NAL 9602-LP User manual

Copyright © 2021 by NAL Research Corporation
11100 Endeavor Ct., Suite 300
Manassas, Virginia 20109 USA
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
9602-LP Quick Start Guide
Version A
April 15, 2022
451-92750-001A

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER AND CONDITION OF USE
This document contains information for the 9602-LP tracker and accompanying accessories
(“Product”), which are provided “as is.” Reasonable effort has been made to make the
information in this document reliable and consistent with specifications, test measurements and
other information. However, NAL Research Corporation and its affiliated companies, directors,
officers, employees, agents, trustees or consultants (“NAL Research”) assume no responsibility
for any typographical, technical, content or other inaccuracies in this document. NAL Research
reserves the right in its sole discretion and without notice to you to change Product specifications
and materials and/or revise this document or withdraw it at any time. User assumes the full risk
of using the Product specifications and any other information provided.
NAL Research makes no representations, guarantees, conditions or warranties, either express
or implied, including without limitation, any implied representations, guarantees, conditions or
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, satisfactory
quality, non-interference, accuracy of informational content, or arising from a course of dealing,
law, usage, or trade practice, use, or related to the performance or nonperformance of any
products, accessories, facilities or services or information except as expressly stated in this guide
and/or the Product and/or satellite service documentation. Any other standards of performance,
guarantees, conditions and warranties are hereby expressly excluded and disclaimed to the
fullest extent permitted by the law. This disclaimer and exclusion shall apply even if the express
limited warranty contained in this guide or such documentation fails of its essential purpose.
In no event shall NAL Research be liable, whether in contract or tort or any other legal theory,
including without limitation strict liability, gross negligence or negligence, for any damages in
excess of the purchase price of the Product, including any direct, indirect, incidental, special or
consequential damages of any kind, or loss of revenue or profits, loss of business, loss of privacy,
loss of use, loss of time or inconvenience, loss of information or data, software or applications or
other financial loss caused by the Product (including hardware, software and/or firmware) and/or
the Iridium satellite, or arising out of or in connection with the ability or inability to use the
Product (including hardware, software and/or firmware) and/or the Iridium satellite to the fullest
extent these damages may be disclaimed by law and whether advised of the possibilities of such
damages. NAL Research is not liable for any claim made by a third party or made by you for a
third party.

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REVISION HISTORY
Revision
Date
Description
1.4.5
05/30/2014
Initial version
1.5
07/30/2021
Updated to new template
A
04/20/2022
Formal release
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The latest revisions of the NAL documents are available from the NAL Research website at
https://www.nalresearch.com/support/documentation-downloads/.
Reference
Title
Revision/Date
[1]
9602-LP User Guide
Version A,
03/28/2022
[2]
SatTerm User Guide
(supports v8.9.7)
Version A,
03/28/2022
[3]
AT Commands for 9602-LP
Version A,
03/31/2022

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Introduction................................................................................................................. 6
2Device Description ....................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Multi-interface Connector .................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Emergency Button ................................................................................................................ 9
2.3 LED Settings........................................................................................................................... 9
3Antennas ................................................................................................................... 11
3.1 Iridium Antenna Connector ................................................................................................ 11
3.2 GPS Antenna Connector ..................................................................................................... 12
4Configuring the 9602-LP ............................................................................................. 13
5Technical Support ...................................................................................................... 15
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: 9602-LP Mountable Tracker ............................................................................................ 6
Figure 2: Multi-Interface Connector............................................................................................... 7
Figure 3: Model HRC-24-12 Data/Power Cable Assembly.............................................................. 8
Figure 4: Emergency Button ........................................................................................................... 9
Figure 5: LED Status ........................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 6: SMA Female 50-ohm Antenna Connector (Iridium)...................................................... 11
Figure 7: Model SYN7391-C Antenna ........................................................................................... 11
Figure 8: SMA Female 50-ohm Antenna Connector (GPS) ........................................................... 12
Figure 9: Model SAF7352-IG Antenna .......................................................................................... 12
TABLE OF TABLES
Table 1: Pin Assignments for the 9602-LP Multi-Interface Connector........................................... 7
Table 2: Description of LED States................................................................................................ 10

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ACRONYM LIST
AC...............................alternating current
AT ...............................Two-letter sequence starting a string of terminal commands. The AT is
intended to get the terminal’s attention prior to executing a command.
dB ...............................decibel
DC...............................direct current
DoD ............................Department of Defense
EMSS ..........................Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services
GPS.............................Global Positioning System
kbps............................kilobits per second
LED .............................light-emitting diode
SatTerm......................satellite terminal emulator software
SBD.............................short burst data
SIM .............................subscriber identification module

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1INTRODUCTION
The 9602-LP is a pocket-size, low-cost, satellite tracker designed to operate with the Iridium
low-Earth orbit satellite network (see Figure 1).
Note: For immediate information on how to configure the 9602-LP device, refer to section 4.
Figure 1: 9602-LP Mountable Tracker
The 9602-LP comprises an Iridium 9602 transceiver module; a built-in, 50-channel Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and low-power microcontrollers. The 9602-LP allows only
Short Burst Data (SBD) connectivity to the Iridium satellite network. It does not support voice,
circuit switched data, or Short Message Service (SMS). It can transmit messages in NAL
Research’s defined formats compatible with models 9601-DGS and 9601-DGS-LP. The 9602-LP
can also transmit in PECOS Message Structure (PMS). The 9602-LP supports 256-bit AES
encryption algorithm. NAL Research can enable the 9602-LP to utilize the Department of
Defense (DoD) Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) gateway when requested by an
authorized user. When a Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) is connected to the 9602-LP with
SatTerm software installed (or any terminal emulator software), the DTE can be used to set up
the operating parameters of the 9602-LP via a serial connection. A DTE can be a desktop
computer, a laptop computer, or a tablet.

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2DEVICE DESCRIPTION
2.1 MULTI-INTERFACE CONNECTOR
The multi-interface connector on model 9602-LP is a standard male 15-pin miniature D-Sub
type (DB-15) connector, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 2: Multi-Interface Connector
The connector comprises four interfaces with the pin assignments shown in Table 1. These
interfaces include:
External DC power input
3-wire RS232 serial data interface
TTL/CMOS I/Os
Reserved RS232 serial data interface
Table 1: Pin Assignments for the 9602-LP Multi-Interface Connector
Pin #
Signal
Description
Interface
1
EXT_PWR
External power input (+3.6 VDC to +5.3 VDC)
DC Power (+)
2
EXT_GND
External power input (GND)
DC Power (GND)
3
Tx1
RS232 Input
RS232 Data

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Table 1: Pin Assignments for the 9602-LP Multi-Interface Connector
Pin #
Signal
Description
Interface
4
Rx1
RS232 Output
RS232 Data
5
Signal_GND
Signal Ground, 0 V signal reference and return
RS232 GND
6
EMERGENCY
External TTL/CMOS Input S0
0–5 V TTL
7
TTL
TTL/CMOS Output 0
0–5 V TTL
8
TTL
TTL/CMOS Output 1
0–5 V TTL
9
EXT_PWR
External power input (+6.0 VDC to +32.0 VDC)
DC Power (+)
10
Rx2
Reserved
RS232 Data
11
Tx2
Reserved
RS232 Data
12
TEST
External TTL/CMOS Input S1
0–5 V TTL
13
TTL
External TTL/CMOS Input S3
0–5 V TTL
14
TTL
External TTL/CMOS Input S2
0–5 V TTL
15
TTL
TTL/CMOS Output 2
0–5 V TTL
Model HRC-24-12 is a data/power cable assembly (see Figure 3) designed to work with the
9602-LP tracker. The HRC-24-12 has a three-foot RS-232 cable for connection onto a computer
and three wires for DC power inputs to a 9602-LP. Model HRC-24-12 is available on the NAL
website (www.nalresearch.com).
Figure 3: Model HRC-24-12 Data/Power Cable Assembly

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2.2 EMERGENCY BUTTON
Under the default configuration, you can trigger Emergency Tracking at any time with a
quick press and release of the Emergency button (momentary switch). See Figure 4. Once
enabled, holding the Emergency button longer than three seconds takes the 9602-LP out of
Emergency Tracking. When Emergency Tracking is active, the Emergency LED illuminates.
Refer to section 2.3 for information on LEDs status.
Figure 4: Emergency Button
2.3 LED SETTINGS
The 9602-LP has five status LEDs. These include Power indicator, Iridium signal strength, GPS
availability, SBD transmission status, and Emergency mode alert (see Figure 5).
Figure 5: LED Status
They provide a quick visual check to ensure proper operations. These LEDs provide the
following information during Normal Tracking mode shown in Table 2:

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Table 2: Description of LED States
Label
Name
LED Off
LED Blinking
LED Solid
Power
Device is off
N/A
Device is on
IRIDIUM
Iridium
Off or has no
signal
Has 1–2 bars of signal
Has 3–5 bars of
signal
GPS1
GPS
GPS off or time
only
2-D fix or dead
reckoning
3-D fix
STATUS
Message
Status
No SBD
transmission
with a valid GPS
fix was sent to
the gateway
Last SBD transmission
was not successfully
sent or did not have a
valid GPS fix, but one
was sent since the
unit was turned on
Last SBD
transmission had a
valid GPS fix and
successfully
received it by the
gateway
EMERGENCY
Emergency
Emergency mode
not activated
N/A
Emergency button is
pressed or the S0
Input is activated
1Watch closely for the LED because it can briefly stay on.
The 9602-LP is shipped with all LEDs set to ACTIVE. The LEDs can be disabled to reduce power
consumption.

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3ANTENNAS
3.1 IRIDIUM ANTENNA CONNECTOR
The 9602-LP uses a single SMA female 50-ohm antenna connector for both transmission and
reception of the Iridium signal, as shown in Figure 6. NAL Research offers several types of
antennas for use with the 9602-LP. For low-cost and applications where small form-factor and
light weight are required, NAL Research highly recommends model SYN7391-C, as shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 6: SMA Female 50-ohm Antenna Connector (Iridium)
Figure 7: Model SYN7391-C Antenna

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3.2 GPS ANTENNA CONNECTOR
The 9602-LP tracker uses a SubMiniature Version A (SMA) female connector for the GPS
antenna, as shown in Figure 8. For low-cost and applications where small form-factor and light-
weight are required, NAL Research highly recommends model SAF7352-IG, as shown in Figure
9.
Figure 8: SMA Female 50-ohm Antenna Connector (GPS)
Figure 9: Model SAF7352-IG Antenna
IMPORTANT: DO NOT CONNECT OR DISCONNECT THE GPS ANTENNA WHEN THE 9602-LP IS
TURNED ON.

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4CONFIGURING THE 9602-LP
The 9602-LP supports a 3-wire serial data interface to a computer, allowing the computer
running SatTerm software (or any terminal emulator software) to configure its operating profile
using NAL Research’s defined AT commands. These AT commands can be found in the manual
“AT Commands for 9602-LP” [3]. The 9602-LP does not support auto-baud, and the default
baud is factory-set at 19.2 kbps but can be changed to other bauds with the +IPR command.
Required hardware and software for the configuration of the 9602-LP include:
A desktop or laptop computer (not provided).
A 3-wire RS232 cable (not provided).
A DC power source (not provided).
SatTerm software or any terminal emulator software (SatTerm is available on the NAL
Research web site).
To configure and initialize the 9602-LP:
1. . Connect the power/RS232 cable to the computer and to the 9602-LP.
2. Install the SatTerm software to computer. See the NAL document “SatTerm User
Guide” [2] for details.
3. Apply the appropriate DC power to the 9602-LP.
The 9602-LP defaults to power on when DC power is first applied. It is not necessary to
push the ON/OFF button. An NAL Research message appears along with the firmware
version to indicate proper serial communications and power input.
4. Use the SatTerm software (or any terminal emulator) installed on the computer to set
the 9602-LP’s operating parameters.
5. With the unit turned off, connect an Iridium antenna and a GPS antenna to the 9602-LP
antenna ports.
6. Ensure the antennas have a full view of the sky and the cable loss between the tracker
and antenna is less than 2 dB.

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7. Supply appropriate DC power to the 9602-LP.
The 9602-LP defaults to “Tracking” mode, and begins tracking.
IMPORTANT: EMSS-enabled 9602-LP must first be provisioned (signed up for airtime)
with EMSS SBD service before testing or field use. Accessing the DoD EMSS Gateway is
not authorized until the 9602-LP is provisioned. Unauthorized attempts to access the DoD
EMSS Gateway will result in immediate disabling of the offending device, which must then
be returned to NAL Research for repair. See https://sbd.pac.disa.mil for more information
regarding EMSS service provisioning.
IMPORTANT: For detailed information on how to configure the 9602-LP device, refer to
the 9602-LP User Guide [1].

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5TECHNICAL SUPPORT
For technical support, please contact us at:
Phone: [phone], x203
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Technical documents are also available to download on NAL Research’s website
www.nalresearch.com in the Support > Documentation & Downloads section.