Magellan Z-Max User manual

THALES NAVIGATION
POCKET GUIDE
for the
Z-MAX SURVEYING SYSTEM

Printed in France.
Part Number: 630881-01, Revision B
September 2003
No part of this publication or the computer programs described in it
may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or
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mission of Thales Navigation. Your rights with regard to this publi-
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located. For information on translations and distribution outside
the U.S.A. please contact Thales Navigation.
© 2003 Thales Navigation, Inc. All rights reserved. Z-Max is a
trademark of Thales Navigation. All other product and brand
names are trademarks of their respective holders.

Introduction...................................................................................1
Module Description & Connection ................................................ 1
LEDs...........................................................................................10
Display Menu Tree .....................................................................13
Checking Receiver Status .......................................................... 15
Warning Messages.....................................................................16
Figure 1 GPS Receiver Module ............................................. 2
Figure 2 GPS Antenna Module .............................................. 5
Figure 3 Power Module and Charger ..................................... 6
Figure 4 Communication Module ........................................... 7
Figure 5 UHF Antenna Module .............................................. 9
Figure 6 Display Main Menu ................................................ 14
Figure 7 Static Setup............................................................19
Figure 8 Measuring Instrument Height (HI).......................... 21
Figure 9 Z-Max Front Panel Display .................................... 22
Figure 10 RTK Base Setup with Thales U-Link Radio ........... 25
Figure 11 RTK Base Setup with Pacific Crest PDL Radio ..... 26
Figure 12 Pole-Mounted RTK Rover Setup ........................... 29
Figure 13 Backpack-Mounted RTK Rover Setup ................... 30
Figure 14 SURVEY: RTK Rover Menu .................................. 31
Figure 15 COM OPTN: THALES Radio Menu ....................... 32
Figure 16 COM OPTN: PDL Radio Menu .............................. 33
Figure 17 COM OPTN GSM Rover Menu.............................. 34
Figure 18 COM OPTN: GSM Base Menu .............................. 35
Table 1 LED Indicator Functionality .................................... 10
Table 2 Control Keys in Display Mode................................ 12
Table 3 Control Keys in Edit Mode ..................................... 12
Table 4 Common Status Parameters.................................. 15
Table 5 Common Warning Messages................................. 16
CONTENTS

1
Introduction
This Pocket Guide is a quick reference guide to using
the Z-Max Surveying System. The guide provides a
short description of the modules and their
functionality including using LEDs, front panel display
menus. The Pocket guide also includes schematic
diagrams of system hardware setup for static,
kinematic and RTK surveys. This information does
not contain complete explanations for operation and
usage. More complete descriptions and additional
information can be found in the Z-Max Operation and
Applications manual.
Module Description &
Connection
The Z-Max is a modular system that uses intercon-
necting components called modules. There are five
important modules.

2Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
GPS Receiver Module
The GPS Receiver module, Figure 1, is
essentially a specialized computer for processing
and manipulating GPS measurements. The GPS
receiver module has functionality similar to a
personal computer including keypad, display,
memory card, serial port, USB port, Bluetooth port
and power port.
Figure 1 GPS Receiver Module

3
Front Panel
The Z-Max front panel allows you to power on/off
the receiver, monitor basic receiver functions via
the four LED status lights, and control receiver via
the front panel LED Display.
SD Card Slot / USB Port
The SD Card slot and USB port are located
behind a small door below the four control keys.
Data recorded by the Z-Max is stored on an SD
Memory card.
Rear Panel
The narrow rear panel of the Z-Max Main module,
contains serial and external power ports for
connection to peripheral equipment.

4Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
Serial Ports
The serial ports are used for communication
between the Z-Max and external equipment.
Serial A: Serial A is a two-way serial port
using RS-232 protocol, the protocol used by
personal computers
Serial B: Serial B is a two-way serial port
that can be toggled between RS-232 and
RS-422 protocols. RS-422 is a specialized
protocol for very long serial cables.
Power Port
The rear panel contains an external power
connector that allows you to power the receiver
externally with a DC power source. The input
voltage must be 10-28 VDC. External sources of
DC power include, battery, auto lighter or an AC/
DC converter. Special cables are typically needed
for external power sources.
GPS Antenna Module
The GPS antenna module, Figure 2, contains the
Max-Trac GPS antenna. The GPS Antenna module
connects to either the Receiver module, or to the top
of the UHF Antenna module if the UHF

5
Communication module is used. The Antenna
module fits into the antenna receptacle at the top of
either the Main module or the UHF antenna module.
Make sure the base of the Antenna module is
oriented so that the flattened side is lined up with the
flattened area of the receptacle, and the module will
push easily into place. Once in place, twist the
threaded collar on the Antenna module until the
antenna is securely locked in place.
Figure 2 GPS Antenna Module

6Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
Power Module
The Power module, Figure 3, is the primary internal
power source for the Z-Max. To plug in the module,
insert the small ledge of the Power module into the
rear of the GPS receiver module housing first. This
will correctly align the module. Using the ledge like a
hinge, swing the module closed until the latch on the
Power module clicks into place. If you require
additional or backup battery power, external power
sources can be used in conjunction with the Power
module.
Figure 3 Power Module and Charger

7
Communication Module
The Communication module, Figure 4, contains the
data link(s) for transmitting or receiving data during
DGPS and RTK applications. The Communication
module can house a variety of wireless
communication devices or combinations of devices.
Communication devices will vary by application and
geographic location. In case the receiver is not
intended for real-time operation, an empty
communication module, or V-module will be supplied
in order to provide the moisture seal of the module
bay. Refer to packing list to identify which
communication device is being used.
Figure 4 Communication Module

8Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
To connect the Communication module, insert the
small ledge of the Power module into the rear of the
Main module housing first. This will correctly align the
module. Using the ledge like a hinge, swing the
module closed until the latch on the module clicks
into place.
A Communication module that contains a GSM
cellular modem has two additional features: a built-in
GSM antenna, and a slot to hold the SIM card.
UHF Antenna Module
The UHF Antenna module, Figure 5, is the radio
antenna for use with all UHF Communication
modules. The UHF Antenna module, customized for
UHF frequency band and in case the receiver is not
intended for real-time operation, may be empty. The
UHF Antenna module is connected between the
GPS Antenna module and the Main Receiver
module.

9
The UHF Antenna module connects to the Main
module just like the GPS Antenna module.
Figure 5 UHF Antenna Module

10 Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
LEDs
The Z-Max Main module has four LED indicator lights
located on the front panel (Table 1). The 3-color
LEDs allow the user to quickly monitor several
receiver functions at a glance. From left to right, the
four LEDs are RTK SOLUTION, COMMUNICATION,
Data Log, and SV/Power.
The Power button located on the Z-Max Main module
front panel will turn on/off the system, and can also
be used to reset the receiver. Resetting the receiver
Table 1 LED Indicator Functionality
LED Color/Meaning Frequency
RTK SOL green = fixed solution
orange = float solution
red = no solution, autonomous
freq. of RTK output
COM green = data quality good
red = data quality bad
freq. of data output/input
DATA
LOG
green = data recording
solid red = data card full
recording interval
SV/Power red = power is on
green = SVs tracked
red: 1- 2 seconds
green: # blinks = # SVs

11
using the power button will also clear the data from
the SD card (Table 2).

12 Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
Front Panel Display
The Front Panel Display is an 8-character
alphanumeric LED screen that is used to monitor
receiver status, set receiver parameters and
configure the receiver to perform different types of
surveys. The display will also show warning
messages and equipment status messages.
Control Keys
The display is accessed by using the four control
keys. The control keys provide access to all the
functionality of the display including moving within
the menu tree, selecting available parameters,
and entering letters or numbers like a keypad.
The keys will work differently depending upon if
the screen is in Display mode (Table 2) or Edit
mode (Table 3). In display mode, the keys are
used only to scroll within a menu or move to
another menu level. In Edit mode, the keys are
used either to select a parameter or as a keypad
to enter a parameter value.

13
Table 2 Control Keys in Display Mode
Key Operation
UP arrow Scroll menu forward
DOWN arrow Scroll menu: backward
ENTER Select and move down to next level
CANCEL Return to upper level
Table 3 Control Keys in Edit Mode
Key Operation
UP arrow Parameter list: scroll parameters
Keypad: scroll through characters
DOWN arrow Fast scrolling forward or backward
ENTER Keypad: accept character
Parameter list: select parameter
CANCEL Keypad: delete last edited character
Parameter list: move from Edit mode to
Display mode.

14 Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
Display Menu Tree
Navigate through the front panel display by using the
menu tree. Use the control keys described above to
move around inside the menu tree and to set and
enter parameters. Figure 6 depicts the main menu
tree. Detailed menus for configuring the RTK Rover,
and the data links (Thales/PDL radios, and GSM base
and rover) are shown in Figures 12 through 16
beginning on page 30.

15
Figure 6 Display Main Menu

16 Z-Max Surveying System Pocket Guide
Checking Receiver Status
There are several operational status parameters to
be aware of while performing a survey. Table 4
provides a list of the common ones along with where
to monitor them. These parameters can also be
monitored using field application software running on
an external field computer.
Table 4 Common Status Parameters
Parameter Location
Remaining battery
life (Power module)
1. Power module push button
2. Front panel display (SYSINFO/BAT)
Number of SVs
tracked
SV/Power LED
Remaining memory
Front panel display (SYSINFO/MEM)
Current position
Front panel display (SURVEY:mode/Status)
Data recording inter-
val
1. Data Log LED (interval between blinks)
2. front panel display (SURVCONF/REC INT)
Files in memory
Front panel display (SESSIONS/LIST SESSION)
RTK Solution Status
RTK SOLUTION LED

17
Warning Messages
The receiver monitors a number of conditions that
are of interest to the user. Whenever a problem is
detected in one of these conditions, the LED display
is interrupted to show a warning message stating the
problem, and a beep will sound every 10 seconds.
To acknowledge the message, press any key. Table
5 describes common warning messages and
necessary action.
Table 5 Common Warning Messages
Warning Definition Action
Not Receiving
(RTCM) Base
Data
Not receiving base RTK/
RTCM data
Check data link. Check
base receiver
Low Int. Battery:
< 30 min
Remaining life of internal
battery is < 30 minutes
Change Power module,
or attach external bat-
tery
Data Card Full
< 5 min
< less than 5 minutes of
available memory on SD
card
Delete data from the cur-
rent card or replace cur-
rent SD card
High Receiver
Temperature
Internal receiver temper-
ature is > 80 × C
Shield receiver from the
sun or increase air flow