Argent Data Systems OpenTracker USB User manual

Argent Data Systems
OpenTracker USB
User’s Manual
Revised 2-25-2013
Argent Data Systems, Inc.
PO Bo 579
Santa Maria, CA 93456-0579
USA
[phone] / [phone]
Fa [phone]
www.argentdata.com
Copyright © 2007-2013 Argent Data Systems
All Rights Reserved
APRS
®
is a registered trademark of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1
2. Major Features.......................................................................................................... 1
3. Hardware Description............................................................................................. 3
3.1. SERIAL Connector Pin Assi nments ............................................................ 3
3.2. RADIO Connector Pin Assi nments............................................................. 3
3.3. Internal Header CN4 ....................................................................................... 3
4. Jumper Settin s ........................................................................................................ 4
5. Setup and Confi uration......................................................................................... 5
5.1. USB Operation.................................................................................................. 5
6. Position Modes ......................................................................................................... 6
7. Port Modes ................................................................................................................ 6
AUTO............................................................................................................................. 6
KISS ................................................................................................................................ 7
WS2300 .......................................................................................................................... 7
DAVIS............................................................................................................................ 7
FLOW............................................................................................................................. 7
8. Remote Access .......................................................................................................... 8
9. Safe Mode.................................................................................................................. 8
10. Authentication.................................................................................................... 10
11. OTWINCFG Confi uration Pro ram.............................................................. 11
11.1. Overwritin an Invalid Confi uration ................................................... 11
11.2. Turbo Mode ................................................................................................ 11
11.3. Auto-detect ports ....................................................................................... 11
11.4. Warm Boot vs. Cold Boot.......................................................................... 12
11.5. Workin Offline ......................................................................................... 12
11.6. Main Confi uration Window................................................................... 12
11.7. Confi uration Profiles ............................................................................... 13
11.8. Loadin and Savin Settin s.................................................................... 13
11.9. Basic Confi uration Options .................................................................... 13
11.10. Tunin and Dia nostics ............................................................................ 19
11.11. Access List................................................................................................... 20
11.12. Profile Switchin ........................................................................................ 20
12. Command Reference ......................................................................................... 22
13. Telemetry............................................................................................................. 33
14. Script System ...................................................................................................... 34
14.1. Script Editor ................................................................................................ 34
14.2. Script Commands....................................................................................... 36
14.3. Counters ...................................................................................................... 38
15. UI-View32 Setup ................................................................................................ 40

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 1
1. Introduction
The OpenTracker USB was desi ned as a low-cost entry-level APRS tracker, but
it includes features previously found only on si nificantly more expensive
models.
The OpenTracker USB includes almost all of the features of the hi her-end
Tracker2, with the exception of the di ipeater and Garmin protocol functions.
Firmware updates and enhancements are published frequently, so check our
website at http://www.ar entdata.com/support to make sure you have the latest
firmware and documentation. The Wiki site at http://wiki.ar entdata.com also
has in-depth technical information and user-contributed tips and tricks.
2. Major Features
APRS Tracker - The OpenTracker USB is first and foremost a full-featured APRS
tracker. It works with GPS receivers usin the industry-standard NMEA format
($GPRMC, $GPGGA, and $GPGLL sentences). In addition to transmittin its
own position, it can also decode incomin positions and plot them as waypoints
on the screen of a GPS receiver, selectin appropriate symbols and settin
comment text and other waypoint details if supported by the receiver.
KISS Mode - The KISS protocol defines an interface between a TNC and its host,
typically a PC. This mode allows the tracker to be used with PC-based APRS
pro rams like Xastir, WinAPRS, and UI-View32. It can also be used with non-
APRS applications, subject to the limitations of the tracker’s transmit and receive
buffers.
Weather Station – The OpenTracker USB can be connected to several models of
weather station, includin the Peet Bros. Ultimeter 2000 series, Dallas/AAG 1-
Wire Weather Station, Davis Vanta ePro 2, and LaCrosse WS-2310 wireless
weather station, to provide remote weather telemetry.
Command Console – While the OpenTracker USB comes with a Windows-based
confi uration pro ram, it can also be confi ured, tuned, and up raded throu h a
traditional console interface with command syntax similar to that of the classic
TNC2 and its clones. Keyboard-to-keyboard QSOs are supported throu h a
‘converse’ mode as well as APRS messa in commands.

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 2
Telemetry – The OpenTracker USB has on-board temperature and volta e
sensors, plus four analo 0-20v inputs and two di ital input/output pins.
Temperature and volta e readin s can be reported in status packets, and the
other readin s can be reported in an APRS telemetry messa e.
Scripting – To automate a variety of tasks and increase the device’s feature set,
the OpenTracker USB includes a simple user-pro rammable script system.

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 3
3. Hardware Description
3.1. S RIAL Connector Pin Assignments
2: Data in (port A)
3: Data out (port A)
4: Power output for GPS
5: Ground
7: Data out (port B)
8: Data in (port B)
Note: The serial interface is confi ured as DTE (data terminal equipment) to
allow direct connection to a GPS receiver. Connection to a PC requires a null-
modem cable.
3.2. RADIO Connector Pin Assignments
1: Audio out
2: COR / Squelch input
3: PTT out
5: Audio in
6: Ground
7: Power in (7 to 24 volts)
8: PTT in
9: AUX IO / GPIO1 / Power relay output
3.3. Internal Header CN4
1: +5 Volt power
2: 1-Wire data bus
3: Analo input 1
4: Analo input 2
5: Analo input 3
6: Analo input 4
7: Di ital input/output
8: Ground

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 4
4. Jumper Settings
Three settin s are controlled by the jumper block on the circuit board.
‘HI’ – This jumper sets the audio output level to the hi h ran e. This is needed
mostly for mobile radios, especially some commercial models.
‘HT’ – Selects if push-to-talk si nalin throu h the audio output line is enabled.
Use this jumper with most HTs by Icom, Yaesu, and Alinco handhelds, but not
Kenwood, Puxin , and Baofen .
‘Vout’ – Selects GPS output volta e on pin 4 of the serial connector. This is set to
5v by default. Valid positions are horizontal for 5v and vertical to pass the
OTUSB’s unre ulated supply volta e (typically 12v) strai ht throu h to pin 4.
Use the 5v settin for all GPS receivers supplied by Ar ent Data Systems.
If you don’t expect to use a 12-volt GPS receiver, clippin the pin marked ‘12’ is
hi hly recommended to eliminate the possibility of accidentally settin the
jumper to the wron position and destroyin the GPS receiver.

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 5
sudo modprobe
usbserial vendor=0x134a product=0x9000
5. Setup and Configuration
You can use a PC to connect to the OpenTracker USB usin either the Windows
confi uration pro ram (otwincf .exe) or a terminal emulation pro ram of your
choice, such as HyperTerminal, PuTTY, or Minicom. Either the serial port or the
USB port may be used for confi uration.
To use the command console, connect at the proper baud rate (4800 baud is the
default) and press enter several times until you see a command prompt. To use
the Windows confi uration pro ram, simply start the pro ram, select the COM
port, and power up the device.
The only settin absolutely required for normal APRS tracker operation is the
callsi n. The defaults for all other settin s should be reasonable, but you should
check on locally recommended settin s, particularly for the di ipeater path.
5.1. USB Operation
The USB port can be used for confi urin the tracker with the otwincf .exe
utility, accessin the command prompt, and connectin to a PC in KISS interface
mode.
When the USB connection is in use, the tracker draws its power from the host
system - no other connections are required for confi uration of the unit.
Note that the OpenTracker USB does NOT act as a host device - the USB port is
only used for connectin to a PC, and cannot be used to connect a USB GPS
receiver.
Windows systems require the provided .INF for the OpenTracker USB to be
reco nized properly. Once installed, you can find the COM port number
assi ned in Device Mana er. Alternatively, you can plu in the USB port after
runnin otwincf .exe and the new port should be detected automatically.
Modern Linux distributions should automatically assi n a device name like
/dev/ttyACM0 to the OpenTracker USB. If the unit is not automatically
reco nized, you can select the driver with the followin command:

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 6
Mac OS X should assi n a device name startin with /dev/cu.usbmodem.
Other modern operatin systems should be able to use the OpenTracker USB as a
eneric CDC ACM serial device. Its VID is 0x134A and PID is 0x9000.
6. Position Modes
Before ettin started, it’s important to understand that the tracker ordinarily
will not make automatic transmissions (includin position, status, weather, and
telemetry packets) unless it knows where it is.
The device knows where it is when it receives a valid fix from a GPS receiver, or
when it’s pro rammed by the user with a fixed position. It can be confi ured to
transmit without a valid fix; if no fix has been received since power-up, only
status and telemetry packets will be sent. If the last valid GPS fix is more than 30
seconds old, a ‘NO FIX’ warnin is added to each position packet.
If the AUTOSAVE option is enabled, as soon as the last valid fix is 30 seconds old,
that position is saved and the device enters fixed position mode. As soon as
another valid fix is received, it switches back to GPS mode. This is useful for
portable weather stations that will have a GPS receiver connected only briefly
durin deployment.
7. Port Modes
The OpenTracker USB has two serial ports that share the same physical
connector. A ‘Y’ adapter is available to separate the ports if needed. Both ports
can operate in multiple modes:
AUTO – In this mode, the device will automatically detect NMEA GPS data, Peet
Bros weather data, or (for port A only) command console input. Note that while
both ports can be confi ured in AUTO mode, only one should be used for a
iven function at any time. For example, port A can accept NMEA data while
port B accepts weather data, but providin NMEA data to both ports
simultaneously will cause unpredictable operation.
If the USB port is not in KISS mode, the command console will only be present
on the USB port while it’s connected. When the USB port is disconnected, the
console will default back to port A.

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 7
KISS – In KISS mode, a PC or other host device sends and receives raw AX.25
packets. Keep in mind that even with one or both ports in KISS mode, the
tracker will continue to perform its other functions, includin messa in and
remote command access. The host should use a different callsi n/SSID
combination to avoid interference.
WS2300 – Supports LaCrosse WS-2300 series weather stations at 2400 baud,
a ain i norin manual baud rate settin s.
DAVIS – Supports Davis Vanta e Pro series weather stations.
T XT – Functions like ‘converse’ mode. Each line of text is sent as a plain text
packet when a carria e return is received. Pressin control-C twice will exit
TEXT mode.
FLOW – Valid only for port B, this settin causes the port B pins to function as
CTS/RTS flow control si nals for port A.
The USB port has two modes, controlled by the ‘USB KISS’ option in
otwincf .exe or the USBKISS ON/OFF option from the command console.
When USBKISS is ON, the USB port will operate in KISS mode. If the tracker
receives a KISS exit command from the host, USBKISS will be switched OFF.
With USBKISS OFF, the USB port functions as the command console. In both
modes, the baud rate settin has no effect on the serial link’s speed. Some
applications may make assumptions about timin based on the selected speed,
however, so it’s recommended that the baud rate be set to 115,200 bps or hi her.

OpenTracker USB User’s Manual 8
8. Remote Access
Commands can be issued to the tracker remotely via APRS messa es. The
ori inatin station’s callsi n must appear in the device’s security authorization
list (see AUTHLIST command.) Commands are prefixed with ‘ CMD ’, and the
results of the command, if any, will be send back as an APRS messa e to the
sendin station.
For example, ‘ CMD VERSION ’, sent from an APRS client, will cause the tar et
device to reply with its firmware version.
In response to a RESET command, the device will attempt to send one
acknowled ement before resettin . This is intended to prevent messa e retries
from causin multiple resets, but especially if the channel is busy there is a
possibility that the acknowled ement will not be sent before the reset is
executed. A RESET command should be cancelled after a few retries with no
response received to check if the device has indeed been reset.
9. Safe Mode
Startin with firmware build 56294, the OpenTracker USB includes a 'safe mode'
option to place the device temporarily into its default confi uration. The safe
mode entry condition is checked only when the tracker first powers on or resets.
It should always be possible to recover from an invalid confi uration usin a
cold boot procedure over the serial interface. This procedure, however, can be
problematic with certain hardware setups. Safe mode offers an alternative to a
serial cold boot.
Safe mode is entered by connectin the di ital I/O and 1-Wire bus pins (CN4 pins
7 and 2) to ether. Connect the pins with a short piece of wire or other
conductive item such as a pair of metal tweezers while the tracker powers up.
The tracker will blink its red LED five times to indicate safe mode entry and will
display *SAFE MODE* in the banner.
While in safe mode, the tracker will operate from a saved copy of the default
confi uration, with ports A and B set to AUTO at 4800 baud. Chan es to the
confi uration will affect the normal confi uration and not the saved defaults. To