AIS Transmitting Stopped

[Howler]

I have a B&G NAIS 500 transceiver with. NSPL 500 antenna splitter. A few months ago I put the system in silent mode (connected the light green and orange wires) to save battery power. Now it’s back in transmit mode but the vessel remains invisible (reports last update as several months ago). Everything appears OK per the usual manuals. Any thoughts on how to begin transmitting positon information again? Thanks!

[smac999]

Yiu need to get the software and USB cable.

Then you can see which mode it’s in , If it has gps pos, and if the ant vsr is ok

[Howler]

Thank you. Do you know if that software is available for Mac computers? The manual says yes but it’s not visible on the B&G website.

[Howler]

Update: Connected NAIS500 to computer as suggested by smac999 and ran system configuration. Everything appears normal (good GPS signal, all parameters correct, etc.) except the log shows many messages received and zero transmitted as suspected. Not sure what else to try other than call dealer for a warranty replacement.

[Howler]

Although this post didn't get much attention, here's the epilogue in case anyone runs into similar problems. Rereading the diagnosis from the system configurator software, I noticed that, although the GPS was operating well, the NAIS 500 reported not having a GPS fix. I rebooted the transceiver and some time later it started transmitting again. Why it stopped in the first place remains a mystery, but the dealer said rebooting often solves it.

[yeri60]

Hi,
I have similar problem. How are you rebooting the NAIS ? By shutting down the main DC switch of the boat ? Tks.

[aelyafi]

Hi.

I'm having the same issue. I removed the power from the NAIS and the transmit light is still not blinking or coming on at all.

[Brian.D]

AIS I would think is like the Distress Button on your radio. If you do not have a GPS coordinate, it cannot report where you are. So it will not transmit. I suspect you solved the issue with the reboot in order to lock a location coordinate.

Interesting that you put the AIS in sleep mode, but when you woke it, it did not lock onto the GPS data stream. Was your GPS also asleep (meaning, is it part of the physical AIS receiver)? If so, then the problem is the GPS takes longer to find and lock onto satellites if the database in the unit is out of date. The GPS can calculate where the satellite might be with the old ephemeris data, but to get a lock it has to have the exact data + frequency + Doppler shift.

Maybe when you woke the AIS, it did not notify the GPS to get to work. LOL

[aelyafi]

I just unplugged the power, replugged it and it seems to transmit now.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by aelyafi

I just unplugged the power, replugged it and it seems to transmit now.

Many, many issues are solved by powering off and on.

[aelyafi]

Usually I hit them... But hitting doesn't seem to work any more lol

[tanglewood]

Sorry, but I think something like that is unfit for purpose. I'm so sick of junk software. Turn it off and back on again is code for "the software has bugs and we aren't going to fix them".

[Berry Zondag]

This is a well known issue. I am on my second unit for this problem and it still does it occasionally. It has been working for the last months.
However, now have a completely new problem, after installing the last firmware update as per instructions, the whole unit refuses to start up again after it successfully updated the software. This unit is not very solid state I think.

[Howler]

Originally Posted by Berry Zondag

This is a well known issue. I am on my second unit for this problem and it still does it occasionally. It has been working for the last months.
However, now have a completely new problem, after installing the last firmware update as per instructions, the whole unit refuses to start up again after it successfully updated the software. This unit is not very solid state I think.

That’s interesting. I just upgraded the firmware and, like yours, the unit wouldn’t power up at all. I finally replaced it after extensive troubleshooting. Now the new unit powers up and receives, but it refuses to get a GPS fix and transmit! I’m losing confidence in this product.