Raymarine AIS 700 issue cannot see my vessel

[SealineTony]

Our (new to us) boat is fitted with a Raymarine AIS700. Having messed a little with the system I am somewhat puzzled by the fact that I can see AIS targets on the chart plotters but cannot see my own vessel on other independent AIS apps like Marine traffic. I do understand that I should not see our boat on our own chart plotters.

Please bear with me as I am a total noob to all this networking and modern nav aids so I strongly suspect that this problem is of my own making and lack of understanding.

What I believe to be the current state:

• I understand that the AIS700 shares the antenna with the Icom VHF.
• As stated I can view and interrogate AIS targets seen on the Axiom but cannot see my boat on AIS finder apps such as Marine traffic
• My suspicion is that I caused the error by 'messing with the Axioms prior to RTFM!'
• When the boat delivered to her new home I could not get a satellite fix showing on the Axioms. So decided the quickest way forward was to do a hard reset and erase all previous data. The previous owners user data was way outside of our intended cruising area including the charting software; so I thought nothing of importance lost! Once rebooted the system displayed GPS coordinates and AIS targets and I was happy in the knowledge that this was now fixed. Until I realised that we were probably invisible to others
• So now I am away from the boat and looking for advice for next visit

 

[Alicatt]

Is the AIS switched to harbour or standby mode?

Our Emtrak does the same, when harbour mode is on then the AIS does not transmit but it still receives, The Raymarine is based of the Emtrak AIS (I think!)
@PaulRainbow should be a long soon...

I have two sources for AIS data, the Standard Horizon 2400 VHF has a AIS receiver in it, that will show my own boat when the AIS is on and AIS is enabled on the VHF

 

[SealineTony]

Is the AIS switched to harbour or standby mode?

Our Emtrak does the same, when harbour mode is on then the AIS does not transmit but it still receives, The Raymarine is based of the Emtrak AIS (I think!)
@PaulRainbow should be a long soon...

I have two sources for AIS data, the Standard Horizon 2400 VHF has a AIS receiver in it, that will show my own boat when the AIS is on and AIS is enabled on the VHF

TBH I do not have a clue how it is switched; in fact I have to say I was not aware of having such modes - must read the manual.
Thanks for the info. much appreciated now downloading the manual

 

[Alicatt]

TBH I do not have a clue how it is switched; in fact I have to say I was not aware of having such modes - must read the manual.
Thanks for the info. much appreciated now downloading the manual

Mine is manually switched with a switch at the helm, it is in harbour mode just now so won't show up on marine traffic, not that there are any stations uploading the AIS data to the Internet from around our area.

I know that my AIS can pick up boats from more than 20NM away even through all the trees etc around our marina. Coverage goes from about Antwerp to Hasselt.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Our (new to us) boat is fitted with a Raymarine AIS700. Having messed a little with the system I am somewhat puzzled by the fact that I can see AIS targets on the chart plotters but cannot see my own vessel on other independent AIS apps like Marine traffic. I do understand that I should not see our boat on our own chart plotters.

Please bear with me as I am a total noob to all this networking and modern nav aids so I strongly suspect that this problem is of my own making and lack of understanding.

What I believe to be the current state:

• I understand that the AIS700 shares the antenna with the Icom VHF.

The AIS700 has a built in VCHF splitter, so would usually share the VHF antenna.

• As stated I can view and interrogate AIS targets seen on the Axiom but cannot see my boat on AIS finder apps such as Marine traffic

AIS doesn't always show up om Marine Traffic, Vessel Finder etc or may take some time to do so. Looking at the apps, can you see other vessels nearby ?

• My suspicion is that I caused the error by 'messing with the Axioms prior to RTFM!'
• When the boat delivered to her new home I could not get a satellite fix showing on the Axioms. So decided the quickest way forward was to do a hard reset and erase all previous data. The previous owners user data was way outside of our intended cruising area including the charting software; so I thought nothing of importance lost! Once rebooted the system displayed GPS coordinates and AIS targets and I was happy in the knowledge that this was now fixed. Until I realised that we were probably invisible to others
• So now I am away from the boat and looking for advice for next visit

The AIS has a "silent mode", which can be set with a switch fitted between the light green and orange wires in the power cable, check to see if such a switch exists by looking at the power cable.

It can also be set from the Axiom. See page 40 of the Axiom manual.

 

[Momac]

AIS doesn't always show up om Marine Traffic, Vessel Finder etc

This is correct
The internet apps rely on shore stations to relay the data . These stations can be on land or on ships. My boat is based in a marina on a river. The last time it was seen on Vessel finder was in late July and about 45 miles from it is now .

 

[SealineTony]

The AIS700 has a built in VCHF splitter, so would usually share the VHF antenna.

AIS doesn't always show up om Marine Traffic, Vessel Finder etc or may take some time to do so. Looking at the apps, can you see other vessels nearby ?

The AIS has a "silent mode", which can be set with a switch fitted between the light green and orange wires in the power cable, check to see if such a switch exists by looking at the power cable.

It can also be set from the Axiom. See page 40 of the Axiom manual.

Ahh, thanks for the info. Yes I can see other nearby vessels both on the app and Axiom. Once I can located where the AIS700 is I will check the power cable. I will also check the manual now downloaded as it is possible that the hard reset may have wiped needed data?

 

[SealineTony]

This is correct
The internet apps rely on shore stations to relay the data . These stations can be on land or on ships. My boat is based in a marina on a river. The last time it was seen on Vessel finder was in late July and about 45 miles from it is now .

Thank you for the info. Will need to do some further checking to see if I am still invisible to others after a proper study of the manual and speaking to others on the marina

 

[Boathook]

The AIS700 has a built in VCHF splitter, so would usually share the VHF antenna.

AIS doesn't always show up om Marine Traffic, Vessel Finder etc or may take some time to do so. Looking at the apps, can you see other vessels nearby ?

The AIS has a "silent mode", which can be set with a switch fitted between the light green and orange wires in the power cable, check to see if such a switch exists by looking at the power cable.

It can also be set from the Axiom. See page 40 of the Axiom manual.

I had the same, AIS700, class B+ and fitted a switch by the unit to put it in silent mode. I seem to remember that it was like a link wire between 2 terminals.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I had the same, AIS700, class B+ and fitted a switch by the unit to put it in silent mode. I seem to remember that it was like a link wire between 2 terminals.

Yep, as post #5 "a switch fitted between the light green and orange wires in the power cable"

 

[dunedin]

I had the same, AIS700, class B+ and fitted a switch by the unit to put it in silent mode. I seem to remember that it was like a link wire between 2 terminals.

The AIS 750 version showed a different operating LED colour when on silent mode - don’t have manual to hand but think green was normal and blue was silent mode, but could be other way round. But makes easy to tell what mode it thinks it is in.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ahh, thanks for the info. Yes I can see other nearby vessels both on the app and Axiom. Once I can located where the AIS700 is I will check the power cable. I will also check the manual now downloaded as it is possible that the hard reset may have wiped needed data?

Seeing nearby vessels on the Axiom doesn't help tell if you're transmitting, because the Axiom is getting live data from those vessels over VHF. Th apps are different, as per post #6

 

[PaulRainbow]

The AIS 750 version showed a different operating LED colour when on silent mode - don’t have manual to hand but think green was normal and blue was silent mode, but could be other way round. But makes easy to tell what mode it thinks it is in.

Good point, plus, a lack of a programmed MMSI will stop the AIS transmitting. LED status is:

Green Transceiver is powered up and operating normally.

Amber Transceiver is not transmitting.
• Wait at least 30 minutes to check that a ‘Quiet time’
has not been requested by the local authority.

Red Transceiver fault / MMSI number not programmed.
• Check MMSI number and static data has been
correctly configured.
• Check GNSS antenna is properly connected and has
a clear unobstructed view of the sky.
• Check the VHF antenna is properly connected and is
not short circuiting to the vessel structure.
• Check that power supply is at the correct voltage (12
V dc or 24 V dc).
• Excessive difference between Heading from an input
device, and COG.

Blue Transceiver is running in silent mode (not transmitting).
To disable silent mode:
• Check the AIS Silent mode setting on your MFD.
• Check the position of the dedicated Silent mode
switch, if fitted (the switch will override the MFD
setting).
• Where no dedicated switch is fitted, check that the
Light Green and Orange wires on the power/data
cable are not shorting together.

 

[LittleSister]

. . . I was not aware of having such modes - must read the manual.

Steady on!

You could set a precedent, and then we'll all be in trouble.

 

[wonkywinch]

Nowhere in this thread mentioned whether other boats with an AIS receiver can see you.

Comparisons made between you seeing others on your plotter and internet apps but only not seeing your vessel on the apps.

How about it's primary function, ie being seen by other boat's AIS?

The traffic apps are nice but not a definitive way of testing your own AIS. For example, you could have a poor antenna connection resulting in high VSWR and short transmit range meaning you're visible to nearby boats but signal not strong enough to reach an AIS to internet host (quite often radio amateurs living a little bit inland).

You can see where your local Marine Traffic/Vesselfinder hosts are by opening the stations tab on the web based map.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Nowhere in this thread mentioned whether other boats with an AIS receiver can see you.

He does say he'll check with others in the marina when he's there next, in post #8

Comparisons made between you seeing others on your plotter and internet apps but only not seeing your vessel on the apps.

How about it's primary function, ie being seen by other boat's AIS?

The traffic apps are nice but not a definitive way of testing your own AIS. For example, you could have a poor antenna connection resulting in high VSWR and short transmit range meaning you're visible to nearby boats but signal not strong enough to reach an AIS to internet host (quite often radio amateurs living a little bit inland).

If the VSWR is high it won't transmit at all.

 

[wonkywinch]

He does say he'll check with others in the marina when he's there next, in post #8

If the VSWR is high it won't transmit at all.

Mine did. RX range 5 miles, TX range c 1nm until incorrect connector changed then it shot up to 20nm tx and rx.

If it's very high then the tx will go into protection mode but there is a range between a perfect 1:1 and the design mismatch cut off of the AIS transceiver at 2:1 where it will work but with diminishing results.

 

[SealineTony]

Good point, plus, a lack of a programmed MMSI will stop the AIS transmitting. LED status is:

Green Transceiver is powered up and operating normally.

Amber Transceiver is not transmitting.
• Wait at least 30 minutes to check that a ‘Quiet time’
has not been requested by the local authority.

Red Transceiver fault / MMSI number not programmed.
• Check MMSI number and static data has been
correctly configured.
• Check GNSS antenna is properly connected and has
a clear unobstructed view of the sky.
• Check the VHF antenna is properly connected and is
not short circuiting to the vessel structure.
• Check that power supply is at the correct voltage (12
V dc or 24 V dc).
• Excessive difference between Heading from an input
device, and COG.

Blue Transceiver is running in silent mode (not transmitting).
To disable silent mode:
• Check the AIS Silent mode setting on your MFD.
• Check the position of the dedicated Silent mode
switch, if fitted (the switch will override the MFD
setting).
• Where no dedicated switch is fitted, check that the
Light Green and Orange wires on the power/data
cable are not shorting together.

Great info, thank you. I just have to locate where the AIS has been hidden by the installers as even the previous owner not aware of its position on the boat

 

[SealineTony]

OK an update of sorts:
At the boat today. It looks like AIS is working going first by the Axiom screens showing the AIS symbol with opposing arrows signifying transmit an receive at top right.

No one to check with here as deserted so looking at marine traffic reveals no AIS boats in the marina. Well I know there is at least one! Checked all I could think of on the Axioms. MMSI and call sign showing correct

Went back to Marine traffic app this time looking further at another marina across the estuary and found at least 5 boats signals!

Tentative conclusion is that AIS signal may be being blocked by marina surroundings particularly at low water and being surrounded by marina walls and buildings?
I guess the only way to confirm will be on our next outing