Blue Mark DroneBeacon 120 Series User manual

DroneBeacon db120 Manual - version 1.1 April 2023 - © BlueMark Innovations BV 2023
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DroneBeacon - Transponder Manual
120-series
April 2023 - version 1.1

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The latest version of this manual is located here:
https://download.bluemark.io/db120.pdf
Intended audience: users of the db120 transponder
Disclaimer: we are not responsible or liable for errors or incomplete information in this
document.
Version history
version
date
description
1.0
December 2022
Initial release
1.1
April 2023
Updated documentation to be in line with newest
firmware
Improved quick start

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QUICK START
Attach to the drone
For optimal performance attach the db120 on the top of your drone/airframe:
Use the 3M dual lock™ stickers (included).
clean the surface and remove the foil of the 3M dual lock sticker, apply firm pressure and wait 1
hour for optimal adhesion. Use a sticker for both the db120 and drone. Snap the db120 to the
counter part sticker on the drone. The stickers allow you to easy remove or attach the db120.
Or/and use two M5 screws.
the db120 has two M5 screw noses that can be used for attaching the db120 to your drone.
Use the db120
Move the on-off power switch to on to power up the transponder.
Wait for a GPS fix (slowly flashing battery LEDs every 4 seconds). The battery LED indicates the
battery level in steps of 25%.
You are ready to fly. After your flight, turn the db120 off using the on-off power switch.
Status LEDs
-Ready for take-off: slowly flashing (every 4 s), location acquired.
- Non-compliant config: very slow flashing (every 20s), location acquired
- Acquiring location
Charge
Charge the db120 using a USB-C charger.
the charge LED will be red during charging and turns to green if it has been fully charged.
the db120 can be charged with USB-C charger that provides 5V.
Configuration
For typical use in the USA no configuration is required. USA: use the db120 S/N number for
registering your drone at the FAA. For the EU, you need to enter your operator ID.
After the db120 is powered, press the configuration button. The
red config LED is now solid red.
Connect to the
dronebeacon WLAN network (no password needed)
Point your browser to http://192.168.50.1 or scan the QR code.
Flying a drone could create risks for people, air traffic
and other assets. Before flying, the drone operator has
to make sure to know the local rules regarding drone
flights and obtain the necessary authorization to fly
the drone(s).
configuration web-page
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Contents
Quick start......................................................................................................................................................................................3
1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
1.1 Audience.......................................................................................................................................................................5
1.2 Specifications ..............................................................................................................................................................5
1.3 What's in the Box .......................................................................................................................................................6
1.4 Charging........................................................................................................................................................................6
1.5 Installation....................................................................................................................................................................6
1.6 Using the db120.........................................................................................................................................................7
1.7 EMC test.........................................................................................................................................................................7
1.8 Android/iOS app ........................................................................................................................................................8
1.9 Open Drone ID............................................................................................................................................................8
1.10 LiPo battery ............................................................................................................................................................... 8
2 Configuration ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 General...........................................................................................................................................................................9
2.2 Operator........................................................................................................................................................................9
2.3 Flight ............................................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.4 Radio............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
2.5 Firmware.....................................................................................................................................................................12
3 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
4 Limited warranty .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
5 More information................................................................................................................................................................. 16

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1 INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing and using DroneBeacon products!
The latest version of this user manual may be downloaded at the following link:
https://download.bluemark.io/db120.pdf
(Direct/Broadcast) Remote Identification (Remote ID) adds “beacon” capability to drones to
broadcast basic information of airborne drones, such as the operator's registration number, drone
serial number and current position. The EU and USA have new rules that make Remote ID
mandatory for drones over 250 grams weight. The beacon information can be used by general
public, law enforcement and drones to give better situation awareness of the airspace around them.
BlueMark Innovations BV offers Remote ID transponders and receivers. DroneBeacon db120 is an
add-on (transponder) for drones that broadcasts Remote ID beacon signals. Besides the db120 we
also provide other Remote ID add-ons. DroneScout is a receiver that detects Remote ID signals of
nearby drones up to several km distance (in open space). See https://dronescout.co for more
information about our products.
1.1 Audience
This document is intended for users that want to use the DroneBeacon db120 transponder as a
stand-alone Remote ID add-on for their drone or other UAV product.
1.2 Specifications
The transponder consists of an embedded system and several radio-interfaces to broadcast Remote
ID signals.
Key specifications:
Compliant with international regulations
EU ASD-STAN DIN EN 4709-002
USA ASTM Remote ID Standard ASTM F3411-22a-RID-B/ F3586-22
Accepted by the FAA https://uasdoc.faa.gov/listDocs/RID000000058
Supports all Remote ID transmission protocols:
BLE legacy
BLE long range
WLAN NaN 2.4 GHz (not allowed in the USA)
WLAN Beacon 2.4 GHz
Long range up to 5 km detection range1
Omni-directional antenna with 0 dBi gain
Transmit power: +18 dBm (WLAN and Bluetooth)
Battery life: > 3 hours2
2 Wh (LiPo 3.7V 600 mAh)
1The detection range depends on several factors such as the receiver antenna gain, transmission protocol,
weather conditions, flying height, receiver height line of sight etc. With professional receivers a range up to 5
km is possible. See our DroneScout manual for more details.
2The battery life has been measured at room temperature. The battery life will be shorter, if it is used below 10
degrees Celsius. It also depends on other factors like transmission mode and transmission period. WLAN
transmission modes have much shorter battery life: > 1 ½ hours.

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Positioning
GPS and BDS: 2.5m positioning precision
Suited for outdoor operation:
IP43 rating
for operation in rainy conditions, the transponder needs to be protected against water.
Dimensions (l x w x h): 48 x 38 x 28 mm.
with screw nodes the dimensions are 48 x 51 x 28 mm
Operating temperature
-5°C to +40°C
Weight: 25 g
Figure 1 - DroneBeacon 120-serie transponder
1.3 What's in the Box
The following package contents should be present:
1x db120 transponder
3x 3M dual-lock stickers (1 extra)
1.4 Charging
The transponder can be charged using a standard USB-C charger. It is fully charged within 1 hour
(45 minutes with a USB fast charger). During charging, the charging LED will be red . If fully charged,
this LED will turn to green .
1.5 Installation
Attach the DroneBeacon db120 transponder on the top of your drone for best performance.
Use the 3M dual lock™ stickers (included).
28 mm
48 mm
38 mm
43 mm
51 mm

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clean the surface and remove the foil of the 3M dual lock sticker, apply firm pressure Use a sticker
for both the db120 and drone. Snap the db120 to the counter part sticker on the drone. The
stickers allow you to easy remove or attach the db120.
Note: for a good adhesion/grip, place the dual-lock sticker and apply firm consistent pressure to
assure good contact with the substrate you are adhering. Also, it needs 1 hour to 72 hours
(preferred) to build a (full) adhesion to the surface. In addition, it is important that the adhesive
base for the tape is free of grease and dry, and that it is not covered with a removable lacquer or
a layer of paper.
Or/and use two M5 screws.
The transponder can be attached to the drone using two M5 screws. The distance between the
two screw noses is 43 mm.
1.6 Using the db120
Attach the transponder to the drone
Move the on-off power switch to
on to power up the transponder.
Wait for a GPS fix (slowly flashing battery LEDs every 4 seconds). The battery LED indicates the
battery level in steps of 25%. This is typically within 90 seconds if the db120 is used outdoor.
You are ready to fly.
After your flight, turn the db120 off using the on-off power switch.
Battery/status LED
The status LED can have the following states:
-Ready for take-off: slowly flashing (every 4 s), location acquired.
- Non-compliant config: very slow flashing (every 20s), location acquired
- Acquiring location
Note:
For typical use in the USA no configuration is required. USA: use the db120 S/N number for
registering your drone at the FAA.
For the EU, you need to enter your operator ID.
A non-compliant configuration can be caused by selecting a non-compliant transmission
protocol, selecting a lower transmit power (for WLAN modes) or selecting a different channel
for WLAN modes than the default channel 6.
Flying a drone could create risks for people, air traffic and other assets. Before
flying, the drone operator has to make sure to know the local rules regarding
drone flights and obtain the necessary authorization to fly the drone(s).
1.7 EMC test
To verify that the db120 does not produce interference to the drone or receives interference from
the drone, it is advised to do a quick EMC test. (Only when attached for the first time to a drone.)
Power on the drone and remote control. Keep the db120 powered off.
Verify that the drone, remote control and wireless link are functioning properly.
Power off the drone and remote control.
Power on the db120. Keep the drone and remote control powered off.
Verify that the db120 is functioning properly. For instance by using the Android in Section 1.8
or by looking at the status LEDs (ready for take-off state).
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Repeat the tests by powering on both the db120, the drone and remote control. If both the
db120 and drone, remote control and wireless link are functioning properly, there is no EMC
interference between both systems.
In case there is interference, please move the db120 to a different place on the drone and
repeat the tests. Alternatively lower the output power or change the transmission protocol.
1.8 Android/iOS app
You can use the free OpenDroneID OSM Android app to view the DroneBeacon Remote ID signals:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.opendroneid.android_osm
Or the Drone Scanner Android app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.dronetag.dronescanner
Note: only few Android smartphones support reception of Bluetooth Long Range and/or WLAN NaN
signals. Also, in default Android configuration, WLAN Beacon signals are typically received only
once every few minutes. A list of supported smartphones is presented, in the link below.
https://github.com/opendroneid/receiver-android/blob/master/supported-smartphones.md
iOS
The Drone Scanner app is also available for iOS. Due to limitation of iOS only BT4 reception is
possible.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/drone-scanner/id1644548782
1.9 Open Drone ID
DroneBeacon uses the Open Drone ID framework to broadcast Remote ID signals. The framework
can be found on this page: https://www.opendroneid.org/
1.10 LiPo battery
DroneBeacon uses internally a LiPo battery. In general LiPo batteries are safer and
more environmentally friendly than other batteries like NiCd and NiMH. While LiPo
fires are rare, they can happen incredibly quickly and can do a lot of damage3.
Always use a fire proof LiPo safety bag, metal ammo box, or other fire proof
container when you are charging, discharging, or storing db120 transponders.
3https://www.thedronegirl.com/2015/02/07/lipo-battery/

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2 CONFIGURATION
The transponder can be configured via a web-interface. To active the configuration mode follow
these steps:
Move the on-off power switch to on (to power up the transponder).
Press the configuration button, the red configuration LED is turned on.
Connect to the dronebeacon WLAN network (no password needed)
Point your browser to http://192.168.50.1
New settings will only be applied if the Save button is pressed!
Configuration mode will be quit, by pressing the configuration button again.
The red configuration LED is now turned off. The transponder is now in
normal operation mode.
2.1 General
The main configuration can be found on the general tab.
Figure 2 - General configuration page
Fill in the drone type of your drone.
2.2 Operator
In the operator tab, you can configure the details of your license provided by the National Aviation
Authority. This is an optional setting for the USA. In the USA you need to use the serial number of
the db120 instead for register your drone at the FAA. For the EU, this is a mandatory setting. First,
select the region where the drone is flying . Outside the EU, no UAS category or UAS class is
required.
configuration web-page

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Within the EU, only valid license numbers can be entered. In that case the input box becomes green.
Figure 3 - Operator configuration page
2.3 Flight
In the flight tab, you can configure an optional text describing the purpose of your flight.

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Figure 4 - Flight configuration page
2.4 Radio
In the radio tab you can configure the transmission mode and other radio-related settings. Most
users don’t change settings in this section. Note that in the USA only BLE dual-mode and WLAN
broadcast transmission mode are allowed.

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Figure 5 - Radio configuration page
2.5 Firmware
In the firmware tab, you can upgrade the firmware of the transponder.
Firmware files can be found here: https://dronescout.co/downloads/
(Version history: https://download.bluemark.io/dronebeacon_transponder_history.txt)
Upload the file and press Flash image to upload new firmware. Upgrading firmware has been tested
with Chrome and Firefox. If upgrade fails, please try again or try another browser.

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Figure 6 - Firmware upgrade page

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3 TROUBLESHOOTING
Access to the configuration web-pages fails.
Failing to access the configuration web-pages can have multiple causes. Make sure the
configuration LED is solid red. Also, make sure that you connect to the dronebeacon network. If you
get a message that the network does not provide internet, make sure you decline the message to
disconnect and connect to your default WLAN network again. The browser Safari can also give
issues to connect to the configuration web-pages. Use a different browser in this case. Also, a VPN,
browser add-ons or another active internet connection can give issues. Disconnect the VPN and
other internet connections. The easiest solution is use a different device to connect to the
configuration pages.
The configuration LED and some battery LEDs glow softly when the db120 is powered on.
If the configuration button is stuck, the db120 will not boot normally, but instead will enter a special
boot mode. If this is the case the configuration LED and a few battery LEDs will glow softly. To solve
this, make sure that that the configuration button is not pressed or is stuck by the enclosure.
The reported height is wrong.
The db120 uses the GNSS (GPS) signal to determine the height of the db120. It needs a good GPS
reception/fix for this purpose. Make sure you install the db120 on top of your drone. Also, db120/
GNSS receiver has issues to track slow vertical speeds. Make sure you always go up or down with at
least 1 m/s vertical speed for your drone.
The db120 interferes with the drone communication link.
Move the db120 to a location further away from the drone communication antenna. Even 10 cm
extra distance can make a huge difference. See also section 1.7 EMC test. In addition, change the
transmission protocol if the interference persists. Typically, Bluetooth transmission protocols cause
less interference to other radio systems. Also a lower the transmit power will reduce interference.
The db120 gets no GPS lock/location data.
In normal outdoor situations, the db120 gets a GPS fix typically within 90 seconds. In indoor
locations or blocked GPS reception, a GPS fix may take considerably longer or not all. Please contact
us, in case the GPS fix takes always a very long time or there is no GPS fix at all.
After the db120 is switched on, no battery LEDs are turned on or are quick flashing.
In this case the battery is likely empty. Charge the db120 fully. If some rare cases, the db120 battery
LEDs flash quickly (much faster as with a normal GPS fix) without broadcasting any Remote ID
signals. This can be caused by a too low battery level. Charge the db120 fully.

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4 LIMITED WARRANTY
The product has a two-year warranty period, starting at the date of receiving the product. Outside
warranty are issues like crash damage, improper use, (extreme) weather conditions that damages
the product. Also, the battery is excluded from warranty. The product is eligible for future firmware
updates as described in the section 2.4 firmware.
Warranty Service
Please email or call us first with a description of the problem. Typically, the customer is responsible
for transportation costs to our office. For post-warranty cases contact us too; we will try to do our
best to find a solution.

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5 MORE INFORMATION
If you need more information, please contact us at [e-mail] or by phone: [phone].
All contact information can be found at the DroneScout contact page:
https://dronescout.co/contact/