Xeos Hermes User manual

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Hermes User Manual
Handheld Iridium/GPS/NMEA Asset Tracker
Version 1.0.1
October 2019

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Hermes Manual 1.0.1
Shipped From
Contact Us
Email
[email protected]
Phone
[phone]
Fax
[phone]
Website
www.xeostech.com
Version History
Version No.
Date
Description
1.0
August 2019
Base document
1.0.1
October 2019
Minor edits
Regular checks for the latest manual are suggested. Be sure to check Xeos Technologies’ manuals
page to compare versions and download the latest version.

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Hermes Manual 1.0.1
Table of Contents
Shipped From.................................................................................................................................. 2
Contact Us....................................................................................................................................... 2
Version History................................................................................................................................ 2
General Description ........................................................................................................................ 5
Theory of Operation........................................................................................................................ 5
Preliminary Setup............................................................................................................................ 6
Outside Diagram......................................................................................................................... 6
Setting up your Iridium Account ................................................................................................ 6
Understanding Position Information ......................................................................................... 7
Iridium Doppler position........................................................................................................ 7
Global Positioning System ..................................................................................................... 8
Integrating Beacons with the Hermes ............................................................................................ 9
XeosOnline ................................................................................................................................. 9
Hermes Forwarder Setup ........................................................................................................... 9
Creating a Forwarder............................................................................................................. 9
Deployment of the Hermes .......................................................................................................... 10
Testing the Installation............................................................................................................. 10
Hermes Power-On......................................................................................................................... 11
Hermes Display and Buttons......................................................................................................... 11
Iridium ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Internal GPS.............................................................................................................................. 12
NMEA Output ........................................................................................................................... 12
Received Messages from Beacons ........................................................................................... 12
Battery Indicator ...................................................................................................................... 13
Messages from the Hermes .......................................................................................................... 14
Settings Summary Message ..................................................................................................... 14
Version (Type V) ....................................................................................................................... 14
Position..................................................................................................................................... 15
Testing the Hermes .................................................................................................................. 16
Shutdown ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Pinout Diagram –Chogori NMEA/Charge Connector................................................................... 17

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Appendix A: Cable Drawings......................................................................................................... 18
Appendix B: Specifications............................................................................................................ 19
Appendix C: Installing the RS-422 Driver ...................................................................................... 19
Warranty, Support and Limited Liability....................................................................................... 20

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General Description
The Hermes is a handheld asset tracking beacon which continuously monitors for asset location
and reports and receives location via the Iridium satellite network. Hermes makes use of the bi-
directional, global, real time Iridium Satellite Short Burst Data (SBD) network in combination with
GPS position location.
Inside the Hermes is a 9603 Iridium satellite Short Burst Data core radio transceiver, a specialized
low-power Xeos digital controller with GPS, Iridium & GPS antennas, and rechargeable Lithium
battery.
While the Hermes is intended for recovery of remote deployments, Xeos Technologies Inc. (Xeos)
manufactures other products for fixed location monitoring and remote tracking and surveillance.
See www.xeostech.com for details or call (902)-444-7650.
Theory of Operation
The Hermes is intended for the recovery of other Xeos products on deployment. Utilizing
XeosOnline’s message forwarding system, up to 10 devices can be set to forward location
information to the Hermes.
The internal GPS of the Hermes determines its own location, and derives the bearing and distance
between the Hermes and forwarded deployed assets. The most recent position of each deployed
asset is stored and can be cycled through on the display of the Hermes. The position of the
Hermes is also updated regularly to make bearing and distance as accurate as possible.
When coupled with a chart plotter and appropriate cable, the Hermes can output position data
of its own position or those of the tracked assets as a standard NMEA-0183 TLL message for
added tracking ability.
MESSAGE SENDING ORDER OF OPERATION

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Preliminary Setup
Outside Diagram
Shown below are key sections of the Hermes:
Setting up your Iridium Account
Hermes makes use of the Iridium satellite system’s (www.iridium.com) Short Burst Data (SBD)
service for the 9603 transceiver. This service is a global, two-way, real-time, email-based data
delivery service that has a maximum outbound (from Hermes) message size of 340 bytes and a
maximum inbound (to Hermes) message size of 270 bytes.
Hermes end users must set up an approved data delivery account with their preferred service
provider. Xeos is an Iridium VAR and can provide Iridium service if you wish.
Setting up service requires the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. Each
9603 has a unique IMEI number that must be registered with a preferred service provider. Xeos
will make these numbers available when the product is delivered.
Each IMEI number is capable of being associated with up to five (5) unique email addresses. This
may vary between service providers. When registering your IMEI number, please provide the
service provider with the temporary Xeos testing account email address. You may contact Xeos
for this email. Setting up this email address allows for better technical support during the initial
learning period for the product.
1
Iridium antenna for receiving positions from
remote devices
2
Internal GPS antenna allows for bearing and
distance to remote devices
3
Daylight-readable LCD screen to display positions
and other information
4
Chogori connector to output NMEA sentences to
chart-plotter as well as charging internal battery
5
Menu navigation buttons to take actions and
move between devices
6
The Hermes’ Iridium IMEI as well as production
serial number are displayed on the front

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Understanding Position Information
There are two types of position information which will be sent via the Iridium Gateway.
Iridium Doppler position
The Iridium Gateway calculates the Iridium transceivers’ position on earth when it receives a
transmission, using Doppler technology. As a result, it is often very inaccurate. This location is
only visible to users getting emails directly from the device, as opposed to emails forwarded by
XeosOnline. An example of a “raw” Iridium message via email is below and will always have the
IMEI of the device in the subject line, regardless of its name on XeosOnline.
[email protected]
All messages from Iridium devices come from this address.
MOMSN: 5866
Mobile Originating Message Serial Number; each individual
message has its own incrementing serial number. A mobile
originating message is one that comes from the Iridium
device.
MTMSN: 0
Mobile Terminating Message Serial Number; like the MOMSN,
messages to Iridium devices (like commands) also have an
incrementing serial number. Since the message in the
example is from an Iridium device, the MT number is zero.
Time of Session (UTC)
The time the message arrived at the Iridium Gateway
Session Status
Each message will have a code determined by how well the
message was received; codes 00, 01 and 02 are acceptable

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and will always have their code name (ex. Transfer OK) next to
this number.
Message Size (bytes)
The size of the actual message sent by the Iridium device,
which is in the attachment in the email.
*Unit Location
The Doppler position of the device as estimated by Iridium’s
network. It is NOT the GPS position measured by the device.
*CEPradius = 2
The numerical value of how accurate the above position is;
with a value of 2, This means that using the Lat/Long that the
body has supplied, Iridium is 80% confident (always 80%) that
the device sending the message is within a circle, 2 kilometers
in radius, with the Lat/Long given as the center of that circle.
The higher the CEPradius value, the larger the circle and
therefore the less accurate that position.
*These items can be enabled/disabled by your Iridium provider if desired.
Global Positioning System
Location information generated by the device itself is embedded in the SBD attachment sent via
the Iridium Gateway and can only be seen through the XeosOnline system or situations where
the position information is sent in a plain-text format (XeosOnline message forwarder or using
the $msgenable command). This position information is accurate to within several feet of the
true position.

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Integrating Beacons with the Hermes
The Hermes is designed to receive messages from Xeos beacons through the use of XeosOnline’s
forwarder system. Therefore, all beacons intended to be used with the Hermes must be activated
on the Iridium network and set to send messages to XeosOnline by the Iridium provider. The
Hermes must also be activated on the Iridium network to receive messages.
XeosOnline
The connection between devices is entirely controlled on XeosOnline. A maximum of ten devices
can be set via the forwarder system to send position messages to the Hermes at one time.
Forwarders can be created via the Admin tab on the top-right of the page on XeosOnline.
Hermes Forwarder Setup
Creating a Forwarder
1. To create a forwarder, click on
2. The Forwarder dialog will appear
3. Forwarder Type will present several options from a drop-down menu.
a. Choose Hermes Forwarder
4. Name: Give the Forwarder a meaningful name
5. Description: Record any additional details about the Forwarder (optional)
6. Limit: Leave at no limit (default)
7. Click Save

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Adding Devices and Targets to Forwarders
Once a Forwarder has been created, devices and targets can be added.
1. Select a Forwarder from the list
2. Click and the Source Devices tab will appear. Select the devices you wish to forward
3. Click again, the target to receive messages is available. The Hermes IMEI is entered
here.
4. Click and you will be prompted to save the additions to your forwarder.
Additionally, the Test Forwarder button will send a test message to the Hermes to be received
by the device, confirming its Iridium connectivity.
Deployment of the Hermes
The Hermes contains GPS and Iridium antennas, as well as a rechargeable lithium battery. No
external equipment is required for use, but is recommended for longer deployments and
searches:
A combination NMEA/Charge cable for output and recharging via wall outlet
A device to receive NMEA messages from the Hermes for chart-plotting
An RS-422 converter if sending NMEA strings to a computer
To deploy the Hermes, ensure that the top of the device, which is where the antennas are
located, has a clear view of the sky. Outside on the deck of a boat would be sufficient.
Testing the Installation
Test the installation by checking the destinations to which the Iridium account is sending
notifications. XeosOnline will display the last known position of the Hermes as well as the
timestamp of the GPS position. As beacon positions are sent, Hermes will receive and display
those positions, and overwrite previous positions as they are received.