PILOTLINK2 CLASS A AIS WIRELESS INTERFACE

1. Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your PilotLink2 Class A AIS Wireless Interface. This product replaces the original PilotLink product and features a PilotLink2 web interface that can be displayed and configured using the web browser on your mobile device.

PilotLink2 is designed to be easy to install, allowing Pilots to quickly take it from vessel to vessel, just plugging into the ship's Class A Transponder and powering it from a USB socket or power pack.

Alternatively, Pilotlink2 can be permanently installed and left connected to the Class A transponder and USB power socket.

? Before installing and operating this unit, you should consult the user manual of the navigation equipment that you are connecting this unit to.

2. Before you start

You will need the following items to complete the install:

• The PilotLink2 Wireless NMEA Server (supplied).
• A powered USB Type A socket or USB power pack, to provide power to the PilotLink2.
• M3 or M4 screws or other fixings appropriate to the mounting location, if you are permanently installing the unit (not supplied).
• Suitable navigation software running on a PC, iPhone/iPad, Mac or other wireless device.
• A Class A AIS Transponder with an IMO Pilot Plug Socket.

3. Installation

The PilotLink2 is IP54 rated (water resistant) and should only be used/installed in a dry location. Before installing, please consider:

• Routing of the Pilot Plug cable to the Class A transponder.
• A suitable USB power source – USB cable length cannot exceed 5m.
• Maintaining the compass safe distance of 0.5m.
• Best location for Wi-Fi reception, i.e., not inside a metal enclosure.

Installation Step 1 - Cabling

• Connect the PilotLink2's Pilot Plug cable to the Pilot socket of the Class A transponder.
• Route the USB cable to a USB power source, but do not plug it in yet.

Installation Step 2 – Mounting the PilotLink2

• Using suitable fixings, attach the PilotLink2 to a flat surface.
• The unit may be installed in any orientation.

Diagram Description: A diagram shows the unit's dimensions. The 'Side View' indicates a height of 72mm and a depth of 31.5mm. The 'View from Above' shows a width of 105mm, with mounting holes centered 95mm apart.

Installation Step 3 – Powering the PilotLink

Any USB Type A socket can be used to power the PilotLink2, which consumes less than 100mA.

Plug the USB cable into the USB socket. The three LEDs should start to illuminate or flash. The following table shows what each LED indicates:

Installation Step 4 – Wireless Interfacing

By default, the PilotLink2 Server's 802.11 b/g/n wireless adapter creates a wireless Access Point (hotspot) on-board your boat. The Name (SSID) of the Access Point will be "PilotLink2-xxxx", where xxxx is the unique four-digit code of your device.

To connect to the PilotLink2, you will need to scan for wireless networks, select it, and then enter the default WPA2 password, which is "PASS-xxxx", where xxxx is the same unique four-digit code as in the PilotLink2's wireless network name (SSID).

Consult the user manual for your wireless device to understand how to connect to a wireless network.

The PilotLink2 can transmit wireless NMEA data using two different network modes: either TCP (up to 3 devices) or UDP (multiple device connection). There is no need to select which mode you want to use, as PilotLink2 supports both modes at the same time.

Once your mobile device is wirelessly connected to the PilotLink2, open the navigation application that accepts NMEA data over a TCP or UDP connection and set up the connection. Consult the help documentation for your App to see how wireless data connections should be configured.

By default, the IP address and port that the PilotLink2 transmits data on are:

• IP Address: 192.168.1.1
• Port: 2000

Note that some UDP connections do not ask you to enter the IP address, just the port number.

4. Normal Operation

Each time NMEA data is received, the yellow Data LED will flash. In some busy AIS areas, this LED will be constantly flickering, and even when there are few vessels around, this LED should flash at least once per second.

By default, PilotLink2 creates its own WPA2 password-protected wireless network within a few seconds of powering up, and the red Status LED will flash. As soon as a wireless device successfully connects to the PilotLink2's wireless network, the red Status LED will turn OFF, and the Green Link LED will start to flash.

Using the PilotLink2's Web Interface: Any device, wirelessly connected to the PilotLink2, can access its web interface by typing http://192.168.1.1 or http://pilotlink2.local into its browser's address bar.

Figure 1 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 web interface homepage. It displays "Welcome to the PilotLink2 Interface" and three main buttons: "AIS STATUS", "VIEW DATA", and "SETTINGS".

From the home page, you can view the Dynamic, Static, and Voyage data from the Class A transponder by clicking the "AIS Status" button. When you first enter this page, you will only see the latest Dynamic Data.

Figure 2 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "AIS Status" page showing "Waiting for Static and Voyage Data" and a table of "DYNAMIC DATA" including Longitude, Latitude, COG, SOG, ROT, and True Heading.

Within 6 minutes, the Static and Voyage data will be displayed.

Figure 3 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "AIS Status" page showing "DYNAMIC DATA", "DIMENSIONS" (with a diagram of a boat with an antenna and dimensions A, B, C, D), "STATIC DATA" (IMO, Call Sign, Vessel Type), and "VOYAGE DATA" (ETA, Destination, Max Draught). The MMSI is also displayed.

This is the Class A AIS Transponder's "Own Data" that the PilotLink2 is decoding from the NMEA 0183 VDO Sentences that the transponder is outputting on its Pilot Plug socket.

If the data is not being received or there are problems with the data, it is possible to display or log the raw NMEA 0183 data being output by the Class A transponder by clicking on the "View Data" button on the home page. This will display the Data Monitor page, where you should see a stream of data sentences scrolling down the page.

Figure 4 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "Data Monitor" page displaying a scrolling stream of NMEA data sentences. It also shows buttons for "Pause", "Start/Stop logging", and "Download" logged data.

At the bottom of this page are three buttons: Pause to freeze the scrolling data, Start/Stop logging the data, and Download the logged data to your wireless device.

The "Settings" button on the home page takes you to the settings page.

Figure 5 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "Settings" page, showing the "Network Settings" section with fields for LOCAL SSID, PASSWORD, LOCAL IP, NETMASK, WIFI MODE (AP/STA), and WIFI CHANNEL.

5. Settings Configuration

In the "Network Settings" section, you can change the wireless network name and password of the PilotLink2, change the IP address it uses, and change the WiFi channel, in case another nearby wireless network is using the same channel.

By default, the PilotLink2 is in Access Point (AP) mode and creates its own wireless network. If you wish to make PilotLink2 join an existing wireless network, set the WiFi Mode to Station (STA) mode.

Figure 6 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "Settings" page showing the "Network Settings" section with WiFi Mode set to STA. It displays example fields for STATION SSID and PASSWORD.

If you click on the "Station SSID" box, you will see a list of all nearby wireless networks. Select the wireless network you want the PilotLink2 to join and enter the network's wireless password in the Password box. As you type, a series of "******" characters will display to "hide" the password, but to be sure you have entered it correctly, you can click on the "Eye" icon to display what you have typed.

If the wireless network you are joining uses fixed IP addresses, you can also set the PilotLink2 to use a fixed IP address by turning off the AUTO IP (DHCP) switch and typing in the IP address and Netmask you need. Unless you are experienced in computer networking, it is not recommended to change these settings.

Once you have made all of the wireless network changes you need, click the "Update Settings" button. A "Settings Changed Successfully" pop-up box will appear, stating that the PilotLink2 is going to reboot in 20 seconds.

If you have changed the PilotLink2 to operate in Station (STA) mode and join another network, as it reboots, the red Status LED will flash for a few seconds and then it should turn OFF and the green Link LED should start flashing, to indicate that the PilotLink2 is connected to another network. If, however, it cannot join the other network (because it is turned off or you entered the wrong password), the red Status LED will turn ON and stay on.

In this situation, or in any other situation where a setting has been wrongly made and you cannot access the PilotLink2, the only option is to factory reset the PilotLink2 by pressing and holding the Reset button for 10 seconds or more.

Assuming that the Pilotlink2 has successfully joined the other network, it will now have a different IP address, and you will have to access its web interface by going to http://pilotlink2.local.

Now, in the Settings page, you can see the wireless network and password boxes outlined in Green, to indicate that the connection has been successful. The IP address shown is the address that the PilotLink2 has on the new network.

Figure 7 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "Settings" page showing a successful connection in STA mode. The "STATION SSID" and "PASSWORD" fields are outlined in Green, and the "IP AT STATION" address is displayed.

Scroll down the Settings page, and you will see the "Data Connections" section where you can change the TCP and UDP port numbers (not recommended) and also see any active TCP connections (up to 3 allowed) with the IP address of the devices.

Figure 8 Description: Screenshot of the PilotLink2 "Settings" page showing the "Data Connections" section (TCP PORT, UDP PORT, ACTIVE TCP CONNECTIONS) and the "Firmware update" section. It also displays the Product Serial Number and Firmware version.

Finally, at the bottom of the Settings page is the "Firmware Update" section, for updating the unit (if necessary), and also the product serial number and current firmware version are displayed. There are also links to "Send email to support", "Visit Digital Yacht Website", and "Visit NMEA Website".