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Weatherdock vmsTRACK-PRO Manual

Ais transponder for vms tracking using ais-class b cstdma and dsc, with gps
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„vmsTRACK-PRO" - Transponder
Manual
AIS transponder for VMS tracking
using AIS-Class B CSTDMA and DSC,
with GPS
Rev. 1.7
Weatherdock AG, Germany

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Summary of Contents for Weatherdock vmsTRACK-PRO

  • Page 1 „vmsTRACK-PRO” - Transponder Manual AIS transponder for VMS tracking using AIS-Class B CSTDMA and DSC, with GPS Rev. 1.7 Weatherdock AG, Germany...
  • Page 2 When necessary upgrades to the product will be accompanied by...
  • Page 3 Information contained in this manual is liable to change without notice. Weatherdock AG disclaims any liability for consequences arising from omissions or inaccuracies in this manual and any other documentation provided with this product.
  • Page 4 BE INITIALIZED BY THE USER IN CASE OF EMERGENCY All trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2016, Weatherdock AG Copying of this document, and giving it to others and the use or communication of the contents thereof, is forbidden without express authority.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    2.2.1 GPS LED ..............12 2.2.2 ON LED ..............12 2.2.3 ALERT LED..............13 Geo-Fence LED ............13 2.2.4 OPERATION INSTRUCTION ..........14 Activation "ON" ............. 14 Activation ‘ALERT’ ............17 BRACKET ................18 Weatherdock AG page 5 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 6 Save Map (Coastline / Geofence) ......43 7.6.4 Verify Map (Coastline / Geofence) ......43 7.6.5 Type of Power-Supply ...........44 Tamper Sources ............45 GPS-Track Download ............ 45 7.10 Switching-off in Bracket ..........46 Weatherdock AG page 6 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 7 7.11 OK- and Cancel Button ..........47 7.12 History of Programming ..........48 7.13 Firmware Update ............49 7.14 Setup with “vmsTRACK-PRO User” - App ..... 51 CARRYING BAG ..............53 Inserting the device ............53 Attach bag at arm ............54 TECHNICAL DATA ..............

  • Page 8: Short Description

    Rev. 1.6 Minor changes, Feb 2020 Rev. 1.7 Minor design changes, Feb 2021 1 Short description The vmsTRACK-PRO is a portable battery or wire powered VHF- Position transmitter with an integrated GPS-receiver. The device is intended for the use in locating operations.

  • Page 9: Optional Features

    The range depends on the height of the transmitters’ antenna over sea level. The range is approx. 10-15 nautical miles, if the height of vmsTRACK-PRO’s antenna 1 m and up above sea level assumed that the receiving antenna is at a height of 5 m and up (ship's VHF antenna).
  • Page 10 To find out your unit’s optional features please have a look at the checkboxes on the label: Weatherdock AG page 10 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 11: Activators And Indicators

    2 Activators and Indicators Weatherdock AG page 11 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 12: Activating Elements

    2.2.2 ON LED The yellow LED, with the marking „ON", is blinking, when the vmsTRACK-PRO is activated in case of Normal Operation mode. This LED gives also information about the battery status. Regular flashing shows battery full. Double flash means the battery is half full.

  • Page 13: Alert Led

    In charging mode this LED is illuminated continuously when the battery is full charged. 2.2.4 Geo-Fence LED The white LED is flashing, when the vmsTRACK-PRO has entered a Geo-Fence region. By that flashing LED, the captain is informed and advised to leave that region until the LED turns off.

  • Page 14: Operation Instruction

     The yellow LED starts flashing every 2 seconds. As soon as a GPS position is available the GPS-LED start flashing too. The vmsTRACK-PRO transmits a burst of eight VHF messages. When the vessel has moved 2 nautical miles or every 60 seconds (or other interval time), another burst is transmitted.
  • Page 15  In case that the vmsTRACK-PRO detects manipulation (tamper), the unit will transmit every 60 sec, until the tamper situation has disappeared.  With the vmsTRACK-PRO VHF receiver connected to a chart plotter or laptop with navigational software you can check the transmission of the vmsTRACK-PRO.
  • Page 16  The bright white LED starts flashing, when the vessel is entering a geo-fenced area. The captain is advised to leave this area.  To deactivate “ON” please press the “ON” button for three seconds, until all LED's are off. Weatherdock AG page 16 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 17: Activation 'Alert

    3.2 Activation ‘ALERT’  Shift the slider down (green arrow) and,  Press the button “ALERT” until the green LED is on. Then take care that the vmsTRACK-PRO has got line of sight to the sky. This ensures best GPS reception conditions.

  • Page 18: Bracket

     The VHF message 1 or 18 have set the "Manual Alert" bit, see  The ALERT-mode can be terminated by pressing both buttons for more than 3 seconds. The device enters the normal operation mode ("ON").

  • Page 19: Installation Tips

    4.1 Installation Tips To insert the vmsTRACK-PRO into the bracket, you can see it in pictures below. Weatherdock AG page 19 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 20: Installation On A Pole Or At A Wall

    4.2 Installation on a pole or at a wall In the next pictures and sketches, you can see how to mount these devices on a pole or at a wall: Weatherdock AG page 20 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 21 This wall can be a wooden or plastic wall. In case of a metal wall, you have to consider the antenna position. The antenna must not be infront of a metal wall. The vmsTRACK-PRO should be placed as high as possible, so that the antenna...

  • Page 22: Charging The Batteries

    Once the stick is in, you cannot pull out the vmsTRACK-PRO without destroying the bracket or vmsTRACK-PRO; so be careful using the stick. 5 Charging the batteries The vmsTRACK-PRO can be recharged in the Power-Bracket.
  • Page 23 Place the vmsTRACK-PRO into the Battery-Charger. The battery charger must be connected to DC power supply (9 to 32 VDC, 2 A). You can charge the unit in any mode. When the unit is off, the LEDs will show the charging status. If the yellow LED is continuously on, the batteries will be charged.

  • Page 24: Programming

    The Unit-ID is a 9-digit figure like the MMSI, known from the AIS system. It is a unique number pre-programmed by the manufacturer or administrator. In order to program the vmsTRACK-PRO you need the USB- Programmer device A124, which can be purchased from your distributor.
  • Page 25 Now you have to insert the vmsTRACK-PRO into the Programmer. The vmsTRACK-PRO will turn on immediately. You have to wait ca. 8-12 sec seconds until the white LED is turned on only! Weatherdock AG page 25 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 26 When the white LED lights up, go to the next step in the PC software, select the right COM-Port and press "Connect". After that the following picture will occur: Weatherdock AG page 26 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 27: Administrator Settings

    (B084), which has to be inserted into a USB port. (Administrator - Dongle) Then you do have special rights in order to change other settings of the vmsTRACK-PRO, which are explained in the following chapter. The "Administrator ID" is the serial number of the dongle.

  • Page 28: Set Identifiers

    7.2 Frequency Setting On the right side you can change the frequency the vmsTRACK-PRO is sending. The frequency must be applied at the local authority (of the country). You can select two different or two same frequencies. When choosing two frequencies, the vmsTRACK-PRO is alternating its transmissions on these channels.

  • Page 29: Bracket Tamper (Optional Accessory)

    Bracket Tamper, the vmsTRACK-PRO detects that and sends out an alerting message to the shore station. To pair the vmsTRACK-PRO with a bracket, you have to acquire the right AES-128 key. Every bracket has got its individual key. Weatherdock AG page 29 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 30 VHF channel. If a vmsTRACK-PRO is already paired you see the following figure: If the bracket or the vmsTRACK-PRO has to be exchanged for some reason (hardware defect), Administrator can restart pairing by pressing on the button “Do Bracket Teach-In”.

  • Page 31: Security-Encryption

    7.5 Map and Geofencing The vmsTRACK-PRO has the ability of checking its GPS position against geo-regions, which are stored in the vmsTRACK-PRO memory. Geo-regions can be rectangular shapes, circular shapes or the contour of the coast line.

  • Page 32: Set Parameters

    In case of a geo-fence alert the vmsTRACK-PRO will also send out an alert message to the shore station. How to define the Geofence regions please see the chapter "Create Maps".
  • Page 33  Geofence Coast Here you can change the width of the zone (counted from the coast-line).When the vmsTRACK-PRO enters this zone, the geofence-alert (white LED starts flashing) is active and a VHF message is send out with the tamper alert bit set.

  • Page 34: Create Maps (Coastline / Geofence)

    7.5.2 Create Maps (Coastline / Geofence) The vmsTRACK-PRO has got the capability of storing map information like the own coastline, coastline of neighboring countries and geofence regions. For managing the maps press on "Create Map" and then "Edit Map-Data". You will be asked to enter the map file. Please choose the file.

  • Page 35: Edit Map (Coastline / Geofence)

    Hard-Disk-Drive (HDD) of the PC or laptop. 7.6 Edit Map (Coastline / Geofence) When you click on “Edit Map-Data (HDD)” you get the following window: This is the drawing and displaying tool for map information. Weatherdock AG page 35 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 36: Zooming

    To get the whole chart again click on the “Zoom 1:1” button. If you don’t like zooming with the right mouse button, you just use the “Zoom” button and drag the rectangle with the left mouse button. Weatherdock AG page 36 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 37 You can turn on and off the “Frames” of the dots and rectangles. If you turn them off, the chart looks more convenient. For redrawing of the map please use the button “Re-Draw”. Weatherdock AG page 37 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 38: Gps-Track

    Earth“ button for showing the track in Google Earth: With the time slider you can show the track in a movie. When you click on the symbols you get information about the date and time stamp of the AIS-P message. Weatherdock AG page 38 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 39: Drawing-Tools

    7.6.3 Drawing-Tools This program gives you all tools to generate the geo-data, which are used by the vmsTRACK-PRO later. Here you see the basic elements, which are used for drawing. The blue dots are used for marking the coast line. You are free to place dots.
  • Page 40 A chain of dots allows a very precise definition of a coastal zone. You also can create a dot by entering the latitude and longitude manually and then clicking on "Add manual": Weatherdock AG page 40 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 41 Here you can define this rectangle by "mouse click and drag" or by typing the lat and lon values: With the geofence areas you also can combine dots and rectangles, see following example: Weatherdock AG page 41 of 60 www.easyais.com...
  • Page 42 For deleting dots or regions press down the button “Delete” and then drag with the left mouse a rectangle over the elements you want to delete. The following diagram gives the status of the used memory of each map page. Weatherdock AG page 42 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 43: Save Map (Coastline / Geofence)

    For programming the map into the vmsTRACK-PRO click on "Program Map": 7.6.5 Verify Map (Coastline / Geofence) If you want to check, whether the map stored in the vmsTRACK-PRO is identical to the map on the HDD (PC, Weatherdock AG page 43 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 44: Type Of Power-Supply

    (solar panel) or it will start in charge-only mode (Charger or Board Supply). Weatherdock AG page 44 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 45: Tamper Sources

    There are three tamper sources selectable. First the GPS-Tamper means if somebody shields the vmsTRACK-PRO in that way, that the internal GPS-receiver is not able to get satellite signals. In that case the shore station will be informed about that manipulation.

  • Page 46: Switching-Off In Bracket

    The vmsTRACK-PRO has got an internal memory where the track of the vessel is stored together with a time stamp. Every half nautical mile a track-point is stored. So a track of more than 8192 points (= ca. 4000nm.)* can be stored. When the memory is full or older than 1 year, the oldest track points will be overwritten.

  • Page 47: Ok- And Cancel Button

    This is useful, when the vmsTRACK-PRO is required to send all the time. You can always turn-off the unit outside the tamper- bracket. 7.11 OK- and Cancel Button For programming and setting up the vmsTRACK-PRO device, you have to press the "Save..." button. All the settings, which were made in the "Administrator"...

  • Page 48: History Of Programming

    7.12 History of Programming The vmsTRACK-PRO stores the last three programming sessions. A programming session means, that the vmsTRACK-PRO is inserted into the Programmer and changes are made as described above. During a session you can save multiple times without wasting the three storages! As soon the vmsTRACK- PRO is removed from the programmer and the unit switches off, then the session has finished.

  • Page 49: Firmware Update

    This is called “boot load”. When you got an update file from the distributor or manufacturer of the vmsTRACK-PRO, you have to store it on PC or notebook. The update files have always the extension “.wdc”.
  • Page 50 If you interrupt, the device will not work anymore and you have to do the update again. When finished the vmsTRACK-PRO re-boots, so you have to wait until the white LED is the only one which is on. If you are asked to reprogram the, confirm with "yes".

  • Page 51: Setup With "Vmstrack-Pro User" - App

    1. vmsTRACK-PRO must be turned-off. Bluetooth of Smart- Phone must be switched off! 2. Press the ON-button of vmsTRACK-PRO long time, until the unit beeps three times. 3. Switch on Smart-Phones Bluetooth 4. Start the “vmsSETUP” – App and go to “Connect”.
  • Page 52 10. Go to “GPS Track” for read out the stored track (is only working, when the right country was selected before using the vmsTRACK-PRO. (see also 7.6.2) The parameter, which can be setup by the user are:  MMSI (one-time only!!) ...

  • Page 53: Carrying Bag

    For further information, see also Apple Appstore or Google Playstore. 8 Carrying bag 8.1 Inserting the device Open the bag Insert the vmsTRACK Weatherdock AG page 53 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 54: Attach Bag At Arm

    Close the bag. Take care that you can see all LEDs 8.2 Attach bag at arm Weatherdock AG page 54 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 55: Technical Data

    Operation temperature range -10°C to +55°C Storage temperature range -30°C to +70°C Geofence/Coastline-Memory space 3000 points Geofence/Coastline resolution 0.5 nautical mile 256 (or 1024 vmsTRACK-PRO) GPS track storage points Display 3 LEDs and a "Flash"-LED Activators 2 buttons IEC 62287-1 (CSTDMA), IEC 61097-14, IEC 60945, ITU-R M.1371-5,...
  • Page 56 Highly visible yellow Compass safe distance: 80cm Mechanical shock Environment Drop into water: 20 m Drop on concrete surface: 1m Thermal shock Temperature difference: 45 K Resistance Oil, seawater and sun light resistant Weatherdock AG page 56 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 57: Declaration Of Conformity

    10 Declaration of Conformity Weatherdock AG page 57 of 60 www.easyais.com...

  • Page 58: Box Contains

    11 Box contains  vmsTRACK-PRO transmitter, fully functional  Manual 12 Available accessory  Tamperproof & Power Bracket, A122  Power Bracket (Charger), A121  Dongle, B084  easyRX2S (vmsTRACK-PRO receiver), A174  VHF antenna  Bag, B066 Please contact specialized distributors.

  • Page 59: Faq

    TO USE THIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. Weatherdock AG retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or software or offer a full refund of the purchase price at its sole discretion. Such remedy shall be your sole and exclusive remedy for any breach of warranty.

  • Page 60: Weatherdock Ag

    15 Contact Weatherdock AG Emmericher Str. 17 D – 90411 Nuremberg Germany Phone: +49 – 911 – 376638 – 30 Fax: +49 – 911 – 376638 – 40 General Service info@weatherdock.com Weatherdock AG page 60 of 60 www.easyais.com...

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