The GPS receiver is embedded inside the R4 transponder, providing the necessary GPS outputs to the AIS and also providing navigation functions on the R4 display unit. The unit is fully compliant with IMO and IEC specifications for shipboard GPS, including RAIM, which monitors the performance of reference station satellites and rejects bad differential correction information. An external IALA DGPS beacon receiver can be connected as an option.

Some 8,000 R4 AIS installations have been made since the product was launched in the spring of 2003. Existing installations can be retrofitted with the new transponder module containing the new GPS receiver and a software upgrade.

The other newly launched Saab product, the R4 DGPS Navigator, is offered as a stand-alone DGPS or as an integrated DGPS/AIS system when interfaced with the Saab R4 AIS transponder, providing a fully compliant solution for DGPS and AIS carriage requirements. The product is type-approved and CE Wheelmarked by BSH in Hamburg.

The R4 DGPS Navigator comprises a 12 channel GPS receiver module with built-in dual channel DGPS IALA beacon receiver and a control/ display unit with a high resolution six inch sunlight readable VGA screen.

The Saab Navigator can accept differential correction data from WAAS, EGNOS and other satellite based DGPS transmissions as well land based IALA beacons. In beacon differential mode, it produces position accuracies of 1m.

The control panel has red, yellow and green 'traffic lights' in accordance with IEC RAIM specifications, giving a visual indication of the integrity of the GPS solution in real time.

The system is designed to serve as a ship's primary typeapproved DGPS navigator, providing reliable output of position, course and speed to the ship's radars, ECDIS, autopilot, AIS, VDR and other bridge electronics, with two bi-directional RS422 data ports and one RS422 output port.

There is also an alarm output for relay activation, one input and a log-pulse output port.

MJ Information No: 20124