AISNet Internet AIS Receiver Base Station

? NOTE: This manual is only applicable to AISNet units built after September 2015. These units can be identified by them having a number of status LEDs on the front face of the product. Units prior to September 2015 had no status LEDs.

Installation and Instruction Manual

1. Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your AISNet Internet Base Station AIS Receiver. It is recommended that your receiver is installed by a professional installer. The AISNet requires connection to the internet via a local area network (LAN) and it is recommended that this is carried out by someone with suitable IT experience and knowledge of ethernet networks.

Before operating the unit you should familiarise yourself with this Quick Start manual and the manual for your personal computer and network router.

2. Before You Start

Items and Tools Required

The AISNet Receiver
An external, dedicated AIS/VHF antenna mounted as high as possible
RJ45 Cat 5 cable to connect between the AISNet and your Ethernet network
Access to a 110v/240v AC mains supply where the unit is to be installed.
M3 or M4 screws or other fixings appropriate to the mounting location.

Setup Requirements for Local Display

A PC or Mac with a free USB port
The latest AISNet configuration program V1.20 (available at https://support.digitalyacht.net)
Navigation software that can display AIS targets (e.g., SmarterTrack Lite, available at https://support.digitalyacht.net)

3. Installation

Location Considerations

The unit is designed for mounting at home or in an office and is not water resistant.
Install in a cool, dry location.
Can be mounted on a vertical or horizontal surface.
Consider routing of power and antenna cables to the unit.
Ensure sufficient space around the unit for cable connections.
Plan routing of USB data connections to a PC from the unit (if necessary).
Maintain the compass safe distance of 0.5m.

Installation Step 1: Antenna and Cable Routing

Siting of the VHF antenna is critical for good AIS reception. The aerial needs to be outside and as high as possible. Do not lengthen or shorten the supplied cable unless the aerial manufacturer states that this is acceptable.
Exercise care when cutting and rejoining the cable to ensure good connectivity, isolation of inner and outer coax connections, and protection from physical and environmental damage.
Run the VHF co-axial cables to the AIS Receiver and terminate with the correct BNC connector (Bayonet).
Run the USB interface cable from the AIS Receiver to a suitable PC computer.
Do not make any connections yet.
The USB Interface Standard specifies that USB cables should be no longer than 5m without using a special powered USB extender cable. Ensure the total USB cable length from the AIS Receiver to the PC is less than 5m.

Installation Step 2: Mounting the Unit

Use suitable fixings (not supplied) to fix the AISNet to a flat surface, following the dimensions and details shown in the drawing. The unit may be installed in any orientation.

Diagram showing the dimensions of the AISNet unit. It includes a top-down view with dimensions 244mm and 60.5mm, and a side view with a height of 150mm.

Once the unit is secured, position the antennas so they are pointing vertically upwards or, if connected via extension leads, mount and secure them within the cabin area.

Installation Step 3: Power and Network Connections

The supplied mains adaptor has suitable plug fittings for Europe, USA, and the United Kingdom. Select and fit the plug required for your location. If the AC Mains socket has a switch, ensure the switch is OFF before plugging in the adaptor. If the AC mains socket does not have a switch, do not plug in the adaptor yet.
Plug in the 12v DC Jack plug (2.1mm centre pin positive) into the power socket on the AISNet.
Plug one end of the RJ45 Cat 5 network cable (not supplied) into the AISNet and the other end into a spare network socket (LAN) on your Ethernet network. On small home/office wireless networks, this will likely be a LAN connector on the back of the wireless router.

Installation Step 4: USB Configuration

To display AIS targets locally on a PC or Mac, use the AISNet USB cable. Windows PCs need to be turned on and connected to the internet before plugging in the USB cable, allowing Windows to automatically download the USB drivers.
Identify the device name assigned to the AISNet by Windows (e.g., COM3, COM4) or by the Mac (e.g., /dev/cu.usbmodem1234). Select this name in your navigation program. Remember to set the data speed to 38400 baud for AIS, not the standard 4800 baud for NMEA0183.
The AISNet can operate using USB power for the USB interface and AIS reception. However, the network interfacing will not operate without the main power supply being connected and turned on.

Installation Step 5: Powering Up and Status Check

With all connections made, apply power to the AISNet. Turn ON the AC Mains Adaptor or plug it in. The green POWER LED on the front of the AISNet should illuminate.
Assuming the AIS/VHF antenna is connected and AIS targets are within reception range (typically 20NM or more), the yellow RECEIVE LED on the front of the AISNet should flash each time an AIS target is received.
If the network interface is powered up and working, the green NMEA LED will flash. Once a TCP connection is established, the green TCP/IP LED will illuminate.
By observing the LEDs, the status of the AISNet can be determined. If everything appears to be working correctly, installation is complete. Proceed to section 4, Network Configuration.

Front panel of the AISNet unit showing status LEDs: POWER (green), RECEIVE (yellow), NMEA (green), TCP/IP (green). Connection ports labeled: NETWORK, BNC VHF ANT, USB, DC 12V. Product details: PART NOS: ZDIGAISNET, Manufactured in the UK, 12V DC OPERATION ONLY, Tested to comply with FCC standards.

4. Network Configuration

Network Setup Overview

This guide assumes experience with PC network setup. For unusual configurations or assistance, contact support@digitalyacht.co.uk.
Most Small Office or Home (SoHo) networks use a wireless router connected to a "Broadband Modem" (e.g., cable, ADSL, DSL, ISDN, 3G, satellite).
Routers commonly assign IP addresses using DHCP. These settings will work with DHCP. If your network uses static IPs, you will need to allocate an unused IP address for the Base Station.

Diagram illustrating a typical Home/Small Office Network setup. It shows a Broadband modem connected to a Wireless router, which then connects to computers, printers, and entertainment consoles via Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi.

Configuring the AISNet Network Settings

Download and install the latest AISNet Configuration Tool from the Digital Yacht website.
Run the program and click the "search" icon to find the AIS Base Station.
After the search, the Mac Address of the AISNet will appear in the Module List.

Screenshots of the WIZnet Configuration Tool. Figure 1 shows the initial search screen. Figure 2 shows the tool with the AISNet module detected and initial network settings displayed. Figure 3 shows the tool with specific network settings configured for online AIS services like Marine Traffic.

Applying and Verifying Settings

Ensure the IP Configuration Method is set to "DHCP".
Set the operation mode to "TCP CLIENT" or "UDP", as these protocols are tested with Marine Traffic and should work with other online AIS services.
Enter the Host IP address and Remote Port provided by your chosen On-Line AIS service. These unique settings identify your station to the AIS server.
The Local port can be any unused port on your network; the default of 2000 is usually suitable.
Once all settings are correct, click the "Setting" icon to copy them to the AISNet Base Station memory.
To apply the new settings, click the "Reset" button (not "Factory Reset") or power cycle the AISNet. The AISNet will restart with the new settings after a few seconds.

Verifying Data Reception

Check the website of your chosen on-line AIS service (e.g., Marine Traffic) to confirm that your data is being received.

Screenshots of the MarineTraffic.com website. One shows the Live Ships Map, and another displays the details of an AIS receiving station, including status, reception distance, and records received.

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