other vessels and
systems such as transceivers and GPS. The accuracy of this device
and the AIS system can be affected by many factors, including
equipment failure or defects, environmental conditions and incorrect
installation, handling or use. Vesper Marine does not warrant that
this product is error-free. It is the user’s responsibility to exercise
common prudence and navigational judgment. This device should
not be relied upon as a substitute for such prudence and judgment.
Always maintain a permanent watch so that you can respond to
situations as they develop.
The prudent mariner will not rely on a single aid to navigation. The
user should verify the information obtained from the AISWatchMate
is in accordance with expected situations and conditions. The
information is not guaranteed to be accurate or reliable and the
AISWatchMate is not a substitute for proper seamanship.
Vesper Marine Limited cannot be held liable for any injury,
damage or loss caused by, during, or because of the installation,
use or inability to use this device. The AISWatchMate is to be
installed and used entirely at your own risk. By installing and/or
using the AISWatchMate you fully accept this risk and agree to
hold Vesper Marine Limited harmless.
RF Emissions Warning
CAUTION: This device generates and radiates electromagnetic
energy. This device 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.
CAUTION: Never operate this device unless it is connected to a
- 3 -
VHF antenna.
The system has a Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) radius of
1m from the antenna. This has been determined assuming the
maximum power of the transmitter and using a standard half-wave
monopole VHF antenna with a maximum gain of 3dBi and
termination impedence of 50 ohms.
When installing the antenna and operating the equipment consider
the following:
●The antenna should be mounted as high above deck as
possible.
●Higher gain VHF antennas will require a larger MPE radius.
●Do not operate the unit when anyone is within the MPE
radius of the antenna.
●The antenna should not be collocated or operated in
conjunction with any other transmitting antenna.
MMSI Programming Warning
IMPORTANT: In most countries the operation of an AIS unit is
included under the vessel's marine VHF license provisions and the
vessel on which this device is to be installed may be required to
possess a current VHF radiotelephone license which lists the AIS
system and the vessel Call Sign and MMSI number.
An MMSI number is required in order for this device to operate
as a transmitter.
Please contact the relevant authority in your country for more
information.
- 4 -
For Customers in the USA
This device must be programmed with data corresponding to the
vessel on which it will be installed. Programming must be carried out
by a Vesper Marine dealer. The included instructions contain
information on how to verify the correct programming.
WARNING: It is a violation of the rules of the Federal
Communications Commission to input an MMSI that has not been
properly assigned to the end user, or to otherwise input any
inaccurate data in this device
GPS Antenna
The AISWatchMate Transceiver has a built-in GPS patch antenna.
This antenna requires a clear view of the sky. The performance of the
internal GPS antenna is also highly dependent on the environment in
which the device is mounted. The antenna performance maybe
significantly reduced if the AISWatchMate is installed on, under, or
near large metal structures. If you are mounting the display in a
location which will not provide adequate GPS signal coverage then
you must install a dedicated external GPS antenna. You cannot share
a GPS or GPS antenna. See the GPS Installation section for more
information on installing an external GPS antenna.
Compass Safe Distance
Mount your AISWatchMate Transceiver at least 0.6m (2 feet) from
any compass. Test your compass to verify that it operates properly
when this device is operating.
- 5 -
Electronic Waste Recycling
Various regional and national regulations exist regarding the
recycling of certain electronics. Please consult your local
authorities or contact Vesper Marine for recycling
information.
Care Notice
To provide protection against the damaging effects of UV light, it is
recommended to replace the cover when not in use.
Take care when cleaning to avoid damage:
●Be careful when wiping the display screen to avoid
scratching. Use a clean soft damp cloth.
●Do not use acid, ammonia, solvents, or any abrasive products.
Standards
This product complies with the following standards under the
European R&TTE directive for Article 3.1(a), 3.1(b), 3.2 and 3.3(e):
–IEC 62287-1: 2006-3 Maritime navigation and radio-
communication equipment and systems – Class B shipborne
equipment of the automatic identification system (AIS) – Part
1 Carrier-sense time division multiple access (CSTDMA)
techniques.
–IEC 60945: 2002-08 Maritime navigation and radio-
communication equipment and systems – General
Requirements – Methods of testing and required test results.
–IEC 61108-1 Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) –
Part 1 Global positioning system (GPS) Receiver equipment
– Performance standards, methods of testing and required
- 6 -
results
–EN 301 843-1 v1.2.1 (2004-06) Electromagnetic
compatibility and Radio spectrum matters (ERM);
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for marine
radio equipment and services; Part 1: Common technical
requirements.
–EN 50385: 2002 Product standard to demonstrate the
compliance of radio base stations and fixed terminal stations
for wireless telecommunication systems with the basic
restrictions or the reference levels related to human exposure
to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (110MHz – 40GHz)
– General Public
–EN 50383: 2002 Basic standard for the calculation and
measurement of electromagnetic field strength and SAR
related to human exposure from radio base stations and fixed
terminal stations for wireless telecommunication systems
(110 MHz - 40 GHz).
–EN 60950-1: 2001 Information technology equipment –
Safety – Part 1: General Requirements.
- 7 -
Declaration of Conformity
Vesper Marine declares that this product is in compliance with the
essential requirements and other provisions of the R&TTE directive
1995/5/EC.
This product is for use worldwide, including the following European
countries:
ATBEBGCHCYCZDEDK
EEESFIFRGRHUIEIS
ITLILTLULVMTNONL
PLPTROSESISKUK
This device is also approved for use in the United States, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand.
System. A system of transceivers installed on vessels
which send continuously updated navigation
information. An AIS receiver or transceiver is used to
monitor these transmissions and the AISWatchMate is
used to display this information and trigger alarms
when there is a risk of collision.
BRG /
Bearing
Class A/BThere are two classes of AIS transceivers. Class A are
COGCourse over ground. The course a vessel is making
CPAClosest point of approach. The nearest distance in
FilterA set of criteria used to determine if a target should
GPSGlobal Positioning System. Used to provide your
IMO International Maritime Organization. A unique IMO
The location of another vessel typically expressed as
true or magnetic degrees. May also be expressed as
relative degrees from your vessel's heading.
used on vessels which have mandatory requirements
to carry AIS transceivers. Class B are used on vessels
for which AIS transceivers are optional.
which is not necessarily the same as the vessel's
heading.
nautical miles two vessels will come to one another if
they both maintain their current course and speed.
be included in the target list, such as its range or
speed.
vessel's current position, course, and speed.
number is permanently assigned to each ship and may
- 15 -
be used to find additional registration information for
a particular vessel.
HDG /
Heading
MMSIMaritime Mobile Service Identity. Used as a radio
ProfileA group of settings. Profiles allow you to organize
RNG /
Range
ROTRate of turn. The number of degrees a vessel is
SOGSpeed over ground. The actual speed in knots a vessel
The course a vessel is steering.
identifier for each vessel with digital radios such as an
AIS transceiver. Vessels may also transmit their name
to facilitate easier identification. These transmissions
occur at a different interval than position information
and as a result the name may not be immediately
available. All AIS transceivers require a unique
MMSI. The AISWatchMate will not transmit until you
configure your MMSI.
filter and alarm settings and activate them together
when your navigation situation changes.
The distance in nautical miles between two vessels.
turning over a specified amount of time. Usually per
minute but may also be per 30 seconds.
is making over the ground.
TargetAnother vessel for which AIS information has been
received.
Target ListThe set of all targets which meet the filter
requirements.
TCPAThe time until the closest point of approach.
- 16 -
Introduction
The AISWatchMate is a device which provides information to assist
in avoiding collisions at sea. It works by receiving and transmitting
data as part of the Universal Shipborne Automated Identification
Systems (AIS). The AIS system uses two dedicated VHF channels
designated for this purpose and with the installation of the
AISWatchMate to receive signals from other AIS-equipped vessels
you can view this information. In addition, your vessel data is
transmitted to other AIS-equipped vessels within range.
The AIS system provides several types of messages from other
vessels and base stations. Each type of message is sent at a different
interval based on the navigation status of the vessel. Vessels moving
or turning faster send out navigation information more frequently
than vessels at anchor. Data received from other vessels is split
between two types: navigation information and voyage information.
Vessel navigation and position information is generated by an onboard GPS or similar navigation device and is sent frequently.
Voyage information contains the ship's name, its destination, size,
type, cargo, etc. This data is typically only sent once every few
minutes.
The AISWatchMate provides a means to view how recently
information has been received from each vessel and this data is
designed to help you determine how accurate and dependable the
information may be at any given time.
The AISWatchMate refers to each vessel other than your own as a
target. Associated with each target are the most recently received
position, navigation, and voyage information. Also associated with
each target are computed data to help determine the risk of a
collision.
The targets are contained within a target list. The AISWatchMate
- 17 -
allows you to view the target list and also examine each target in
detail. By default, the target list is ordered by priority. You can
disable priority ordering if you wish. However, by viewing targets in
a prioritized fashion you can focus your interest on the targets most
likely to pose a collision risk first. Similarly, whenever a target
triggers an alarm you don't have to scroll to find it. The target is
displayed immediately with an indication of the cause of the alarm.
The AISWatchMate utilizes data from its built-in GPS receiver to
assist you in determining the risk of a collision with each target.
Multiple targets are automatically and continuously tracked
simultaneously. Alarms are associated with each individual target
and when an alarm is muted for one target it does not affect any other
targets which might also trigger alarms.
The computed data for each target includes the following items. Note
that in order to compute this data your vessel's current position,
course, and speed are required. The AISWatchMate receives this
information continuously from its built-in GPS.
If the built-in GPS does not have a valid “fix” then this
information will not be computed and displayed. In addition,
your own information will not be transmitted to other vessels.
RangeThe AISWatchMate computes the range
(distance in nautical miles) to each target
and displays it along with the target
information.
- 18 -
BearingThe bearing to each target is also
displayed. The bearing may be shown as
magnetic to facilitate quick visual
identification using a compass or
binoculars. However, if you wish you can
change a setting to display bearings in
degrees true or relative to your vessel's
current heading.
Closest point of
approach (CPA)
Time until CPA
(TCPA)
The AISWatchMate automatically updates these computed values
whenever new information is received from a target and also
whenever your vessel's position, speed, or course changes. The
information displayed is always the most up-to-date available but
because the AIS and GPS systems do not guarantee the frequency of
updates from each vessel it can be inaccurate and can become further
inaccurate as time progresses without continuous updates from both
The CPA is the closest a target will come
to your vessel if both your vessel and the
target maintain their existing course and
speed. It is displayed in nautical miles to
the nearest tenth or hundredth. As either
your vessel or the target changes its course
or speed, the CPA (along with all other
computed data) is automatically
recomputed and redisplayed.
This is the amount of time until the CPA
will occur. It indicates how much time is
available before the two vessels will reach
their nearest distance to each other. It is
displayed in minutes and seconds or just
minutes if the time exceeds one hour.
- 19 -
vessels.
Always check to see how long it has been since an update was
received from a vessel when relying on this information,
particularly in close situations. You do this by examining the “age”
of the target. See the target display section for more details.
The AIS system also includes messages broadcast from other vessels
and shore stations which may be used to send navigation warnings,
weather information, etc. The AISWatchMate displays this
information on the messages page and by default is configured to
sound an alert when a message is received.
We are always interested in your suggestions, comments, ideas, and
criticisms. We continuously strive to improve our products and
would greatly enjoy hearing from you.
Please contact us through our website www.vespermarine.com or
via e-mail to support@vespermarine.com.
Important Information
Before using the AISWatchMate, it is important that you read and
fully understand this owner's manual and installation instructions.
Although more vessels continue to install AIS transceivers it is
important to remember that not all vessels carry AIS transceivers.
The AISWatchMate can only display information received from
properly equipped and operated vessels. In addition, the
AISWatchMate relies on the accuracy of the GPS system. A failure or
compromised operation of either of these systems will reflect on the
accuracy of the data displayed and alarms triggered by the
AISWatchMate.
- 20 -
Specifications
Size (not including cables or
mounting bracket)
Flush mount thickness17mm (11/16”)
Mounting templateIncluded
Power supply12-24 VDC 1A max, 3W nominal
EnvironmentalWatertight (USCG CFR-46, IPx7)
Operating temperature-25°C to +55°C (-13°F to 131°F)
Storage temperature-25°C to +80°C (-13°F to 176°F)
LCD panel125mm (5”) FSTN 320x240 backlit
LCD light levelOff and multiple levels of
Serial data1 USB port, 1 NMEA input
Baud rates4800 and 38400
NMEA outputRMC, GSV, GSA, GGA, GLL,
208mm wide x 135mm high x
76mm depth
(8 3/16” x 5 5/16” x 3”)
brightness
(RS422), 1 NMEA output (RS422)
VTG, VDO, VDM, TXT
NMEA input (optional)ALR, HDG, HDM, HDT
AIS messages displayedAll Class A and Class B position
reports, voyage data, static data,
aids to navigation, search and
rescue, SART, meteorological /
hydrographic and broadcast safety
messages
(1,2,3,5,8,9,14,18,19,21,24A,24B)
- 21 -
Number of receivers2 AIS, 1 DSC (timeshared)
Number of transmitters1 AIS
Frequency range156.025 – 162.025 MHz
Channel bandwidth25 kHz
Sensitivity-107 dBm < 20% PER
Power output33 dBm (2W)
GPS50 channel
GPS sensitivity-159dBm tracking & navigation
-142dBm acquisition
GPS SBAS supportWAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN
Maximum number of
simultaneous targets displayed
Maximum number of
simultaneous broadcast safety
messages displayed
Maximum number of
simultaneous meteorological
stations displayed
150 (if more, then the lowest
priority target is replaced)
30 (if more, then the oldest message
is replaced)
30 (if more, then the oldest received
meteorological information is
replaced)
external relay if more is required.
cable available.
- 22 -
GPS antenna connectorTNC. Optional GPS antenna
available.
VHF antenna connectorSO-239
VHF antenna requiredPL-259 connector. 50 ohm, max 2:1
VSWR
Vesper Marine is committed to continuously improving our products.
As a result, specifications may change and there may also be
differences between the product and this manual.
- 23 -
- 24-
Installation
Requirements
The AISWatchMate requires a suitable VHF antenna which must be
supplied by the user and a clear view of the sky for the built-in GPS
or an external GPS antenna.
The following are required for installation:
●Various countries have regulations requiring a VHF radio
license to operate an AIS transceiver. Check with your local
authorities to determine the requirements for your area.
●You must have an assigned MMSI and Call Sign for your
vessel. If you do not have an assigned MMSI, contact the
relevant authority in your country. You must enter a valid
MMSI number into this device.
Once you enter the MMSI number it cannot be changed.
If you need to change the MMSI, please contact an
authorized dealer or Vesper Marine.
●A suitable VHF antenna or Vesper Marine AIS/VHF Antenna
Splitter. Performance cannot be assured if you use any other
antenna splitter. The use of an improper splitter may damage
your AISWatchMate and void your warranty.
●If you are not able to mount the unit with a clear view of the
sky or if your mounting location and / or other equipment
interferes with the built-in GPS antenna, then an optional
external GPS antenna is required. You must use a dedicated
GPS antenna which cannot be shared with any other
- 25 -
equipment. However, the GPS data produced by the
AISWatchMate is available for use by other optional
equipment connected to the NMEA output.
Mounting the Display
Your AISWatchMate is supplied with a trunnion mounting bracket if
you wish to mount it above or below a shelf or other support. You
may also mount the unit by cutting a hole in an instrument panel and
mounting it flush. Included is a template you can use to cut the hole
and drill four additional holes for the required fasteners. A gasket is
also included to seal the unit against your instrument panel.
Do not disassemble the unit or remove the screws which hold it
together. The unit is sealed and disassembly will void the warranty.
If you require service or assistance please contact your dealer or
Vesper Marine.
VHF Antenna Installation
The AISWatchMate must be connected to a suitable VHF antenna or
Vesper Marine AIS/VHF Antenna Splitter. Performance cannot be
assured if you use any other antenna splitter. The use of an improper
splitter may damage your AISWatchMate and void your warranty.
When installing the VHF antenna please take into consideration:
●The type of antenna should be an omnidirectional VHF
antenna designed for the marine band (156-162 MHz).
●There are AIS-frequency adapted antennas available. You
may also use a standard marine VHF antenna.
●The antenna must be dedicated and not connected to any
other equipment.
- 26 -
●Place your antenna as high as possible and at least 2-3 metres
(6-10 ft) above the water surface.
●Place your VHF antenna as far as possible from other
antennas and metal structures, especially other VHF, HF and
radar antennas. It is not recommended to place the VHF
antenna directly alongside a mast or another VHF antenna
such as on a mast-head.
GPS Antenna Installation
The AISWatchMate has an internal GPS patch antenna facing
upwards. This antenna requires a clear view of the sky. However, the
performance of the internal GPS antenna is also highly dependent on
where you place your AISWatchMate. For example, you may find that
it works well under a non-metallic dodger or spray hood but
performance may be reduced if the AISWatchMate is installed on,
under, or near metal structures. If you are mounting the display in a
location which will not provide adequate GPS signal coverage then
you must install a dedicated GPS antenna. You cannot share a GPS
or GPS antenna.
When installing an external GPS antenna please take into
consideration:
●Only use a 3.3VDC active antenna that contains a low noise
amplifier. Vesper Marine has available an optional external
GPS antenna designed specifically for use with the
AISWatchMate.
●The GPS antenna should be situated so it has an unobstructed
view of the sky above.
●Do not place the GPS antenna near or in the path of radar or
HF antennas.
- 27 -
●It is not necessary to change any settings when using the
optional Vesper Marine GPS antenna. Simply connect it to
the TNC connector on the back of the unit.
Considerations when using the internal GPS patch antenna:
●The AISWatchMate should be situated so it has no metal
obstructions over the top. The antenna is located in the back
“bulge” area at the top of the unit facing upwards.
●Avoid placing your hand or body over the antenna area as this
may reduce satellite signal strength.
Hint: Use the GPS Status screen to view satellite signal strengths
which will assist in determining the best location for the unit or
antenna.
Connectors
- 28 -
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