F&C Marine · Workshop preparation
Before the box leaves.
Before the installation begins.
Marine electronics pre-dispatch setup helps turn a new box of equipment into a clearly checked, documented starting point for your installation. Choose essential checks, agreed programming or a more involved bench configuration.
For suitable VHF/DSC radios, AIS receivers and transponders, GPS/GNSS equipment, NMEA interfaces and networked marine electronics. Three service levels. A defined scope. No claim that a workshop check replaces commissioning on your vessel.
The installation starts before dispatch
The equipment arrives. What happens next?
A replacement radio is waiting to be fitted. An AIS transponder needs the vessel’s identity entered. A new interface has to exchange data with equipment already onboard. The box may contain the right product, but there can still be decisions to make before installation.
Some customers have an installer who will handle everything. Others would rather have agreed settings entered and the accessible functions checked before the equipment leaves F&C Marine. That is the purpose of this optional service: complete the work that can sensibly be done in the workshop, and identify what remains for the vessel or site.
Checking, configuring and commissioning are different jobs. A power-up check is not MMSI programming. Entering a baud rate does not prove that the vessel’s wiring is correct. A successful workshop data test does not certify an entire installed system. Our three levels keep those distinctions clear.
Choosing supply as standard? Your equipment is supplied without the additional F&C Marine preparation service described here. That does not mean the manufacturer has omitted its normal checks. Choose a service only when the extra workshop preparation is useful for your order.
One decision, three clearly defined levels
Compare marine electronics pre-dispatch setup services
Start with the work required, not just the equipment name. A simple AIS configuration may suit Standard; the same unit with several interfaces and connected devices may need Advanced. We confirm the suitable level and the equipment covered before work starts.
Basic
Essential checks
Choose this when: you want the equipment visually checked, powered up and its accessible controls examined before dispatch.
You receive: the checked unit, a brief record of checks and any limitations noted. Customer-specific programming is not included.
Explore BasicStandard
Setup & configuration
Choose this when: one suitable unit needs straightforward vessel data, user settings or interface configuration.
You receive: Basic checks, the agreed settings entered, a practical check of accessible functions and a setup record.
Explore StandardAdvanced
Extended setup & testing
Choose this when: several interfaces, routing requirements, replacement settings or an agreed group of devices need attention.
You receive: the agreed extended configuration, practical bench communications checks and a more detailed record.
Explore Advanced
| Preparation | Basic | Standard | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual, power-up and accessible controls checks | Included | Included | Included |
| Customer-specific programming | Not included | Agreed straightforward settings | Agreed extended configuration |
| Interface or communications checks | Visible status only | Basic checks where practical | Extended agreed bench checks |
| Multi-device setup | Not included | Separate assessment | Only the agreed devices and links |
| Preparation record | Brief check record | Key settings and checks | Detailed configuration and limitations |
| Onboard commissioning | Not included | Not included | Not included |
The examples below illustrate possible work, not ten separate jobs included with every booking. Only checks relevant to the equipment and agreed scope apply. Service selection is confirmed before programming.
Basic pre-dispatch check: an extra check before the journey
Basic is for the customer who does not need a bespoke configuration but would like an additional F&C Marine visual and operational check before dispatch. We inspect the supplied equipment, power it appropriately and check the accessible functions relevant to the unit.
A new radio. An installer already booked.
A boat owner has arranged for a local installer to fit a replacement VHF radio. The installer will enter the vessel information and complete the onboard checks. The owner simply wants an extra check of the unit before it makes the journey.
Basic is the appropriate starting point: inspect the radio and supplied accessories, power it up, examine the display and accessible controls, and note the outcome. It does not duplicate the installer’s programming work or imply that the vessel’s antenna has been tested.
Ten examples of Basic checks
- VHF radio startup: check normal power-up, the display and accessible controls.
- AIS receiver startup: observe status indicators and obvious startup warnings.
- GPS/GNSS receiver startup: check the unit boots; a satellite-position test requires a suitable antenna arrangement.
- NMEA interface power-up: confirm the device powers and its indicators respond.
- Accessory inspection: compare the supplied accessories with the expected package contents.
- Display and keypad checks: examine brightness adjustment, buttons and menu access where fitted.
- Handset and speaker checks: inspect and check accessible audio functions where practical.
- Visible connection status: note accessible Ethernet or Wi-Fi status without creating a customer network configuration.
- Version recording: note the installed software or firmware version where readily available, without promising an update.
- Final record and repacking: document the relevant checks, note limitations and repack the equipment.
What you are purchasing
An additional workshop check of the agreed equipment, not a repair investigation or performance certification. No MMSI, private channels, vessel data or bespoke network settings are programmed under Basic.
Choose Basic when preparation will otherwise be completed by your installer and you want the extra pre-dispatch check documented.
Standard setup & bench test: your settings, entered before dispatch
Standard adds straightforward configuration to the Basic checks. It suits equipment that can be prepared using clear, agreed information from the customer: vessel identity for a compatible transponder, a supported radio setting, a GPS output format or a basic network configuration.
The AIS is new. The vessel details are already known.
A skipper is replacing an AIS transponder. The vessel’s MMSI, name, call sign and antenna-position measurements are available, and the installer knows the required data connection.
Under an agreed Standard setup, F&C Marine can enter the supported static data, configure the specified interface and record the settings. The installer then completes the antenna, power and onboard data connections and checks the finished installation. The customer receives a clear record rather than having to reconstruct what was entered.
Ten examples of Standard configuration
- AIS identity programming: enter the supplied MMSI, vessel name and call sign into a compatible transponder.
- AIS static-data setup: enter applicable vessel type, dimensions, antenna reference position and IMO number where supported.
- VHF/DSC MMSI programming: enter the correct assigned identity where the model permits it and the information is confirmed.
- Approved channel setup: program supported private or user channels only where permitted and the required authorisation is supplied.
- NMEA 0183 configuration: set an agreed baud rate and supported input or output options.
- NMEA 2000 user settings: configure supported menu settings, without claiming to validate the vessel’s backbone.
- Basic IP settings: enter agreed Ethernet network parameters for suitable equipment.
- GPS/GNSS output setup: configure supported output formats and sentences for the intended connection.
- User preferences: apply agreed units, language, display and relevant alarm preferences.
- Basic verification and setup record: read back accessible settings, check communications where practical and document the work completed.
What you are purchasing
Basic checks plus an agreed, straightforward configuration of the identified equipment. The setup record identifies the principal settings entered and what could be checked on the bench.
Choose Standard when you can supply the required details and do not need a wider system designed or several devices integrated. Complex requests are assessed separately before work begins.
For radio-specific requirements, see our marine radio programming service. MMSI programming is not the same as obtaining an identity or licence: UK customers can consult Ofcom’s ship radio licensing and MMSI guidance.
Advanced configuration & test: prepare the connections, not just the boxes
Advanced builds on Standard for a more involved, agreed configuration. This may involve several ports, NMEA sentence routing, a replacement unit that must match known settings, or an identified group of devices that can be connected on the workshop bench.
The replacement must fit the system already onboard.
A vessel operator is changing a GPS receiver and adding an interface. The existing bridge equipment needs specific outputs. Photographs, wiring information and settings from the previous receiver are available, but the new equipment uses different menus.
An agreed Advanced service can map the supported requirements to the replacement, configure the relevant outputs and check an available bench data path. The record identifies what was reproduced, what was tested and what still depends on the vessel. It is preparation for integration, not a promise that every legacy connection will work without further engineering.
Ten examples of Advanced work
- Extended AIS configuration: prepare agreed vessel data, ports and communication settings on a suitable unit.
- Commercial radio setup: apply supported, authorised operating parameters alongside the agreed identity and channel configuration.
- NMEA 0183 routing: configure multiple inputs, outputs, sentence filters or routing rules on suitable equipment.
- Gateway configuration: set supported conversion or device parameters for an agreed NMEA interface.
- Replacement-equipment matching: reproduce known, supported settings from documentation or a customer-supplied configuration.
- Networked equipment preparation: configure agreed Ethernet or Wi-Fi settings and practical communications checks.
- Multiple serial ports: assign supported baud rates, protocols and output destinations to the relevant ports.
- Firmware work where agreed: assess version requirements and carry out a manufacturer-supported update where appropriate and feasible.
- Defined multi-device bench setup: connect the agreed supplied devices and check the specified data links where practical.
- Detailed handover record: document settings, versions, connected equipment, checks performed and commissioning items left outstanding.
What you are purchasing
An agreed package of extended configuration and practical bench checks. It is not unlimited programming, complete system design, unrestricted firmware recovery or acceptance testing of an entire installation.
Choose Advanced when relationships between settings or devices matter. Send the equipment list and required connections so we can confirm the scope before you commit.
Which equipment can be prepared?
Radios and AIS
Suitable VHF/DSC radios may need an identity and approved user settings. AIS transponders may need vessel static data. Receive-only AIS equipment has a different role: its preparation may focus on network and output settings rather than transmitted vessel identity.
GPS and navigation equipment
Suitable receivers can be prepared with agreed outputs and user preferences. Confirm the exact model and the equipment receiving its data; an antenna on its own is not a programmable navigation receiver.
NMEA interfaces and converters
Supported baud rates, routing, sentence options and converter settings can be agreed in advance. The workshop test is limited to the interfaces, sources and loads actually available.
Networked and replacement equipment
Known IP settings and documented replacement requirements can help define a useful setup. Proprietary software, access restrictions, unsupported features or missing information may limit what can be completed before dispatch.
As one manufacturer example, the Comar R550NGi product information describes networked AIS/GPS reception. Always use the documentation for the exact model rather than assuming all equipment offers the same configuration functions.
From enquiry to prepared equipment
How to purchase your pre-dispatch service
Request preparation alongside your equipment enquiry or before an existing order is dispatched. These buttons start an enquiry; they are not an instant checkout or confirmation that your requested work has been accepted.
01 · Identify the equipment
Send the make, model, quantity and order or quotation reference. Tell us whether it is for a vessel or a shore site, and mention any required dispatch date.
02 · Define the work
Select a preferred level or ask us to recommend one. Provide the required settings and any existing configuration, photographs or connection information.
03 · Confirm before programming
We review suitability and confirm the covered equipment, service scope and booking arrangements. Additional devices or work outside that scope must be agreed separately.
04 · Check, record and dispatch
The agreed preparation is completed and recorded. Any unresolved issue or work requiring the actual installation is identified rather than described as a completed test.
What will the preparation record tell you?
The detail depends on the selected service. It can identify the equipment and serial number, accessible software version, customer settings entered, checks performed, results and limitations. A useful record distinguishes configured, checked and not tested so the installer knows what still needs attention.
The examples on this page do not create a blanket entitlement to work on every item in an order. We confirm whether the booking covers one unit or a specifically identified group. Changes to the supplied information after programming may require the work to be reviewed.
A clear boundary is part of a good service
Bench testing is not onboard commissioning
A workshop can reproduce some connections and operating conditions, but it is not the vessel. The service does not, unless separately agreed, include the following:
The installed system
Onboard fitting; vessel power-supply or wiring checks; antenna positioning; antenna/SWR measurements; vessel NMEA backbone testing; external sensors; or proving communications across a customer’s operational network.
Formal approval
Manufacturer calibration; statutory survey; class or GMDSS certification; approval of a complete installation; or a guarantee of installed radio range.
Unplanned engineering
Component-level repair, extensive fault-finding, unsupported firmware recovery, missing licence procurement or redesign of the wider system.
Safety-system activation
Live distress alerts or other operational safety-system activations are not part of these routine pre-dispatch packages.
Nothing outside the agreed scope is treated as automatically authorised. We will contact you before carrying out additional work. For the next stage, see installation and commissioning support or marine electronics remote support.
Pre-dispatch setup: questions answered
Do I have to choose a preparation service?
No. It is an optional F&C Marine service. Supply as standard is appropriate when you or your installer will perform the required setup and checks.
Does Basic include MMSI or AIS vessel programming?
No. Basic covers the agreed visual and operational checks. Customer-specific programming belongs in a suitable Standard or Advanced booking.
Is every AIS or commercial radio an Advanced job?
No. The work determines the level. Clear, straightforward settings on a compatible unit may suit Standard. Several interfaces, routing requirements or a group of connected devices can require Advanced assessment.
Are all ten examples included in my service?
No. They explain the types of work that may fit each level. We agree the applicable tasks and equipment before work starts; the examples are not an unlimited work list.
Will you update firmware automatically?
No. Recording a version is different from changing it. An update must be appropriate to the model, manufacturer-supported and included in the agreed scope.
Can you prepare a receive-only shore AIS system?
Potentially, where the equipment supports the requested setup. Tell us it is a shore installation and provide the required network or output details. Do not enter vessel identity information simply because a form includes those fields.
What happens if a problem is found?
We will explain the finding and agree the next step. A startup warning or incomplete test is not recorded as a successful full check. Repair or extended investigation is outside these packages unless separately agreed.
Is equipment ready for use immediately on arrival?
It is prepared only to the agreed workshop scope. Installation, antenna connections, power, vessel data sources and final commissioning may still need to be completed and checked.
How long does the service take?
Preparation and dispatch timing depend on the equipment, information supplied, required work and availability. Tell us your deadline and wait for confirmation before relying on a dispatch date.
Can I send existing equipment instead of buying new?
Contact us first. Customer-owned or previously faulty equipment may need a separate workshop assessment rather than a new-equipment pre-dispatch service. Our marine electronics repair and service page explains the alternative route.
Your details. Your agreed configuration.
Pre-dispatch setup application
Choose how you apply: use the existing email application below, or complete the optional online form. You do not need to submit both.
Use the application below to request a service and provide the details needed for assessment. Complete only the information relevant to your equipment. Basic checks and receive-only shore installations will not need every vessel-programming field.
How to apply: open the application email, complete the relevant fields in your email app and attach any useful documents. Alternatively, copy the template below into an email to support@fcmarine.co.uk.
This opens your email app; it does not submit an application through the website. Review the completed message and press Send in your email app. No booking is confirmed until F&C Marine responds.
Do not send passwords, payment-card details, security credentials or unrelated personal information. We will advise how to supply anything sensitive that is genuinely required. See our privacy policy.
Before programming: check every identity, frequency and network setting carefully. We will review the application, confirm what can be done and agree any additional requirements before proceeding.
Prefer to apply online?
This online form is an optional alternative to the email application. Use whichever method suits you; you do not need to complete both.
Complete the relevant fields. Do not include passwords, payment-card details or security credentials. Send supporting photos or documents to support@fcmarine.co.uk, quoting your name and order reference.
We use your information to review and respond to this application. See our privacy policy. The existing email application remains available as an alternative.