Vemco VR100 User manual

How to use the
VR100 receiver –as a manually
tracking receiver and as a
transponding deckbox.
24 May 2018 DOC-4536-18
www.vemco.com

Summary of Manual
This manual is intended to provide VEMCO users with the information they require to use the
VR100 receiver. VEMCO highly recommends that the user fully read the manual before using the
equipment or the VR100 PC software.
Section 1: Introduction
Getting to know the VR100 receiver
Section 2: Getting started
Getting the VR100 setup to detect your tags and how to perform initial tests
Section 3: Software
Using VH100HS software with a VR100
Section 4: In the Field
Important tasks and points to consider when using the VR100 in the field
Section 5: Maintenance
How to care for the equipment and prepare it for storage
Section 6: Additional Information
Additional information about the VR100 that is good to know but not mandatory for basic operations
Section 7: Common Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions related to using the VR100 receiver
Section 8: Troubleshooting
Solutions to common issues that may arise
Section 9: Appendix
For the latest versions of user
manuals and software, visit
www.vemco.com

Table of Contents
1Introduction........................................................................ 1
1.1 System Overview................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Quick Setup........................................................................................................................ 2
1.3 VR100 Case ....................................................................................................................... 3
1.3.1 VR100 Hardware Versions .........................................................................................3
1.4 Case Parts.......................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Connectors and Caps......................................................................................................... 5
1.5.1 Correct handling when connecting or disconnecting a component..............................5
1.5.2 Inserting a connector..................................................................................................6
1.5.3 Installing protective caps ............................................................................................ 6
1.5.4 VR100 Front Panel..................................................................................................... 7
1.5.5 VR100 Screen............................................................................................................8
1.6 Attachments........................................................................................................................ 8
1.6.1 Hydrophones.............................................................................................................. 8
1.6.2 USB Cable................................................................................................................ 10
1.6.3 Headphones............................................................................................................. 10
2Getting Started ...................................................................11
2.1 Setup VR100 .................................................................................................................... 11
2.1.1 Attach hydrophone ................................................................................................... 11
2.1.2 Set Local Time Offset............................................................................................... 13
2.1.3 Select Units (sensor tags only) ................................................................................. 13
2.1.4 Verify Code Maps..................................................................................................... 14
2.1.5 Select Backlight and Contrast Setting....................................................................... 14
2.1.5.1 Backlight............................................................................................................... 14
2.1.5.2 Contrast................................................................................................................ 14
2.2 Enter Tag Information ....................................................................................................... 15
2.2.1 Setup a Coded Sensor Tag ...................................................................................... 15
2.2.2 Setup a Continuous Sensor Tag............................................................................... 16
2.3 Setup Channels ................................................................................................................ 16
2.3.1 Setup a Channel to Monitor a Continuous Pinger (no sensor) .................................. 16
2.3.2 Setup a Channel to Monitor a Continuous Sensor Tag............................................. 17
2.3.3 Setup a Channel to Monitor a Coded Tag................................................................. 18
2.3.4 Setup a Channel for Transponding........................................................................... 18
2.3.5 Turn a Channel ON .................................................................................................. 19
2.4 Testing.............................................................................................................................. 19
3Software ...........................................................................20
3.1 Install VR100 PC software ................................................................................................ 20
3.2 Connect to VR100............................................................................................................. 20
3.3 VR100 Receiver Window.................................................................................................. 21
3.4 Offload Data...................................................................................................................... 22
3.4.1 Get All Data.............................................................................................................. 22
3.4.2 Get Recent Data....................................................................................................... 22
3.5 Save Data......................................................................................................................... 22
3.6 Erase VR100 Log.............................................................................................................. 23

3.7 Export............................................................................................................................... 23
3.8 Tag Manager .................................................................................................................... 24
3.8.1 Add a Tag................................................................................................................. 25
3.8.2 Edit a Sensor Tag..................................................................................................... 26
3.8.3 Transfer PC Managed Setup List to Receiver Setup List .......................................... 26
3.8.4 Save Tag and Map Setups ....................................................................................... 27
3.8.5 Import Tags.............................................................................................................. 27
3.8.6 Refresh Lists ............................................................................................................ 27
3.9 Options... .......................................................................................................................... 27
4In the Field........................................................................28
4.1 Manual Tracking ............................................................................................................... 28
4.1.1 Hydrophone Deployment Facts/Tips......................................................................... 28
4.2 Monitoring......................................................................................................................... 29
4.2.1 Monitor Screen......................................................................................................... 29
4.2.2 Manually Tracking a Tag .......................................................................................... 29
4.2.3 Using Signal Strength and Gain when tracking......................................................... 31
4.2.4 Select Channel to Monitor ........................................................................................ 31
4.2.5 Log GPS Coordinates............................................................................................... 31
4.3 Check Status .................................................................................................................... 32
4.3.1 Battery Life............................................................................................................... 32
4.3.2 Memory Used........................................................................................................... 32
4.4 Acoustic Communication................................................................................................... 33
4.4.1 Establish Acoustic Communication........................................................................... 33
4.4.1.1 Auto scanning for devices..................................................................................... 33
4.4.1.2 Adding Devices..................................................................................................... 34
4.4.1.3 Manually scanning for devices .............................................................................. 35
4.4.1.4 Setting the hydrophone power .............................................................................. 36
4.4.1.5 Removing devices................................................................................................. 36
4.4.2 Get Status Information.............................................................................................. 37
4.4.3 Get Detection or Pings Stats..................................................................................... 38
4.4.4 Check Watch Table.................................................................................................. 39
4.4.5 Performing Acoustic Release (VR2AR only)............................................................. 40
5Maintenance ......................................................................41
5.1 Clear Memory ................................................................................................................... 41
5.2 Charge Battery.................................................................................................................. 41
5.3 Storage............................................................................................................................. 42
6Additional Information..........................................................43
6.1 Menu Outlines................................................................................................................... 43
6.1.1 VR100 Main Screen.................................................................................................. 43
6.1.2 Configure Menu Structure......................................................................................... 44
6.1.2.1 Entering Configure menu ...................................................................................... 45
6.1.2.2 Transponding Settings in the VR100-200.............................................................. 45
6.1.2.2.1 Hydrophone ......................................................................................................................45
6.1.2.2.2 Auto Scanning ..................................................................................................................45
6.1.2.2.3 Reset Session...................................................................................................................46
6.1.2.2.4 Logging.............................................................................................................................46
6.1.2.2.5 Frequency.........................................................................................................................46

6.1.3 Transponding Menu Structure .................................................................................. 47
6.1.3.1 Initial options......................................................................................................... 47
6.1.3.2 Transponding options............................................................................................ 48
6.1.4 VR100 PC Software (VR100HS) Menu Structure ..................................................... 50
6.2 Additional Transponding Commands ................................................................................ 51
6.2.1 Reading/Changing Receiver Power Level................................................................. 51
6.2.2 Setting Up Sync Tag................................................................................................. 52
6.2.3 Learning Noise Levels.............................................................................................. 54
6.3 Battery.............................................................................................................................. 56
6.3.1 Charge Indicator Lights............................................................................................. 57
6.3.2 Maximizing Battery Service Life................................................................................ 58
6.4 Monitor Screen Explanations ............................................................................................ 58
6.5 Front Panel Explanations.................................................................................................. 61
6.6 File Types......................................................................................................................... 63
6.6.1 Log files.................................................................................................................... 63
6.6.1.1 Data in Log files.................................................................................................... 64
6.6.1.2 View a log file........................................................................................................ 64
6.6.2 Comma Separated Variable files .............................................................................. 64
6.6.2.1 Create a comma delimited file from data............................................................... 65
6.6.2.2 Create a comma delimited file from a log file......................................................... 65
6.6.2.3 View a comma delimited file.................................................................................. 65
6.6.3 Resource files........................................................................................................... 65
6.6.3.1 Open a Resource file ............................................................................................ 66
6.6.4 Raw Files.................................................................................................................. 66
6.7 Time.................................................................................................................................. 67
6.8 GPS.................................................................................................................................. 68
6.9 Detection Parameters ....................................................................................................... 69
6.10 MAP Updating.............................................................................................................. 71
6.11 Firmware Updating....................................................................................................... 72
7Common Questions ..............................................................74
7.1 General Questions............................................................................................................ 74
7.1.1 What is a code map?................................................................................................ 74
7.1.2 Where do I find the Code Space?............................................................................. 75
7.2 VR100 Related Questions................................................................................................. 76
7.2.1 Why do I need to enter the sensor tag information into the receiver?........................ 76
7.2.2 Do I need to enter tags in the receiver if they don’t have a sensor? .......................... 76
7.2.3 Is the VR100 submersible?....................................................................................... 76
7.2.4 Can I enter sensor tag information without connecting to a computer?..................... 76
7.2.5 Can I take a GPS reading manually?........................................................................ 76
7.2.6 How do I view a channel’s setup without changing the setup?.................................. 77
7.2.7 What is an event and how do I know if I have any? .................................................. 77
7.3 VR100 PC Software Related Questions............................................................................ 77
7.3.1 How do I load the VR100’s tag setup to the PC? ...................................................... 77
7.4 Transponding Related Questions...................................................................................... 78
7.4.1 I can’t communicate with the receiver. What should I do?......................................... 78
7.4.2 When I try to release the VR2AR, the VR100-200 says “Unarmed.” ......................... 78
7.4.3 The VR100-200 says “Failed to Release” – now what? ............................................ 78
7.4.4 Why does the VR100 say “No response from VR2Tx/AR”? ...................................... 78
7.4.5 Why did a message appear telling me to enable channel 8? .................................... 78
8Troubleshooting..................................................................79

9Appendix ..........................................................................80
9.1 Cleaning Instructions ........................................................................................................ 80
9.2 Contact Information........................................................................................................... 80
9.3 VR100 Specifications........................................................................................................ 81
9.4 Warranty and Disclaimer................................................................................................... 82
9.5 Glossary ........................................................................................................................... 83
9.6 Index................................................................................................................................. 85
© (2018) AMIRIX Systems Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein includes
information which is confidential and proprietary to AMIRIX Systems Inc. and may not be used
or disclosed without prior written consent of AMIRIX Systems Inc.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such
marks by AMIRIX Systems Inc. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of
their respective owners.
WARNING
Permanent hearing loss may occur if the
headphones or internal speaker is used at high
volume. Set the volume to a safe level. Avoid turning
up the volume to block out noisy surroundings.
WARNING
If the VR100 is not used in the manner specified in
this manual, then the manufacturer's warranty
protection may be voided.

VEMCO –VR100 Manual 28 May 2018 1
1Introduction
1.1 System Overview
The VR100 is a general-purpose, ultrasonic, splash-resistant receiver designed for manual tracking of aquatic
animals from small boats or for recording laboratory data. Its hardware architecture has been developed to
support a wide range of applications and transmitter types.
The VR100-200 receiver now has the ability to communicate through a transponding hydrophone to a
transponding receiver, such as a VR2AR, a VR2Tx, or an HR2. This two-way communication allows
information to be passed to the receiver, such as sending a release command to a VR2AR allowing it to
separate from its mooring, and information to be received from the receiver, such as the number of detections
stored in memory. Receivers also report the slant (or absolute) distance between the receiver and the
transponding hydrophone connected to the VR100. The VR2AR, with its depth sensor, can also report its
depth and the horizontal distance between it and the transponding hydrophone.
All the VR100 receiver’s Digital Processing and Controller Functionality is software based and can be
updated in the field from a laptop. This allows new features, such as specialized tag detection algorithms and
support for new tag types, to be added during the life of the product and without the product having to return
to the factory.
The VR100 receiver can detect continuous
and coded tags on eight separate
frequencies and at the same time. It can
also store the detections, along with the
date/time and GPS location of the receiver
at the time of the detection, to be loaded to
a computer for viewing or analysis.
Communication between the computer
software and the VR100 receiver occurs via
the supplied USB cable.
The internal gel-cell rechargeable battery
can operate for approximately 12 hours
under normal operating conditions with the
backlight off. Operating time with the
backlight on or performing acoustic
communication will shorten the battery
time. The VR100 receiver can also be
operated while the battery is being charged
from the supplied AC adapter or an external
DC source, allowing the receiver to
continue to operate during the charging
process. However, for the best noise
performance, the VR100 receiver should be disconnected from the PC and charger as these devices can
sometimes add unwanted noise to the receiver.
VR100 Quick Facts
Dimensions
34 cm x 32 cm (with handle extended) x 15 cm
Weight
VR100-100: 5.2 kg
VR100-200: 6.5 kg
Receive
Frequency
12 to 200 kHz
Battery Life
Approximately 12 hours when operating
between 10°C and 40 °C with backlight off; less
with backlight on or when transponding.
AC Power
Supply:
100-240V; 50/60Hz; 0.80A max
(details in Specifications –section 9.3)
DC Power
Supply:
10 - 15VDC; 3A max
Operating
temperature
-5°C to +40 °C;
Battery life is reduced below 0°C.
Software
VEMCO VR100 PC software

VEMCO –VR100 Manual 28 May 2018 2
The VR100 receiver is designed to operate with a hydrophone containing a high gain, low noise pre-amplifier
powered by the receiver. An omni-directional hydrophone is useful when identifying activated tags in the
area. A directional hydrophone is used to enable the VR100 receiver to locate and track a transmitter. When
acoustically communicating with VEMCO’s receivers, the transponding hydrophone must be used. More
information about the various hydrophones is found in section 1.6.1.
This manual refers to tags, pingers, and sensor transmitters. The relationship these three terms have with
each other is shown in the diagram below. A tag can be a pinger or a sensor transmitter, coded or
continuous.
1.2 Quick Setup
The list below gives the order of actions needed to set up and use the VR100 receiver. The steps may
reference sections in this manual that contain more details about that step.
1. Connect the hydrophone to the bulkhead connector on the side of the case (see section 2.1.1).
2. Power the VR100 receiver by pressing the ON button (see section 1.5.4).
3. Wait for the VR100 to boot up and display the Main screen (see section 6.1.1).
4. Select the appropriate local time offset (see section 2.1.2).
5. Set the display units to be used for sensor transmitters, if applicable (see section 2.1.3 or 3.9).
6. Enter information for sensor transmitters, if applicable (see section 2.2 or 3.8.1).
7. Configure channels for use during monitoring or tracking (see section 2.3).
8. Turn on the channels to be used (see section 2.3.5).
9. Make sure the backlight is in the desired mode (see section 2.1.5.1). Smart Mode is recommended.
10. Adjust the LCD display contrast; if necessary (see section 2.1.5.2).
11. Deploy the hydrophone. Section 1.6.1 contains key points and tips to consider when choosing the
hydrophone to use and section 4.1.1 contains tips for deploying the hydrophone.
12. Monitor the deployed tags as described in section 4.2.2
13. When monitoring is complete, retrieve the hydrophone.
14. Connect the VR100 to the VR100 PC software and offload the data
(see section 3.4).
15. Turn the VR100 off when session is complete.
16. Disconnect the hydrophone from the VR100 case and replace the
connector’s protective cap.
17. Charge the battery for the next deployment (see section 5.2).
TAG
PINGER
These are tags that do not contain a sensor
and don’t transmit data information.
Pinger information is not entered in the
receiver.
SENSOR TRANSMITTER
These are tags that contain at least one
sensor. They transmit the sensor data.
Sensor transmitter information must be
entered in the receiver.
Fully charge the VR100 battery after
every use and before storage.
Ensure the battery is charged
every three to four months during
storage. If not, the battery can
become fully depleted and
permanently damaged (section 6.3)

VEMCO –VR100 Manual 28 May 2018 3
1.3 VR100 Case
The VR100 receiver is housed in a strong, sealed, splash-resistant case. The
cover of the case must be opened to access the receiver’s front panel with the
LCD display and the soft-touch controls (section 1.5.4). A gel cell battery is
housed inside the case to supply stand-alone power to the receiver. There are
connectors on the right side of the case for the hydrophone, the USB computer
connection, the battery charger, and audio headphones (see section 1.5). The
case should always be latched closed while the receiver is being transported.
The VR100 receiver can be used during a light rain as long as the
hydrophone is connected to the case and the remaining three
protective caps are in place. Water should be wiped from the
front panel with a dry cloth before it accumulates. The USB
cable, battery charger, and headphones should only be used
when the receiver is safe from exposure to water.
1.3.1 VR100 Hardware Versions
There are two major versions of the VR100 hardware covered by this manual, VR100-100 and VR100-200.
You can identify the hardware version of your VR100 by observing the nameplate label, as shown in the
pictures included in the table below.
Both models provide the same basic acoustic receiver functionality, but the VR100-200 has transponding
capabilities (when used with a transponding hydrophone) and has a new GPS and antenna with improved
performance specifications and support for WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS augmentation for enhanced accuracy.
Visible
Differences
VR100-100
VR100-200
Serial
Number
Label
Main
Screen
Only use the USB cable, battery charger,
and headphones when the receiver is safe
from exposure to water.
2014 05 28 16:45:11-
GPS: Getting Fix
Sats: 0
Monitor Config
2014 05 28 16:45:11-
GPS: Getting Fix
Sats: 0
Monitor Transpond

VEMCO –VR100 Manual 28 May 2018 4
1.4 Case Parts
The external components of a VR100 consist of:
a hydrophone
a USB cable
a battery charger
headphones
These components are all connected to the VR100 through connectors on the side of the case.
The case has a pressure relief vent to allow any pressure build-up in the case to release before the case is
opened. A manufacture’s tag is attached to the vent and should not be removed. Removing the tag may
damage the vent.
Lid:
Must be raised to access
Front Panel controls.
External connectors (left to right):
hydrophone, USB cable, battery charger,
headphones. Each connector has a
protective cover. See section 1.5.
Pressure relief vent:
Do not remove red tag!
Handle: Rubber coated
for additional grip.
Serial Number label: Lists the serial
number and identifies the model.
Latch: Two latches
keep the lid securely
in place when
VR100 is not in use.