Globalstar STINGR User manual

Revision 0.2 STINGR Users Manual
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STINGR Users Manual

Revision 0.2 STINGR Users Manual
06/24/15 Revision 0.2 Subject To Change without Notice P a g e 2
Table of Contents
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Applicable Documents ............................................................................................................................................ 4
1.3 Description .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
2 Application ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Theory of Operation ................................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Block Diagram ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
3 Physical Charactersistics ................................................................................................................................................. 9
4 Reference Design .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
4.1 Schematic .............................................................................................................................................................. 14
4.2 PCB ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15
4.3 BOM ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15
5 Application Programming Interface .............................................................................................................................. 16
5.1 Serial Port .............................................................................................................................................................. 16
5.2 Serial Packet Mode ............................................................................................................................................... 16
5.2.1 Serial Packet Format ..................................................................................................................................... 17
5.2.2 STX3 Legacy Serial Packet Commands .......................................................................................................... 17
5.2.2.1 Send Data (0x00) ....................................................................................................................................... 17
5.2.2.2 Query Electronic Serial Number (ESN) (0x01) ........................................................................................... 18
5.2.2.3 Abort Transmission (0x03) ........................................................................................................................ 18
5.2.2.4 Query Bursts Remaining (0x04) ................................................................................................................ 18
5.2.2.5 Query Firmware Version (0x05) ................................................................................................................ 19
5.2.2.6 Setup (0x06) .............................................................................................................................................. 19
5.2.2.7 Query Setup (0x07) ................................................................................................................................... 20
5.2.2.8 Query Hardware Version (0x09) ............................................................................................................... 21
5.2.3 STINGR Serial Packet Commands .................................................................................................................. 22
5.2.3.1 “Initiate proprietary track” command ...................................................................................................... 22
5.2.3.2 “Update Proprietary Track Data” command ............................................................................................. 23
5.2.3.3 “Cancel Proprietary Track” command ...................................................................................................... 24
5.2.3.4 “Send Redundant Burst with GPS” command .......................................................................................... 25
5.2.4 STINGR Serial Test Commands ...................................................................................................................... 27

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5.3 “Transmitter Test” command ............................................................................................................................... 27
5.4 Example CRC calculation routines for serial packets ............................................................................................ 29
6 Test Modes .................................................................................................................................................................... 31
7 REGULATORY APPROVAL .............................................................................................................................................. 33
7.1 Radio Astronomy Site Avoidance .......................................................................................................................... 33
7.2 Regulatory Notices ................................................................................................................................................ 33

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1Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This document describes the physical, electrical, and functional characteristics of the STINGR satellite transmitter
module. The information contained in this document is intended to provide the end user with the necessary
technical information required to use the module in a custom application.
This document is intended to be used by engineers and technical management and assumes a general knowledge of
basic engineering practices by the user.
1.2 Applicable Documents
1.3 Description
The STINGR is a simplex Satellite transmitter designed to send small packets of user defined data to a network of
low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites using the Globalstar simplex satellite network. The received data is then
forwarded to a user defined network interface that may be in the form of an FTP host or HTTP host where the user
will interpret the data for further processing.
The STINGR is a satellite transmitter radio module which contains a satellite transmitter, GPS receiver, motion
sensor, and a dual band patch antenna. The STINGR is a surface mount module designed to attach to a user defined
host PCB which must provide power and communications with a host processor which will control the operation of
the STINGR. All electrical connections are provided via the castellated pads on the perimeter of the PCB.
The STINGR is a small, low-profile device with the dimensions shown below.
Figure 1 (dimensions in inches)

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2Application
2.1 Theory of Operation
The STINGR
operates on the Globalstar LEO satellite network. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) means that there are a number of
satellites in low earth orbit that constan
tly orbit the planet and can communicate with Globalstar devices that are within
range of its current position.
Since the satellite position is constantly changing, simplex devices on the ground will
any of the satellites locations) and
the transmission
relay the message to the nearest satellite
gateway as shown below. Once received by the
message will be delivered to the
simplex gateway where redundant messages are discarded and the data from the
message is sent to the OEM via the Internet.
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operates on the Globalstar LEO satellite network. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) means that there are a number of
tly orbit the planet and can communicate with Globalstar devices that are within
Figure 2 LEO Constellation
Since the satellite position is constantly changing, simplex devices on the ground will
transmit (with no knowledge of
the transmission
may be received by one or more satellites. These satellites will then
gateway as shown below. Once received by the
satellite
simplex gateway where redundant messages are discarded and the data from the
message is sent to the OEM via the Internet.
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operates on the Globalstar LEO satellite network. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) means that there are a number of
tly orbit the planet and can communicate with Globalstar devices that are within
transmit (with no knowledge of
may be received by one or more satellites. These satellites will then
satellite
gateway, the simplex
simplex gateway where redundant messages are discarded and the data from the

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Messages are composed of 1 or more 9-
byte payloads. The
payloads greater than 9 bytes will require multiple on
There are brief periods of time w
here there is no satellite in range of the simplex transmitters due to obstructions
and/or
satellite coverage geometry. Since a simplex device has no way of knowing if a transmitted message has been
successfully received, the STINGR
device is designed to
sent over the Globalstar network. The default value for the number of redundant
means that each message sent to the
STINGR
data payload.
The redundant transmissions
The transmission sequence for a single-
packet message using the default setting of 3 redundant
below.
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Figure 3 implex Messaging
byte payloads. The
STINGR can only transmit 9-
byte on
payloads greater than 9 bytes will require multiple on
-air packets
to be transmitted for each user payload.
here there is no satellite in range of the simplex transmitters due to obstructions
satellite coverage geometry. Since a simplex device has no way of knowing if a transmitted message has been
device is designed to
send
multiple (redundant) transmissions
sent over the Globalstar network. The default value for the number of redundant
transmissions
STINGR
will be transmitted 3 times. E
ach transmission will contain the exact same
The redundant transmissions
of each message will be sent on a randomized 5-
minute
packet message using the default setting of 3 redundant
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byte on
-air messages, so user
to be transmitted for each user payload.
here there is no satellite in range of the simplex transmitters due to obstructions
satellite coverage geometry. Since a simplex device has no way of knowing if a transmitted message has been
multiple (redundant) transmissions
for each message being
transmissions
per message is 3. This
ach transmission will contain the exact same
minute
nominal interval.
packet message using the default setting of 3 redundant
transmissions is shown

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The transmission sequence for a two-
packet message using the default setting of 3 redundant transmissions is shown
below.
For normal conditions where the transmitter has an open view of the sky, this will result in a bett
that the message will be received.
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packet message using the default setting of 3 redundant transmissions is shown
For normal conditions where the transmitter has an open view of the sky, this will result in a bett
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packet message using the default setting of 3 redundant transmissions is shown
For normal conditions where the transmitter has an open view of the sky, this will result in a bett
er than 99% chance

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2.2 Bloc Diagram
The basic elements of a design utilizing the
The STINGR provides a single
power supply input.
required transmit current during RF transmissions.
for the digital, RF and GPS circuitry
. This provides the capability to leave the
when the transmitter RF section
and the GPS section
is only required while the STINGR
is transmitting a data packet.
active transmissions in order to minimize the power consumption of the STINGR.
very low, this supply will
be turned off the majority of the time and only active during the transmission of a pa
to the random nature of the burst transmissions, and open collector output (PWR_EN) is provided by the
can directly control an external
high current supply for
sending a multi-packet message).
This will ensure that the RF power supply
minimum
amount of time to complete each transmission. It may also be monitored by the host to determine when each
burst has been completed without the need to
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The basic elements of a design utilizing the
STINGR simplex transmitter are shown below.
Figure 4
power supply input.
Normally, this will be a high-
current battery which can provide the
required transmit current during RF transmissions.
The STINGR has internal regulators which provide separate power
. This provides the capability to leave the
STINGR
in a low power consumption state
and the GPS section
is idle. The internal
RF power supply is a high power
is transmitting a data packet.
Internal cirucuitry turns this
supply off except during
active transmissions in order to minimize the power consumption of the STINGR.
Since the transmission duty cycle is
be turned off the majority of the time and only active during the transmission of a pa
to the random nature of the burst transmissions, and open collector output (PWR_EN) is provided by the
high current supply for
VBATT (
VBATT can NOT be turned off between bursts when
This will ensure that the RF power supply
high current mode
amount of time to complete each transmission. It may also be monitored by the host to determine when each
burst has been completed without the need to
query the STINGR via the serial host interface.
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current battery which can provide the
The STINGR has internal regulators which provide separate power
in a low power consumption state
RF power supply is a high power
supply which
supply off except during
Since the transmission duty cycle is
be turned off the majority of the time and only active during the transmission of a pa
cket. Due
to the random nature of the burst transmissions, and open collector output (PWR_EN) is provided by the
STINGR which
VBATT can NOT be turned off between bursts when
high current mode
is enabled for the
amount of time to complete each transmission. It may also be monitored by the host to determine when each

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3Physical Charactersistics
Figure 5 Top View

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Figure 6 Recommended PCB footprint layout