CDI CD42 User manual

CD42 Pipeline Pig
Location & Tracking System
Instruction Manual
Revision G
Covering firmware versions 2.9 and earlier
1801 North Juniper Avenue
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 74012, USA
[phone] USA & Canada
[phone] Voice
[phone] FAX
www.pigging.com

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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The information in this document is subject to change without notice and applies only to the version of hardware, software or
firmware called out on the title page
CDI shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to, interruption of business, loss of profit, incidental,
consequential or any other claims either by the operator(s), the operator‟s employer, or any other party. CDI shall not be liable
for any damages incurred by the operator(s) or any other person as a result of the operator(s) use or misuse of this product, even
if CDI had been advised of the possibility of such damage.
The CD42-R Receiver Firmware is copyright © 1993-2007.
This document is copyright © 1999-2007 CDI. All rights reserved.
Document Number 89-09-0001-00
Rev. G (September 20th, 2007)
For information on obtaining the latest version of the CD42-R receiver’s firmware, contact CDI.
CDI
1801 North Juniper Avenue
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 USA
http://www.pigging.com
[email protected]
[phone] Toll Free (North America)
[phone] Worldwide
[phone] FAX
NOTICE
Any operation involving work on pipelines containing gases or liquids under pressure is potentially
hazardous. It is necessary, therefore to follow correct procedures in the use of this equipment to maintain a
safe working environment.
No person should use this equipment unless fully aware of potential hazards of working with pressurized
pipelines and trained in the procedures stated in this manual.
The purchaser of this equipment is responsible for the training and competence of the operators and the
manner in which it is used.

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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Table of Contents
NOTICE ................................................................................................................................................2
TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................5
WHO IS CDI?...............................................................................................................................................5
THE PURPOSE OF THE CD42 ........................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2 - RENTER’S QUICKSTART................................................................................................6
UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLING THE CD42 SYSTEM.....................................................................................6
The Receiver...........................................................................................................................................7
The Antenna ...........................................................................................................................................8
THE TRANSMITTER......................................................................................................................................9
TRANSMITTER SPECIFICATIONS...................................................................................................................9
The CD42-T0 (Figure 5).........................................................................................................................9
The CD42-T1A (Figure 6)......................................................................................................................9
The CD42-T1 (Figure 7).......................................................................................................................10
The CD42-T2 (Figure 8).......................................................................................................................10
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHILE TRACKING AND LOCATING............................................................................12
Pig Passages........................................................................................................................................12
Stationary or “Stuck” Pigs ..................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER 3 - THE RECEIVER...............................................................................................................15
OVERVIEW.................................................................................................................................................15
SCREEN BLANKING....................................................................................................................................15
MAIN OPERATION SCREEN ........................................................................................................................15
GAIN BUTTONS..........................................................................................................................................16
HELP BUTTON ...........................................................................................................................................16
RECORDING PIG PASSAGES........................................................................................................................17
Entering the Location ID .....................................................................................................................19
Automatic Record Mode.......................................................................................................................20
Manual Record Mode...........................................................................................................................22
FILE MENU ................................................................................................................................................23
Selecting a Recording File...................................................................................................................23
Erase a Recording File ........................................................................................................................23
View a Recording File..........................................................................................................................24
Tag a Recording File ...........................................................................................................................25
Calculate a Pig’s Speed .......................................................................................................................26
Print a Recording File .........................................................................................................................27
SETUP MENU .............................................................................................................................................29
LCD Backlight......................................................................................................................................30
Meter Display.......................................................................................................................................31
“More” Button of the Setup Screen .....................................................................................................31
LCD Contrast.......................................................................................................................................32
Setting the Clock ..................................................................................................................................32
Battery Voltage Measurement..............................................................................................................34
Recording Options ...............................................................................................................................35
Beeping On/Off ....................................................................................................................................36
Restore Defaults (Fix)..........................................................................................................................37
CONNECTING THE RECEIVER TO A DESKTOP PC........................................................................................38
View/Transfer File Data ......................................................................................................................40

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Dump File Dates/Times........................................................................................................................43
View Transmitter Signal.......................................................................................................................44
Version/Statistic Info............................................................................................................................45
CHAPTER 4 - TRANSMITTERS .............................................................................................................46
SPECIFICATIONS.........................................................................................................................................46
CD42-T0 (Figure 69) ...........................................................................................................................46
The CD42-T1A (Figure 70)..................................................................................................................46
CD42-T1 (Figure 71) ...........................................................................................................................46
CD42-T2 (Figure 72) ...........................................................................................................................47
TRANSMITTER PATTERNS ..........................................................................................................................49
MOUNTING THE TRANSMITTER ON YOUR PIG ............................................................................................50
Foam Polypigs .....................................................................................................................................50
Metal Bodied Pigs................................................................................................................................50
Miscellaneous Pigs ..............................................................................................................................50
TRANSMISSION STRENGTH AND BATTERY LIFE.........................................................................................50
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF TRANSMITTERS.............................................................................................50
CHAPTER 5 - THE ANTENNA ................................................................................................................52
GENERAL PURPOSE ANTENNA...................................................................................................................52
CHAPTER 6 - TRACKING A MOVING PIG .........................................................................................53
USING THE CD42 TO "LEAPFROG".............................................................................................................53
LEAVING THE CD42 UNATTENDED ...........................................................................................................54
CHAPTER 7 - LOCATING A STATIONARY OR STUCK PIG...........................................................55
FINDING THE PIG‟S GENERAL VICINITY.....................................................................................................55
PINPOINTING A PIG‟S PRECISE LOCATION..................................................................................................56
APPENDIX A - SPECIFICATION SUMMARY......................................................................................58
THE RECEIVER...........................................................................................................................................58
THE TRANSMITTERS ..................................................................................................................................58
THE ANTENNA...........................................................................................................................................59
GLOSSARY OF TERMINOLOGY...........................................................................................................60
INDEX..........................................................................................................................................................61

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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Chapter 1 - Introduction
The CD42 is an extremely useful, rugged and reliable piece of field equipment that allows simple yet powerful
tracking and locating of pipeline pigs.
The customer feedback that we receive regarding the CD42 system is exceptionally positive. We have many
customers in all corners of the world that use this system and appreciate its usefulness, simplicity and ruggedness.
If, for whatever reason, a customer is dissatisfied with our products, we work without reservation to insure that the
situation is resolved.
This manual explains the step-by-step use of the CD42, but just as importantly this manual explains many of the
more generic techniques used for pig tracking and location. Familiarizing yourself with these techniques will allow
you to use CDI‟s equipment to its fullest.
Who Is CDI?
CDI is an electronics product development company located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma near Tulsa. Founded
in 1982, CDI has spent many years in the oil and gas industry creating a variety of industrial electronic products.
Our diverse design and implementation experience in many fields give us a unique capability to meet the needs
of the pipeline pigging industry with more rugged, powerful and easy to use electronic devices.
The Purpose of the CD42
The CD42‟s primary purpose is to allow an operator to both track and locate pipeline pigs. A pipeline pig is a
device that is usually made of solid polyurethane or a polyethylene foam and is often shaped roughly like a
bullet. These devices are placed into oil and gas pipelines for three primary purposes:
To separate two fuel products from one another.
To clean the inside of the pipeline.
To detect corrosion on the inside and outside of pipe walls.
Pigs, once placed into the pipeline, are normally propelled through the pipeline by the movement and pressure of
the product behind them. A pig‟s journey through the pipeline can be as short as a few hundred feet and a few
minutes, or as long as several hundred miles and several weeks.
Initially it doesn‟t seem like much can go wrong with this simple process. You put the pig in one end, it‟s
pushed through the pipeline by flow and it drops out the other end. As with most jobs, however, pipeline
pigging is hard work fraught with difficulties. In pigging, a “difficulty” is usually defined by a pig becoming
stuck in the pipeline. Sticking a pig can occur when the pipeline has an unexpected bend, valve or dent, or has
perhaps sagged and buckled from vibration or soil erosion. When the pig becomes stuck in the pipeline, the flow
is constricted considerably, sometimes completely. To correct the problem, the pipeline usually needs to be
excavated and the dented section of pipe replaced. This is where the CD42 comes in. By attaching a transmitter
to the pig before it is launched, operators on the surface can easily and quickly find the trouble spot and begin
excavation.

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Chapter 2 - Renter’s QuickStart
This section of the manual is designed to be read by people who are using the CD42 for the first time and
would like a quick overview of how the system is put together and how it operates. The CD42 has several
advanced functions such as pig passage recording and pig speed calculation that cannot adequately be
covered in a brief overview. If you require more information on these advanced topics, please refer to the
section of this manual entitled “Chapter 3 - The Receiver” beginning on page 15.
Unpacking and Assembling the CD42 System
Opening the CD42‟s carrying/shipment case reveals the various components of the system:
CD42-R Receiver Unit
CD42-TxTransmitter
CD42-GP General Purpose Antenna
Transmitter Mounting Flange Kit
Connecting Cables
Batteries and Miscellaneous Components and Tools
To assemble the system, begin by removing the red receiver unit from the carrying case. Notice that the
receiver‟s main features are a large Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), two rows of three buttons each, and
a silver three conductor connector. The LCD is used to display the transmitter signal strength to the
operator, the buttons are used by the operator to control the CD42‟s various functions, and the
connector is used to attach the reception antennas to the receiver unit.
Begin by installing 5 D-Cell batteries into the receiver unit if there are none currently installed. To
install the batteries, you must remove the rear watertight cover of the receiver unit by loosening the four
screws at the four corners using a Phillips head screwdriver. Once the rear cover has been removed, the
five D-Cell battery holders should be visible as shown below in Figure 1. Install 5 new D-Cell batteries
and replace the rear cover of the receiver. Reinstall the rear cover and tighten the screws using a proper
Phillips head screwdriver. Without the rear cover in place, the receiver unit is not watertight.
Figure 1 The 5 D-Cell Batteries of the CD42-R Receiver Unit

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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Remove the supplied connecting cable from the case and attach the proper end to the CD42-R receiver
unit. The connectors on each end of the cable are “keyed” to the receiver and antenna connectors to
insure that they will mate only in their proper orientation.
Next, remove the CD42-GP antenna from the carrying case. The GP antenna provides very good
sensitivity with a high rejection of the earth‟s magnetic field (why this is important is covered in detail
in “Chapter 5 - The Antenna”).
Complete the basic assembly by connecting the loose end of the connecting cable to the GP antenna‟s
female connector. Again, notice that the connector is “keyed” for proper orientation.
The Receiver
Now that the system‟s basic assembly has been completed, turn the receiver unit on by pressing the
“top” two buttons simultaneously. The “top” two buttons of the receiver are the ones nearest the
cable connector, and are indicated by two thick black lines between the LCD display and the buttons
themselves. Instructions for turning the unit on and off are also printed on the rear panel of the
receiver.
Notice that each of the six buttons is associated with a small picture or “icon” on the LCD that
indicates the function of the adjacent button.
At this point, pressing any single button on the receiver will bypass the welcome screen and display
the main working screen of the receiver. The main screen is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 The Main Screen of the Receiver
The main screen shown above is where all actual pig tracking and locating is performed when using
the CD42 receiver, and for the most basic tracking and locating jobs is the only screen needed.
Simply put, it is not necessary to have any further knowledge of the menu items to perform useful
tracking and locating operations.
Notice the text near the center of the LCD that reads “Gain: x” (xrepresents a number from 1 to
9). This indicates the current sensitivity level of the receiver to transmitter signals. There are two
buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the receiver that allow quick adjustment of the sensitivity
of the receiver. The icons of these two buttons are up and down arrows and are labeled “GAIN”.
Sensitivity
Indication

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Pressing the “up arrow” gain button increases the receiver‟s sensitivity, while pressing the “down
arrow” gain button decreases the sensitivity. A good starting gain level for the unit is “5”.
Once the receiver‟s gain is set, gently bump the attached GP antenna. Doing so should produce a
small but noticeable ripple to appear, flowing slowly from the right to the left on the receiver‟s
display. If no noticeable ripple appears after bumping the GP antenna a few times, then the cable
connection should be checked. Bumping the antenna should produce a result that looks similar to
Figure 3:
Figure 3 An Input Signal Flows Across the Screen
Successfully having performed these steps indicates that the receiver, cabling and antenna are
operating correctly and are ready to receive transmitter signals.
Note: The CD42 system is based upon magnetics. The transmitter emits a pulsing
magnetic field that is received by the antennas and displayed to the operator
on the receiver’s LCD. As with just about any transmitter/receiver system
there are potential sources of interference, most of which the system is able to
filter out on its own. However, jarring the receiving antennas will produce
spikes of interference on the LCD. It is recommended that you experiment
with the system at different gain (sensitivity) settings until you feel
comfortable with what to expect.
The Antenna
The CD42-GP receiving antenna is quite sensitive, with a through-pipeline range of approximately
15 feet using our smallest transmitter. The GP also has a proprietary design that allows it to reject
the magnetic noise produced by moving it through the earth‟s magnetic field. The benefit of this
technology to the end-user is that he can walk and search for transmitter signals simultaneously; a
great time saver when performing field work.
The antenna should normally be held in a parallel orientation to the transmitter in the pipeline.
Since the transmitter is normally mounted onto a pig in an orientation parallel to the pipeline, the
antenna should be held parallel to the pipeline as well. This means that when walking above a
pipeline that runs North/South, the length of the antenna should also be running North/South,
offering the best possible reception of transmitter signals.
A GP antenna oriented parallel to a pipeline should look something like Figure 4:
A pulse generated by
bumping the CD42-GP
antenna.

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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Figure 4 A Parallel GP Antenna Orientation
The Transmitter
The transmitter is the single most important component of the CD42 system, and CDI has worked
hard to deliver the most durable, longest life transmitters in the industry. All of our transmitters
emit a magnetic field that passes through the pipeline and is received on the surface by our CD42-
GP antenna and passed on to the CD42-R receiver unit. CDI‟s two most common transmitters are
the CD42-T1 and the CD42-T2 (both of which are available for rental or purchase). The main
difference between the CD42-T1 and the CD42-T2 transmitters is simply signal strength; the “T2”
is 6.5 times more powerful than the “T1”. This allows the CD42-T2 transmitter to work in larger
and deeper pipelines than the CD42-T1.
Transmitter Specifications
The CD42-T0 (Figure 5)
Typical transmission range through pipe of approximately 15 feet
Recommended for use in pipelines 4” to 6 diameter” in
Guaranteed minimum 500 hour battery life (21 days)
Pressure rated to 1,250 PSI [86.2 bar]
Cylindrical dimensions of 7.00” X 1.66” [178mm X 42mm]
Powered by 6 N-Cell alkaline batteries
The CD42-T1A (Figure 6)
Typical transmission range through pipe of approximately 25 feet
Recommended for use in pipelines 8” to 28” in diameter
Guaranteed minimum 500 hour battery life (21 days)
Pressure rated to 1,500 PSI [103.4 bar]
Cylindrical dimensions of 9.9” X 1.9” [251mm X 48mm]
Powered by 6 AA-Cell alkaline batteries
Figure 5 CD42-T0
Figure 6 CD42-T1A

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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The CD42-T1 (Figure 7)
Typical transmission range through pipe of approximately 25 feet
Recommended for use in pipelines 8” to 28” in diameter
Guaranteed minimum 500 hour battery life (21 days)
Pressure rated to 2,500 PSI [170 bar]
Cylindrical dimensions of 10.7” X 3” [272mm X 76mm]
Powered by 6 AA-Cell alkaline batteries
The CD42-T2 (Figure 8)
Typical transmission range through pipe of approximately 50 feet
Recommended for use in pipelines 30” to 60” in diameter
Guaranteed minimum 375 hour battery life (15½ days)
Pressure rated to 2,500 PSI [170 bar]
Cylindrical dimension of 13” X 4.4” [330mm X 112mm]
Powered by 6 C-Cell alkaline batteries
The number of variables in pig location and tracking with magnetics
make it virtually impossible to predict the exact signal strength that you will see from a
transmitter in a given pipeline. Below is a short list of things that cause a drop in signal strength
to the receiver:
Pipe wall thickness
Metallic pipeline coverings such as road casings
Large pipeline diameters
Depth of pipeline cover
Battery strength
The greatest transmitter signal losses are usually caused either by distance from the transmitter
or metal between the transmitter and the receiving antenna. Soil and water between the
transmitter and receiver does not cause any signal loss except for the loss caused by the
increased distance between the transmitter and receiver.
Figure 7 CD42-T1
Figure 8 CD42-T2

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Replacing the Transmitter’s Batteries
Remove the CD42-Txtransmitter from the carrying case and examine it. Notice that its only
real distinguishing features are that it has one removable end, and a narrow groove that runs
around its middle. The removable end is for the insertion of batteries, and the groove around the
middle is to allow the transmitter to be attached to a metal bodied pig with the use of an optional
flange kit.
Using a Phillips head screw driver, loosen the five screws to remove the cap (Figure 9).
Figure 9 Replacing the Transmitters Batteries
WARNING:
Use caution when removing the end cap of any transmitter. An O-Ring seal is used
to withstand the pipeline pressures and if this seal becomes damaged or excessively
dirty, pipeline pressure can leak into the transmitter and destroy it. Further, pipeline
pressure can become trapped inside the transmitter. Always point transmitters away
from yourself and others when removing the end cap. Should you require
replacement O-rings, they are readily available from CDI at a nominal charge.
Once the end cap is removed, the battery carousel (Figure 10) slides
out easily. The CD42-T0 transmitter requires N-Cell alkaline
batteries. The CD42-T1A and CD42-T1 transmitters both require
AA-Cell alkaline batteries, while the CD42-T2 requires C-Cell
batteries. CDI recommends installing a fresh set of standard
alkaline batteries prior to every pig run.
At this point you should change the “continuous on” mode to
“standard pulse” mode. (See sheet 49 of this manual for
instructions).
Figure 10 Battery Carousels
O-Ring Seal

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To reassemble the transmitter, simply reverse the disassembly procedure.
After installing new batteries into the carousel, slide it into the transmitter‟s
body. Be sure that you replace the battery carousel in the proper orientation.
The carousel is clearly marked as to which end should be left facing out when
you drop it into the transmitter. Ensure that once the batteries have been
installed, you can see the text “THIS END OUT” on the side of the battery
holder that is facing outward.
Once the battery carousel has been placed correctly into the transmitter, place the cap of the unit
back into place. If you find it difficult to reinstall the cap, check the O-Ring for lubrication. If
the O-Ring is dry, bare rubber, apply some Vaseline or other petroleum based jelly to it and to
the inside of the transmitter body where the O-Ring meets. This should remedy the problem.
Screw the cap back in place with the five screws.
CDI‟s transmitters have no On/Off switches that might become dirty over time and fail, so the
transmitters operate whenever their batteries are installed. Therefore, the transmitter should now
be transmitting its magnetic signal.
What to Look for while Tracking and Locating
If you have followed the procedure above to this point, you should have a fully assembled and tested
CD42-R receiver and CD42-GP antenna. Place the transmitter about 5 paces away from, and parallel
to, the receiving antenna. If the transmitter has been correctly assembled you should now see standard
transmitter pulses flowing from the right to the left on the receiver‟s display that looks similar to Figure
12. Note that the gain is set to 3 for this test.
Figure 12 Standard Transmitter Pulses on the Receiver’s Display
The pulses that are flowing across the display shown above are what you should look for when using
the equipment in the field. Below is a more specific discussion of how these pulses look in a true work
situation. If you do not see any pulses from the transmitter on the display of the receiver, check your
assembly of each device and the cabling. If you continue to have problems, please don‟t hesitate to call
CDI at the numbers on the title page of this manual.
Pig Passages
Normally a pig‟s progress through a pipeline is monitored by an operator with a CD42 receiver
“leapfrogging”. This is the process of setting up in a location, waiting until after the pig passage has
Figure 11 This End Out

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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occurred at that location, and then quickly moving to the next location and repeating the process.
The CD42 easily shows the operator the pig‟s passage at each location.
When an operator sets up the CD42 receiver at a location to await a pig passage, he should orient the
receiving antenna parallel to the pipeline. As the pig approaches the location and then moves away,
it produces a distinctive wave shape on the display. Figure 13 is an example of a typical pig passage
at a speed of approximately 4MPH. Faster pig passages produce the same image, it simply will
have fewer pulses in it.
Figure 13 A Typical Pig Passage Wave Shape on the Receiver's Display
The CD42 receiver has the ability to record up to 99 of these pig passages, including the entire
image, time, date and mile or kilometer marker of the event. To learn more about some of the
CD42-R receiver‟s advanced features, please read the section entitled “Gain Buttons” beginning on
page 16. For a more thorough discussion of tracking, interpreting and recording the passages of
pigs, please refer to “Chapter 6 - Tracking a Moving Pig” beginning on page 53.
Stationary or “Stuck” Pigs
Although being able to witness pig passages as shown above is a very valuable feature that allows
you to monitor the progress of a pig through a pipeline, the CD42‟s ability to locate a stationary or
“stuck” pig is perhaps its most important feature. If you‟ve rented the CD42-K1 system, then you
are probably concerned that you are about to run a pig through a pipeline in which it might get stuck
at some point.
The best way to ensure the minimum amount of work in the event that a pig sticks in the pipeline is
for the operator to track the pig‟s progress through the pipeline by leapfrogging. If the pig does
stick, then the operator will know when the pig does not pass by his location. He must then
backtrack by walking the pipeline to his last known-good passage location while looking for
transmitter pulses using the CD42-R receiver. For this reason, it is best for the operator to locate his
leapfrogging points on the pipeline as close to one another as possible. This will minimize any
distance that the operator will have to walk.
Note: It is important for the operators of the equipment to determine the flow rate of their
pipeline, how fast the pig will be moving, and if they will be able to get from one
leapfrogging point to the next with a few minutes of setup time to spare.

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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As the operator approaches the location of the stuck pig, the signal will begin to rise on the display
of the receiver. As he walks over the transmitter‟s location within the pipeline, the signals will
peak, and walking further past the transmitter will cause the signal to fall again. This process is
much like watching the passage of a pig as described before under “Pig Passages”, except the
operator passes by the pig instead of the pig passing by the operator.
Once this rough location of the pig within the pipeline has been determined by walking the line, it is
possible to precisely locate the stuck pig to within just a few inches by using a “nulling” technique.
For a discussion of nulling, please refer to the more detailed section on locating pigs entitled
“Pinpointing a Pig‟s Precise Location” beginning on page 56.
Conclusion
We believe that, although brief, this section gives you a quick jump-start on how to use the CD42 Pig
Location and Tracking System to successfully track and locate pigs. The process is actually fairly
simple and straightforward, and requires only a modest amount of time to learn.
The remainder of this manual is dedicated to explaining in greater detail the more advanced aspects of
the CD42 system, and should be read by anyone who plans to use the system for long periods of time,
or who needs or wants to use some of the system‟s more advanced features such as recording and
printing pig passage data.

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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Chapter 3 - The Receiver
Overview
The CD42-R receiver is responsible for simply and accurately displaying the pulses of transmitters to
the operator. CDI has invested many hours of design and refinement into the receiver, and the process
continues daily. Since the CD42-R is essentially a computer system, software upgrades are possible,
and do occur occasionally to add a new feature or repair small bugs in the system. Some of our best
feature additions have come from listening to the feedback of our customers, so if you have a feature
request or a bug report, please don‟t hesitate to contact CDI at the numbers listed on the title page of
this manual.
Screen Blanking
The CD42-R receiver, like many computers, has the ability to shut down its display during periods of
inactivity. The CD42-R screen blanks after a period of five minutes, which conserves energy and
allows the unit to run even longer on its standard set of 5 D-Cell batteries. When the screen blanker has
been activated the unit will look as though it is off, but rest assured that it is not. To bring the unit out
of screen blank mode, simply press any single button on the faceplate. When the screen is blanked,
pressing a button will have no effect other than to turn the display on, so it is unimportant which button
you press. In other words, if you press the SETUP button to bring the unit out of screen blank mode,
you will not go into the SETUP menu. You would have to press SETUP twice to do so: once to end the
screen blanking mode, and once to actually enter the SETUP menu.
If the unit has been set up to record pig passages, it will still do so even though the screen has gone
blank. When the pig is detected and a recording begins, the unit will automatically bring itself out of
the screen blank mode, including turning on the back light.
Main Operation Screen
The CD42‟s major feature is its large graphics liquid crystal display (LCD). This display is used to
show the pulses of magnetic transmitters to the operator of the equipment. The height of the pulses
indicates how close the transmitter is to the receiving antenna. Figure 14 is a CD42-R receiver with a
cable and antenna attached, ready to receive transmitter signals.
Figure 14 The CD42-R Attached to the CD42-GP and ready for action.

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
Page 16
The graphical display of the CD42-R allows us to show the pulses of the transmitter to the operator in
the most intuitive way possible, and is the key to the CD42‟s ease of use.
Each of the six buttons on the face of the receiver unit has a function associated with it. The function of
each button may change as you navigate through the receiver‟s menu system; as the functions change,
the icons are updated to reflect the new functions. Therefore, by referring to the small icon on the
display adjacent to the button, the user always knows the function of each of the buttons.
Gain Buttons
The Gain control icons are located in the upper right of the CD42‟s display. These two
buttons control the sensitivity of the receiver to the transmitter‟s magnetic field. The “up”
button with the plus sign on it causes the receiver to become more sensitive, and the “down”
button with the minus sign on it causes the system to become less sensitive. As you press
these two buttons you will hear a chirp from the system indicating that the button was
pressed, and you should also notice the text “Gain x” near the center of the display change
as you make adjustments. The Gain is adjustable from 1 to 9, with 1 being the least
sensitive and 9 being the most sensitive.
The reason the sensitivity adjustment is necessary is that there are situations in which the
system can receive magnetic interference from the environment. One such source of
interference is an automobile in close range to the system. By allowing the operator to control the
system‟s sensitivity, he can adjust the sensitivity to fit his surroundings and his work habits. Normally
a good starting Gain value is 5. At a Gain of 5 the system can be operated while walking with no
difficulty or possibility of missing a transmitter‟s signal. At very high Gain settings, it may be
necessary to be careful of bumping and jarring the antenna as you walk. This is normal and is a side
effect of using magnetics for pig location and tracking.
Help Button
Pressing the help button allows the operator to receive brief help on the functions of the Main
Menu buttons. These buttons are “File”, “Setup”, “Record”, “Gain Up/Down” and “Help”.
To use Help, simply press the Help button. A text screen well appear asking you which Main Menu
button you would like help with. Pressing the button that you would like help with will display
information on that button. Figure 17 is an example display of Help for the Setup button.
Figure 15
Gain Icons
Figure 16
Help Icon

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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Figure 17 Typical Help Screen for the Setup Button
Recording Pig Passages
The ability to record up to 99 individual pig passages is one of the CD42 receiver‟s most useful
functions. The receiver has the ability to, in real time, analyze incoming magnetic signals
against the known pattern of our transmitters. If such a signal is detected by the system, the
receiver will record that signal for as long as it is within range. This allows an operator to leave
the system completely unmanned at locations where one or more pig passages are expected to
occur and trust that the system will record the events for him.
These are the six major pieces of information recorded by the unit when pig passages are
detected:
1. Complete image of the recording.
A complete image or “picture” of the recording is saved, allowing the operator to review the data.
These pig passage images can be viewed on-screen or printed to paper and placed into a pigging
log file. See the section entitled “Print a Recording File” beginning on page 27 for more
information on printing recorded pig passage data.
2. Time and date of the recording.
The exact time and date of when the recording began is recorded.
3. The mile or kilometer marker.
The mile or kilometer marker of the recording‟s location is saved if the operator has chosen to set
it. Setting this value also allows the CD42-R receiver to calculate the pig‟s speed.
4. Gain Setting.
The gain or sensitivity setting at the time of the recording.
5. Duration.
The length of the recording in time.
It is really quite simple to start the receiver looking for transmitter signals. Simply press the REC or
“Record” button in the lower left hand corner of the main screen (the REC icon is shown above). When
you press this button, the unit will ask you to enter your location ID if the “Location ID” feature is
active. The location ID feature of the unit is discussed on page 36 in the section entitled “Location
I.D”. For thorough information on how to set your location ID, please refer to that section. If you are
prompted to enter your location ID, the screen will look similar to Figure 19.
Figure 18
Record Icon

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Figure 19 The Location ID Entry Screen
If location ID is active, enter your mile or kilometer position on the pipeline and press the button
labeled “OK”. If location ID is not active, the unit will immediately begin watching for a pig passage.
When recording has been initiated, the display will return to the main screen with two small differences.
The REC icon will have changed to one that reads “STOP REC”, and text will be displayed that
indicates that the unit is waiting for a pig passage and has seen zero thus far. Figure 20 is a picture of
how the main screen should look when the receiver is waiting for a pig passage:
Figure 20 The CD42-R Waiting to Record a Pig Passage
At this point the receiver is waiting patiently for a pig passage to occur. When a pig passage is
detected, you will hear a series of rapid beeps indicating that a recording has begun. If the unit has been
in screen blank mode, it will turn the screen and back light on as necessary so that an operator, if
present, can view the passage as it occurs. Once the pig and transmitter have traveled out of range, the
unit will issue a slower series of beeps to indicate that the recording process is over. Once the unit has
been set up to record pig passages in this way, it will continue to do so until its memory is full, or 99 pig
passages have been recorded.
Note: Do not turn the CD42 receiver off during the recording process - always wait until the pig has
passed and the unit issues the slower series of beeps to turn off the power. If the unit is turned
1. Enter your
position.
2. Press OK.
Icon now reads
“STOP REC”
Zero pig passages are
initially recorded

CD42 Pipeline Pig Location & Tracking System
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off during a recording, all recording data will be lost. Turning off the CD42 receiver during a
recording is much like turning your desktop computer off while it is writing data to the hard
disk drive.
When the pig passage has been recorded, simply press the “STOP REC” button to instruct the receiver
to stop watching for pig passages. After pressing the “STOP REC” button, the receiver may be moved
without concern of causing a false trigger to be recorded.
Entering the Location ID
Before pig recording is started, whether in manual or automatic mode, the operator has the
opportunity to enter a unique “Location ID” for each site. The Location ID can be the mile or
kilometer marker of the current location, or it can simply be a number from 0 to 999. If the operator
uses the mile or kilometer Location ID, he may use that information to calculate the pig‟s traveling
speed as discussed below in the section entitled “Calculate a Pig‟s Speed” beginning on page 26.
When an operator presses the RECord button to begin recording pig passages, the Location ID menu
is shown and should appear similar to the one shown in Figure 21. At this point the operator may
enter a Location ID. The operator has the option of entering the Location ID in any of the available
fields. For instance, if the operator enters a number in the MILE field, the CD42 receiver will
automatically update all other fields as well.
Figure 21 Setting the Location ID
Entering a Location ID is quickly done using the red navigation buttons. The Left and Right arrow
buttons control the movement of the cursor throughout the screen. The Up and Down arrows,
labeled (+) and (-), change the value of the selected field. Simply press the Left or Right button
until the field to be changed is highlighted, and then press the Up or Down arrow to select the
correct value.
When the correct Location ID is entered, press the OK button to save this information and enter
record mode. To cancel the record operation and return to the Main Menu, press the Abort button at
any time.

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The operator may have chosen to enter Location ID‟s as a numeric value. If this is the case a small
window displaying the Location ID will appear. Refer to Figure 22. Using the arrow keys in the
same manner as described above, enter a numeric value up to three digits long.
Note: The Location ID does not relate to Mile or Kilometer distances in any way. The numbers
are completely arbitrary and should be used in cases where the operator’s pipeline does not
conform well to using Mile or Kilometer markers.
Figure 22 Numeric Location ID
Automatic Record Mode
When the CD42 is in automatic mode and the operator presses the RECord button on the main
screen (Figure 23), the CD42 receiver unit will continuously monitor the incoming signals and
attempt to automatically detect, count, number and record pictures of transmitter passages without
an operator’s presence. This feature is not available in any other system on the market.