Marine Electronics
This site is provided as a means of communications with the USPS National Electro-Mechanical Systems Committee (EMSCom). We welcome your questions and comments on our modules, Learning Guides, and associated materials.
R/C Gene A. Danko, SN
Stf/C Bernard T. O'Connor, AP
Topics
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News
New Marine Electronics Courses (Updated)
Electronic devices for the recreational boater have come a long, long way over the years. With the advent of solid state digital electronics, sophisticated sensors and radios have become commonplace on our vessels. EMSCom has split Marine Electronics into three new standalone “systems” courses. Marine Electrical Systems, Marine Communications Systems, and Electronic Systems for navigation are loosely equivalent to ME101/102/103, but with updated and expanded material.
The first of these three courses, Marine Electrical Systems, is now available. Marine Electrical Systems (MES) covers the practice of wiring your boat, including boat electrical wiring practices and diagrams, direct and alternating current power, galvanic and stray current corrosion, and lightning protection. Troubleshooting is emphasized throughout, so students should feel comfortable performing even tricky wiring tasks after passing this course. See the Materials catalog for ordering information. Errata sheets are also available. See the Downloadable Material section for these updates. (04 Jan 09)
Marine Electrical Systems updated errata are available from the Downloadable Material Section. Marine Communications Systems (MCS), the ME102 replacement course, is now in beta testing and will be available mid-summer for general distribution. When MCS is placed into full release, the ME101/102 courses will be made obsolete and retired in accordance with USPS standard procedures. Credit will be granted for any combination of old and new courses, until ME101/102 is removed from service. (14 May 09)
Updated Slides Available for Marine Electrical Systems
Updated PPT files are available in the Downloadable Material section for the Marine Electrical Systems course. (30 Apr 09)
New Updates for Manuals
New updates are available for both the Student and Instructor Manuals of the Marine Electrical Systems course in the Downloadable Material section. (30 Apr 09)
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Registrations
Modern marine radios now feature Digital Selective Calling (DSC) for routine operations and for automated distress hailing. These features can only be used if your radio is programmed with a unique code called a Maritime Mobile Service Identity, or MMSI.
The United States Power Squadrons is authorized by the Federal Communications Commission and the US Coast Guard to issue MMSIs to US flagged vessels not subject to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention requirements. This includes almost all recreational boats.
This USPS MMSI web site will be your portal to obtaining a MMSI for your vessel at no charge. The issued MMSI will be unique to your boat and must be programmed into all equipment capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals.
Vessels required to have FCC ship station licenses, including US flagged pleasure craft making international voyages, must obtain their MMSIs directly from the Federal Communications Commission.
Click here to find out if you qualify for a MMSI under this registration program.
Our Canadian friends can obtain MMSIs from Industry Canada / Industrie Canada. (17 Jun 08)
GMDSS Guide
The Boatowner's Guide to GMDSS and Marine Radio, a new Guide to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, is now available at USPS Headquarters. This Guide comes with a CD-ROM that contains a computer program simulation of a VHF-DSC marine radio. Using this interactive program you can learn how to exercise all the features of digital selective calling that are now available on marine VHF radios. (10 Nov 05)
Marine Amateur Radio Guide
The long awaited Marine Amateur Radio Guide is now available from Headquarters. Get your copy today! (08 Nov 05)
Accuracy of Electronic Navigation Systems.
Read or print (PDF, 9KB)) the latest information on accuracies of electronic navigation systems. (21 Feb 05)
Marine Electronics Course Description
The Marine Electronics course consists of three modules: ME 101, Boat Electrical Systems, ME 102, Marine Radio Communications, and ME 103, Marine Electronics for Navigation. There are no prerequisites for any of these modules; however, it is suggested that a member take ME 101 before taking ME 102. All three modules must be successfully completed to receive credit for Marine Electronics.
ME 101, Boat Electrical Systems, provides information about properties of electricity, electrical power requirements and wiring practices, direct current power, alternating current power, galvanic and stray-current corrosion, lightning protection, and electrical interference.
ME 102, Marine Radio Communications, delves into radio waves and transmitters, receivers and transceivers, antennas and transmission lines, FCC Rules and Regulations, FCC Frequency Plan, marine radiotelephone operating procedures, and other communication services (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), satellite communications, amateur radio, and more).
ME 103, Marine Electronics for Navigation, presents information on depth sounders, RADAR, LORAN-C, GPS Navigation, and two new chapters: Electronic Charting, and Computer-Assisted Navigation (CAN). Members may take this module independent of any other ME module.
These courses are being superseded by the new series of Marine Electrical Systems, (MES), Marine Communications Systems (MCS), and Electronic Navigation Systems (ENS). There are no plans to update the ME101/102/103 series and the courses will be retired as follows: ME101/102 will be retired when MES and MCS become available for general distribution (autumn 2009); ME103 will be retired when ENS is available for general distribution (winter or spring 2010). (14 May 09)
Marine Electrical Systems Course Description
The Marine Electrical Systems course is presented in seven chapters that start with an explanation of what electricity is, followed by discussions on boat electrical wiring, DC and AC electrical systems, galvanic and stray current corrosion, lightning protection, and ends with troubleshooting of boat electrical problems.
The course includes detailed instructions on how to use a multimeter, how to solder and crimp electrical wiring circuits, and how to read electrical wiring diagrams. This course can be used as a reference guide for anyone interested in properly maintaining their boat electrical system.
Marine Communications Course Description
Marine Communications Systems is an in-depth, nine chapter review of those systems available to the recreational boater, or to those with whom he/she shares the water. Radio history and spectrum definitions are presented along with definitions of radio circuits that the student should learn, to choose the best communications method for his/her situation. One chapter is devoted to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and another to FCC Rules and regulations to set the stage for instruction of radiotelephone operating procedures (both voice and digital messaging are covered). The remaining chapters cover High Seas radio (MF/HF and satellite communications) and other systems such as Family Radio Service transceivers. There is also a chapter on troubleshooting of radio installations.
Electronic Navigation Systems Course Description
Electronic Navigation Systems will be the third course in the Marine Electronics series. This course is currently in manuscript but should be ready in the winter/spring of 2010 (beta testing in autumn 2009). It presently consists of eight chapters on electronic navigation instruments including depth sounders, radar, GPS, and LORAN, and on display systems including chart plotters and personal computers. EMSCom will be adding sections on interfacing these systems (bridge integration) and a section on new visual aids to piloting.
Requirements and Prerequisites for Marine Electronics
The new series of courses for Marine Electronics consists of three standalone courses. Successful completion of any two courses will earn the student credit for Marine Electronics. EMSCom recommends that these new courses be taken in the following order: Electrical Systems, Communications Systems, and Navigation Systems. The committee also strongly recommends that students take Communications Systems, as mastery of this important topic can help you call for help if you should need it.
There are no prerequisites for these courses and they may be taken in any order, however, the subject matter tends to build on the MES/MCS/ENS progression. SEOs should take this into account when planning squadron curricula.
Downloadable Material
Marine Electrical Systems PowerPoint® Presentation Slides
You will need Microsoft PowerPoint or its free viewer to view or print these slides. See the Educational Department Help page to obtain a free viewer for these slides. (30 Apr 09)
| Ch 1 Electricity Slides 042909.ppt (4311KB) |
| Ch 2 Wiring Slides 042909.ppt (8006KB) |
| Ch 3 DC Slides 042509.ppt (6151KB) |
| Ch 4 AC Slides 042509.ppt (18614KB) |
| Ch 5 Corrosion Slides 042909.ppt (4081KB) |
| Ch 6 Lightning Slides 042509.ppt (2087KB) |
| Ch 7 Troubleshooting Slides 042909.ppt (6893KB) |
Updates for Manuals
Click on the appropriate file name and format to download,
print, or view an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or Word (.doc) file. Free
viewers, including the Acrobat Reader program, that you need to view or print
these files are available from the Educational Department Help Page.
Important note: If you print the Adobe Acrobat update, be sure to use the
Adobe Acrobat Reader "print" function and not your browser's print
function.
Marine Electrical Systems — Student and Instructor Manual Updates (30 Apr 09)
| Student Manual | MES SM (.pdf) (64KB) | MES SM (.doc) (305KB) |
| Instructor Manual | MES IM (.pdf) (22KB) | MES IM (.doc) (64KB) |
Note: The above updates include corrections that were previously posted on 30 Nov 08.
ME101, 102, 103 Student Manual Update Instructions
Update Instructions No. 1 dated 1 January 2004 for Marine Electronics ME101/102 and ME103 Student Manuals are below.
| Web (HTML) Format | Adobe Acrobat Format | MS Word Format |
| ME101/102 and ME103 | ME101/102 and ME103 (13KB) (.pdf) | ME101/102 and ME103 (33KB) (.doc) |
ME 101, 102, 103 Instructor Manual Update Instructions
ME101, ME102, and ME103 Instructor Manual Revisions Update No. 1 and 2 dated 1 February 2004 are available. These revisions include and replace the Update Sheet dated 01 July 2003, corrected to 28 September 2003. (06 Feb 04)
| Web (HTML) Format | Adobe Acrobat Format | MS Word Format |
| ME101, 102 103 IM Revisions | ME101, 102 103 IM Revisions (18KB) (.pdf) | ME101, 102 103 IM Revisions (48KB) (.doc) |
Course Supplements
Thirty one (31) supplemental homework questions (PDF, 21KB) are available to help you prepare for the ME exam. Instructors: get a set of the questions with the answers and paragraph references (PDF, 39KB).
Questions or Comments?
If you have any questions or comments about the Marine Electronics course, please contact the National Electro-Mechanical Systems Committee chairman by e-mail, phone or postal service mail. Please be sure to keep your SEO and/or DEO advised of any correspondence you may have with the National committee. Addresses for the National EMSCom chairman are listed in The ENSIGN and on the Committee Chairpersons page.
We will try to answer your questions as soon as possible, but please allow 5 working days for an answer.
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