Bad Elf Flex User manual

Bad Elf
Base/Rover Configuration
Manual
Version 1.x

Table of Contents
Table of Contents 1
Introduction and Overview 4
What’s in the Box? 4
Base and Rover Overview 4
Radio Preparation 4
Harxon HX-DU1603D 4
Radio Controls and Indicators 5
Charging 6
Channel Configuration 6
Programming FCC Call Sign 6
Bluetooth Connection 7
Wired Connection 10
Rover Usage 11
Prerequisites 11
Configuration 12
Standalone Configuration 12
Navigating the Rover feature 12
Starting the Rover 12
Stopping the Rover 16
Rover Status Screen 17
Error Conditions 18
Bad Elf Flex App 19
Flex Rover Mode Checklist 20
Flex Token Screen 21
Rover Pole Height Configuration 22
Flex mode confirmation 24
Activating Rover Mode 26
Deactivating Rover Mode 27
Rover Mode Confirmation 28
Error Conditions 29
Usage & Limitations 31
Standalone 31
Third-party Apps 31
Data Recordings 31
Base Usage 32
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Prerequisites 32
Radio Connection Setup 32
Configuration 32
Loading Known Points 32
Constructing a Known Point File 32
Loading a Known Point File on Flex 32
Standalone Configuration 32
Navigating the base feature 32
Staring the Base 33
Selecting the Base Reference Point 35
Starting Base Mode 36
Base Active Screen 37
Stopping the Base 37
Error Conditions 38
Bad Elf Flex App 38
Starting the Base Mode Checklist 39
Flex Base Mode Checklist 40
Base Pole Height Configuration 41
Base Tilt Calibration 42
Establishing Base Reference Point 43
Base Reference Point - Capture 43
Base Reference Point - Established 43
Using a Known Base Reference Point 43
Activating Base Mode 44
Deactivating Base Mode 44
Confirming Base Mode Operation 45
Error Conditions 45
Usage & Limitations 47
Data Recordings 47
Project Contents 47
What’s in the zip file? 47
Metadata Specification 47
Specifications - HX-DU1603D 47
Communications 48
General Specifications 48
Battery and Power 48
Mechanical 48
Environmental 48
RF Disclosures 49
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Class B Statement – Notice to Users: 49
Human exposure to radio frequency energy 49
Limited Warranty Terms and Conditions 50
Warranty 50
Limitations and Remedies 51
How to Obtain Warranty Service 51
Limitation of Liability 51
Document Version 52
Trademarks 52
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Introduction and Overview
Thank you for purchasing a Bad Elf Flex® radio kit. This manual describes the basic operation
of your Bad Elf Flex, in combination with a Bad Elf Flex radio kit, as well as specifications and
warranty information. For the most recent information, visit bad-elf.com/baserover.
The Flex radio kit provides a UHF radio link used for communicating corrections from a Flex
operating as a fixed base station to one or more Flex units operating as rovers. A Flex radio
connects via Bluetooth to Flex and requires no additional cables.
What’s in the Box?
The following items are included in the standard Flex radio kit:
● Harxon Radio HX-DU1603D
● UHF Antenna
● Rugged carrying case
● AC wall charger
● Charging/Serial Cable
● Survey pole mount
Base and Rover Overview
● What is a Base?
● What is a Rover?
● Limitations
Radio Preparation
Harxon HX-DU1603D
The Harxon HX-DU1603D is an UHF external radio that is designed for easy mobile use in
demanding field conditions for wireless data communication between 410 and 470MHz with
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channel spacing selectable to be in 12.5 or 25 kHz. This lightweight transceiver is equipped
with an OLED display, menu operation enabled, interference detection, remote control, and
exceptional receiving performance. This radio is ideally used for wireless correction data
transmission in applications of GNSS/RTK surveying.
Radio Controls and Indicators
Buttons
Up
Down
Left
Right
Power/Confirmation
Powering On/Off
● Long press the power button for 3-5
seconds to boot, Power indicator light
shows red .
● Long press the power button for 3
seconds to shutdown.
LED Indicators
● T/RX - wireless transceiver indicator
light: green when receiving,red when
transmitting
● BT - green when Bluetooth online
● PWR - red when powered on
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● CHG/STY - power charge indicator:
red when charging, green when the
battery is full
Charging
If there is a manual, replicate the charging instructions. Add external battery charging
Channel Configuration
TBD BH
Programming FCC Call Sign
TBD BH
Bluetooth Connection
In order for Bad Elf Flex to operate as a base or rover, you
must establish a bluetooth pairing between the radio and the
Flex.
Select the Bluetooth Configuration option from the main menu
of the Bad Elf Flex.
Tip: Your Bad Elf Flex will remember the last radio it was
paired with. We suggest using color coded stickers on the
radio and the Flex as a reminder of which radio is already
paired with the Flex.
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Upon selection of the Bluetooth Configuration feature of Flex,
scroll down to New pairing... using the down arrow key
and select using the enter button .
Note: Ensure your radio is powered on before you select the
New pairing function
The New Pairing feature will scan for devices and indicate the
number of bluetooth devices in range. This process typically
takes from 10-15 seconds.
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When the Bluetooth scan process is complete, you are
presented with a list of possible devices.
Using the up and down arrows, select the radio with
the serial number matches with the item in the list before
proceeding.
When you have highlighted the the radio you want to pair
with, select using the enter button .
Your Flex starts the pairing process and provides a status
indicator that the pairing is in process. The radio serial
number is shown for confirmation. The pairing process
typically takes 5-10 seconds.
If the serial number shown does not match the radio you want
to pair with, press the back button to cancel.
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Upon successful pairing a “Connected” message is displayed.
Press OK using the enter button .
Your radio is now paired and ready for use. As long as you
continue to use this radio with the same Flex, you will not
have to repeat this process in the future.
Should you want to determine which Bluetooth devices have
established a piring with your Flex, select the Paired Devices
function from the Bluetooth Configuration feature.
Press the up and down arrows to select a paired
device
Press the enter button to view an item’s status or delete a
pairing
Press the back button to cancel
Wired Connection
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Rover Usage
When your Bad Elf Flex is operating in rover mode it behaves identically to standalone
operation using a traditional RTK feed. You may either use the Bad Eff Flex app or the Bad Elf
Flex receiver’s LCD screen to initiate rover mode. Once the Flex receiver establishes
connection with the Flex Base, the GNSS solution changes from its current mode (usually
SBAS) to float RTK and then finally to fixed RTK. The fixed position solution of your Flex Rover
is dependent on decent line-of-sight connectivity with the base.
Note: be aware that once your Bad Elf Flex begins to receive corrections, it will adopt the datum
used by the base once a fix is achieved.
Prerequisites
For Flex to operate as a rover, the following items are required:
● Flex Extreme or Flex Standard
● Radio kit
● Optional range pole or equivalent
To prevent interference with the GNSS antenna, when attaching the radio kit to a range pole,
ensure the radio antenna does not extend above the base of the antenna cap, as shown below.
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If you are using another antenna or mounting the supplied antenna in another location, ensure
that the antenna is more than 1 meter from the Bad Elf Flex.
Note: To operate in Rover mode, Bad Elf Flex requires either an Extreme unlock or the use of a
Bad Elf Flex token. The Flex app’s checklist screen provides options to consume or purchase a
token if required. The checklist provides you the means to ensure proper operation of all
connections and configurations before consuming a token.
Configuration
Standalone Configuration via LCD
The Bad Elf Flex supports operating in rover mode without the use of a connected app. A
standard checklist interface provides for quick startup and configuration of Flex as an RTK
Rover. Starting the Rover feature enables a high-accuracy collection mode using the standard
Flex logging options include point and track logging.
Navigating the Rover feature
● Left and right arrow buttons select the previous or next display screen
● Enter button selects items or provides a context menu
● Back button returns to the previous item
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Starting the Rover
Using the keypad on the Bad Elf Flex, select the
settings icon and click the enter button .
Select Correction Mode using the enter button .
Replace this image
Use the up and down , arrow buttons to scroll to the
Rover function.
To start the Rover checklist, press the enter button .
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If you are using a Bad Elf Flex Extreme, tokens are not
required and this screen is not shown.
The Bad Elf Flex standard requires extreme mode through the
use of a Flex Token. If a Flex Token isn’t active, the Bad Elf
Flex prompts you to use a token to enable extreme mode. To
enable extreme mode select the option Yes by pressing the
enter button . If you want to cancel starting rover mode,
press No using the back button .
In a radio is not connected, the Bad Elf Flex automatically
attempts to restore the Bluetooth connection with the last
radio it used. The display shows the radio it is searching for
and the serial number for reference. This process takes 5-10
seconds and requires the radio to be on.
If you want to pair with a different radio or are having any
issues pairing with your radio, Cancel by pressing the back
button and use the Bluetooth feature from the main menu
of your Flex to establish a new pairing.
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Once the Bad Elf Flex confirms Bluetooth pairing with a radio,
the checklist displays a confirmation of pole height.
If your pole height is correct, use the right button to
proceed to the next item in the checklist.
If your pole height is incorrect, cancel the checklist by
pressing the back button and use the Bad Elf Flex app on
your phone or tablet to change the default pole height.
Once you have confirmed the pole height, the Bad Elf Flex
confirms unit tilt. Ensure your Bad Elf Flex is mounted tightly
on the pole and that the pole is level and completely vertical.
If you need to adjust the tilt calibration, pressing the enter
button provides a feature to adjust and calibrate the
internal bubble level.
If your calibration is correct, use the right button to
proceed to the next item in the checklist.
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Upon confirmation of the checklist items, the Bad Elf Flex
listens for an incoming corrections feed. Byte count and
packet count increase as data is validated.
Once a valid stream of corrections is detected, the Bad Elf
Flex transitions automatically to the Base Detected mode.
To exit starting the rover feature, press the back button .
Once the base is detected and the Bad Elf Flex determines a
viable corrections feed, you may start the rover.
The Bad Elf Flex displays the serial number of the Bad Elf
Flex base unit and the name of the point used for its reference
position.
Actions
● Press the enter button to start the rover.
● Press the back button to exit starting rover mode
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Stopping the Rover
Actions
● Press the enter button brings up a popup menu
with an option to stop the rover.
● Press the enter button to confirm the action
Actions
● Press the enter button to stop the rover.
● Press the back button to return to the rover status
pages - rover remains active
You may also cancel rover mode by navigating to Settings > Corrections and choosing any
correction mode other than Rover.
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Rover Status Screen
Primary Rover Status Page
● Source - contains the name of the Bad Elf Flex Base
Station
● Inbound Corrections - incrementing byte count of
received corrections data
● Fix - GNSS Fix type
○ FIX - RTK or L-Band Fixed solution
○ FLT - RTK or L-Band Float solution
○ DIF - Differential corrected solution
○ AUT - Autonomous solution
○ NO - No solution
● Age - age in seconds of the current fix
● Horizontal - an estimate of the horizontal accuracy
based on the corrections source
● Distance - approximate distance between the base
and the rover
Secondary Rover Status Page - Remote Base Information
● Name - remote base name
● Reference Point - reference point used for base
○ Here means base is using a named point
○ Otherwise name references a point selected
from base or created on base
● Datum - the base reference datum used for corrections
● Battery - the charge level of the internal battery
● Radio - ???
Error Conditions
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Example: loss of RTK fix
During normal operation the Fix type is FIX denoting an RTK
solution. If the base stops transmitting or conditions occur
where corrections are not received, the FIX type changes to
the current fix type of the standalone GNSS engine.
Bad Elf Flex App
The Flex app provides a UI-rich experience to manage and activate the Rover feature of
Flex.The Rover mode feature is accessed under the unified corrections mode function of the
Flex app. To begin a Rover session, select the Corrections function of the Flex app.
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Starting the Rover Mode Checklist
To enable rover feature usage from the Flex app, follow the
steps below:
● From the main menu tap “Correction Mode”
● Tap the row labeled “Rover Mode”
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