One of my crew has just run off to the bar and forgotten to take his PTX off. How do I shut the noise off?

First hit the Red Mute button. This will silence the External alarm. Next, if you are safely in port, switch off MOBi-lert. You can switch it back on when your crew gets back and the system will automatically cancel the alarm.

If the crew has swum to the bar and you’re not safely in port then you will have to delete the PTX. See section 4.5.3 for instructions.

My kid has dropped his PTX overboard. There is no way I will get it back. How do I delete it off the system?

To permanently delete a PTX, follow these instructions. From the Main menu » PTX management » select the PTX to delete (should be indicating MOB) by using the up ▲ and down ▼arrows ► right arrow.

Make really sure that you have the correct PTX » select delete » right arrow ► select yes (last chance) right arrow ►.

The PTX is now gone from the system. (At least now you’ll know what to get the kid for Christmas).

Bruce is sailing back with us and wants to use his own PTX. Can I include him in the boat’s MOBi-lert?

No problems, providing… You have no more than 12 PTX units registered in your system and that Bruce’s PTX is compatible with your system. If all is good then from the Main menu » PTX management, scroll down and look for an unregistered PTX listed. Check the serial number written on Bruce’s PTX and confirm that it matches the on-screen entry. Select Edit and enter a name for Bruce (perhaps “Bruce” or “Temp”). Exit all of the way out and make sure that the entry appears on the PTX status screen. Check that it works by putting it in the POD and confirming that the status changes.

The Console is beeping occasionally and is displaying “WARNING: No link to GPS”. What do I do?

The Console is telling you that it can’t hear the GPS at all. If you are using the boat’s GPS, then listed below are the most likely causes:

1. GPS is switched off.
2. GPS settings have changed somehow and they are no longer 4800 bit/S NMEA 0183 or not sending messages at all. (Check your GPS user manual.)
3. Cabling problems between the GPS and MOBi-lert.

The Console is beeping occasionally and is displaying WARNING: Bad GPS Data. What do I do?

The Console is telling you that it can hear the GPS sending it information, but the information is being flagged by the GPS as “Invalid”. If you are using the boat’s GPS, then listed below are the most likely causes:

1. The GPS is still warming up and trying to find itself. (Check the display on the GPS and see if that is good)
2. The GPS antenna can’t see the sky. (You are in a bad location, the antenna is covered by something or its wiring is broken.)

The Console is beeping occasionally and one of the PTXs is listed with Battery Low next to it. What do I do?

Look in the first column of the PTX Status display and get the name of the PTX. Find the PTX (or whomever is wearing it) and swap it for a charged PTX. Place the flat one back in the POD. If you can’t identify who is wearing it, then ask everyone to check their PTX and look for the one with the RED flashing LED.

Every time I switch on the boat’s main power the Console sounds its alarms and displays this BOOT LOADER Start-up screen then switches off. Is this a problem?

Nope, the system is just waking up, checking itself and making sure that there are no current emergencies. If all is OK, it will go back to sleep again. The system is engineered so that if the power is lost in the middle of an emergency, it will recover and remember what was happening. It will draw a very small amount of power when it is asleep. To turn it on, push the Red power button.

I am getting the occasional alarm and no one has fallen overboard. How do I track down the problem?

The first thing you need to do is to identify the PTX that is losing the link. There are a couple of ways to do this:

1. Get someone to watch the Console and see if you can repeat the circumstances which caused the alarm. The PTX status screen will tell you which PTX has lost contact.
2. All MOB events are recorded in the Event log. You can look back through the listing and providing you know roughly when the alarm occurred, you should be able to identify the PTX. Once you know what triggered the alarm, then see if you can repeat the problem with the same PTX and at least one other.

If it occurs with multiple PTX units then you have discovered a radio dead-spot. This type of problem can usually be fixed by adjusting the location of one or more of the MOBi-lert receiving antennas. If adjusting the antenna locations do not work, then an Active Repeater will most likely solve the problem.

If it can be tracked down to a particular PTX, then check it for damage. If it looks OK but still seems to be weak, then return the PTX to your dealer for checking.

What is the maximum number of PTXs that can be supported by MOBi-lert?

To make sure that the system is rock solid and will respond rapidly to an emergency, the maximum number is 12.

The POD’s LED is flashing continuously Red and Green. What’s going on?

The power to the POD is too low for it to operate and it is trying to shut down the PTXs. The fix is to charge the boat’s batteries. The POD needs at least 11 volts to operate.

The POD’s LED is flashing continuously Red. Is this a problem?

Yes, the POD is warning you that the power is too low for it to operate. The fix is to charge the boat’s batteries. The POD needs at least 11 volts to operate.

My boat’s batteries are so flat that the PTX units have been shut down and I can’t restart the engine. Is there any way I can wake up some sleeping PTX units?

Yes. We have built-in an Emergency procedure that will allow you to wake up some PTXs if they have been shut down.

Procedure:

1. Switch the POD off.
2. Put the sleeping PTXs into the POD.
3. Switch the POD back on. (If there is more than about 8 volts the PTXs will wake up.)
4. When the PTXs wake up remove them within 10 seconds.

If you are too slow the POD will shut the PTX units and itself down again.

The Remote alarm is so loud that it makes everyone onboard jump. Is there anyway I can reduce the output?

Not easily. The piezzo siren used for External alarm is specified to be completely waterproof. Wrapping tape around it doesn’t help much. This is all by design. A better solution is to find out why the system is going off. If it is a false alarm
then it needs to be fixed or if it is crew disappearing without putting their PTX back then perhaps some procedural change will help. If you must alter it, bear in mind that it has to always be loud enough to be heard above an engine(s) at full throttle and a 60 knot storm if it is going to protect your crew.

The External alarm is in the fly bridge and when the boat’s at full throttle, cannot be heard in the saloon. Can I fit a second alarm?

Absolutely, and highly recommended. There are a couple of ways to do this.

1. The simplest is to connect another external output. Be sure that the siren will only draw 100mA (1.2watts) MAX and can run off the same voltage that the Console is plugged into.
2. If the external relay is not an option then you can run the second piezzo alarm in PARALLEL with the External alarm supplied with the kit. The supplied piezzo alarm draws about 20mA so the second alarm can now only have 80mA to work with. Be really careful with the installation. If it goes wrong and the main alarm is compromised then people’s lives are at risk.

I operate my boat single-handed and got a MOBi-lert for Christmas. Is there any point in installing it or should I swap it for an ice-maker?

Even for a single-hander, there are plenty of good reasons to fit the MOBi-lert system:

1. If you do fall overboard without anyone knowing about it then often the boat is found later. MOBi-lert will tell the authorities where you fell overboard.
2. For a power boat, connect MOBi-lert to an engine cut-out so that the boat stops and you can swim back.
   If under sail, connect MOBi-lert to your auto pilot and program the auto pilot to use NMEA data to tack or steer head to wind. (Check with the auto pilot manufacturer to see what is possible.)
3. If you are using vane steering it may be possible to come up with an electrically operated trip line for the vane and allow the boat to round up or tack.
4. NMEA data sent by MOBi-lert could be used to send a VHF radio distress call using DSC. (If the radio is capable.)
5. The external relay could be used to release a Dan buoy, EPIRB, life raft and lots of other possibilities.

I have lost a PTX and have switched off the Console to stop the alarm, but every time I switch it back on, it keeps alarming. How do I get rid of the alarm status?

The Console is designed to never forget an active alarm. Removing power and reconnecting it will not help.
If you can’t retrieve the PTX so that it is back in range or so it can be put to sleep, then it will have to be removed from the system. See section 4.53 of the User Manual for instructions.

The external relay output seems to be operating around the wrong way. It is on when it should be off and vice versa. How can I fix it?

There is a software setting that reverses the operation of the relay.

To fix it do the following:

1. Hit the key to bring up the main menu.
2. Select System Setup and hit right arrow ►
3. Scroll down until you get to Polarity and press right arrow
4. The entry will appear in reverse video. Use the up ▲ or down ▼ arrows to change the setting from Open on Alarm to Close on Alarm.
5. Use the key to exit back to the PTX Status Screen.

Check the operation now. It should work the way you want it.

I like my MOBi-lert Console so much I want to install it in my bunk which is right down near the keel. Will it still work OK?

Possibly but you are not giving it a fighting chance. The system is designed with two completely separate receiving systems. This is done for two reasons.

1. Fault tolerance. If one receiver is compromised the other will hopefully take up the slack.
2. Diversity. The UHF frequency used by the system has been chosen primarily because of its range and penetration properties. However, all high frequency systems are subject to possible dead-spots called “nulls”. The nulls are caused by the same signal bouncing off things, coming back together and cancelling themselves out. The way to make sure that there are no nulls is to use two receivers and install the antennas at least 400mm (1.5ft) apart. If you pick a really bad location for the Console then you effectively nobble one of the receivers. Having said all of that, the gain of the system is still pretty awesome so try it. Just make sure that you have a reliable system before drilling any holes.

I want to install the Console in between the huge steel radar display and the huge steel depth sounder display. Am I likely to have any problems?

Possibly. By installing the Console in a bad area for receiving you may lose some coverage. The Remote dipole will probably compensate but take extra care with the testing. For more details see the FAQ above.

My boat is made from Steel/Aluminium. What extra considerations do I need to take into account?

Metal has the ability to completely block radio transmission. The MOBi-lert system relies on constant radio transmissions to maintain the link from the PTX to the Console. With a properly mounted external antenna and a Console mounted with a bracket, good coverage will be possible in boats up to 20 Metres (60 feet) and possibly longer. The antenna has to be reasonably clear of metal 100mm (4”) and high enough to see all areas of the boat where you want coverage (refer to section 2.3 for Remote dipole antenna mounting).

The tricky part is mounting the POD in an area that is accessable to crew before leaving the cabin. and making sure that the transmission back to the Console is reliable. Also, without extra antennas there will be very little coverage of internal
areas so crew will have to remove their PTX before going too far below.

Do I really need to install the Remote dipole antenna?

Wherever possible install the Remote dipole.

There are a couple of good reasons to do this even if the system works flawlessly without it.

1. If the Console is exposed to the elements then the antenna connector (RP-SMA) is not waterproof without the dipole connector attached.
2. The distance between the dipole and the internal antenna will make the system more immune to powerful interference which may not be present whilst you were first testing.

Other than those reasons, if the back of the Console is protected from water (or the connector is sealed) and the system is 100% reliable then go for it.

If I put the PTX into my back pocket and sit on a steel deck I get an alarm. Is there anything I can do about it?

Not really, the signal has to get out somehow.

The human body is a fantastic absorber of RF energy and the steel will not let anything through. The PTX needs to be as high and as clear of the body as possible.

I forgot to shut the PTX off when I left the boat. Now that I am at home, is there anyway to shut it down?

Sorry, the only way to put a PTX to sleep is to put it in the POD and switch the POD off. If you can’t get to a POD after a few days the PTX will detect its low battery and shut itself down. It won’t be damaged by this. The only hitch is that you will have to charge it up for a few hours before you can use it again.

I have connected the Console to my 12V instrument panel. Can I use the external relay output to switch a 24V device?

Sorry. The relay output can only supply the same voltage as the Console is running off. If you try, the imbalance in voltages may destroy the internal relay.

I got this Ship’s fog horn really cheap. Can I connect it to the external relay output?

No chance. The maximum power available from the external relay is 100mA. This is fine for 1.2 watt lamps or buzzers. If you need more power than this, you have to connect a relay. By using a relay you should be able to power anything the
relay can handle.

Someone stole my Remote Dipole Antenna. Is there anything I can do to get by?

Yes. If you have 180mm (7.1”) or more of the antenna cable still intact then strip off exactly 173mm (6.82”) of the outer sheath. The remaining 173mm (6.82”) of insulated centre wire will act as a reasonable receiving antenna. If the lot is gone, then find a way to attach 173mm (6.82”) of insulated wire to the pin sticking out of the RP SMA (Gold) connector on the back of the Console. Be careful that the wire does not short between the centre gold pin and the outer gold body of the connector. Seal it as well as you can and get it replaced as soon as possible.

My dashboard is aluminium. Am I able to flush-mount the Console?

It’s not ideal, but worth a try. The aluminium will reduce the effectiveness of the Console’s internal antennas. Fortunately the Remote Dipole Antenna is a very powerful receiving antenna and should be able to compensate. Take extra care with
mounting the dipole and with the testing.

The thing that I connected to the external relay output only half works. What is the most likely problem?

Sounds like the alarm/light/solenoid/thing connected to the external relay is drawing too much power. The Console has protection circuitry built into it to prevent damage caused by overloading. The protection circuitry works by reducing the voltage so that the power is reduced to safe limits. The way to check is to measure the voltage supplied to your device and see if it is much less than the battery voltage. If so, then the Console is protecting itself. The solution is to fit a high power relay to provide your device with enough power.

There is this area right in front of the dog house that seems to cause false alarms if we stay there too long. Is there any way to fix it?

Most likely. Radio shadows are always possible if you get the right mix of variables. With Fbreglass and Wood it is rare as the RF power tends to penetrate the material. However, Steel, Aluminium and Ferro will block the signal and create blind spots. The fix is to try relocating the Remote Dipole Antenna to a higher spot or perhaps further forward. If this doesn’t fix it, then look at installing an Active Repeater Antenna. Contact Mobilarm for more information.

Can I mute the warning beeps that happen once every 10 seconds?

No. The idea is that it keeps nagging you until something is done to fix the problem. Being a safety system, it has been designed so that warnings cannot be by-passed easily.

Does it matter which way up I wear the PTX?

Not at all. Wear them any way that works for your comfort and circumstances. The main thing is to wear them.

I would really like to mount the POD on a horizontal surface. Is it OK?

Mounting the POD on a table top or any other horizontal surface will not bother the equipment. The main reason we don’t recommend it is the lack of drainage in the POD. We expect that PTXs could be returned wet and be inserted by wet hands and arms. Our guess is that the bays will get a bit of water in them and eventually you will end up with six little green puddles.

Do I have to install a separate switch for the POD?

Absolutely. The switch is critical to the POD’s operation. Firstly you need to be able to shut off the POD when it is not being used. (And save about 180mA.) Secondly it is used to put PTXs to sleep at the end of the day or if you want to take them away from the boat. The switch will need to be installed in an easily accessible and dry area. The boat’s main switch panel is usually fine.

Do I have to install a separate switch for the Console?

No. The Console uses software and a membrane switch pad to control power. It is always on stand-by and will draw about 18mA.

Can I hook MOBi-lert up to my GPS / Chart plotter and if so what do I get?

Yes. MOBi-lert will send a NMEA message out in the event of an MOB alarm. (Connector 3 pin 5 - refer to appendix 8.3 of the User Manual)

The Console sends the NMEA sentence of GPWPL. This is a universal way-point message and will contain the information: “MOB-waypointname, position”. For example, if Jack steps overboard then the following message is sent - MOBJack 32’12.23S, 115’45.04E. The good news is that most GPS and chart plotters that we have tested will accept this information and store it as a way-point. The bad news is that the GPS and Chart plotters do not do anything else with it. If you want to use your GPS / Chart plotter to perform the Track-back function, then it will be up to you to manually select the correct way-point from the list and invoke Track-back.

Can I hook MOBi-lert up to my auto pilot and if so what happens?

Quite possibly. There are a couple of possibilities depending on the capability of your auto pilot. Just like the FAQ above, we send out a universal way-point message which may be interpreted by the auto pilot as a course to steer

How can I make sure that the system is really working?

MOBi-lert is an active safety system which means that a whole string of events must happen and systems must be working for an alarm NOT to go off. However, testing is a good idea to check alarm levels and to familiarise yourself with the operation. Here’s a couple of ways:

1. If your boat is tied up against a jetty, clip a PTX onto your belt and go for a walk. You should get between 20 and 80 metres (33 and 90 yards) away from the boat before it alarms.
2. If you’re not near a jetty or as a good alternative, wrap the PTX in several layers of aluminium foil.

When the system is alarming, check the following:

• Remote alarm is good and loud.
• Console has switched to the MOB screen.
• GPS data is being received and is good.
• Any device connected to the Console’s relay is doing what it should.
• A way-point is being sent to your GPS/Chart plotter. (If set up for this.)

I am trying to register a new PTX and I can see multiple unregistered PTX units. Why are there others and how do I know which one is mine?

Chances are that your system is picking up other PTX units on other boats in the immediate area. Although the system is designed to handle this and you won’t normally notice, it will make it a bit confusing for setting up.

On the back of each PTX is a very small bar code and number. Make sure that the PTX you wish to add is switched on (Green or Red flash once every second) then look for an entry in the Console list that matches the number on the back of the PTX. This is the one you need to name.

Why does it take 14 hours to recharge a completely flat PTX when my mobile phone only needs 6 hours?

We have chosen Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries because of their temperature performance and long life. The compromise is that to get many years service out of them we need to manage the recharging very carefully. One of the most significant factors affecting battery life is the recharge rate.

What happens if more than one person falls overboard?

MOBi-lert is able to record details and track up to 12 of them. The first of your crew to leave the safety zone will trigger the audible alarms and cause MOBi-lert to display the MOB screen. If more PTX units go MOB, then the ID’s will be added to the list. Each entry has separate information about the location, time and elapsed time of the MOB. In addition, each entry will provide individual bearing and range information.

Pressing the right arrow ►on the Nav-key will call up the Track-back screen.

From here you can select the MOB to track to and the screen will show the relative proximity of any others.