Raveon RV-M7-UC-GX User manual

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 1 Raveon Technologies Corp.
RV-M7 GX
U H F G P S T r a n s c e i v e r
Quick-Start Guide
Version B0
June 2008
RV-M7-UC-GX
RV-M7-UC-GX-WX
Raveon Technologies Corporation
278 La Mirada Drive, Suite C
Vista, CA 92 81
www.raveontech.com

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 2 Raveon Technologies Corp.
1. Safety Warning Information
1.1. Blasting Caps and Blasting Areas
To avoid possible interference with blasting operations, turn off this radio
or remove the DC power when you are near electrical blasting caps or in
areas posted: “Turn off two-way radio.” Obey all signs and instructions.
1.2. 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.
Use this manual in conjunction with the M7 GX Technical Manual,
which contains important safety, licensing, and FCC information.
2. Overview
Raveon’s RV-M7 GX series of GPS transponders are a rugged high-
speed UHF data modems with a built-in 12-channel GPS receivers. The
M7 GX has ½ to 5 watts of RF power output, and operates as both a
GPS transponder for tracking, and a radio modem.
The M7 GX may be configured for different GPS applications, including:
Transponder: Periodically transmit position and status. TX only.
RavTrack PC: Connect the M7 GX to a personal computer running RavTrack
PC (or other PC software) to view a map showing location.
Radar Displa : Connect M7 GX to a marine plotter or radar display, and icons
will appear on the display.
GPS displa : Connect M7 GX to a hand-held or mobile GPS, and icons will
appear on the display showing the location of all other M7s.
For privacy and security, over-the air encryption is standard on every M7
GX radio. For network versatility, the M7 GX incorporates a 16-bit
identification code.All M7 GX transponders may be set to store-and-
forward messages from other M7 GX transponders.
3. Operation
The M7 GX operates in a number of different “GPS Modes”, each mode
specific to the application it is being used in. The mode of operation is
set with one simple command, the GPS x command. The following table
summarizes this.

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 3 Raveon Technologies Corp.
GPS
Mode
Common
Usage
Default
Serial Port
Baudrate
Output
Message Description
GPS Transponder
Simple
tracking, AVL,
securit .
48 GSV,
GLL
Transmit only in this mode.
The receiver is off and
GPS is turned off between
transmissions. This is the
lowest-power consuming
mode. No RX.
GPS 2 PC / Base
Station
Proprietar
interface for PC
applications that
monitor M7
Transponders.
384 PRAVE Connect the M7 GX to a
PC computer running
RavTrack PC (or a custom
application), The PRAVE
message is in NMEA
format, and provides
location and status
information for every
transponder it receives.
GPS 3 Marine Radar
Displa ing the
location of M7
transponders
on a ship
RADAR
screen.
384 TLL Connect the M7 GX to a
marine RADAR display or
plotter with a serial port,
and waypoints will appear
on the GPS screen at the
location of all M7 GX
transponders within radio
range. The display must
support the NMEA 183
TLL message.
GPS 4 GPS Display
Lowrance and
Garmin GPS
displa s.
Mobile
displa s.
48 WPL Connect the M7 GX to a
mobile or hand-held GPS
with a serial port, and
waypoints will appear on
the GPS screen at the
location of all M7 GX
transponders within radio
range.
GPS 5 -LX No GPS
module
Lowrance and
Garmin GPS
displa s. Radar
displa s. Mobile
displa s.
384 PRAVE Connect the M7 GX to a
PC running RavvTrack PC,
or change the message to
WPL and use with a GPS
display. No internal GPS,
so no positions/status
transmissions.

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 4 Raveon Technologies Corp.
4. Electrical Inputs and Outputs
The front panel of the M7 GX modem has these features:
. RF connector
2. Power LED
3. Status LED (Receive data = green, TX = red)
4. 9-Pin Serial I/O connector
5. DC Power Jack
4.1. LEDs
The status LED visually show the current status of the radio.
Status LED (TX) This LED blinks red when the transmitter keys and is
putting out RF power. It blinks green upon the reception of data or RF
carrier.
Power LED (PWR) This LED does a short blink, once every two
seconds, indicating to the user that the power to the modem is ON and
the modem is working. When the modem is in the command mode, this
LED will blink on and off, once per second.
When the GPS is trying to acquire satellite lock, the Status and Power
LEDs will alternately blink back and forth. This usually takes 1 -2
seconds upon power-up or loss of satellite signal.
4.2. DC Power
DC power for the modem is connected to the 2-pin DC power input jack
labeled DC IN. Use the supplied cable to connect the DC power. The
red wire is positive (+) and the black wire is negative (-). Its
connection is optional, as the user may alternately apply power to Pin 9
and ground to pin 5 of the 9-pin I/O connector. If the power cable run is
over 3 feet long, Raveon recommends at least 18 AWG wire be used.
The M7 modem is supplied with a 6-foot DC power cable, Raveon part
number 1C738-1.
Note: The M7 has in internal 3-amp mini-fuse (automotive type) to
protect it and its power source against reverse voltage and serious
hardware failures.

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 5 Raveon Technologies Corp.
5. RS232 Serial I O Connector
The RS232 9-pin serial I/O connector is a female 9-pin D-
subminiature connector having the following pins
configuration. It is pinned out so that it may be plugged
directly into a computer or PC’s 9-pin COM port.
Front-view of DB-9 connector on modem (female)
Pin Name Dir Function Level Specification
1 CD out Carrier
detect
Indicates presence of carrier. Logical
means carrier is present. If disabled, it is
asserted ( ). It will be a 1 when the
modem is in the configuration mode.
2 RxD out Receive
data
Data out of the modem.
3 TxD in Transmit
data
or
IN2
Data into the modem.
Also used as digital input IN2 for exception
reporting. GND or floating for a , >3V for
digital 1. If enabled for digital inputs, the
serial data entering this pin is ignored
(except in the command mode). Use the
TRIGBITS command to set which bits are
used as inputs.
4 DTR in Data
terminal
ready
or
IN0
Used as digital input IN for exception
reporting. GND or floating for a , >3V for
digital 1. Use the TRIGBITS command to
set which bits are used as inputs.
5 GND Ground
connection
Signal and power ground
6 DSR
out Data Set
Ready
Normally is set to when modem is
powered on and running. Modem sets to
a 1 when in low-power mode.
7 RTS
in
Request to
send
or
IN
Used to stop/start the flow of data out TxD
pin. = OK, 1 = don’t send.
Also used as digital input IN1 for exception
reporting. GND or floating for a , >3V for
digital 1. Use the TRIGBITS command to
set which bits are used as inputs.
8 CTS
out
Clear to
send
Used to stop the flow of data going into
the RxD pin from the device connected to
the M7. = OK to send, 1 = don’t send. If
the M7 cannot accept more data, it will
negate this signal (set to a 1).
9 Power
In/o
ut
DC power
(not ring
signal)
User may supply the DC power to the
modem on this pin.
Note: RS-232 signals use positive and negative voltages to represent digital 1s
and 0s. A positive voltage is a 0, and a negative voltage is a digital 1.

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 6 Raveon Technologies Corp.
This pin-out allows it to be directly plugged into a computer’s 9-pin serial
port using a conventional 9-pin RS-232 serial cable. To connect it to a
modem, or peripheral that has a serial port, you will need a “null-modem”
cable.
6. Configuring the M7 GX
6.1. Overview
There is a “Command Mode” used to program and configure the M7 GX.
In the Command Mode, the M7 GX modem accepts commands via the
serial port. The M7 GX modem may be put into a “Command Mode”, by
entering a sequence of three plus characters (+++) using serial
communications software such as H pterTerminal.
When the M7 GX modem first enters the Command Mode, it sends the
phrase “RV-M7” out it serial port, and then an “OK”.
6.2. Setting a Parameter
To set a parameter in the M7 GX modem, enter the Command Mode as
described above, then enter the proper command, a space, the
parameter, and then the enter key. For Example, to set the destination
address (DT parameter) of the M7 GX modem to 25, enter the following
command: ATDT 25 <CR>.
6.3. CONFIG Button
There is a small push-button inside the M7 to assist. This “CONFIG”
button may be pressed at any time, and forces the M7 GX into a known
state. The CONFIG button is located inside the M7 GX.
The default settings that the M7 GX will revert to when the CONFIG
button is pressed are:
1. Serial port 9600 baud, 8 data bits 1 stop, no parit
2. Serial port flow control is off.
3. ATCT setting set to 60000 (60 second time-out)
Even though the serial baud rate reverts to 96 baud when the
CONFIG button is pressed and the IO port is RS232, it will revert back to
the settings programmed into the M7 GX once the Command Mode is
exited.

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 7 Raveon Technologies Corp.
6.4. MODEM Commands (Short list. See Technical Manual for complete list)
Comm
and Command Description Parameters Factory Default
ATBD
Baud Rate – Sets serial com port baud
rate (bps). Over-the-air (throughput) baud
rate is set with ATR2 command.
= 12 5= 38.4k
1 = 24 6=57.6k
2 = 48 7=115K
3 = 96 4 = 19.2k
3
ATCH Configure Hardware Flow Control – Enable (1) or
disable (0) flow control.
1 = Enable
0 = Disable 0
ATCN
Exit AT Command Mode – Exits module from AT
Command Mode and returns it to dle Mode.
Parameters are not saved in EEPROM.
none none
ATDT
Destination Address to call– Sets
address of the modem to send data to.
Note, this parameter is entered in HEX
format. Each digit may be a
,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,or an F.
Range: -
FFFF 1234
ATFT Transmit Frequency – Program the transmit
frequency for this channel. Enter in Hz or in MHz.
Range: See
product data
sheet.
See product
data sheet.
ATF eceive Frequency – Program the receive
frequency for this channel. Enter in Hz or MHz.
Range: See
product data
sheet.
See product
data sheet.
ATFX
TX and X Frequency – Program the receive and
transmit frequency for this channel. Enter in Hz or
MHz. Same as issuing an ATFR and an ATFT
command.
Range: See
product data
sheet.
N/A
ATHP
Channel Number – Select separate
channels to minimize interference
between multiple sets of modules
operating in the same vicinity.
Range: 1 - 6 1
ATMK
Address Mask – Configures local and
global address space. Each digit may be a
,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,or F. In
most applications, this is kept at FFFF.
Range: -
FFFF FFFF
ATMY
Unit Address – Configures the individual;
address for this unit. Each digit may be a
,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,or F. Note:
FF is interpreted as a group. See
addressing section.
Range: -
FFFF 1234
ATNB
Parity – Selects parity format. Settings -4
transfer 8-bits over antenna port and
generate the parity bit on the RF receiving
side.
Range: – 5
= none
1 = Odd
2 = Even
3 = Mark (1)
4 = Space ( )
ATNS Stop Bits – Selects the number of stop
bits. Range: 1-2 1

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 8 Raveon Technologies Corp.
ATPO
F Power Output. Set or show the RF
power output setting. Value is in percent,
from % to 1 %. Use and RF wattmeter
to confirm the power setting.
-1 100
AT 1 Select CD pin output signal – CD may be RF
carrier detect, or modem data detect.
Range : 0 - 2
2 = Always assert
CD
1 = Data CD
0 = RF CD
1
AT 2
Over-The-Air bit rate - This is the data rate the
radio uses to send data over the air. All F
modems in the network must use the same
over-the-air baud rate. Refer to section Error!
eference source not found. for information on
how to set the OTA baud rate.
Range:
5 = 96 2L
1 = 12
6 = 192 4L
2 = 24
7 = 5142 2L
3 = 48
8 = 96 4L
4 = 8 4L
9 = 2 2L
3
AT 3
Serial Port time out – Number of mS of no
activityon the serial port before transmitting the
data in its buffer.
Range: 1 - 5000 20 (mS)
ATSL
Serial Number – Reads and returns a
unique serial number for thjs unit.
Read Only
1 - 999999999
unique
ATSH
Show – Display the configuration of the
modem. This will return a page of ASCII
characters, showing the main
configuration parameters.
none None
ATST
Statistics – Show the unit’s operational
statistics. See Statistics section of user
manual.
, 1,2, 3, 4, or
5 None
ATSV
Save – Save all the parameters to
EEPROM. This command must be used if
changed parameters are to be stored in
non-volatile memory, and used next time
the modem is powered up. Modem exits
configuration mode after this command is
executed. It saves all parameters except
the frequency (The frequency is
automatically saved when an ATFT,
ATFR, or ATFX command is executed)
none None
ATVB
Read DC input Voltage– Returns the DC
input voltage reading, in mV (125 =
12.5VDC input).
None none
ATV Firmware Version – Returns firmware
version currently loaded on the module.
Read Only, 3
characters none
PING
Ping another modem. Format is PING
xxxx, where xxxx is the ID of the modem
to ping. If remote access is enabled on
xxxx, it will respond.
XXXX -
SHOW Show/display an overview of the
radio’s configuration. None -

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 9 Raveon Technologies Corp.
6.5. GPS Additional Commands
The following commands are unique to the –GX version of the M7.
When you execute any of these commands, the new parameter is
automatically stored in EEPROM.
Command
Command Description
Parameters Default
ATHX
Singe-hop repeat. Only applicable if repeater
function is enabled. (ATXR = 1) = repeater
will repeat as programmed . 1 = will not repeat
any packet that has already been repeated.
or 1
GX
Display GPS settings. Show an overview of
the current GPS features and configurations in
the M7 GX.
- -
GPS GPS Operation Mode. Read/Set the GX
version’s Operating mode. - 6 1
GPS&F
Reset all GPS (-GX version) parameters. Set
the GX version’s Operating mode to GPS mode
4, and sets all GPS parameters to factory
defaults. It does not erase frequency or other
radio-related parameters.
- -
IDLERATE
IDLE TX Interval. Set the number of seconds
between position transmissions when the unit is
idle (has not moved more than TRIGDX
meters).
-9999
seconds 1
KEYPHRASE
Privacy Security Key Code. Set the
privacy key for this device. It must be the
same key as used on all other Raveon
products in your system. It secures radio
transmissions from unauthorized reception.
Set it to to disable security encryption of
data.
2-16
ASCII
character
s.
“RAVE
ON”
PREFIX
ID Prefix. Set an ID prefix. The prefix is 1-8
characters that will be put in front of the ID
when reporting an ID as a waypoint name. A
dash means no prefix. Default is a capitol letter
V.
1-8 ASCII
characters
Set it to
“ ” for no
prefix.
V
PROX
Proximity Alert. Set a minimum proximity
distance. When any M7 GX with properly
configured ID codes and KEYPHRASE comes
within this many meters of this unit, a proximity
warning is triggered. The report interval will be
at the TXRATE setting, and report the proximity
warning at least 8 times or until the distance
between the two M7 GXs increases beyond the
PROX distance.
-9999
=feature
disabled
Disabl
ed ( )
REPEAT
Enable -GX Repeating. This simple command
enables the repeater feature of the M7 GX, and
configures it for standard operation. The user
may alternately use the ATX and ATRX
commands, but they are more complicated to
use. This command enables the unit to repeat
all messages it receives, as long as the first
digit of the 4-digit ID matches its first digit. (It
Off
1 n

M7 GX Quick Start Guide 1 Raveon Technologies Corp.
repeats IDs 1 thru 999).
SLOTTIME TDMA Slot duration. Configure the width of a
TDMA slot. 5 mS increments. 5 - 1 2
TRIGBITS
I/O Change Reporting. Which bits are used
as transmission triggers. This is a HEX
number. Bit is IN , bit 1 is IN1….
-FF
TDMATIME
Set/read TDMA Frame time. The length of
one TDMA time frame, in seconds. M7’s may
transmit once per frame, and only in their
preset time-slot.
-3599 0
TRIGPOL
Polarity of the input bits. = normal active
high operation(causes unit to transmit when it
goes high), 1 = Inverted, active low. This is a
HEX number. Bit is IN , bit 1 is IN1….
-FF
Active
high
TRIGEX
Report on change. Sets which input bits
cause a report on change. If a particular bit is a
1, then it will trigger a report when it changes.
The input bit must also be enable with the
TRIGBITS. This is a HEX number. Bit is IN ,
bit 1 is IN1…
-FF
TRIGDX
Distance trigger. Set a distance (in meters)
threshold beyond-which the unit will transmit its
position and status. If set to , the unit always
reports at the TXRATE. If set to an distance
greater than zero, then the unit reports at the
TXRATE intervals if it has moved this distance
since the last report. If it has not moved, it will
still report its position, but at the rate set by
IDLERATE. If IDLERATE is set t , then the
unit will not report its position when not moving.
-999
TRIGSPEED
Speeding Report. Set a speed (in
kilometers/hour) threshold above-which the
unit will begin reporting its position and
status. Set to to disable this feature.
-999
TXRATE
GPS Report Rate. Set number of seconds
between GPS reports. This is also the rate at
which the internal GPS will measure position,
speed, etc. Even if the unit is not moving, the
GPS periodically measures position and speed
to determine if it has triggered a speed or
position transmission.
1 - 9999 1
6.6. Factory Default Settings
For the UHF M7 GX model RV-M7-UC-GX, the factory defaults GPS
settings are:
Radio channel 1 .........................464.500 MHz
GPS Mode.....................................4 (Use with GPS displa )
Over-the-air baud rate: ..................4800 baud, 2-level
Serial port ......................................RS-232, 4800baud, N/8/1