Ag Leader GPS 6500 User manual

GPS 6500
User Guide
PN 2006239—ENG Rev. B

© 2016 Ag Leader Technology
2202 South Riverside Drive
Ames, Iowa 50010 USA

PN 2006239—ENG Rev. B iii
GPS 6500 User Guide ........................................................................................................................ 1
Warranty ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Proprietary Notice ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Notice ............................................................................................................................................... 1
FCC Notices ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Industry Canada ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
CE ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
WEEE .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
REACH ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
TERRASTAR SERVICE ACCESS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Customer Support ............................................................................................................................ 3
Contact Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Service ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Conventions Used In This Manual .................................................................................................... 3
Cautions and Warnings ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Cross-references and Web Links ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Viewing this Manual Online .................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Product Registration .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Features and Models ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Installation and Setup ...................................................................................................................... 4
Connector Pin-Out ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Power Supply Requirements ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Mounting the GPS 6500 .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Physical Installation ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Additional Features and Information .............................................................................................. 5
Status Indicators ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Controller Area Network (CAN) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Operation ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Transmitting and Receiving Corrections ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Firmware and Software .................................................................................................................... 6
Firmware Updates ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Authorization Code .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Updating or Upgrading Using the WinLoad Utility ................................................................................................................................ 6
Transferring Firmware Files .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Types of Firmware Files .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Application Software ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Using the WinLoad Utility ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Open a File to Download .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Communications Settings ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Downloading Firmware ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Upgrading Using the AUTH Command ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Upgrade Procedure .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Specifications ................................................................................................................................... 8
GPS 6500 Receiver Performancea ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8
GPS 6500 Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10
GPS 6500 Dimensions ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Replacement Parts ......................................................................................................................... 11

iv

1
PN 2006239–ENG Rev. B
GPS 6500 User Guide
Warranty
Ag Leader warrants that its GNSS products are free from defects in materials and workmanship, subject to the conditions
set forth on our web site: www.agleader.com and for the following time periods:
GPS 6500 Receiver 2 years
Proprietary Notice
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of
Ag Leader. The software described in this document is furnished under a licence agreement or non- disclosure agreement.
The software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. It is against the law to copy the
software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license or non-disclosure agreement.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of a duly authorized representative
of Ag Leader.
The information contained within this manual is believed to be true and correct at the time of publication. NovAtel, and
OEMStar are registered trademarks of NovAtel Inc.
NovAtel CORRECT and NovAtel Connect are trademarks of NovAtel Inc. Manufactured and protected under U.S. Patent:
Manufactured and protected under U.S. Patent:
#5,390,207 #5,495,499 #5,734,674 #5,736,961 #5,809,064
#6,184,822 B1 #6,211,821 B1 #6,243,409 B1 #6,445,354 B1 #6,452,560 B2
#6,608,998 B1 #6,664,923 B1 #6,728,637 B2 #6,922,167 B2 #7,250,916
#7,738,536 B2 #7,738,606 B2 #7,885,317 B2 #8,467,433 B2 #8,442,097 B2
© Copyright 2014 Ag Leader. All rights reserved. Unpublished rights reserved under International copyright laws.
Notice
The following notices apply to the GPS 6500.
±WARNING!: Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by NovAtel Inc. could result in
violation of FCC, Industry Canada and CE Marking rules and void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
FCC Notices
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device
may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
GPS 6500 has been tested and found to comply with the emission limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of
the FCC Rules. The Class B limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
•Re-orient or relocate the GPS 6500
•Increase the separation between the equipment and the GPS 6500
•Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the GPS 6500 is connected
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
GPS 6500

2
μCAUTION!: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void
the user's authority to operate the equipment.
μCAUTION!: In order to maintain compliance as a Class “B” digital device, shielded cables should be used for the RS-
232 serial data ports (Belden 1036A or equivalent) and twisted pair cable should be used for the CAN port (shielded
twisted pair will improve CAN performance in electrically harsh environments). I/O signals should be referred to
signal ground (connector pin 5) and not power ground (connector pin 9). If I/O signals route to different areas of the
vehicle, dedicated signal grounds for I/O should be spliced into a common connection to connector pin 5 at a point
close to the GPS 6500.
Industry Canada
GPS 6500 Class B digital apparatuses comply with Canadian ICES-003.
GPS 6500 appareils numérique de la classe B sont conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence.
L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1) l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l'utilisateur
de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre
le fonctionnement.
CE
The enclosures carry the CE mark.
"Hereby, NovAtel Inc. declares that this GPS 6500 is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant
provisions of the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC, EMC Directive 2004/108/EC and the RoHS Recast Directive 2011/65/EU."
WEEE
If you purchased your GPS 6500 in Europe, please return it to your dealer or supplier at the end of its life. The objectives of
the European Community's environment policy are, in particular, to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the
environment, protect human health and utilize natural resources prudently and rationally. Sustainable development
advocates the reduction of wasteful consumption of natural resources and the prevention of pollution. Waste electrical
and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a regulated area. Where the generation of waste cannot be avoided, it should be
reused or recovered for its material or energy.
WEEE products may be recognized by their wheeled bin label ().
REACH
NovAtel® strives to comply with the EU Directive EC 1907/2006 on chemicals and their safe use as per the Registration,
Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH) for its products, including the GPS 6500 product.
Since REACH SVHC lists are updated occasionally, please contact NovAtel Customer Support if you require further
information.
TERRASTAR SERVICE ACCESS
By installing or using the TerraStar® subscription, by Ag Leader sending the subscription activation to you, or by the
payment of the subscription fee, you are agreeing to be legally bound by the related TerraStar terms and conditions (found
here: http://www.agleader.com/products/guidance-steering/gps-receiver-systems/). If you do not agree to these terms,
do not use the subscription or obtain the subscription activation code from Ag Leader. All subsequent subscriptions shall
be governed by the latest version of the terms and conditions then available on the Ag Leader web site.
±WARNING!: Cables may contain DEHP (CAS Number 117-81-7) in concentrations above 0.1% w/w.

GPS 6500
3
PN 2006239–ENG Rev. B
Customer Support
Contact Information
Use one of the following methods to contact Ag Leader Support:
ph: [phone]
fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
Service
There are no user-serviceable parts inside the receiver. Contact the manufacturer for a Return Material Authorization (RMA).
ph: [phone]
fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
Conventions Used In This Manual
Cautions and Warnings
The operators manual uses the following text formatting schemes to call attention to information related to simplifying
system operation and proper operating practices to prevent accidental data loss. If in doubt about the results of
performing an action or deleting an item from the system, back up all system files to the USB external drive prior to
proceeding with the action.
÷NOTE!: Provides informative tips to assist with system setup, calibration, and operation.
μCAUTION!: Indicates specific settings, calibrations, and procedures that must be followed for proper system
performance and operation.
±WARNING!: Indicates specific instructions to avoid accidental loss of data and system configurations settings.
Cross-references and Web Links
Throughout this manual, numerous cross-references are provided to other pages or sections. These cross-references are
always shown in blue, italic text; and list the title and page number as in the following example: Refer to “Conventions Used
In This Manual” on page 6. If you are viewing this manual in PDF format, you can click on this blue text and go directly to
the link.
Links to web sites are shown in blue, italicized, and underlined text, as in the following example: To view the web site, go
to: www.agleader.com.
Viewing this Manual Online
This operators manual can be viewed online at Ag Leader’s Web site. To view and/or print the Operators Manual online,
you will need the Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. The Adobe Reader software comes pre-installed on most personal
computers. If Adobe Reader is not installed on your computer the program is available for download at no charge. A link
to the Adobe download site is located at the Ag Leader Web site.
Product Registration
Contact your AutoFarm dealer for technical support.
When registering your Ag Leader Technology products by one of the following methods, you can elect to receive notice
of any new product updates or features.
Register by mail: Ag Leader Technology

4
2202 South Riverside Dr.
Ames, IA 50010
Register by Fax: [phone]
Register at the Ag Leader Web site at http://www.agleader.com
Introduction
The GPS 6500 is a high performance GNSS receiver and antenna, capable
of receiving and tracking different combinations of GNSS L1/L2 code
and carrier signals on a maximum of 120 channels. SBAS (Satellite Based
Augmentation Systems) includes WAAS (North America), EGNOS
(Europe) and MSAS (Japan). SBAS support is standard. The GPS 6500 rear
panel also features Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for status indication.
Once properly powered, the GPS 6500 begins operating as a fully
functional GNSS system.
Features and Models
The main features of the GPS 6500 are:
•Enhanced high performance GNSS L1/L2 receiver
•High performance GNSS L1/L2 antenna
•CAN port
•Three (3) RS-232 COM ports
•Three (3) LED status indicators
•Water and dust tight enclosure
Installation and Setup
Connector Pin-Out
±WARNING!: Minimum conductor size for all wiring is 0.5 mm/20 AWG. Ag Leader recommends tying to ground any
floating input lines.
Power Supply Requirements
The GPS 6500 requires +8 to +36 VDC input power.
±WARNING!: The GPS 6500 power source must be protected by a 5 A Fast Blow Fuse or damage to wiring may result
(not covered by warranty).
Pin Use Pin Use
1 COM1 TxD 8 COM3TxD
2 COM1 RxD 9 Power Negative/Return
3COM2TxD 10
RESERVED (Do not
connect)
4 COM2 RxD 11 MKI (Mark Input)
5Signal Ground
(COM/ER/MKI/PPS) 12 PPS (Pulse Per Second) Output
6CAN+ 13COM3RxD
7 CAN- 14 Power Positive/Source

GPS 6500
5
PN 2006239–ENG Rev. B
Mounting the GPS 6500
Mount on a secure, stable structure capable of safe operation in the specific environment. Typical installation is a vehicle
roof, ideally close to the pivot point of the vehicle.
±WARNING!: To install the mounting plate, use the adhesive tape or the mounting holes at each corner of the plate.
μCAUTION!: The GPS 6500 must be rigidly secured to the vehicle to avoid errors caused by vibration and motion.
Physical Installation
The GPS 6500 must be mounted with the connector facing the rear of the vehicle.
Additional Features and Information
This section contains information on the additional features of the GPS 6500, which may affect the overall design of the
receiver system.
Status Indicators
LED indicators on the GPS 6500 provide the status of the receiver. The table below shows the meaning of the LEDs.
Controller Area Network (CAN)
The GPS 6500 supports the following NMEA2000 Parameter Group Messages (PGN):
•PGN 129029 GNSSPositionData (1 Hz)
•PGN 129025 GNSSPositionRapidUpdate (10 Hz)
Icon LED Color State Description
Green Position
Valid Indicates a valid GNSS position solution is available
Yellow Error
- Receiver is in the error state and tracking is disabled Possible cause:
•fatal error
•unusual receiver status indicator, setup to act like a fatal error Note: Error
status remains until the cause of the error is corrected and the receiver is
reset
Red Power Power is on
Route cable
toward back of
vehicle
Orient toward
the front of
vehicle

6
•PGN 129026 COGandSOGRapidUpdate (10 Hz) .
Operation
Transmitting and Receiving Corrections
RTK or DGPS corrections can be transmitted from a base station to a rover station to improve position accuracy. The base
station is the GNSS receiver, which is acting as the stationary reference. It has a known position and transmits correction
messages to the rover station. The rover station is the GNSS receiver which does not know its exact position and can be
sent correction messages from a base station to calculate differential GNSS positions. The GPS 6500 can be used as a base
receiver to transmit RTK or DGPS corrections or a rover to receive the same corrections.
Firmware and Software
Download the most recent versions of the firmware and receiver software from http://www.agleader.com/support/.
Firmware Updates
Firmware updates are firmware releases that include fixes and enhancements to the receiver functionality. Firmware
updates are released on the web site as they become available.
Authorization Code
An authorization code, commonly known as an auth-code, is required to upgrade a GPS 6500 receiver. Auth-codes are
obtained by contacting Ag Leader Sales.
Support requires:
•model number
•serial number
•firmware version
Updating or Upgrading Using the WinLoad Utility
WinLoad is the simplest and most common way to update or upgrade an GPS 6500 receiver.
Transferring Firmware Files
To proceed with an update or possibly an upgrade, obtain the latest version of firmware from the Ag Leader Website.
Types of Firmware Files
OEM Version - Use the OEM version if the receiver or model upgrade was purchased after the cut- off date. When the OEM
version is used, Ag Leader sales must generate and provide the required authorization code. Authorization codes are
obtained by contacting Ag Leader sales.
The OEM version is named OEMXXXX.EXE, where XXXX is the firmware version.
Application Software
The GPS 6500 receiver has two types of software loaded, the OEMStar firmware and the GPS 6500 Application Software.
The OEMStar firmware provides the features that are common to all OEMStar receiver.
The Application Software provides the special features available on the GPS 6500, such as Emulated Radar.
The Application Software is available at http://www.agleader.com/support/ and is loaded onto the GPS 6500 receiver
using the same procedures used for the OEMStar firmware. An authorization code is not required for Application Software
updates.
Available CAN Signals on the GPS 6500
CAN Pins
CAN+ Pin 6
CAN— Pin 7