SnTek, a Xylem brand 9940 Summers Ridge Rad, San Dieg, CA 92121-3091 USA Telephne (858) 546-8327 Fax (858) 546-8150 E-mail: inquiry@sntek.cm Internet: http://www.sntek.cm RiverSurveyr S5/M9 & HydrSurveyr Secnd Generatin Pwer & Cmmunicatins Mdule (PCM) Jan 23, 2014 1. What s New? SnTek has develped a Secnd Generatin Pwer and Cmmunicatins Mdule designed t replace the riginal, first generatin PCM. Summary f key features changed and/r imprved in this new release: 1. N external n/ff buttn N mre need t actually turn unit n/ff. Unit will autmatically pwer up upn battery insertin. PCM nw has internal smart electrnics that will put PCM in a lw-pwer state when nt cnnected t the RiverSurveyr M9/S5. PCM batteries will last fr 7-10 days in this state, s yu can prepare yur system fr deplyment n Friday and by Mnday mrning nly negligible vltage lss will have been bserved, saving time and effrt when preparing fr field deplyments in advance. 2. Lnger-range multiplexing radi with ptimized antenna psitins capability and adjustable pwer mde All PCMs nw use a SnTek exclusive, multiplexing 2.4 GHz radi fr all cmmunicatins between PC, rver and base, eliminating the reliance n Bluetth. Because f this, the new PCMs d nt have direct Bluetth capability. Fr applicatins that require Bluetth, it will be necessary t utilize the new Bridge (see sectin 2) This new SnTek radi als allws fr flexible antenna psitining, s that antennas can be raised r changed t imprve range, as well as user-adjustable transmit pwer levels. See nte in Sectin 4 belw abut radi ranges. 1
3. Flexible battery ptins Each PCM has tw, fully independent battery cmpartments, each husing any type/brand f 8 AA-size batteries. Fr custmers requiring a rechargeable ptin direct frm SnTek, SnTek will ffer rechargeable AA-size batteries and charger ptins, hwever the PCMs will always ship with alkaline batteries. 4. Abslute RTK psitining (applicable t HydrSurveyr ONLY) The RTK GPS versin f the PCM base system nw allws fr its wn lcatin and elevatin t be input enabling a true, abslute RTK slutin. Nte this feature is nly useable if the HydrSurveyr package is enabled with HydrSurveyr sftware. 5. User pairing capability D yu perate mre than ne set f M9s with RTK and have ever been in the field with the Rver PCM frm ne system, but the Base PCM frm anther? Well, this is n lnger a prblem! All PCM rver-base pairing will be dne by the user via the sftware as the PCMs are n lnger permanently paired. This is dne nce fr each pair and des nt need t be re-dne fr the same pair. M9 r S5 Systems can then still be used side by side withut interference 6. Cmpletely waterprf design (rated IP 67) This new design prvides cnnectrs and cmpartment cvers that are fully water prf t withstand the mst demanding field cnditins. The RiverSurveyr cnnectr is fully recessed fr added prtectin. Unmated GPS cnnectrs are IP67 rated Details f new fferings 2. SnTek Bridge Interface Mdule As stated earlier, the Secnd Generatin PCMs d NOT have direct Bluetth capability! This means that a separate device must be used t link the ptinal Handheld Bluetth Mbile Display and a 2.4 GHz PCM. This device is the SnTek Bridge interface mdule, which allws fr the supprt f existing and future mbile platfrms by linking the cmmunicatins frm the Bluetth Mbile Display t the 2.4 GHz PCM. The mbile device cmmunicates with the Bridge (via Bluetth) and the Bridge in turn cmmunicates with the PCM (via 2.4 GHz SnTek radi). The Bridge is pwered by 2 user-replaceable AA-size batteries. With tw standard Alkaline AA batteries, the Bridge can be perated fr 13 hurs cntinuusly. Belw are phts f the Bridge and the Bridge and phne in the supplied dry bag.
Figure 1. SnTek Bridge frnt and back view and in the SnTek supplied dry bag with the Mtrla Q Phne. The new PCMs with the Bridge mdule will cntinue t use the Mtrla Q Phne as the Handheld Bluetth Mbile Display, but SnTek plans n phasing that ut sn. Hwever, with the new Bridge, different Bluetth-enabled mbile systems will be able t be supprted in the future. 3. SnTek (USB) Radi All PCMs nw use a SnTek-prprietary, multiplexing 2.4 GHz radi fr all cmmunicatins between PC, rver and base. This new radi als allws fr flexible antenna psitining, s that antennas can be raised r changed t higher gains t imprve range. The radi als has useradjustable transmit pwer levels fr prper reginal cmpliance. Figure 2. SnTek USB Radi. Here shwn with radi cnnected directly t USB prt and antenna cnnected directly t radi. Radi cmes standard with a USB-extensin cable and antenna extensin cable fr increased flexibility in installatin and als t allw antenna t be psitined higher fr greater radi range. 4. Radi Ranges SnTek will supply a default 2 dbi gain antenna t be used with all PCMs and their radis. All antennas are external, with the exceptin f the Bridge, which is internal. The table belw shws the nminal ranges fr the lw and high pwer settings with the default antenna (the 3
sftware als ffers a mid-pwer setting with range apprximately halfway between lw and high ranges belw). Range (Std. Pwer; 10 dbm) Range (High Pwer; 22 dbm) Base t Rver 1000 m 3000 m PC t Rver 450 m 1500 m Mbile t Rver (via Bridge) 200 m 400 m As shwn n the table abve, transmit pwer has a majr impact n radi range. Please verify yur lcal regulatins befre changing pwer level. SnTek will ship all new PCMs set at lw pwer. It is als pssible t imprve range even further by using a higher gain antenna. SnTek has cnducted nly limited testing with higher gain antennas at this pint and therefre cannt recmmend a particular antenna. Antenna gain is als subject t lcal telecmmunicatins regulatins, s please verify lcal regulatins befre changing antennas. It is imprtant t nte that antenna height als affects radi transmissin range, especially verwater transmissin at the 2.4 GHz frequency. As such, every effrt shuld be made t keep antennas as high as pssible whenever maximum radi range is desired. 5. Cnfiguratin A PCM (Telemetry Only) This is the basic PCM cnfiguratin. It ffers telemetry (via the SnTek 2.4 GHz radi) and pwer t the RiverSurveyr system. This Secnd Generatin PCM replaces bth the riginal Bluetth and Spread Spectrum telemetry-nly PCMs. Cnnectr fr external radi antenna Battery cmpartment cver (ne f tw) Cnnectr fr ADP (M9/S5) Indicatr LED (Radi) Figure 3. Cnfiguratin A PCM (Telemetry Only).
Figure 4. Cnfiguratin A PCM (Telemetry Only). Figure shws the different methds f cnnecting t the PCM: Via mbile phne (thrugh Bridge, nt shwn), r thrugh PC (via radi dngle n the left f the image). 6. Cnfiguratin B Differential GPS (DGPS) This cnfiguratin ffers telemetry (via a prprietary 2.4 GHz radi) and pwer t the RiverSurveyr system. It als ffers a Differential GPS slutin (DGPS) fr vessel mvement cmputatin. This Secnd Generatin PCM replaces bth the riginal Bluetth and Spread Spectrum DGPS PCMs. 5
Battery cmpartment cver (ne f tw) Cnnectr fr GPS antenna Indicatr LEDs (Radi and GPS) Cnnectr fr external radi antenna Cnnectr fr ADP (M9/S5) Figure 5. Cnfiguratin B PCM DGPS. Figure 6. Cnfiguratin B PCM DGPS. Figure shws the different methds f cnnecting t the PCM: Via mbile phne (thrugh Bridge, nt shwn), r thrugh PC (via radi dngle n the left f the image). Figure als shws the GPS antenna with accmpanying radi antenna and extensin crd. 7. Cnfiguratin C Real-Time Kinematic GPS (RTK-GPS) This cnfiguratin ffers telemetry (via a prprietary 2.4 GHz radi) and pwer t the RiverSurveyr system. It als ffers a Real-time Kinematic GPS slutin (RTK-GPS) fr vessel mvement cmputatin. This Secnd Generatin PCM replaces bth the riginal Bluetth and Spread Spectrum RTK-GPS PCMs.
Battery cmpartment cver (ne f tw) Cnnectr fr GPS antenna Indicatr LEDs (Radi and GPS) Cnnectr fr external radi antenna Cnnectr fr ADP (M9/S5) Figure 7. Cnfiguratin C PCM RTK-GPS (Rver). The Figure shws the Rver PCM and its cmpnents. Indicatr LEDs (Radi and GPS) Battery cmpartment cver (ne f tw) Cnnectr fr external radi antenna Cnnectr fr GPS antenna Figure 8. Cnfiguratin C PCM RTK-GPS (Base). 7
Figure 9. Cnfiguratin C PCM RTK-GPS. Figure shws the different methds f cnnecting t the PCM: Via mbile phne (thrugh Bridge (nt pictured)), r thrugh PC (via radi dngle n the left f the image). Figure als shws the GPS antenna with accmpanying radi antenna and extensin crd as well as the base statin (typically munted n a tripd as in the fllwing figure).
Figure 10. Base Statin fr Cnfiguratin C PCM RTK-GPS. Figure shws a typical setup with GPS antenna n center f tripd and PCM attached t ne f the tripd s legs via the prvided adaptr bracket. Nte PCM can be placed n grund as well. 9