Using PocketMax3 Part Number 874-0012-000 Released December 22, 2010 App Note Contents: 1. PocketMax3 Utility ......................................................................................................... 2 2. Differential Source ....................................................................................................... 12 3. Other Functionality ...................................................................................................... 20 4. Using Quick Config ............
1.
1.1 Connecting PocketMax3 to a Device First power on the receiver and connect it to your computer’s com port. A configuration screen will appear and you will be prompted to choose the COM port and baud rate of the receiver. You also have the option of allowing the program to cycle through all baud rates if you don’t know your current communication settings (Auto-Baud feature). Another option you have at this point is to use the “Demo Mode” button.
If you are properly connected, the Status window will display a “Found Receiver” message. Figure 1-2 Connection Established Screen The Quick Configuration screen allows you to use the “Log”, “Config”, “Terminal”, “Serial Bridge” and “About” tabs. For further explanation, see Section 4 Using Quick Config. Figure 1-3 Quick Configuration Screen If you get a message “Receiver not found…” check your connections, your com port and your baud rate and try again.
1.2 Using PocketMax3 Once you have successfully connected PocketMax3 to your receiver, the screen will look similar to the buttons along the bottom of the window are the main menus and are used to switch screens within PocketMax3 PC.
1.2.1 GPS Menu Within the GPS menu button, the tabs are: Position, Satellites, Setup, Precision, Plot, Link and About. The Position tab contains all the main position information, including latitude, longitude, elevated height, speed and precision, all with configurable formats. There is also other information in this tab, including the differential source.
The GPS and GLONASS Satellite screen tabs show the signal levels and number of satellites being tracked, where applicable. The satellite signal strengths are represented by the bars: the higher the bar, the stronger the signal. Single frequency signals will be single blue bars (for example, all Crescent receivers, and all SBAS signals). Dual frequency signals will have split bars: the left side (blue) shows L1 signal strength, the right side (green) shows L2 signal strength.
The Setup tab allows you to change the configuration of the receiver including turning on and off NMEA messages, the elevation mask, the maximum COAST™ age and the baud rates. Figure 1-6 GPS Setup Screen The Setup tab contains three sub tabs, including “THIS PORT”, “OTHER PORT” and “USB”. These tabs allow you to adjust the messages (GGA, GLL, GNS . . .) being tracked on each port. In addition, you are able to adjust the BIN messages to custom fit your needs.
Figure 1-8 Other Port Menu Figure 1-9 USB Menu Hemisphere GPS Using PocketMax3 p/n 874-0012-000 Page 9 of 32
The Precision tab gives a graphical representation of horizontal accuracy in the form of an error ellipse. It also displays numerical precision in northing, easting, and altitude components in configurable formats. Figure 1-10 GPS Precision Screen The Plot tab plots the northing or easting error over time and allows you to adjust your scale and timeline as required. This plot allows you to monitor performance over a time period with respect to either a known coordinate or an arbitrary one.
The Link tab allows you to connect a DGPS or RTK correction source to your computer, and have the corrections go into the GPS receiver via the same cable PocketMax3 is using. Define which PC communications port your correction source is connected to and its baud rate. It also allows you to send commands out of the additional ports, for example, to configure the correction device. Figure 1-12 GPS Link Screen The About tab displays the current firmware version and installed applications on the receiver.
2. Differential Source The box at the bottom of the screen labeled Diff Mode within the GPS menu button, in the Position tab is where you can change differential sources. The other place you can change the differential mode is in the menu for the differential source (either SBAS/BEAC/LBAND), in the Status tab. In either of these, you can switch between SBAS (WAAS/EGNOS) and Beacon (or OmniSTAR if applicable) just by tapping the circle beside the desired differential source.
MSK rate, as well as the signal strength (SS) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values. These values are also displayed graphically along with. Message Through Put (MTP) and Quality (Q). Figure 2-2 Beacon Status Screen The Tune tab gives you the option of automatically tuning to the strongest signal, specifying a specific frequency or MSK bit rate, or selecting a station by region. Once you have made your selections, you must press the adjacent ‘Tune’ button for the settings to take place.
2.1.3 LBAND Menu The tabs within the L-Band (OmniSTAR) menu button are Status, Tune and Subscription. The Status tab gives the name (if available), the frequency and the data rate of the L-Band satellite that is currently being used. It also gives the bit error rate, the satellite location and the status information.
The Tune tab gives the name (if available), the frequency and the data rate of the L-Band satellite that is currently being used. It also gives the option of tuning manually by frequency and data rate, automatically or by the name of the satellite. Figure 2-5 L-Band Tune Screen The Subscription tab provides Begin and Expiry dates of the subscription as well as the Serial Number of the unit. The menu also provides the type of L-band program you are using, along with the current library being referenced.
2.1.4 None option The differential type selection NONE causes the receiver to operate without differential inputs, known as Autonomous mode. This option will not display a menu specific to the option, but will instead jump to the GPS/Position menu. 2.1.5 AUTO menu (e-Dif) This single tab menu contains options to configure the receiver for e-Dif operation. An error will display in the TMNL window if e-Dif is not subscribed.
Figure 2-8 e-Dif menu, and VALID e-Dif in TMNL 2.1.6 THIS Port The differential type selection THIS PORT causes the receiver to look for the differential inputs on THIS port. This option will not display a menu specific to the option, but will instead jump to the GPS/Position menu. 2.1.7 OTHER Port The differential type selection OTHER PORT causes the receiver to look for the differential inputs on the OTHER port.
2.1.9 Base Menu This single tab menu contains options to set the Latitude, Longitude, and Ell. Height of a reference position and to select the port the receiver uses to connect to a radio that broadcasts local differential correctors. The reference position must be within five meters of the position estimated of the receiver. The settings may be sent to the receiver with the Initialization button that will highlight when the latitude, longitude, ell. height, and port are set to valid values.
2.1.10 Rover Menu This single tab menu contains no user parameters. Its purpose is simply to show that the receiver is configured as an RTK rover.
3. Other Functionality 3.1 The TMNL Menu Button The tabs within the terminal menu button are Terminal and Hot Keys. The Terminal tab gives you direct terminal access to the receiver for issuing commands and observing their response. The commands to communicate with the receiver are available in the Technical Reference Guide. Click once you have typed in the command and the response will appear in the window above.
The Hot Keys tab allows you to set up frequently used commands, and assign them to the buttons displayed in the Terminal tab. The name of the key is entered in the left column, while the command is in the right column. There are 4 levels of hot keys, with 9 buttons each, for a total of 36 available buttons for programming.
3.2 The LOGS Menu Button The tabs within the LOGS menu button are NMEA, Raw Data, Binary, Point and Polygon. Please refer to your receiver’s manual for more information on each particular type of message that can be recorded. There are three options when logging: to Append to Existing File, Overwrite Existing File or to Create New File. When appending to or overwriting an existing file, you must select Browse to choose the appropriate file to modify. If writing a new file, the default file name of DYYMMDDx.
The Raw Data tab allows you to log the raw binary messages needed for post-processing. The specific binary messages logged depend on the receiver connected to ensure the highest quality data is recorded. Figure 3-4 Logs Raw Data Screen The Binary tab allows you to log a variety of binary messages.
The points menu allows you to log a point each time the Log Point button is pressed. Point IDs may be assigned automatically or may be assigned custom names using the custom radio button and the edit box shown in the New Point ID group. Figure 3-6 Points Menu The polygon menu allows you to log polygons and displays the enclosed area. Click, “start” to begin. Click, “stop” to end.
3.3 The HDG Menu Button The tabs within the HDG (heading) menu button are Status, Setup and Plot. The Status tab gives you a graphical representation and numerical values for heading, rate of turn (ROT), course over ground (COG) and speed. By pressing GO, this is equivalent to issuing the $JSEARCH command, and causes the receiver to reject its current RTK solution and recompute heading.
The Setup tab shows you the current configuration that is unique to the Vector products and allows you to change this configuration.
4. Using Quick Config Sometimes you may want to simply configure your GPS receiver to output some specific messages, then save that configuration so you can use your Hemisphere GPS receiver with someone else’s software. With the numerous screens and features in PocketMax3, it can be a little confusing how to simply configure the output. In such cases, use the QUICK CONFIG option to simplify your workflow.
Use the CONFIG tab to set parameters like mask angle and your correction source. Figure 4-2 Quick Config Menu Use the TERMINAL window allows you to see the messages coming through on the port you are currently connected to. You can use this tab to verify that only the messages you want are being sent.
The Serial Bridge tab creates a link between an additional communications port on your PC and the receiver. This function is a special mode that is not part of typical operation, and should typically only be used under the direction of Hemisphere GPS Technical Support staff. Figure 4-4 Quick Config Serial Bridge Menu The About tab displays the current firmware version and installed applications on the receiver.
4.2 Exiting Quick Config Now that you have configured your receiver to output the messages your other software needs, click the X in the upper right corner to exit. You will most likely want to click the “Save and Disconnect” button. This will ensure the settings you just entered will take effect every time your receiver is powered on. If you do NOT want to save the way you just configured your receiver, select one of the other options.
5. Closing PocketMax3 The process of closing PocketMax3 is critical in the proper configuration of your receiver. It is very important to let PocketMax3, fully close in order to allow it to first configure your receiver and secondly display a report of the new configuration before exit. When you tap on the ‘X’ in the upper right hand corner of the program to exit, the following screen will appear.
After you have made your selection, you will see the screen below. Click the X in the upper right corner to close, or you can search for the receiver again if you like. Figure 5-2 Closing Screen Caution – You may lose settings that you have configured using PocketMax3, if you disconnect or power down your receiver while PocketMax3 is still running. Be sure to let it close completely before powering anything off.
