Raveon Atlas PT User manual

Atlas PT
VHF GPS Transponder
Technical Manual
Rev F3
Raveon Technologies Corporation
2461 Impala Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92010 - USA
www.raveon.com | www.ravtrack.com

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Table of Contents
1. General Information about the RV-PT ......................................................................5
1.1 Congratulations!.................................................................................................5
1.2 NOTICE .............................................................................................................5
1.3 Safety / Warning Information..............................................................................5
Blasting Caps and Blasting Areas.............................................................................5
Potentially Explosive Atmospheres...........................................................................5
1.4 Lithium-Ion Battery Notice..................................................................................5
1.5 Safety Training information ................................................................................6
2. Overview...................................................................................................................7
2.1 Features.............................................................................................................7
3. Specifications............................................................................................................7
3.1 General ..............................................................................................................7
3.2 Transmitter.........................................................................................................8
3.3 Receiver.............................................................................................................8
3.4 Batteries and Charger........................................................................................8
3.5 User Input and Output Signals...........................................................................8
3.6 GPS and Transponder.......................................................................................9
3.7 Model Numbers.................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
4. Electrical Inputs and Outputs....................................................................................9
4.1 Buttons.............................................................................................................10
Power .....................................................................................................................10
Alert........................................................................................................................10
4.2 LEDs................................................................................................................10
Status LED .............................................................................................................10
Power LED .............................................................................................................10
Alert LED................................................................................................................11
4.3 DC Power.........................................................................................................11
4.4 External Battery Port........................................................................................11
4.5 Serial I/O Connector.........................................................................................12
4.6 I/O Cable Options.............................................................................................13
5. Configuring the Atlas SM........................................................................................14
5.1 Overview..........................................................................................................14

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5.2 Command Mode...............................................................................................14
5.3 Setting a Parameter.........................................................................................15
5.4 Reading a Parameter.......................................................................................15
5.5 Configuration Commands ................................................................................16
5.6 Additional Personal-Locator Related Commands.............................................18
5.7 Software Upgrades ..........................................................................................22
5.8 Factory RV–SM Default Settings......................................................................23
6. Setup and Initial Configuration................................................................................24
6.1 Position Transmission......................................................................................25
6.2 Set the Transmission Report rate.....................................................................25
6.3 Battery Life and Power Savings Options..........................................................27
Deep Sleep.............................................................................................................27
Listen-slot Mode .....................................................................................................27
Serial Sleep Mode ..................................................................................................28
6.4 Data Transmission...........................................................................................28
6.5 Data Reception ................................................................................................28
Serial Port Data ......................................................................................................28
GPS Position and Status ........................................................................................28
6.6 Device Addressing...........................................................................................29
Security Key............................................................................................................29
ID Addressing Basics..............................................................................................30
Time Slots...............................................................................................................30
6.7 Local NMEA data from the internal GPS..........................................................31
7. Operation................................................................................................................32
7.1 Battery Life.......................................................................................................32
8. RV-M7 Diagnostic Provisions .................................................................................33
8.1 Status and Statistics Command.......................................................................33
8.2 ATST Command ..............................................................................................33
8.3 ATST1 Command (GPS Statistics).................................................................34
8.4 ATST3 Command ............................................................................................34
8.5 ATST4 Command ............................................................................................34
9. Troubleshooting......................................................................................................35
9.1 Symptom: Unit will not receive........................................................................35
9.2 Symptom: Unit will not transmit.......................................................................35

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9.3 Symptom: Receive light blinks, but no data is received ..................................35
9.4 Symptom: Long delay before transmitting.......................................................36
9.5 Symptom: Cannot enter Command Mode.......................................................36
9.6 Symptom: Repeater will not repeat.................................................................36
9.7 Symptom: Transmits position, but no data......................................................36
9.8 Symptom: Radio does not turn on or does not charge.....................................37
10. Mechanical..........................................................................................................38
11. ATLAS PT Messages..........................................................................................39
11.1 $GPGSV Satellites In View..........................................................................39
11.2 $GPWPL Waypoint Location .......................................................................39
11.3 $PRAVE Raveon Proprietary Message, Location-Status.............................40
12. Maintenance........................................................................................................42
12.1 Antenna ........................................................................................................43
12.2 Battery ..........................................................................................................43
12.3 External Battery Port.....................................................................................43
12.4 Serial I/O Connector .....................................................................................43
12.5 Bottom DC Power Port..................................................................................43

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1. General Information about the RV-PT
1.1 Congratulations!
Congratulations on your purchase of the ATLAS PT GPS transponder–the most
advanced UHF/VHF GPS transponder available today.
Please take a few minutes to read this manual carefully. The information presented here
will allow you to derive maximum performance from your radio modem. After reading it,
keep the manual handy for quick reference, in case questions arise later on.
1.2 NOTICE
There are no user-serviceable points inside this transceiver. All service work must be
referred to your Authorized Service Center or Raveon Technologies Service
Department.
1.3 Safety / Warning Information
Blasting Caps and Blasting Areas
To avoid possible interference with blasting operations, turn off this radio or remove the
battery pack when you are near electrical blasting caps, in a blasting area, or in areas
posted: “Turn off two-way radio.” Obey all signs and instructions.
Potentially Explosive Atmospheres
Turn off your radio prior to entering any area with a potentially explosive atmosphere.
Do not install this product for use in areas with potentially explosive atmospheres. Do
not remove, install, or charge batteries in such areas. Sparks in a potentially explosive
atmosphere can cause an explosion or fire resulting in bodily injury or even death.
Note: The areas with potentially explosive atmospheres referred to above include fueling areas such as
below decks on boats, fuel or chemical transfer or storage facilities, areas where the air contains
chemicals or particles, such as grain, dust or metal powders, and any other area where you would
normally be advised to turn off your vehicle engine. Areas with potentially explosive atmospheres are
often but not always posted.
1.4 Lithium-Ion Battery Notice
This product contains two Lithium Ion battery cells.
U.S. Postal regulations, Federal Regulations, and other common carriers restrict the
shipment of products containing Lithium-Ion batteries. Consult your carrier before
shipping this product.
When sending the product by US mail, it should be mailed using surface carriers, and
the outside of the shipping container should have a notice:
Package Contains Primary Lithium Batteries
Never mail or ship damaged batteries.

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When shipping this product, properly label the shipping container per current
regulations. Regulations regarding shipment of products containing Li-Ion batteries
changes frequently, so consult your carrier and regulatory bodies. USPS requires a
"Surface Mail Only" label in addition to DOT's "Primary Lithium Batteries--Forbidden for
Transportation aboard Passenger Aircraft" label.
1.5 Safety Training information
Always use this radio with the antenna supplied with it. This radio is restricted to
occupational use. Work related operations are permitted only when the radio operator
has the knowledge to control the exposure conditions of its passengers and bystanders
by maintaining the minimum separation distance. Failure to observe these restrictions
may result in exceeding the FCC RF exposure limits.

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2. Overview
The ATLAS PT GPS transponder is a rugged high-speed UHF/VHF data
modem with a built-in 12-channel GPS receiver. It can be set to output
½ to 5 watts of RF power, and can act as a transmitter or receiver (or
both) of GPS location data.
By default the ATLAS PT is configured as a Personal Locator. All
Raveon GPS tracking products are configured using the GPS x
command. The ATLAS PT comes configured from the factory as GPS 8.
Receiver is always off, serial baud rate is 38400, and battery-saving
features are enabled.
As well as sending position and status data, the ATLAS PT also has a
radio modem with integrated RS232 interface. For privacy and security,
over-the air encryption is standard on every ATLAS PT radio. For
network versatility, the ATLAS PT incorporates a 16-bit identification
code, allowing up to 65,000 objects to be identified in one system. For
wide-area coverage, all ATLAS PT transponders may be set to store-
and-forward messages from other ATLAS PT transponders.
2.1 Features
Transmissions include ID, position, speed, heading, voltage or charge level, temperature,
input/output status, UTC time, proximity, man-down alarm, no-motion alarm and locally
initiated alerts.
Integrated Li-Ion battery and battery charger.
Ultra-fast 3mS TX-RX switching and 4-level GFSK modem allows truly real-time tracking
and status.
Outputs and accepts NMEA 0183 GLL, TLL, WPT, GSV, and PRAVE messages.
High-speed over the air data rates. 9600bps in 12.5kHz.
Built-in TDMA channel access allowing truly real-time tracking (200 transmissions in 10
seconds)
Very low current draw. As low as 25mA average.
16 bit addressing for up to 65,525 different unique IDs per channel.
Programmable proximity alert (1-9999 meters) and programmable position report rate (1-
9999 seconds).
User-initiated alerts with base station acknowledgement.
Arbitrary data exchange on demand.
3. Specifications
3.1 General
All measurements made per TIA-603-B

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Frequency: Model RV-PT-VB..............................................................................................150-174MHz
Size (without antenna) ......................................................................................................5.45” X 2.62’ X 1.23’
Weight (radio) ...............................................................................................................15 ounces (0.43kg)
Weight (external battery pack)…........................................................................................8.5 ounces (0.25kg)
Radio current draw, receiving, over-the-air rates ...................................................................................<90mA
Current draw when transmitting data ........................................................<2.3A typical, 1.2A typical at 2watts
.............................................................................................................<2.5A max at 5watts
Low Power Mode standby current (Transponder in-between timed transmissions ).............................<25mA
Sleep/Chirp Mode standby current...........................................................................................................<1mA
Frequency stability.............................................................................................................................. ±1.5ppm
Narrow-band Over-the-air baud rates ........................................................................................................9600
Internal data buffers (transmit and receive)....................................................................................>2000 bytes
Operating temperature range.....................................................................................................-23ºC to +50ºC
Storage temperature range.......................................................................................................... 0ºC to +35ºC
Power on time to operational ......................................................................................................................<1S
3.2 Transmitter
RF power output (programmable)....................................................................................................½ - 5 watts
Note: RF power output will vary from 3-5 watts at full power, depending upon battery voltage
Maximum duty cycle................................................................................................................................... 10%
Maximum transmit frequency deviation................................................................± 2.2kHz (12.5kHz channels)
Occupied bandwidth................................................................................................11 kHz (12.5kHz channels)
TX spurious outputs............................................................................................................................< -70dBc
Emissions designator..........................................................................................11K0F1D (12.5kHz channels)
3.3 Receiver
Typical RX sensitivity (1% BER)
9600bps, 4-level, 12.5kHz channel.........................................................................-105dBm
RX selectivity .........................................................................................-50dB (12.5kHz channel spacing)
Spurious and image rejection...................................................................................................................-75dB
RX intermodulation rejection....................................................................................................................-70dB
Conducted spurious emissions ...........................................................................................................<-53dBm
3.4 Batteries and Charger
DC input voltage ..............................................................................................................................9-15V DC
Current draw when charging (internal or external) battery..........................................................................<2A
Internal Battery Capacity.................................................................................................................... 2200mAh
Capacity at 0C ...................................................................................................................................... 80%
Capacity at -20C ...................................................................................................................................... 50%
Charge/discharge cycles for >70% capacity ................................................................................................500
Charge time (90%)...............................................................................................................................<3 hours
Self-discharge rate ..............................................................................................................................<400uA
Maximum time between charges.........................................................................................................2 months
3.5 User Input and Output Signals
Serial port baud rates.............................................. 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600*, 115200*
Voltage levels .......................................................................................................RS-232 complaint levels
RS232 handshake signals .........................................................................................................................none
Transceiver RF ......................................................................................................................... 50 ohm TNC
GPS Antenna ..............................................................................................................Amplified Geo-Helix
Power Connector ........................................................................................................... LEMO B-Series 5-Pin
External Battery Port............................................................................................ Sealed pogo spring contacts
* only with ATCM setting disabled

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3.6 GPS and Transponder
Number of channels.......................................................................................................................................12
Horizontal accuracy (24 hour static)...............................................................................<2.5m 50%, <5m 90%
Acquisition (-130dBm, 50%)........................................................................<40sec cold start, <15sec hot start
Sensitivity ..............................................................................Tracking -150dBm, Acquisition -142dBm
NMEA Output sentences.................................................................................. WPL, TLL, GLL, GSV, PRAVE
Position report rate, programmable...................................................................................... 1 to 9999 seconds
Position report resolution ..........................................................................................................0.0001 degrees
Voltage report resolution/accuracy.....................................................................................................0.1V/10%
Temperature resolution and accuracy (enclosure temperature).................................2 degrees C/4 degrees C
Velocity resolution and accuracy.........................................................................................1km / 1km per hour
4. Electrical Inputs and Outputs
The top of the ATLAS PT modem has these features:
RF connector for UHF/VHF antenna
Power Button/LED
Alert Button/LED
Status LED (Receive data = green, TX = red)
Sealed GPS Antenna

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4.1 Buttons
Power
Press this button to turn the power on. Press and hold it for two seconds to turn the
power off.
The ATLAS PT can be configured to disable the ability to power off via the power button
(see the POWER command). This can also be achieved over-the-air.
Alert
Press this button to generate an alert. Press and hold it for two seconds to generate a
Critical Alert. Press and hold it for more than 5 seconds to clear all wearer-initiated
alert conditions.
Alerts may be acknowledged over-the-air or via a serial connection. See the command
section for more details. Alerts have many configurable parameters. See the
ALERTCAN and ALERTLEVELS command.
4.2 LEDs
The status LEDs visually show the current status of the radio.
Status LED
This LED is green for two seconds when first powered on. For the first ten minutes of
operation, the LED indicates GPS lock and carrier detect status, in the following
manner:
Flashing Orange –Looking for GPS lock
Red Blink –Transmitting position
Green –GPS lock attained and carrier detected
Off –GPS lock attained; no carrier detected
After ten minutes of operation, this LED is off. If the power button is pressed briefly, the
status LED will operate as above for five seconds.
Power LED
If the there is a charger plugged into the Atlas SM, the Power LED will blink green
shortly every three seconds to indicate that the unit is working. If no charger is plugged
in, the Power LED is off. The ATLAS PT has many power savings options which may
modify the operation of the Power LED. See the section on battery and power saving for
more information.