Automatic Identerification System (Ais); General - Standard Horizon QUANTUM GX6500E Owner's Manual

12 AUTOMATIC IDENTERIFICATION SYSTEM (AIS)

12.1

GENERAL

• The GX6500E/GX6000E is equipped with an antenna jack designated
for AIS. By connecting a marine antenna to this jack, the transceiver
can receive AIS signals while receiving a voice channel signals.
• Install the antenna for voice channels and the antenna for AIS as far
away from each other as possible. Having a large vertical distance is
especially effective for improving high frequency isolation. To make
even longer-range communication possible, it is recommended to install
the antenna for voice channel at a height higher than the antenna for
AIS.
• The GX6500 supports AIS signal transmission as a standard feature.
The GX6000 does not transmit AIS signals.
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a short range coastal tracking
system. AIS is intended to assist in collision avoidance by seeing positions and
courses of AIS equipped vessels around your vessel.
AIS is mandatory on passenger ships, irrespective of size, all ships 300 gross
tonnage and larger engaged on international voyages, cargo ships of 500 gross
tonnage and larger not engaged on international voyages.
AIS uses two marine VHF channels. Each ship equipped with an AIS transpon-
der transmits a packet every few seconds with information about the ship and
its voyage. Radio frequencies: AIS1 = 161.975 MHz, or channel 87B and AIS2
162.025 MHz , or channel 88B. A stand-alone AIS receiver or the AIS receiver
built in to a Class A or Class B transponder can pick up these radio signals
and translate them into a NMEA data sentence that can be understood by a
computer with the proper software or by an AIS-enabled chart plotter.
Classes of AIS:
Class A - 12.5W power output - mandated for use on SOLAS Chapter V vessels
(and others in some countries).
Class B CS - 2W output - lower cost derivative for leisure and non-SOLAS
markets.
The GX6500E/GX6000E is capable of receiving Class A and B transmission
with the internal Dual Channel AIS receiver.
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NOTE
GX6500E/GX6000E