PRO AIS Laptop Connection

What are the recommendations for VHF antennas for AIS and how can an AIS 650 or 700 be connected to a laptop with PRO AIS software installed?

Recommendations for VHF antennas for AIS receivers and Class B transceivers
Some signal loss will generally occur when adding any coupler, VHF extension cable, or antenna splitter installed between a VHF receiver/transmitter (e.g., AIS receiver/transceiver, VHF radio) and its antenna.

To achieve maximum performance from a VHF radio and AIS receiver/transceiver, it is recommended that each unit be connected to its own dedicated antenna on board the vessel. However, NMEA recommends that VHF antennas not be installed within 4' of each other to prevent damage from receiving excessive signal to the receivers of the connected units. Depending on the vessel's design/layout, it may therefore not be possible to install more than one antenna on the vessel and follow the recommended minimum distance for VHF antennas (e.g., sailboats where the VHF cable is installed at the masthead, etc.). In such cases, a Class B AIS antenna splitter (e.g., AIS100, etc.) can be installed to support the use of a single VHF antenna to support both the needs of an AIS receiver/transceiver and a VHF radio.

Raymarine has not specified any maximum gain limit for VHF antennas that will be connected to AIS receivers and VHF radios that are also designed to function as an AIS receiver (e.g., Ray70, Ray260, Ray 53, 63, 73, 91 etc.). However, black box Class B AIS transceivers (AIS650, AIS500, AIS700 etc.) should be connected to a VHF antenna with a maximum gain of -3 dB. If a Class B AIS splitter is installed on board, the connected VHF antenna would not be subject to the above-specified maximum gain limit. AIS 700 has a built-in splitter.

AIS MMSI and diagnostic connection protocols
According to FCC regulations, MMSI for AIS transceivers may only be set by FCC-licensed technicians, marine electronics installers, and marine electronics dealers/repair centers. These use a special version of the ProAIS2 software to set MMSI within AIS650 and AIS700 AIS transceivers. Note that ProAIS2 software, rather than ProAIS software, should be used when a PC is connected to an AIS650. All power and data connections to AIS650 must be disconnected when it is connected to the PC, as the PC's USB port will power the AIS650. When running the ProAIS2 software, the COM port selection field must be configured to select "AIS CLASS B TRANSCEIVER (COM x)", where x is the port number automatically assigned by the computer. Then click the CONNECT button to establish communication with the AIS650.

To connect AIS700 to a computer and use the ProAIS2 software to configure AIS700 with an MMSI and/or static data, or to use the diagnostic functions of the ProAIS2 software, the dealer/installer version of the ProAIS2 software must be downloaded from Raymarine's dealer portal and installed on the computer before AIS700 is connected. The installation of the ProAIS2 software also includes the device driver required for the computer to communicate with AIS650 or AIS700. AIS700's Power/NMEA 0183 cable must be disconnected, as the PC will power the AIS700. A commonly used USB Type A to USB Micro B adapter cable is used to connect the computer's USB port to AIS700's USB port.

If you want to update AIS700's software, note that AIS700 is designed to be updated remotely by a connected MFD, in this case Axiom Pro MFD. Instructions for updating AIS700's software can be found on AIS700's software update page.

Failure to disconnect AIS700/650's Power/NMEA 0183 cable before the AIS transceiver is connected to the computer, or use of a poor quality or incorrect USB cable, can cause problems. After the latest version of the ProAIS2 software has been installed and when the USB cable is used to connect AIS700/650 to the computer, a sound should be heard from the computer to indicate that the device has been detected. If no sound is heard, it may indicate a poor quality or incorrect USB cable, or a fault in AIS700/650's USB port. Try another quality USB cable from another manufacturer. In some cases of faulty USB cables, it is worth checking the device manager to see if AIS appears when connected. In the device manager, AIS700 should be listed as an "AIS Virtual Com Port" or similar in the device category 'ports, COM and LPT'.