Microwave Telemetry Solar PTT-100 User manual

SOLAR PTT-100
Field
MANUAl
Microwave
Telemetry, Inc.

GENERAL INFORMATION
2
Microwave
Telemetry, Inc.
8835 Columbia 100 Parkway
Suites K & L
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.microwavetelemetry.com
Cover Pictures courtesy of (from top to bottom)
Craighead Beringia South, Les Steele, Adrian Aebischer
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual

What is the Solar PTT - 100?..............
Unpacking............................................
Testing................................................
Attachment..........................................
Data Formats.......................................
Data Retrieval......................................
Data Decoding.....................................
Troubleshooting......................................
Storage..................................................
Returning Your PTT...............................
Contact Information................................
Glossary.................................................
Notes.....................................................
GENERAL INFORMATION
TESTING
DATA
QUESTIONS
3
5
7
9
13
15
16
17
20
23
24
26
27
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Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual

Thank You For Your Order!
We are happy to provide you with our state-of-the-art
Solar PTTs.
12 gram Solar PTT
35 gram Solar PTT
9.5 gram Solar PTT
4
18 gram Solar PTT
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual

INFO
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
Deployed as a backpack and available in weight models of
9.5 grams, 12 grams, 18 grams and 35 grams, these
remarkable PTTs takes advantage of the unlimited supply
of solar energy available to charge their internal batteries.
The microprocessor controlled solar duty cycle timer takes
care of the battery charge control and commands the PTT to
either transmit continuously or on a duty cycle dependent on
the state of the battery charge. Four hours of exposure to a
bright sky is enough to power the PTT for 24 hours.
The energy stored in the battery makes it possible for the
PTT to transmit during the night.
Like the Lithium battery powered PTTs, the solar powered
PTT transmits information from its internal temperature and
activity sensors together with its own battery voltage.
5
Features:
• Up to three years operating lifetime
• Microprocessor controlled battery charging
• Sensors: Temperature, Activity and Battery Voltage
standard
• Hermetically sealed in rugged housing with mounting
loops or tubes

Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
INFO
Physical Specifications
Dimensions:
9.5 gram: L 38 x W 17 x H 12 mm*
12 gram: L 43 x W 18 x H 14 mm*
18 gram: L 62 x W 18 x H 12.5 mm*
35 gram: L 62 x W 28 x H 18 mm*
*Antenna and harness mounting tubes
not included in these dimensions.
Antenna: Hard nylon coated flexible
stranded marine grade stainless steel,
protruding from the back edge of the
transmitter 45 degrees to the bottom
face. 9.5 g and 12 g models have an
8.5” (213 mm) antenna, 18 g and
35 g models have a 7” (178 mm)
antenna.
Construction
The housing is constructed from an
epoxy glass reinforced lightweight
composite material, plated on the
inside with a contiguous metal
coating. The final seal is metal to
metal solder. The unit is therefore
hermetically sealed and remains so
during changes in temperature and
humidity.
General Electrical
Specifications
Operating frequency: 401.650 MHz ±
36 kHz
Power output: 22 dBm ± 2 dB
Output impedance: 50 ohms
Modulation Tri Phase PSK: ± 1.1 Rad
± 0.1 Rad
Quiescent current: <3µA
Spurious emissions: -45 dB
Transmission interval: 45 to 120 sec**
Operating temperature range: -15 to 45
Deg C
** Adjustable between 100 to 500 mW
**This can be optimized for your
requirements at the time of manufacture.
Sensors
The Solar transmitter comes
complete with sensors to measure
temperature, its own battery voltage
and animal activity, with each
parameter relayed by Argos on each
transmission.
6

INFO
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
1Please keep the original box.
Your PTT has been shipped in special antistatic packaging
to provide maximum protection during shipment and stor-
age. In the event that you need
to return the PTT to us, it will be
necessary to ship it in the origi-
nal box (see Returning your
PTT on page 25).
2Do not remove the magnet until ready to use.
When you remove the PTT from the box, you will notice a
magnet taped to the side of the unit (see photo). The PTT
is activated by removing the magnet from the side of the
unit. When you remove the magnet from the STOP position,
the PTT begins to transmit.
7

Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
INFO
3Always use the button magnet supplied -
never use a bar magnet.
Save the button magnet supplied with your PTT. It is the
correct magnet to use to operate the PTT’s internal switch.
The use of any other magnet may not provide the proper
magnetic field to shut the PTT off, resulting in battery drain
during storage.
Correct magnets
DO NOT USE!
8

Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
TESTING
DO NOT USE!
DO NOT DEPLOY YOUR PTT WITHOUT TESTING THE
DEVICE AND VERIFYING THAT IT IS OPERATING
CORRECTLY
1Place the PTT outside in the open for testing.
The PTT should be placed in an open area where the ho-
rizon is not obstructed by buildings, away from metal en-
closures, with the antenna pointing up and the solar array
facing south (facing north in the Southern Hemisphere). A
fence post, a wooden pole or the apex of a roof may provide
good locations for this (see photo below).
If multiple PTTs are placed outside for testing, they should
be placed at a relative distance of at least one meter.
BEFORE DEPLOYING YOUR PTT, IT MUST BE TESTED
THROUGH THE ARGOS SYSTEM.
Save the test data for later reference.
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TESTING

Testing
TESTING
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
2Be careful not to cover any area of the solar
array with tape or any other fastening material.
Covering any part of the array will prevent proper charging of
the solar battery.
3Be sure the magnet has been in the STOP
position for at least 70 seconds.
This ensures that when the internal microcomputer “wakes
up”—which it does approximately once every minute (the
transmission interval)—it will sense the timer reset condi-
tion and start at the beginning of the test period (the first ON
time of your duty cycle) when the magnet is removed.
4Remove the magnet from the STOP position.
Your solar PTT has an optimized duty cycle of 10 hours ON
and 24 hours OFF for 18g and 35g; 10 hours ON and 48
hours OFF for 9.5g and 12g PTTs. The timer within the So-
lar PTT commands the PTT ON for the desired period (e.g.,
10 hours) and switches it OFF for the desired sleep period.
The ON time begins whenever the magnet is removed from
the STOP position (provided the magnet has been in place
for 70 seconds).
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Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
TESTING
TESTING
Assuming that the PTT is at least partially charged, remov-
ing the magnet will initiate transmission. The PTT will then
transmit until the charge is depleted. It may then recharge –
if it is in the sun – and transmit again until the end of the 10-
hour ON period. The recharge time depends on the amount
of sunlight the solar array receives.
5Leave the PTT outside for one complete duty
cycle.
If it is not possible to leave the PTT outside for the duration
of a complete duty cycle, at a minimum, allow it to remain in
the proper test position for the initial 10 hour ON period, to
allow time for several satellite passes.
A successful test is contingent on adequate battery charge.
We recommend you begin your test period in the morning
hours of a sunny day so that the unit’s solar array can re-
charge the battery throughout the transmission period.
6Log into the Argos System to retrieve data.
SEE SECTION ON DATA RETRIEVAL ON PAGE 16
7Switch off the PTT by replacing the magnet
over the stop position.
The magnet must be in place for at least 70 seconds to
reset the timer before deployment.
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Testing
TESTING
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
Considerations…
If the PTT is going to be deployed at geographical locations
far from where it was tested, it should be allowed to transmit
for at least one day close to the release site to initialize the
Argos system. (Initializing the PTT allows Argos to determine
its location more quickly.) This is also achieved by calling
CLS and asking them to initialize the system to the
coordinates of the release area (see Contact Information on
page 26).
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Photo by Bob Christensen

Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
TESTING
13
Attachment to the Bird
1Be sure that a pad is attached to the bottom of
your PTT.
We normally ship our PTTs with a neoprene pad already at-
tached unless you have requested that we leave it off.
The pad serves as a cushion for the bird and as a platform
to elevate the PTT above the feathers.
2If the pad is not in place, glue it to the PTT.
Use a solvent-based contact adhesive such as “Weldwood”
or “Bostik”.
Attach the pad with the fabric side toward the bird.
3Take care that the solar array is not even
partially covered by the bird’s feathers.
You may need to trim some feathers from around the trans-
mitter to ensure proper attachment.
Photo by Bart Paxton

Testing
TESTING
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
If you have never attached a satellite transmitter
to a bird before, please contact us and we will be
happy to provide you with some resources (see
Contact Information on page 26).
It is imperative that you seek training in harnessing the
PTT to the bird. We are not responsible for improperly
harnessed transmitters.
Do not modify the PTT in any way!
Many researchers choose to custom-make their harnesses
from tubular Teflon ribbon. As a courtesy to our customers,
we occasionally provide Teflon ribbon at cost. However, you
can obtain it directly from the manufacturer:
Bally Ribbon Mills
23 North 7th Street
Bally, PA 19503-1004
USA
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.ballyribbon.com
14
Photo by USFWS

DATA
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual 15
Even if you receive your data via Argos ADS, it is useful to
know how to log in and check it for yourself. Occasionally,
ADS fails; should that happen, you may want to log in
directly*and retrieve your data.
1Log into Argos via the Argos website:
https://argos-system.clsamerica.com/cwi/Logon.do
2Click “Data Access” followed by “Most recent
messages”
3If you have a transmitting PTT click on
“Download COM/PRV/DIAG”, then click the arrow
to the left of the “PRV/ADS” selection.
4For “platform” select “all” and then select “ten
days”. Download the data and save to a folder on
your computer.
5Repeat this procedure, this time selecting the
arrow to the left of the “DIAG” selection.
An Argos user can log in and access the prior ten days of
data; after ten days the data is archived and no longer
easily accessible. You need to retrieve your data in both
DS and DIAG formats.
*See your Argos manual for more details.
DATA

The Data
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
DATA
Explanation of PTT Sensors
Your PTT is equipped with four sensors for temperature,
battery voltage, transmission counter and the activity coun-
ter, respectively. Temperature and battery voltage data are
integers representing the PTT’s internal temperature and
battery voltage; these can be converted using calibration
formulas. The transmission counter increments every time
the PTT transmits, and wraps back to zero when it reaches
its maximum value.
The activity sensor indicates movement. During a PTT’s
ON time, it checks every minute for movement. If there
is movement, the sensor increments up, then wraps back
to zero when the maximum value has been reached. The
activity sensor value in itself does not have meaning, it is
the change (or lack thereof) that is significant. If the activity
sensor value is constant (plus or minus 1) over two or more
transmission cycles, it is indicative of bird mortality or PTT
detachment.
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Photo by Ruben Liminana

DATA
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
Decoding the Sensor Telemetry
The sensor data from a Solar PTT with a 28 bit ID number is
transmitted in a 24 bit message as follows:
Sensor CH #1 – 8 bits (values between 0 - 255)
Sensor CH #2 – 8 bits (values between 0 - 255)
Sensor CH #3 – 2 bits (values between 0 - 3)
Sensor CH #4 – 6 bits (values between 0 - 63)
In order for you to interpret the data easily, you should be
sure that Service Argos is passing the data to you with A1
processing.
The four channels correspond to the following sensors:
CH #1 The internal temperature of the unit
CH #2 The battery voltage
CH #3 A counter that increments by one on each
transmission
CH #4 Activity
Pages 18 - 19 show examples of the sensor data as trans-
mitted to the user.
On every fourth transmission, the normal sensor frame is
replaced by a special information frame. The channels in the
information frame provide the following data:
CH #1 The current hour of present ON part of duty cycle
CH #2 The current cycle of present season
CH #3 Spare (normally 0)
CH #4 The current season
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The Data
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
DATA
DS vs. DIAG
To get the full benefit from your PTT, you need to receive your
data in both DS and DIAG formats. DS data provides all the PTT’s
sensor data, whereas the DIAG format gives only a sampling. If
you are concerned that your bird has died, or that your PTT is
having trouble charging, you need to examine your DS format
sensor data.
Sample Argos Data
DS Format
00123 35222 8 4 D 2 1996-07-12 16:34:55 65.588 251.759 0.000
401652330
1996-07-12 16:29:19 1 91 124 01 09
1996-07-12 16:30:34 1 01 02 00 03
1996-07-12 16:31:48 1 90 124 03 09
1996-07-12 16:33:03 1 90 124 00 09
1996-07-12 16:34:18 1 90 124 01 09 *
1996-07-12 16:35:33 1 01 02 00 03 **
1996-07-12 16:38:02 1 90 124 03 09
007 msgs 000>-120dB Best: -127 Freq: 652330.3 IQ: 66
Lat1: 65.588N Lon1: 108.241W Lat2: 71.196N Lon2: 140.678W
*Normal information frame
Temp=90 Bat Volts=124 Counter=01 Activity Counter=09
Temperature sensor value can be decoded by applying the follow-
ing formula where y is deg. C and x is sensor value:
y = -28.682 + 0.3609x
Battery sensor value can be decoded by applying the following
formula where y is voltage and x is sensor value:
y = 3.173 + 0.0049x
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DATA
Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual 19
**Special information frame
Hour=01 Cycle=02 Spare=00 Season= 03
Hour=01 Cycle=02 Spare=00 Season= 03
DIAG Format
35222 Date: 12.07.96 16:38:02 LC:2 IQ: 66
Lat1:65.588N Lon1: 108.241W Lat2: 71.196N Lon2: 140.678W
Nb mes: 007 Nb mes>-120dB: 000 Best level: -127 dB
Pass duration: 523s NOPC : 2
Calcul freq: 401 652330.3 Hz Altitude: 0m
90 124 03 09
Photo by Bart Paxton

Solar PTT - 100 Field Manual
QUESTIONS
Problem Explanation Action
No results received
from CLS when
testing your PTTs
CLS may not be
sending the results to
you by ADS.
Contact Argos,
check that the PTT
ID is on the ADS
list.
Shielding by metal
enclosures interferes
with the signal.
Remove the bird
and PTT from the
metal cage.
Elevate above
metal roof.
No satellite overpasses
during time of test.
Reset and test
again for a longer
period or contact
us for an optimal
test period.
Solar PTT is not
transmitting during the
test because the
battery voltage is lower
than cutoff voltage.
Place the PTT in
full sun for
several hours with
the magnet on,
then retest.
Most satellite passes
over any given spot are
less than 30° above
the horizon. Tall
buildings can prevent
the satellite from
“seeing” your PTT.
Test your PTT in a
wide-open space,
free of obstruc-
tions, with a clear
view of the horizon.
Looking in the wrong
place on the Argos web
for your data.
Follow the
instruction on page
19 to download
your data.
Logging in too soon
for data. It can take
several hours for data
to be received and
processed.
Wait a few hours
and log in again.
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