Blue Mark DroneScout 230 Series User manual

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DroneScout - Receiver Manual
230-series
March 2023 - version 1.4
The latest version of this manual is located here:
https://download.bluemark.io/ds230.pdf

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Intended audience: system integrators
Disclaimer: we are not responsible or liable for errors or incomplete information in this
document.
Version history
version
date
description
1.0
May 2022
Initial release
1.1
November 2022
Added FCC information
How to install a MQTT broker on the ds230
1.2
December 2022
Added transmit_mode and aggregate_data options
Improved update and reboot function
1.3
January 2023
Describe how to solve DHCP issues in chroot mode
Add typical RSSI values at 1 meter distance
1.4
March 2023
Added transmit_mode 2 description

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Contents
1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Audience.......................................................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Receiver ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Installation....................................................................................................................................................................6
1.4 Login............................................................................................................................................................................ 10
1.5 Read-only file system ............................................................................................................................................ 10
1.6 Open Drone ID.........................................................................................................................................................10
1.7 Global architecture ................................................................................................................................................ 11
1.8 Maximum detection range .................................................................................................................................11
1.9 RSSI values at 1 meter distance ........................................................................................................................ 13
2 Configuration .........................................................................................................................................................................14
2.1 root password.......................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.2 dronescout.conf ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.3 remote SSH login .................................................................................................................................................... 16
2.4 wlan_channels.conf...............................................................................................................................................17
2.5 MQTT broker on the ds230 .................................................................................................................................19
3 MQTT messages ....................................................................................................................................................................21
4 MQTT subscriber (reference code)................................................................................................................................24
5 Firmware update .................................................................................................................................................................. 25
6 Warranty ...................................................................................................................................................................................26
7 More information ................................................................................................................................................................. 27

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1 INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing and using DroneScout products!
The latest version of this user manual may be downloaded at the following link, where the most
up-to-date version will be found:
https://download.bluemark.io/ds230.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 are planning 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 is an add-on
(transponder) for drones which broadcasts Remote ID beacon signals. 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 system integrators that want to use the DroneScout 230 receiver in
their own product. This product is not intended for end users!
1.2 Receiver
The receiver consists of an embedded system and several radio-interfaces to collect remote ID
signals.
Key specifications:
Quad-Core Cortex-A53 ARM CPU 1.8 GHz
2 GByte RAM
8 GByte eMMC flash storage
10/100M/1000M Ethernet interface
Compliant with international standards
EU ASD-STAN DIN EN 4709-002
USA ASTM Remote ID Standard ASTM F3411-22a-RID-B
1x Bluetooth (LE and BLE-Long Range) radio
Sensitivity:
BLE -97 dBm
BLE Long Range -105 dBm
2x triple-band WiFi radio: 2.4, 5.2 and 5.8 GHz
Sensitivity:
WiFi Beacon + WiFi NaN: -85 dBm
PoE (Power over Ethernet): 802.3af/at
connectivity and power
Power consumption: < 5 W
Outdoor enclosure IP67

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1x Bluetooth antenna connector (N-type)
2x WiFi antenna connector (N-type)
omni-directional antennas with 5 dBi gain
Size: 27.2 x 27.6 x 9.6 cm (without antennas).
Weight: around 1.4 kg (with mast mount 1.9 kg
Bluetooth scanning
The Bluetooth radio scans continuously for Bluetooth LE and Bluetooth LE Long-Range packets with
Remote ID payload.
WiFi scanning
Remote ID signals can be broadcast on several frequencies. This means that the WiFi radio interface
will hop every second to a new channel. If no Remote ID signals are detected, both radio interfaces
will keep sensing for Remote ID signals on all WiFi channels. If there is a Remote ID signal found,
radio 1 will keep hopping and scanning for new Remote ID signals. Radio 2 on the other hand will
permanently tune to the channel where a Remote ID signal has been found.
In case of multiple Remote ID signals and multiple WiFi channels, radio 2 will hop every second to
another channel where Remote ID signals have been found. If no Remote ID signals are found for 60
seconds, the channel will be removed from the list.
Remote ID can be broadcast in two WiFi formats: WiFi Beacon and WiFi NaN. WiFi NaN is also called
Wi-Fi Aware and those signals can only be found on WiFi channel 6 (2.4 GHz), 44 (5 GHz) and 149 (5
GHz). For this reason, these channels are more frequently scanned for Remote ID signals. WiFi
Beacon on the other hand is a format that is similar to the signals that a regular Access Point
transmits. Those Remote ID signals can be found on all WiFi channels.
There is a configuration file where you can specify which WiFi channels will be scanned. See the
next chapter for more details.

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Figure 1 - DroneScout 230-serie receiver
1.3 Installation
Summary
 Install the receiver to a wall or pole mast using the included mast mount.
 Connect/screw the 3 antennas to the antenna connectors on the enclosure.
 Powering up the receiver without antennas may damage the Bluetooth and WiFi radios.
 Removing or attaching antennas when the receiver is powered up, will damage the
Bluetooth and WiFi radios.

Connect the receiver to Ethernet and for outdoor installations make sure this connection is
waterproof (by using the included waterproof accessories). This Ethernet cable needs to have
power (PoE 802.3af/at) and also connectivity. The receiver acts as a DHCP client in the network.
Location
- The receiver detects remote ID signals from all directions, it is omnidirectional . For
installation, it is therefore important not to install receivers near the border of the detection area,
but instead in the center. It also depends a bit on the situation. If you have nearby WiFi networks,

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you don’t want the receiver nearby it, as (busy) WiFi networks will reduce the detection range.
Basically, install the receiver away from areas where there are signals in the 2.4/5 GHz band or large
nearby objects (house) that can block detection of signals/drones from that direction.
Figure 2 - install the receiver in the center of the detection area.
Detection area
Detection area

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Figure 3 - use multiple receivers to cover the detection area in case the detection area is not square, or circle shape.
Construction materials - Construction materials (wood, concrete) attenuate wireless signals. This
means that the detection area is reduced, if a receiver is installed behind or in such an object. This is
especially true for the 5 GHz band. Also, it may introduce blind spots in the detection area where a
drone is not detected. Installing multiple receivers is a solution to avoid blind spots.
For optimal performance install the receiver in open space, not surrounded by nearby objects. As a
reference please find below a table describing the RF attenuation by various construction materials.
For instance, if a drone is detected in the 5 GHz band with a 114 mm wooden fence between
receiver and drone, the signal strength is 13 dB less compared to no fence.
Material and thickness
2.4 GHz
5 GHz
Red brick (hollow), 89 mm
5
15
Window glass (uncoated), 6 mm
1
1
Plasterboard, 13 mm
1
0
Wood dry, 114 mm
7
13
Plywood dry, 13 mm
1
0
Bricks (concrete, hollow), 203 mm
11
15
Concrete (C8 mix), 203 mm
35
56
Reinforcing steel mesh (19 mm Ø, 70-mm-grid)
10
3
Reinforced concrete (C8, 19 mm Ø, 70-mm-grid)
37
58
Table 1: RF attenuation by various construction materials. (source c't 9/2021, page 139 using data from William C. Stone,
Electromagnetic Signal Attenuation in Construction Materials, 1997)
Height - Preferred installation height is 2 to 40 meters. Installation lower, near the ground, will
reduce the detection area as objects in the detection area will block wireless signals more. Installing
the receiver higher on the other hand will increase the detection area, but may prevent detecting
remote ID signals very nearby.
Angle - The receiver has omnidirectional antennas. Install the receiver with zero angle (vertical
plane). This means that the receiver should looks straight ahead. Not down or up under an angle.
Detection area

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Power - The receiver needs power and is powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE), 802.11af. Connect
the Ethernet port of the receiver to an PoE capable switch/router to have both power and
connectivity.
Connectivity -Connect the Ethernet port of the receiver to your router. The receiver needs Ethernet
to upload data to the MQTT broker. It can also be used for management purposes. The network
name is the serial number that is printed on back of the receiver (dsxxxxxxxxxxxx) e.g.
ds220300000101.
Mast mount
For each receiver a mast mount is provided. It can be used to install the receiver to a mast or directly
to a wall. See details below.
Figure 4 - mast mount to install the receiver to a mast or directly to a wall.

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1.4 Login
The receiver runs on Ubuntu 20.04 Linux distribution (ARM64). It can be accessed via SSH on the
local network.
Login details
User name : root
Password : bluemark
Service : SSH
Port : 22
IP address : DHCP client in local network
Note: please change the password in production deployments!
1.5 Read-only file system
The receiver uses a so-called overlayroot file system. The file system is mounted read-only and there
is a read-write file system in memory on top of it. This means that the system can be used normally,
but after a reboot all changes to the file system are lost. Using a read-only file system prevents for
instance corrupt file systems after an unexpected power loss.
To make changes permanent:
Enter in the SSH console: overlayroot-chroot
After this command you can make changes to the filesystem. Enter exit to exit this
mode.
If you need full access with internet, using apt etc, execute prior to overlayroot-chroot,
the following commands:
mount -t sysfs none /media/root-ro/sys
mount -t proc none /media/root-ro/proc
mount --bind /dev/ /media/root-ro/dev
mount --bind /tmp/ /media/root-ro/tmp
mount --bind /dev/pts /media/root-ro/dev/pts
mount -o bind /etc/resolv.conf /media/root-ro/etc/resolv.conf
Or mount the read-only partition as read-write instead. I.e enter mount -o remount,rw
/media/root-ro
Make the changes in the folder /media/root-ro
Remount as read-only: mount -o remount,rw /media/root-ro
Reboot afterwards.
1.6 Open Drone ID
DroneScout uses the Open Drone ID framework to encode Remote ID signals. The framework can
be found on this page:
https://www.opendroneid.org/