Cattron Messenger BLE User manual

Messenger BLE
User’s Guide
Version 1.0.38
September 30, 2020

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Table of Contents
1 Description .............................................................................................................................7
1.1 Capabilities..................................................................................................... 7
1.2 Monitoring ..................................................................................................... 7
1.3 Host Server Communications......................................................................... 7
2 Installation and Setup ........................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Installation Steps .......................................................................................... 11
2.2 Unpacking the Equipment ............................................................................ 11
2.3 Mounting the Equipment .............................................................................. 11
2.4 Mounting the Antenna.................................................................................. 12
2.5 DIP Switch/Jumper Settings ........................................................................ 13
2.6 DIP Switch 3 Decode ................................................................................... 14
2.7 IO Connections ............................................................................................ 15
2.8 Cellular Setup ............................................................................................... 18
2.9 Bluetooth Setup ............................................................................................ 18
3 LED States ........................................................................................................................... 19
4 IO Architecture .................................................................................................................... 20
5 Channels ............................................................................................................................... 21
5.1 Pre-Defined Channels .................................................................................. 21
5.2 Channel Data ................................................................................................ 29
6 SMS Text Commands .......................................................................................................... 31
6.1 Command Syntax ......................................................................................... 31
7 Modbus ................................................................................................................................ 34
7.1 RTU Slave .................................................................................................... 34
7.2 RTU Master.................................................................................................. 34
8 Debug Menu......................................................................................................................... 35
9 Configuration ....................................................................................................................... 36
9.1 Debug Configuration Commands ................................................................. 38
9.2 OTA Configuration Commands ................................................................... 42
9.3 Site Configuration – Type 1 ......................................................................... 43
9.4 Options Configuration – Type 2................................................................... 45
9.5 CELL Configuration – Type 3 ..................................................................... 47
9.6 FTP Configuration – Type 4 ........................................................................ 50
9.7 GeoFence Configuration – Type 5 ............................................................... 52
9.8 Serial Port Configuration – Type 6 .............................................................. 53
9.9 Reporting Configuration – Type 7 ............................................................... 55
9.10 Engine Configuration – Type 8 .................................................................... 57
9.11 Channel Configuration – Type 9 .................................................................. 59
9.12 Report Flag Configuration – Type 12 .......................................................... 63
9.13 Date/Time Read/Write – Type 16 ................................................................ 65
9.14 MODBUS Configuration – Type 18 ............................................................ 66
9.15 Analog Input Configuration – Type 11 ........................................................ 69
9.16 Digital Input Configuration – Type 17 ......................................................... 70
9.17 Digital Output Configuration – Type 13 ...................................................... 71

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9.18 EVAL Expression Configuration – Type 10 ................................................ 72
9.19 J1939 PGN Configuration – Type 15 ........................................................... 75
9.20 J1939 SPN Configuration – Type 14 ........................................................... 76
9.21 PEER Poll Configuration – Type 28 ............................................................ 78
9.22 PEER Push Configuration – Type 29 ........................................................... 79
9.23 Bluetooth Nordic Configuration – Type 52 ................................................. 81
10 How-To............................................................................................................................ 82
10.1 Setting reporting rates when moving and stationary .................................... 82
10.2 Computing Engine Hours from Engine Run ................................................ 82
10.3 Enabling low power mode to conserve battery ............................................ 83
10.4 Setting hard acceleration/deceleration alarms .............................................. 83
10.5 Using a Digital Input to Determine Engine On ............................................ 84
10.6 Using the Analog Input for Fuel Level ........................................................ 86
12 Appendix A – Monitored Engine Parameters .................................................................. 87
13 Appendix B – Data Registers ........................................................................................... 91
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Deutsch EEC Thermoplastic Enclosure Dimensions ..................................... 12
Figure2 - Messenger with Enclosure End-Cap Attached ............................................... 13
Table of Tables
Table 1: DIP Switch 3 Decode ...................................................................................... 14
Table 2: Cellular Modem Requirements ........................................................................ 18
Table 3: Pre-Defined Channels ...................................................................................... 21
Table 4: Action Commands ........................................................................................... 31
Table 5: Configuration Line Types ................................................................................ 37
Document References
Protocol document “M09-PRTCLxxx”
“Messenger MODBUS Slave Register Map”

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VERSION DATE NOTES
1 5/14/2020 Initial release
Copyright and Trademark Information
All Pages Copyright © 2020 Cattron. All Rights Reserved.
U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
subject to restrictions as set forth in applicable laws and regulations. Use of the materials by the
Government constitutes acknowledgment of Cattron’s proprietary rights in them. This manual
may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information that should be observed.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The software described in this
document is furnished under a license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. The software
may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of those agreements. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any
means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for any purpose other
than the purchaser’s personal use without the written permission of Cattron.

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Introduction
This User’s Manual describes installation and setup of the Messenger-BLE product.
Throughout this document, Messenger-BLE and Messenger are used interchangeably.
The Messenger is a complete monitoring, alarm notification, and telemetry platform.
The intended markets include (but not limited to) water/wastewater utility, off-road
heavy construction equipment, on-road semi-trucks, oil and gas, and standby power
generators. It supports monitoring of data values from on-board physical IO, the J1939
SAE engine bus topology, the industry standard Modbus RTU serial protocol, and
support of custom serial communications to external devices.
Features
The hardware feature set of this platform includes:
 ARM 32-bit Cortex -M4 Core w/FPU
 2 MB of on-board FLASH memory, 8MB of external FLASH
 640kB of on-board SRAM memory, 512kB of external battery-backed SRAM
 Real Time Clock (battery-backed)
 2 Serial Ports (RS485 only)
 4 Digital Inputs (user configurable for voltage or grounded input)
 3 Digital Outputs (open-collector transistor closures to ground)
 3 Analog Inputs (12-bit, user configurable for V or I input)
 1 CAN Interface, compliant to Bosch CAN Protocol v2.0 A/B
 Cellular modem, HSPA (3G) or LTE (4G)
 GPS receiver, providing location services using multiple GNSS constellations
 3-axis Accelerometer
 SuperCap for brown-out protection
 Separate Bluetooth engine for wireless connection to hand-held devices
 Deutsch EEC automotive grade enclosure

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1 Description
1.1 Capabilities
The Messenger is a highly configurable platform for remote monitoring and control
applications. Some of the capabilities are listed below.
 virtual real-time transfer of monitored conditions
 local computations from monitored conditions
 time stamping of monitored data and events
 battery backed historical data/event buffers
 automatic monitoring of max/min for analog values
 continuous monitoring of J1939 bus data
 event and data logging
 telemetry of monitored conditions to server applications via cellular
 OTA programming and diagnostics, cellular and Bluetooth
 SMS messages sent on monitored conditions
 parameter setting via SMS messages
1.2 Monitoring
All monitored values can be transmitted via cellular to a host server of the customer’s
choosing. Monitored values are transmitted based on time or notification events.
Notification events are based on rules set by the user and each event can generate an
immediate report. Telemetry includes cellular connectivity and GPS for asset location.
Monitored data values are mapped to fixed channels in the Messenger. A channel
defines a set of attributes for the monitored data for doing calculations, alarm
detection, data formatting, and reporting.
For example, RPM is fixed to channel 52. For channel 52, the user can set limits on
RPM for notification when RPM gets too high, and how to report the RPM values to a
host server.
Table 4.1 provides a description of all the pre-defined channels and channel numbers.
Appendix A identifies the set of SAE defined PGNs and SPNs for data values being read
from the engine bus. User can also configure for other engine values as needed.
1.3 Host Server Communications
The Messenger utilizes a proprietary protocol to send notifications and to receive OTA
commands from a host server. Each notification sent typically consists of location,

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date/time, an event code, and associated data. An event code provides a unique
identifier to indicate the reason that notification is being sent – e.g. normal scheduled
update or an engine diagnostic message received. A description of the protocol,
format of messages, and definition of event codes is available on request (reference
protocol document “M09-PRTCLxxx”).
Some of the conditions on which notifications can be sent to the host server are listed
below:
 Any monitored value exceeding a pre-defined or user-defined limit
 Any diagnostic message received from the engine bus
 A digital input changing state (on/off)
 A digital output changing state (on/off)
 An analog input transitioning into a warning or alarm region
 An analog input changing by user defined delta
 A scheduled/periodic update
 End of day
 System faults
 SMS text commands from a user or host server
 Power on or reset
1.3.1 Event Codes
Every message sent by the Messenger to a host-based server application is triggered
by an event. The event generates a message and the message contains an Event Code.
The Event Code uniquely identifies to the server the reason the message is being sent.
Some of the messages generated contain data, others serve as just notification that a
particular event has occurred. Protocol document “M09-PRTCLxxx” contains a list of all
event codes.
1.3.2 Positive Acknowledgement
The Messenger can be configured to require a message acknowledgement from the
host server or to send once and forget. Message acknowledgement provides a
verifiable mechanism that a message was delivered, even during poor network
conditions.
This parameter setting can be found in the CELL configuration.
1.3.3 Store and Forward Data Queue
There are several scenarios where a message may not be deliverable – network down,
host server down, poor connectivity to name a few. In the event that a message
cannot be delivered, it is stored in memory and is continually re-sent until properly

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acknowledged. This store and forward memory is non-volatile and remains intact
during power off.
1.3.4 Real-Time Clock (RTC)
The RTC is used to timestamp data records and events. All messages sent to the host
server contain a timestamp to provide a chronology of data/events to the end user.
This timestamp is UTC time. All timestamps viewed from the debug menu are local
time based on the configured time zone.
The RTC is battery backed to provide time keeping during power off. If the RTC is
configured to be automatically set, the Messenger will set time after every power on
and perform a time check every midnight. If the RTC time differs from actual time by
more than 30 seconds, the RTC time will be adjusted.
The RTC can be set in one of the following ways:
Method Description
Automatic
via Cell
This is the default setting. The
Messenger will set the RTC from an
internet NIST time server.
Automatic
via GPS
The Messenger will set the RTC from
the date/time read from the GPS
module.
Manually Set the time via the Debug port
through the Maintenance menu.
OTA/SMS
The RTC is set from an OTA config
command or an SMS config
command.
Configuration settings are available to define how the RTC is set.
1.3.5 Packaging
The Messenger is packaged in an automotive grade Deutsch enclosure. There are 2
antenna connections, one SMA connection for the GPS and one SMA-RP (reverse
polarity) connection for cellular. The enclosure end-cap provides 2 circular M12, 8-pin
connectors for power and IO.

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1.3.6 Specifications
Power input:
8-36 vdc
26 mA @ 24vdc (avg)
reverse polarity protection
overvoltage protection
internal solid-state fuse
Digital outputs (3 ea):
Open-collector transistor switch to ground (current sink)
500mA @ 12vdc
current limited
overvoltage protection
Digital inputs (4 ea):
two modes of operation, DC voltage input or grounded input (user selectable)
high-speed pulse counter inputs (user selectable)
current limited
overvoltage protection
Analog inputs (3 ea):
12-bit ADC
accuracy: +/- 2% FS
input ranges: 0-10vdc, 0-20mA, 4-20mA (user selectable)
CAN input (1 ea):
termination resistor (user selectable)
spike suppression
Serial RS485 inputs (2 ea):
termination resistor (user selectable)
current limited
overvoltage protection
Bluetooth (1 ea):
internal chip antenna (external available, contact factory)
application available for hand-held devices
Operating Temperature Range:
-40 to +85 degC