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Frequently Asked Questions
Receiver - General Questions
- What is the warranty on Shine Micro products?
- How should I mount my RadarPlus
® receiver?
- My receiver is working intermittently with
my chart plotting software. What could the problem be?
- What AIS message types are supported by RadarPlus
® receivers?
- Can any of your receivers operate as a portable
device?
Receiver - Connections
- I've installed my receiver and have connected it
to my PC but I'm unable to view the data on the PC. What could my problem
be?
- Is it possible to receive my AIS data in two
locations?
Receiver - AIS Antenna
- What antenna is recommended for use with your receivers?
- When is a corner reflector a better choice than
an omni-directional antenna for AIS?
- Do RadarPlus ® receivers
require a dedicated VHF antenna or can I use a splitter?
Receiver - GPS
- What functionality does a GPS receiver provide for
an AIS receiver?
- Can I bring any old GPS signal into your receivers,
or is there something particular about the one you supply?
- Will your "puck" antenna plug straight into
the laptop without going through the receiver?
- Does a stand-alone GPS need a separate power supply,
or can it power off of the USB port?
Receiver - Network
- How is data sent over the Ethernet Interface of
your SL161RGN or SM161R-2 Network Receiver?
- Who provides the network data?
Receiver - Power Supply
- What kind of power does a RadarPlus
® receiver need? If I'm going to take it around to various boats
what kind of power hookup do I need in addition to the laptop power?
- Is the wall transformer needed on a vessel
with 12 volt DC readily available?
Receiver - Repair
- Where can I send Shine Micro equipment for repair?
Transponder
- What is the difference between your transponder
models SM162B and and SL162B?
- When will the RadarPlus
® SM162B be available for purchase?
- Is the SM162B USCG and ABS approved for commercial
vessels?
- What software is required to operate the transponder?
- How can I get a copy of the SM162B transponder
owner's manual?
- What periperhal devices are required to operate
this transponder?
- May the SM162B substitute for a similar apparatus
such as AIS Furuno FA-150?
Other
- What is an MMSI Number, and how do I obtain one?
- How do I find or become a dealer?
Receiver - General Questions
- What is the warranty on
Shine Micro products?
Shine Micro warrants its products to be free from defects for one full
year from the date of purchase. Shine Micro will, at its sole discretion,
repair or replace any components that fail in normal use. Labor and
material costs for such repairs or replacement will be free of charge.
This warranty does not cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accidents,
or unauthorized alterations or repairs.
- How should I mount my RadarPlus
® receiver?
The RadarPlus ® receiver is intended to be
a table-top or shelf-mount device. A mounting diagram which illustrates
the two holes available for bolting the unit to your desired surface
is provided with your shipment. Another popular method for securing
your receiver is adhesive-backed Velcro.
- My receiver is working
intermittently with my chart plotting software. What could the problem
be?
The "auto-setup" feature of many software programs does not
correctly locate and recognize the port connection of the RadarPlus
®, so first try configuring your port manually within the software.
Manual port configuration instructions are provided with the serial
interface documentation of your purchase. If problems persist, please
contact us for additional support.
- What AIS message types are
supported by RadarPlus ® receivers?
The RadarPlus ® receiver carries all safety-related
messages such as types 9, 12, 13, and 14; along with a superset of other
new messages. For more information, please contact
us for a full serial interface specification.
- Can any of your receivers
operate as a portable device?
Yes, a hand-held VHF antenna is available if you would like to
be completely mobile without losing AIS reception. The part number is
ANT-1463-162 and it sells for $68.60. It is a three-element aluminum
antenna with a foam grip. The following items are recommended for portable
operation:
- Laptop running chart plotting software
- RadarPlus ® SL161RG receiver(includes
puck GPS antenna with cable)
- Straight-through serial cable from SL161RG to your laptop
- Handheld VHF antenna ANT-1463-162
- VHF cable from SL161RG to handheld antenna.
Receiver - Connections
- I've installed my receiver
and have connected it to my PC but I'm unable to view the data on the
PC. What could my problem be?
The most common reason for the inability to view data is the use of
null-modem cable. The RadarPlus ® requires
a straight-through serial cable for the receipt of data. If a null-modem
cable is used from your PC to the SL161R you will not be able view the
data (as pins 2 and 3 are reversed versus straight-through operation).
Please contact us to request a wiring
pin-out if you would like to build your own serial cable.
- Is it possible to receive
my AIS data in two locations?
Assuming that the load for each of the display devices is relatively
low, using a splitter cable to feed the output to two devices will work
fine. We do not supply such a cable, but when you purchase your RadarPlus
® we will be happy to provide you with the DB9 pin-out to help
you with making or finding one.
Receiver - AIS Antenna
- What antenna is recommended
for use with your receivers?
The Morad HD 159 omni-directional VHF antenna for AIS (Shine Micro P/N
ANT-00HD-159) is recommended for most installations and is available
for $141.00.
- When is a corner reflector
a better choice than an omni-directional antenna for AIS?
Some base stations are located on shorelines where it is only necessary
to 'see' in one direction, and in fact 'seeing' in all directions would
be noisy and result in shorter reception ranges. This makes a directional
antenna a better choice. For example: a base station site on the 12th
story of a 15 story building, with the antenna mounted to the side of
the building. This may be a port authority, or the offices of a tug
company perhaps. AIS is a robust tool for both navigation and security.
- Do RadarPlus
® receivers require a dedicated VHF antenna for AIS or can I
use a splitter?
Yes, our receivers require a dedicated VHF antenna tuned to the AIS
frequency range of 161.975 to 162.025 MHz. If a splitter is used reception
sensitivity will be reduced.
Receiver - GPS
- What functionality does a GPS
receiver provide for an AIS Receiver?
The integrated GPS is required for position accuracy and Time-of-Arrival
information in RadarPlus ® receivers that
utilize our Enhanced Signal Analysis software. In other receive-only
applications it is not required, but is a convenient way to reduce the
number of gadgets inputting to a PC (since the chart plotting software
will need a GPS input.) If an external GPS already fed into the charting
system then having one integrated into the receiver would be redundant;
but if the number of available data ports is limited then it is a handy
way to make the most of what you have.
- Can I bring any old GPS
signal into your unit, or is there something particular about the one
you supply?
The integrated GPS is used for the benefit of your display device, not
by the AIS receiver itself. It is a convenience factor to reduce the
number of electronic devices you have cluttering your wheelhouse and
is particularly useful to users with a limited number of ports into
their display. If your display already has GPS inputting into it, it
is not necessary to duplicate that by using an SL161RG - you would receive
all of the same AIS information with an SL161R. To clarify, if you have
an external GPS you do not need to route it through your SL161RG.
- Will your "puck" antenna
plug straight into the laptop without going through the receiver?
The puck antenna supplied with an SL161RG has a male SMA connector on
the cable; it can be used with any device that has a mating female SMA
connector. Keep in mind however that the puck is just an antenna - not
a GPS receiver. It would not supply your laptop with GPS input without
being connected to a GPS device.
- Does a stand-alone GPS need
a separate power supply, or can it power off of the USB port?
If you are running a separate GPS other than what is in the SL161RG
it may have its own additional power requirements. It is probable that
there are models that can be powered directly through the USB port,
though Shine Micro does not deal in stand-alone GPS devices.
Receiver - Network
- How is data sent over the
Ethernet Interface of your SL161RGN or SM161RGN-2 Network Receiver?
The SM161RGN-2 (or previously the SL161RGN) is a modified SM161RG-2
AIS receiver that uses (and is powered through) an external Ethernet
interface adapter. A serial interface specification is available upon
request, and supplied with your purchase. To learn more about the Shine
Micro Live AIS Network, click here!
- Who provides the network
data?
The network is currently facilitated by the voluntary participation
of RadarPlus AIS Network Receiver purchasers. Network participants receive
the entire datastream that powers what you see on the web, not just
the images publicly available. Also, it is a requirement of the Shine
Micro Dealer Program that each dealer around the world have a network
receiver online - significantly increasing the scale of coverage.
Receiver - Power Supply
- What kind of power does a RadarPlus
® receiver need? If I'm going to take it around to various boats
what kind of power hookup do I need in addition to the laptop power?
RadarPlus ® receivers run on 12 volt DC and
comes with a standard "wall wart" transformer. A spare plug
for mating to the jack on the receiver is also supplied should you chose
to build your own power cable.
- Is the wall transformer
needed on a vessel with 12 volt DC readily available?
No, our receivers can be hard-wired to your 12 volt power supply if
you'd prefer; an extra plug that mates to the RadarPlus
® power connector is provided for this purpose.
Receiver - Repair
- Where can I send Shine Micro
equipment for repair?
The return of units for repair or replacement requires a procedural
Returned Goods Authorization, or RGA. Please contact
us and briefly describe the nature of the faults you are experiencing
so we may be of best assistance. Please also reference the order number
provided at the time of purchase. If a unit is determined to require
return to our facility an RGA will be issued and instructions given
at that time.
Transponder
- What is the difference between
your transponder models SM162B and and SL162B?
The SL162B was a prototype model of the product that will be released
under the new (correct) model number of SM162B. The all-in-one design
of the RadarPlus ® SM162B is intended for
versatile installation nearly anywhere on your vessel - from a kayak
to a private yacht to a tug boat.
- When will the RadarPlus
® SM162B be available for purchase?
The SM162B is scheduled for release within 6 months of FCC and USCG
approval, and will retail for $1,499.00. Shipping charges will depend
upon the shipment method you choose.
- Is the SM162B USCG and
ABS approved for commercial vessels?
The SM162B is currently undergoing USCG and FCC certification and will be released within 6 months of approval.
All Class B AIS Transponders are currently awaiting FCC approval for use in the U.S., as the FCC has not yet implemented a standard for Class B AIS.
- What software is required
to operate the transponder?
Additional software is required for the viewing of targets, but not
for the input of your vessel's data. Vessel data, such as MMSI number,
will be collected from the purchaser and hard-coded into the unit before
shipment. Other vessel information may be programmable by the end user
utilizing custom software provided with the transponder, details will
be available upon release of the device. No user software is required
for the SM162B to transmit its hard-coded information, or to begin receiving
AIS information; simply connect the SM162B to power and it will begin
operating.
- How can I get a copy of the
owners manual?
The SM162B owners manual is not yet available pursuant to final changes
before release.
- What periperhal devices
are required to operate this transponder?
The RadarPlus ® SM162B is an All-In-One Class
B AIS; including two AIS receivers, an AIS transmitter, a GPS, GPS antenna,
and AIS antenna all in one enclosure. An external display device of
your choice (PC, lap top, chart plotter, etc.) is required to view the
received data, though once connected to power the SM162B will function
independently of the display regardless.
- May the SM162B substitute
for a similar apparatus such as AIS Furuno FA-150?
Yes, substitution is possible, depending on local laws. The Furuno FA-150
is a Class A AIS system whereas the RadarPlus ®
is a Class B. Many countries (including the US) do NOT have a class
requirement for mandatory carriage; they merely require certain vessels
to operate an AIS.
- What is an MMSI Number, and
how do I obtain one?
The acronym MMSI stands for Maritime Mobile Service Identity. Sometimes
called a "DSC Number", an MMSI is a 9-digit code that can be programmed
into certain types of radio equipment, such as a marine radio with Digital
Selective Calling (DSC). All INMARSAT satellite terminals use an MMSI
number as the heart of their identification string, and the numbers
are also used by 406Mhz EPIRB's (Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacons). When programmed into marine radio equipment, an MMSI provides
a unique, internationally standardized number to identify the vessel.
Description provided by: marinecomputer.com
- How do I find a dealer?
Click here to visit our Commercial Sales page.
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