APPLIED ACOUSTICS MiniPod User manual

MiniPod Receiver
Operation Manual

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
RFR-101G-8000/1
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Revision History
Issue
Change
No.
Reason for change
Date
1
First Issue
09/05/19
2
2462
Addition of GPS Update Rate
22/12/20

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
RFR-101G-8000/1
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Table of Contents
REVISION HISTORY .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE MINIPOD RECEIVER ....................................................................................... 5
OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
2. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.............................................................................................................. 6
PACKING LIST .................................................................................................................................................... 6
INSTALLATION /ALIGNMENT................................................................................................................................. 6
POSITIONING OF RF ANTENNA.............................................................................................................................. 6
MINIPOD ALIGNMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 7
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION.................................................................................................................................... 7
3. SOFTWARE OPERATION ......................................................................................................................... 8
INITIAL CONFIGURATION...................................................................................................................................... 8
NORMAL OPERATION........................................................................................................................................ 10
MAIN DISPLAY ................................................................................................................................................. 10
POD LIST......................................................................................................................................................... 12
EXTENDED INFO................................................................................................................................................ 13
MODIFYING MINIPOD CONFIGURATION............................................................................................................... 13
SYSTEM MESSAGE AREA ................................................................................................................................... 14
MENU............................................................................................................................................................. 14
PROGRAM OPTIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 15
4. END OF LIFE RECYCLING / DISPOSAL .................................................................................................. 17

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
RFR-101G-8000/1
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Thank you for choosing applied acoustics ltd as one of your equipment suppliers. We
hope you experience many years of reliable operational use from our products.
modulus technology ltd carries out all technical support, servicing and repairs. If you
have any technical issues with our products please contact the modulus technology
team:
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: modulustechnology.com
Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd has made every effort to ensure that the information
contained in this manual is correct at time of print. However our policy of continual product
improvement means that we cannot assume liability for any errors which may occur.
These written instructions must be followed fully for reliable and safe operation of the
equipment that this manual refers to. Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd cannot be held
responsible for any issues arising from the improper use or maintenance of equipment
referred to in this manual or failure of the operator to adhere to the instructions laid out in
this manual. The user must be familiar with the contents of this manual before use or
operation.

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
RFR-101G-8000/1
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1. Introduction to the MiniPod Receiver
Overview
The MiniPod Receiver is a hardware and software solution to receive GPS data from RF
enabled MiniPods.
The MiniPod Receiver software, connected via a USB interface to a RFR-101G, receives
the RF transmissions from connected MiniPods and the GPS receiver within the MiniPod.
The windows based, MiniPod Receiver software, is used to display any received GPS
data, this data can then be fed, either via Ethernet or serial interface, to the client
navigation / logging application.
MiniPod Receiver (RFR-101G)
MiniPod 101G
Mini Pod Receiver Software

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
RFR-101G-8000/1
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If multiple MiniPods are used, the output from each MiniPod can be prefixed with a
unique numerical identifier to enable identification of the GPS data.
The system supports differential corrections (received via a PC serial port). These are
then sent to each connected MiniPod to improve position accuracy. The differential
corrections may be input in either RTCM V3 or CMR format.
2. Installation Instructions
Packing List
•MiniPod RF Receiver [RFR-101G-7000]
•USB 2.0 Cable Assembly [ELD050194]
•MiniPod RF Receiver Cable [RFR-101G-4000]
•MiniPod RF High Gain Antenna [EMD050040]
•MiniPod Software Support Disc [BCN-101G-8006]
Installation / Alignment
Positioning of RF antenna
Connect the High Gain Antenna to the RFR-101G via the RF Receiver Cable.
The RF antenna should be mounted at the highest point of the vessel, as practical to do
so, and face towards the target with an unobstructed line of sight. Objects around the
antenna may cause interference with the signals and result in errors.
Ensure the MiniPod BCN-101G internal antenna is in alignment with directional RFR receiver
antenna
RF Antenna
USB Interface
Power LED

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
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MiniPod Alignment
The MiniPods must be installed with the antenna label (shown below) pointing towards
the RF Antenna to ensure reliable transmission of RF data.
Software Installation
Prior to installing the software on the Windows PC, please connect the RFR-101G into a
USB port of the PC and then wait for windows to install the required driver. Once
installed the device will be shown in the windows device manager as a ‘USB Serial Port’
(FTDI driver)
Install the ‘MiniPod Receiver’software by running the ‘Setup.exe’ package supplied

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3. Software Operation
Initial Configuration
When the software is run for the first time the following screen will be displayed
At first run, no MiniPods are approved to connect to the receiver. Therefore, when a new
MiniPod attempts to connect to the receiver, the following prompt will be displayed
If the MAC address displayed matches the MAC address (as printed on the MiniPod
Label) of a MiniPod that you wish to receive data from then press ‘Yes’. Once approved,
this MiniPod will be added to an ‘Approved’ list. You will no longer be prompted when
this MiniPod connects in the future.
If you do not recognise the MAC address displayed then press ‘No’, this device will then
be added to a ‘Blocked’ list. The MiniPod will be removed from the network if it attempts
to reconnect in the future.

MiniPod Receiver Operation Manual
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If not all the MiniPods connect press the ‘Network Joining’ button to allow other MiniPods
to join the network, this will allow 60 seconds for any remaining MiniPods to Join the
Network’.
Once all required MiniPods have been connected, the Pod List will show the data
received from each pod, however the Model Number and Serial Number data for each
MiniPod will be blank (as shown below).
To get the Model Number and Serial Number of each connected MiniPod, select ‘Get
ID’s’ from the Tools menu. Please note you may have to repeat the Get ID’s process
more than once to get data from all connected pods.
When this process is complete the Pod List should look similar to that shown below
If all MiniPods have not connected after 3 attempts please check MiniPod Settings via RS232
and ensure RF communication is enabled.
Refer to ‘MiniPod GPS Receiver Operation Manual’[BCN-101G-8002]

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The software must be restarted after initial configuration to ensure correct operation
Once the above process has completed, the software must be shut down and then
restarted to ensure all connected pods are set up correctly for reliable operation.
After initial configuration, the system will not be configured to output any of the
received GPS data.
Normal Operation
Each time the software is launched, the system will allow any connected pods to
stabilise RF data transmissions, which may initially result in checksum errors. Once all
the connected pods have stabilised, the network will be configured. Information will be
displayed in the message window to confirm this.
Main Display
The main display consists of the menu, a toolbar, a pod list area and a system
message area.