ALTUS APS-3 User manual

1
APS-3
Revision 3.0.0
Congratulations on purchasing your new APS-3 System. This
Important Quick Start Guide contains information you need to
set up and begin using your APS-3.
Typical Box Contents
The following are provided with your APS-3 System:
Each APS-3 GNSS Receiver typically comes with the following
preinstalled items:
2 x Lithium Ion Battery
1 x 2GB SD Card
1 x GSM SIM Card Holder
1 x Internal GSM Wireless Modem
1 x Internal UHF Wireless Radio
1 x Bluetooth
1 x APS-3 Battery Charger with AC Adapter Power Supply
1 x LEMO 4-pin Power Cable (10031)
1 x LEMO 5-pin to Female DB9 Serial Controller Cable (10029)
Optional Items:
1 x LEMO 8pin to Male DB9 RS232 Serial Cable(10028)
1 x Field Controller w/ AC Adapter and USB Cable
1 x Data Collection Software (pre-installed in Controller)
Additional Equipment Required
GSM/GPRS Cellular Modem SIM Card with data service
PC with Windows OS & SD Card Reader
Important
Quick Start Guide

2
How to Use Your
APS-3 Power Switch ON/OFF & LED Information (FRONT)
LED
ICON
STATUS
BLUE
ON: Established Communication
OFF: Idle for device bonding
ORANGE
ON (Solid): Transmitting RTK corrections
ON (Flashing): Receiving RTK corrections
OFF: No RTK Corrections
RED
ON: Receiver is Powered
GREEN
Rapid Flash: Boot Up
Interval Flashing: Tracking Satellites
RED
ON: Active Data Logging
OFF: Inactive Data Logging
Data Logging
Press two times < 1 sec. apart, and Data Logging LED turns
ON/OFF
Soft Reboot
Press three times < 1 sec. apart
Hard Reboot
Press four times < 1 sec. apart
Press ON/OFF button to turn
ON APS-3. Hold ON/OFF switch
for 4 seconds to turn OFF APS-3.
Install UHF Radio Antenna, formatted SD Card and
activated SIM card before turning ON APS-3.
FRONT
FRONT
REAR
REAR

3
LEMO Connectors (BOTTOM)
PORT
# PINS
FUNCTION
PWR
4
External Power
SER 1
5
Controller/PC
SER 2
8
External Radio
GSM/GPRS Cellular Modem
The APS-3 includes an internal GSM cellular modem. In order
for the GSM Modem to transmit and receive data, a SIM Card
with a data service plan is required.
1. Purchase and activate SIM card with a data service plan
from a GSM/GPRS cellular carrier of your choice.
2. Install SIM card in your APS-3 and get the access
information to ensure it works correctly prior to field use.
SD Memory and SIM Card Compartment (REAR)
Place coin in the slot. Turn
clockwise to lock compartment
& counter clockwise to unlock.
Install/Remove SD or SIM card only while
APS-3 is turned OFF.
LOCK
UNLOCK

4
Format SD Memory Card
Turn OFF APS-3. Push SD Card to release and
pull out of slot
FAT
File System
Format
Use SD Memory Card Reader and Windows
PC to format SD Card using FAT File System
Slide SD Card in the slot until it locks into
place
SIM Card Installation
Turn OFF APS-3. Push yellow button to release
SIM Card holder
Place SIM Card in SIM Holder
Flip SIM Card Holder over to insert into the
APS-3 SIM Card Holder slot.
Slide SIM Card Holder in the slot until it is
flush with the assembly.
WARNING: Turn OFF APS-3 when installing/Removing SD Card.
WARNING: Turn OFF APS-3 when
Installing/Removing the SIM Card

5
Battery Removal, Charge and Installation
Complete the following steps for removal, charge and
installation of APS-3 batteries.
Check which battery is “in use” before removal. See battery
status in collection software to replace battery “not in use”.
See the Power or Battery Status Indicator section of this Quick
Start Guide.
Press battery release button to open battery
compartment door (FRONT)
To replace battery, pull or slide battery out
and close the compartment door
To charge battery, plug the AC battery
charger into the wall socket and power LED
turns ON
Place APS-3 battery in charger for 2 hours or
until LED turns GREEN for full charge. RED
LED indicates battery not fully charged.
Flashing RED indicates battery fault.
To load battery in APS-3, Slide the batteries
in the slot and close compartment door.
One fully-charged battery can be used up to 5
hours.

6
Communicating with APS-3
For Wireless Bluetooth® communications with the APS-3 follow
the steps below with a Controller (Allegro², Archer², ...). Refer
to APS-3 User Manual for variations in controllers.
1. Turn on the APS-3. The red LED will turn on and the green
LED below the satellite icon starts to flash.
2. Turn on the Controller and Run data collection software.
For SurvCE go to step 3. For FIELDGenius go to step 6.
3. SurvCE: Go to the Equip tab and select GPS Rover.
4. In the Current Tab, select Manufacturer and Model.
5. In the Comms Tab, select Bluetooth as the Type. Select the
Configure button. Select Find Receiver, and a Bluetooth® Device
search occurs. Highlight the APS-3 name then select the
Bluetooth® button to bond.
6. FIELDGenius: In the Instrument selection screen, select GPS Rover
and select Edit.
7. Select Model and Communication. Choose the Make & Model.
Select Bluetooth Search and a Bluetooth® Device search occurs.
Select the APS-3 name, enter Bluetooth pin ‘default’, select OK,
then select Connect to bond.
Serial cable communication takes precedence over
Bluetooth®. Remove serial cable from SER 1 port for
Bluetooth to resume.
Be sure to select the appropriate APS-3 model.
The model is indicated by the product serial number.
Select APS-3 for 10XXX series and APS-3 V2 for 20XXX series.

7
Flashing orange RTK LED indicates APS-3 is
receiving RTK Corrections.
WARNING: Incorrect Provider and APN Server will
result in connection error.
SIM Card
Follow the steps below to verify that the GSM/GPRS Modem
works correctly with an activated SIM Card.
Establish communication with APS-3 using data collection
software.
SurvCE:
1. Select Equip tab GPS
Rover RTK tab
2.Device: Internal GSM
Select Configuration button
3.Select a Provider & Dial
mode
4.Select proper Network
connection and Configure
5. Select Message Type
6. Select Base ID and check
box to Send Rover Position
to Network
7. Select green checkmark
FIELDGenius:
1.Select Link Configure
2.Link Device: Mobile
GPS Port: Internal Device
Select Setup
3.Select Connection Method
Enter connection details for
the RTK network being
accessed
4.Select appropriate Data Format
5.Select Connect
6.Select Request Sourcetable
7. Select desired Mountpoint

8
Power or Battery Status Indicator
For SurvCE:
In Equip Tab, select GPS
Rover or GPS base.
Click on button
for APS-3 GNSS
Firmware & Battery
Status
For FIELDGenius:
Click on button.
Select Sensor
Information for
APS-3 GNSS Firmware &
Battery Status
Questions or Comments
Please contact ALTUS Positioning Systems:
Email: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.altus-ps.com/