Lotek PinPoint Commander User manual

USER MANUAL
REVISION 02
22 FEB 2018
#MGPS12
PinPoint Commander

LOTEK | TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................................................3
1.1. OVERVIEW..........................................................................................................................................................................................3
1.2. SPECIFICATION................................................................................................................................................................................3
2. USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)..................................................................................................................................4
2.1. USER INTERFACE...........................................................................................................................................................................4
2.2. MENU STRUCTURE .......................................................................................................................................................................5
2.3. MAIN MENU.......................................................................................................................................................................................5
2.4. DOWNLOAD DATA SUBMENU ..............................................................................................................................................6
2.4.1. MODE..............................................................................................................................................................................................6
2.4.2. GROUP...........................................................................................................................................................................................7
2.4.3. TYPE.................................................................................................................................................................................................7
2.4.4. TRACK –AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL.............................................................................................................................8
2.4.5. SCHEDULE...................................................................................................................................................................................8
2.4.6. START .............................................................................................................................................................................................9
2.4.7. LOG.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.5. UPLOAD............................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5.1. GROUP......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
2.5.2. TYPE............................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
2.5.3. MODE............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13
2.5.4. UPLOAD ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.5.5. LOG................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
2.6. SETTINGS........................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.6.1. BACKLIGHT ............................................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.6.2. TIME/DATE................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
2.6.3. SCREEN SAVING.................................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.7. TOOLS .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15
2.7.1. INFORMATION VIEWER.................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.7.2. USB DRIVE.................................................................................................................................................................................16
2.7.3. ABOUT..........................................................................................................................................................................................16
2.8. POWER OFF ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
3. ID LIST CREATION AND DATA DOWNLOAD....................................................................................................................... 17
3.1. MICRO-SD CARD ACCESS ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

LOTEK | INTRODUCTION
2
3.2. ID LIST CREATION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 17
3.3. DATA DOWNLOAD...................................................................................................................................................................... 17
3.4. SCHEDULE UPLOAD...................................................................................................................................................................18
4. ENERGY SAVING CONSIDERATION.........................................................................................................................................18
5. SELECTION OF ANTENNA .............................................................................................................................................................. 19
6. STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX 1. FIRMWARE UPGRADE....................................................................................................................................................19

LOTEK | INTRODUCTION
3
1. Introduction
1.1. Overview
The PinPoint Commander or PPC is used to communicate with PinPoint VHF tags or LiteTrack collars for
downloading their data, uploading new schedules and testing Proximity functions.
The PPC is lightweight and portable. It works with either a simple whip or directional antennas such as a Yagi or
a H Antenna, to further increase its effective range.
A list of tags/collars to be communicated with is created by PinPoint Host software and stored on a micro SD
card. The downloaded data is stored on the same micro SD card as well. A USB connection is used to transfer
data from PPC to a Windows computer (PC).
The unit can work in autonomous mode (Main Menu > Download > Schedule), where it will operate unattended
following a schedule. Separate solar power can be used to power the unattended unit.
1.2. Specification
Items
Parameters
Size (mm)
159.4(L) x 77.9(W) x 33.5(H) [1]
Weight (g)
240g (without batteries)
295g (with 3 AA type alkaline batteries)
PC Connection
Mini USB
Operating Temperature
-20C - +50C
Storage temperatures
-40C -+50C
Power Source
External: USB or DC source (Min 5V~Max 25V)
Internal: 3 AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries
Operational life
27 to 40 hours continuous work [2]
Radio Frequency range
Band within 142-172 MHz
Antenna
Whip or directional antenna (e.g. Yagi or H) with coaxial cable and BNC connector
Data Storage
2GB+ Micro SD
1. The height of antenna and power connector is not included.
2. Calculation is based on AA Alkaline batteries with 1200mAH capacity. The actual working longevity may vary depending on intensity of RF
communications and setting of screen backlight.

LOTEK | USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)
4
2. Use of PinPoint Commander (PPC)
2.1. User Interface
Up / Down Keys
1. Highlight a line from menu list
2. In edit mode, change digital value
Enter key
1. Select the highlighted menu item and enter sub menu
2. Execute an operation
3. Confirm a change
Escape key
1. Back to higher level menu
2. Escape from a task
Plus key
1. Wake up PPC from power off mode by holding for 5 seconds
2. Wake up PPC from screen saving mode
3. Toggle between screens
4. Modify contents

LOTEK | USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)
5
2.2. Menu Structure
The fundamental menu structure is illustrated below:
Use arrow keys to navigate menu items. Use Enter key to choose.
2.3. Main Menu
When the PPC unit is first switched on, the main menu is shown, from where you can select one of four options:
1. Download: search for tags/collars, data download from tags/collars that are within communication
range, autonomous mode, etc.
2. Upload: Can upload new schedules, etc. to the tag that has been previously loaded onto the PPC.
3. Settings: setup of PPC unit operation including, change of backlight, update of time/date and
modifications of screen savings parameters.
4. Tools: Viewing tag ID list and statistics of downloaded data. Connection to a PC to download collected
data.
5. Power Off: turn PPC to power down mode.
The left hand figure at the bottom of the indicates battery voltage and the right hand figures, the time.

LOTEK | USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)
6
2.4. Download Data Submenu
From the Main menu, selecting Download will display the ‘DOWNLOAD DATA’ submenu as shown below. This
allows configuration of the download settings, initiates data download and checks the status of the tags or
collars.
A brief summary of settings is displayed on the right side of top three menu
items, including working mode, group and data type for download.
Start menu item is highlighted by default.
NOTE: It is important to have an antenna attached to the PPC unit before starting data download. Failure to do
so may cause permanent damage to the radio circuits.
2.4.1. Mode
There are two modes of operation:
1. Status: PPC will search for tags/collars that appear on the previously uploaded ID list and are within
communication range. It will display detected tags/collars’ IDs and data statistics only.
2. Data: Data from contacted tags/collars are downloaded to onboard micro-SD card.
Move the Up / Down keys to highlight download options.
The √mark indicates current selection.
.
To activate your selection, press the Enter key.
Use Escape key to exit.
When Data is highlighted an additional option called Threshold appears which can be adjusted. The Threshold
defines the minimum data size that will be uploaded.
The value of 0kB means that all acquired data is downloaded and 50kB is the maximum threshold, meaning that
only if the data exceeds 50kBytes will it be downloaded. Use + key to change threshold value with 10kB step.
The purpose of this feature is to prevent too frequent downloading of very small data amounts.
The selected mode can be seen on the DOWNLOAD DATA screen at the end of the line of Mode item. If Data is
selected, it will show “Data”, if Status is selected, it will show “Stat.

LOTEK | USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)
7
2.4.2. Group
With the first set of tags sent with the commander, IDs will have been pre-loaded onto the PPC. If you need to
upload IDs yourself, for a new set of tags, or after management of them, please see Section 3.2 ID List Creation.
To facilitate field trips and data management, the ID list is divided into groups that may correspond to animal’s
locations. The maximum number of IDs in a group is 256. Maximum of 8 groups are allowed in a list.
You can select a group and view or edit its contents. Use the Enter key to enable/disable an ID from the list.
Move the Up / Down keys to navigate GROUP menu items and click the Enter key, to select the group of interest.
The √sign marks selected group.
When a group is selected, the EDIT LIST allows you to enable or disable an ID from the list by clicking the Enter
key. When a tag is selected, a √mark is added to the end of the tag ID. When a tag is de-selected, a Xmark is
added to the end of the tag ID. The de-selected tag ID will be skipped during tag data download. By default, all
tag IDs in the selected group are enabled.
An ID can belong to more than one group.
2.4.3. Type
Some tags have additional data such as activity and mortality, and these can be viewed and edited under DATA
TYPE menu item.
If you are only interested in one or two data types, then the other data types can be skipped during download to
save battery power.
Use the Up / Down keys to highlight a data type group and use the Enter key
to enable/disable a data type.

LOTEK | USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)
8
When all supported data types are selected, a string “ALL” appears on the DOWNLOAD DATA screen at end of
the menu item Type, otherwise only Type Number (digital form) will be shown. The table below summarizing
available data types.
Type Number
Type
Abbreviation
0
No data
‘’
1
GPS fix
‘G’
2
GPS schedule
‘S’
3
Beacon schedule
‘B’
4
RF com schedule
‘R’
5
Activity
‘A’
6
Proximity
‘P’
7
Mortality
‘M’
The abbreviation of data type is used for the file extension.
2.4.4. Track –Automatic or Manual
Once the Track menu item is highlighted and the Enter key entered, the Track Mode sub menu indicates if the
PPC is configured for Automatic or Manual tracking by the √mark next to the item. Highlighting the Automatic or
Manual option and selecting the Enter key will change the option.
2.4.5. Schedule
The SCHEDULE allows you to leave the logger in the field to download data autonomously.
SCHEDULE allows autonomous download, where the unit periodically attempts to communicate with
tags/collars in the download range.
The Schedule shows three editable options:
Schedule, either ON (active hour) or OFF (passive hour)
24-hour schedule
Times / Hour which defines the number of communication attempts within an active hour. Minimum 1,
Maximum 60 (i.e. once per minute).
Press the Plus key to enter Edit mode.

LOTEK | USE OF PINPOINT COMMANDER (PPC)
9
While in the Edit mode, Up / Down keys change the field value, The Enter key applies changes, the Plus key
moves cursor to next field, the Escape key exits Schedule setup menu.
When the cursor is in one of the hour fields, the actual hour is displayed. “1” means active for that hour, “0”
means inactive (no communication attempts within this hour).
When schedule mode is ON, the PPC LCD backlight will be off except when a key stroke is detected.
2.4.6. Start
according to the contents of selected ID list, data types and download mode. Once a tag/collar has been found,
the unit initiates data download. The PPC will repeat the download operations until all the tags in the tag list
were searched for.
The PPC displays working status during tag searching and data downloading. No user involvement is required
during t
from the bottom line.
Depending on the numbers of tags, the amount of data, and RF environment, the download operation can last
minutes or hours. The following download time estimation in good RF conditions is based on 9600bps data
transfer rate.
Data Size
# of data records
(approximately)
Estimated Download Time
10kB
500
10 seconds
100kB
5000
2 minutes
1MB
50000
20 minutes
The actual download time will vary depending on RF link quality.
There are a few different status screens that show up during communication process.