Radiodetection RD1500 User manual

RD1500™
Ground Penetrating Radar with Ultra Wide
Band Antenna
Operation Manual
90/RD1500-OPMAN-ENG/01

i © RD1500 Operation Manual
Table of Contents
Section 1 - Preface........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Important notices.................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Intellectual property.............................................................................................................................2
Section 2 - Introduction.................................................................................................................................3
2.1 About this manual................................................................................................................................3
2.2 About the RD1500...............................................................................................................................3
2.3 Manual outline.....................................................................................................................................3
2.4 Safety...................................................................................................................................................4
2.5 Training................................................................................................................................................4
Section 3 - System Overview........................................................................................................................5
3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................5
Section 4 - Assembly ....................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Out of the box......................................................................................................................................7
4.2 External GPS (optional).....................................................................................................................10
4.3 Fully Assembled................................................................................................................................12
Section 5 - Getting Started..........................................................................................................................13
5.1 Powering up.......................................................................................................................................13
5.2 Shutting down....................................................................................................................................15
5.3 Interacting with the Display Unit........................................................................................................15
5.4 Swipe Down menu.............................................................................................................................16
Section 6 - Tools & Setup ...........................................................................................................................18
6.1 Preferences .......................................................................................................................................18
Language 19
Units 19
Volume 19
Brightness 19
Auto-Hide Buttons 19
Anonymous Usage Statistics 19
6.2 System Settings.................................................................................................................................19
Date/Time 20
WiFi Settings 20
Locale 23
GPS 23
Reset to Defaults 24
6.3 File Management...............................................................................................................................25
Screenshot Gallery 25
Delete All Saved Data 26
Delete Project (Enhanced system) 26
Map View (Enhanced system) 26
Export Data 27
6.4 System Test.......................................................................................................................................27
System Information 28

Preface
RD1500 Operation Manual ii © Radiodetection 2016
Keypad Test 29
Odometer Calibration 29
Sensor Test 30
Touch Screen 31
GPS 31
Section 7 - GPR Concepts..........................................................................................................................33
7.1 Theory................................................................................................................................................33
7.2 Hyperbolas ........................................................................................................................................33
7.3 Calculating Depth..............................................................................................................................34
7.4 Soil Calibration values.......................................................................................................................34
7.5 Air Waves ..........................................................................................................................................35
Section 8 - Line Scan..................................................................................................................................36
8.1 Selecting a line ..................................................................................................................................37
8.2 Acquiring Data...................................................................................................................................37
8.3 DynaQ™............................................................................................................................................38
8.4 Back-up Indicator...............................................................................................................................39
8.5 Flags..................................................................................................................................................40
8.6 Line Scan menu options....................................................................................................................41
Zoom 41
Color 44
Filter 44
Gain 45
FrequenSee™45
Soil Cal 46
Interp 47
Pause button (only available in No Save Mode) 49
Drawing arrows (only available in No Save Mode) 49
Section 9 - Grid Scan..................................................................................................................................51
9.1 Grid Parameters................................................................................................................................51
Grid Number 51
Grid Size 52
Grid Resolution 52
Starting data collection 52
9.2 Laying out the grid.............................................................................................................................52
9.3 Data Collection..................................................................................................................................53
Physical Data collection 53
Data collection on the Display Unit 53
Recollecting & skipping lines 54
Processing data 55
Section 10 - Slice View ...............................................................................................................................56
10.1 Depth...............................................................................................................................................57
10.2 Color................................................................................................................................................57
10.3 Grid Lines ........................................................................................................................................58
10.4 Line View.........................................................................................................................................60
10.5 Recollecting lines.............................................................................................................................60
Section 11 - Map View................................................................................................................................61

Preface
© Radiodetection 2016 iii RD1500 Operation Manual
11.1 Accessing Map View (RD1500).......................................................................................................61
11.2 Accessing Map View (RD1500 Enhanced) .....................................................................................61
11.3 Map View screen.............................................................................................................................62
Section 12 - Capturing Screens and Emailing mini-reports........................................................................63
12.1 Capturing Screens...........................................................................................................................63
12.2 Mini-Reports ....................................................................................................................................64
Section 13 - Transferring Data to a PC.......................................................................................................66
Section 14 - Troubleshooting......................................................................................................................68
14.1 Power Supply ..................................................................................................................................68
14.2 System Communications.................................................................................................................68
14.3 System Overheating........................................................................................................................69
14.4 Display Unit Problem.......................................................................................................................69
14.5 Wobbly Wheels................................................................................................................................69
14.6 Creating a Test Line for Data Quality..............................................................................................69
14.7 Contacting the Vendor for Service ..................................................................................................69
14.8 Using the Hotspot on your Smartphone..........................................................................................70
Section 15 - Care and Maintenance ...........................................................................................................71
15.1 Battery Care ....................................................................................................................................71
15.2 Cable Care ......................................................................................................................................71
15.3 Skid Pads ........................................................................................................................................72
15.4 Odometer.........................................................................................................................................72
15.5 Storage Cases.................................................................................................................................72
Section 16 - Technical Specifications .........................................................................................................73
Section 17 - Warranty .................................................................................................................................74
17.1 Statement of warranty conditions....................................................................................................74
Section 18 - Appendix A: Health & Safety Certification ................................................................................1
Section 19 - Appendix B: GPR Emissions, Interference and Regulations....................................................1
Section 20 - Appendix C: Instrument Interference........................................................................................1
Section 21 - Appendix D: Safety around Explosive Devices ........................................................................1
Section 22 - Appendix E: WiFi Module .........................................................................................................1
Section 23 - Appendix F –Import/Export......................................................................................................1

Preface
RD1500 Operation Manual 1 © Radiodetection 2016
Section 1 - Preface
Before you begin
Thank you for your interest in Radiodetection’s RD1500 Ground Penetrating Radar system.
Please read this user manual in its entirety before attempting to use the RD1500.
Radiodetection products, including this manual, are under continuous development. The
information contained within is accurate at time of publication; however the RD1500, this
manual and all its contents are subject to change.
Radiodetection reserves the right to modify the product without notice and some product
changes may have taken place after this user manual was published.
Contact your local Radiodetection dealer or visit www.radiodetection.com for the latest
information about the RD1500, including this manual, and the rest of the Radiodetection range
of products designed for locating buried utilities.
1.1 Important notices
General
This instrument, or family of instruments, will not be permanently damaged by reasonable
electrostatic discharge and has been tested in accordance with IEC 801-2. However, in extreme
cases temporary malfunction may occur. If this happens, switch off, wait and switch on again. If
the instrument still malfunctions, disconnect the power supply for a few seconds before
restarting.
Safety
WARNING! Failure to comply with safety warnings can cause serious injury or death
CAUTION!: Failure to comply with safety cautions can result in damage to equipment or
property
This equipment shall be used only by qualified and trained personnel, and only after fully
reading this Operation Manual.
Use the Display Unit only as specified in these operating instructions or the protection provided
by the unit may be impaired.
The battery charger/AC adapter must only be connected to a power outlet which provides a
protective earth (ground).
Connect the AC power cord only to designated power sources as marked on the battery
charger/AC adapter.

Preface
RD1500 Operation Manual 2 © Radiodetection 2016
The battery charger/AC adapter is rated for indoors use only.
Do not replace detachable MAINS supply leads for the battery charger/AC adapter with
inadequately rated leads.
Do not position the Display Unit such that it is difficult to disconnect the 37-pin GPR connector.
The exterior of this product should be cleaned using a damp cloth.
1.2 Intellectual property
© 2016 Radiodetection Ltd. All rights reserved. Radiodetection is a subsidiary of SPX
Corporation. Radiodetection and RD1500 are registered trademarks of Radiodetection in the
United States and/or other countries.

Introduction
© Radiodetection 2016 3 RD1500 Operation Manual
Section 2 - Introduction
2.1 About this manual
This manual provides utility locating and other professionals with comprehensive operating
instructions for the RD1500™system. Before operating the RD1500 system it is very important
that you read this manual, noting all safety warnings and procedures.
2.2 About the RD1500
The Radiodetection RD1500 is a state of the art Ground Penetrating Radar system.
Designed specifically for utility locating, RD1500 is an advanced Ground Penetrating Radar for
the detection of non-conductive pipes and ducts. Using a grid based data collection system, it is
possible to build up both horizontal and vertical depth maps. A high resolution screen, on-site
analysis tools, and advanced reporting capabilities with Wi-Fi data transfer, allow locate
professionals and surveyors to both mark artefacts and to generate and deliver customer field
reports while on-site.
2.3 Manual outline
Section 1 includes an overview of safety procedures and notices. Review them before moving
on to Section 2 and the rest of this manual
Section 3 provides an overview of the RD1500 system
Section 4 shows how to assemble the RD1500 system
Section 5 describes Getting Started
Section 6 covers the Tools and Setup
Section 7 provides an overview of GPR Concepts
Section 8 introduces Line Scan mode
Section 9 covers Grid Scan mode
Section 10 describes Slice View mode
Section 11 provides a description of the Map View mode
Section 12 shows Capturing Screens and Emailing Mini Reports
Section 13 introduces Transferring Data to a PC
Section 14 is the Troubleshooting section
Section 15 covers Care and Maintenance
Section 16 has the Technical Specifications of the RD1500
Section 17 explains the Warranty

Introduction
RD1500 Operation Manual 4 © Radiodetection 2016
Sections 18 to 23 are the Appendices covering:
Appendix A: Health & Safety Certification
Appendix B: GPR Emissions, Interference and Regulations
Appendix C: Instrument Interference
Appendix D: Safety around Explosive Devices
Appendix E: Wi-Fi Module
Appendix F: Import/Export
2.4 Safety
Read this manual in its entirety before attempting to operate the RD1500. Note all safety notices
in the preface and throughout this manual
Follow your company and national safety procedures and or requirements when operating this
equipment in any environment or workplace. If you are unsure what policies or procedures
apply, contact your company or site’s occupational health and safety officer or your local
government for more information.
Do not use this equipment if you suspect that any component or accessory is damaged or
faulty.
Use authorized accessories only. Incompatible accessories may damage the equipment or give
inaccurate readings.
Keep this equipment clean and arrange for regular services with an authorized Radiodetection
service center. More information can be found in the Appendix or from your local Radiodetection
representative.
Do not attempt to open or dismantle any part of this equipment unless directed specifically by
this manual. Doing so may render the equipment faulty and may void the manufacturer’s
warranty.
2.5 Training
Radiodetection provides training services for most Radiodetection products. Our qualified
instructors will train equipment operators or other personnel at your preferred location or at
Radiodetection headquarters.
For more information go to www.radiodetection.com or contact your local Radiodetection
representative.

System Overview
© Radiodetection 2016 5 RD1500 Operation Manual
Section 3 - System Overview
3.1 Introduction
This manual references embedded software version V1R1. To see which software version is
installed on your system, see Section 5.4 Swipe Down menu.
The RD1500 is a complete Ground Penetrating Radar system, offering two modes for acquiring
data: Line Scan and Grid Scan. Once the unit is assembled and powered-up, you can start
conducting a GPR survey in less than a minute.
Features of the RD1500 include:
High visibility, touch screen display
Display depth slices from collected grids, right in the field
UWB Antenna producing high data quality
FrequenSee™, which allows user to selectively view small, medium or large subsurface
targets
Lightweight fibreglass cart frame
Built-in WiFi capability
Integrated GPS receiver with optional external GPS for increased positional accuracy for
geo-referencing data
Ability to mark surface flags and subsurface interpretations
Display your travelled path and targets in Map View
Seamless export of data to EKKO_Project software for further data analysis
The RD1500 is also available in an Enhanced configuration. The chart below summarizes the
differences between the two configurations:

System Overview
RD1500 Operation Manual 6 © Radiodetection 2016
Criteria
RD1500
RD1500 Enhanced
How is data
saved?
Screenshots (.JPG)
Screenshots (.JPG) and .GPZ files
How much data
can be saved?
10 grids
99 lines
999 screenshots
9 Projects each with:
10 grids
99 lines
999 screenshots
File organization
Lines and Grids
Projects containing Lines, Grids &
Screenshots
Map View
Displays a single line or grid
Shows all lines/grids in a Project
PC-based data
display
Any .JPG viewing software
Data can be opened in
EKKO_Project

Assembly
© Radiodetection 2016 7 RD1500 Operation Manual
Section 4 - Assembly
4.1 Out of the box
You will find the following components in your RD1500 box. Some of these may already be
assembled.
Attach the Cart Handle to Cart Base using the Handle Pins. Ensure the Display Unit Tray is
facing the operator.

Assembly
RD1500 Operation Manual 8 © Radiodetection 2016
Attach the GPR Sensor to the Cart using the Sensor Support Straps. Ensure the Sensor is
oriented the correct way with the connections toward the back of the Cart. Using the Sensor
Support Straps, adjust the height of the Sensor so it is 1-2 cm (½ –¾ inch) above the ground.
The best way to get a uniform Sensor height is to place a couple of sheets of thick cardboard,
particle board or Styrofoam on a level surface under the sensor before securing the Sensor
Support Straps.
Attach the Display Unit onto the Display Unit Tray on the Cart. The Display unit slides down into
the tray, catching on both sides of the mount and is held in place with the pull pin. When a click
is heard, the Display Unit is firmly in place. Adjust the angle of the Display Unit by loosening the
hand-screws underneath the Display Unit Tray, rotating the Display Unit to the desired angle
and tightening the hand-screws. To remove the Display Unit, disconnect all cables, pull out the
pull pin and lift the Display Unit up.

Assembly
© Radiodetection 2016 9 RD1500 Operation Manual
Attach the Display Cable to the back of the Display Unit with the jackscrews.
Connect the other end of the cable to the Sensor. Ensure the cable is routed as shown below.
Attach the Odometer and Battery Cables. The Odometer Cable connects to the closest
receptacle on the Sensor. Attach the Battery Cable to the Sensor and the Battery. The system is
now set up and ready to use.

Assembly
RD1500 Operation Manual 10 © Radiodetection 2016
4.2 External GPS (optional)
The instructions for connecting the GPS, mount and cable are below:
GPS Mount –The GPS mount attaches to the crossbar frame above the battery, using a quick
release pin. Please remove the pipe plug first.
With the pole pointing upwards, insert the GPS mount into the opening where the plug was
located, and secure it with the quick release pin. This allows the GPS to sit directly over the
middle of the GPR sensor. It comes with 5/8-11 UNC-1A threads at the top of the pole, which is
standard for many GPS receivers.

Assembly
© Radiodetection 2016 11 RD1500 Operation Manual
GPS –If you have purchased the Topcon GPS from Radiodetection, this can be screwed onto
the threads at the top of the GPS mount. Connect one end of the GPS cable to the GPS
receiver, and the other end to the serial port on the back of the Display Unit. This single cable
powers the GPS and receives data from it.
CAUTION! Ensure that the Display Unit is powered down when connecting or disconnecting the
GPS cable.
If you choose to connect a 3rd party GPS receiver, you must ensure the following parameters
are set for the GPS to communicate with the Display Unit:
- Baud rate = 19200 bps
- Output string = NMEA
- NEMA string must include $##GGA
- Parity = None
- Stop Bits = 1
- Data Bits = 8
CAUTION! The serial port of the Display Unit outputs power (current=1A, voltage=12V). Be very
careful if connecting other GPS units to the serial port. Verify the pins on the drawing below.
GPS Cable
GPS
GPS Mount

Assembly
RD1500 Operation Manual 12 © Radiodetection 2016
4.3 Fully Assembled
The fully assembled RD1500 will look like the following. Simply reverse the directions above to
disassemble for transport.

Getting Started
© Radiodetection 2016 13 RD1500 Operation Manual
Section 5 - Getting Started
5.1 Powering up
1. When the battery is first plugged in, the LED goes green for 5 seconds then disappears.
2. To start the system, press the red power button on the display unit. The LED on the front
panel will light up red.
Figure 5-1: Front of Display Unit
Once boot up is complete, the color of the LED will indicate the amount of battery power
remaining:
100% to 20% = green
20% to 10% = orange
10% to 0% = red
Once the system boots up, you will see the main screen (Figure 5-2). If you have purchased
(or upgraded to) the RD1500 Enhanced system, you will see the main screen shown in
Figure 5-3.
LED
Power
button

Getting Started
RD1500 Operation Manual 14 © Radiodetection 2016
3.
Figure 5-2: Main Screen for RD1500
Figure 5-3: Main Screen for RD1500 Enhanced
The differences between the two configurations are described in Section 3. Everything remains
the same in the on-board software, except for in the Enhanced system, where the main screen
will allow you to organize data into projects. Within each project, you can have a number of lines
and/or grids.
From the main menu of the Enhanced system, select the project number to work in. Projects
that contain data are in red color, whereas those with no data are in green. As you change

Getting Started
© Radiodetection 2016 15 RD1500 Operation Manual
projects, the main screen will also display the number of lines and grids collected in each
project. These will appear under the Line Scan and Grid Scan buttons respectively.
5.2 Shutting down
4. To power down, press the red power button on the display unit once. A confirmation
message will appear, after which you can press Yes to proceed. If necessary, a hard reboot
can be done by pressing and holding the red power button until the unit shuts down.
5.3 Interacting with the Display Unit
Data collection is controlled by the Display Unit. The Display Unit has embedded software to set
survey parameters and collect, display and store data.
The Display Unit offers touch screen operation, as well as a water-resistant membrane keypad
with a number of buttons that can be pressed to perform various tasks. Most operations can be
done using either the touch screen or the keypad.
5. Use the following table as a guide to working with the keypad on the Display Unit:
6.
Item
Description
Menu Buttons
The blue buttons labelled 1 to 8 correspond to menu choices
that appear on the screen.
4-way directional keypad
Controls Up/Down/Left/Right operations in certain menus.
Camera
Saves a screenshot of line data, grid data or the Map View
display.
Asterisk / Special Function
Used for adding Flags during data acquisition, and to quickly
enter the No Save mode for Line Scan data collection.