Table of Contents 1. Overview ____________________________________________________________ 0 1.1 System Components ______________________________________________________ 1 2. Setup _______________________________________________________________ 2 3. Controls & Indicators__________________________________________________ 3 3.1 Power Supply____________________________________________________________ 3 3.2 Power/Status Panel _______________________________________________________ 4 3.
List of Figures Figure 1. Mini-MI ______________________________________________________ 1 Figure 2. MMI Status Indicators __________________________________________ 3 Figure 3. Transmitter/Receiver Status Indicators _____________________________ 5 Figure 4. Reading Mode Display___________________________________________ 8 Figure 5. Summary Command Menus _____________________________________ 12 Figure 6. Summayr Display Data Format __________________________________ 13 Figure 7.
Chapter 1 Overview Chapter 1: Trace MMI Overview The Trace ® Mini-Mobile Interrogator (MMI) is a portable data retrieval and storage system designed to provide remote meter reading in conjunction with the Trace meter transponders. The Trace system is designed to convert the mechanical index reading of a utility meter to a duplicate electronic register reading. This electronic register reading is transmitted via radio frequency (RF) signals to the MMI.
Chapter 1 Overview MMI System Components Figure 1. Mini-MI The MMI system consists of several main components, as displayed in figure 1. All components are stored in the end covers during transportation. The entire system consists of a handheld terminal, GPS receiver, transmitter antenna, receiver antenna, power cord, and a main computer. The connection and usage of these components is covered in chapter 2.
Chapter 2 Setup Chapter 2: MMI Setup The MMI is transported with all components contained in the carrying case. Before use, these components must be unpacked and connected. Setup is simple and fast, and the entire setup operation should take no more than five minutes. Use the following instructions for a fast and trouble free setup: • • • • • • • Unlatch the two latches on the rear cover door. Open the door slightly and then slide the door off the two hinge pins.
Chapter 3 Controls & Indicators Controls & Indicators The MMI uses a combination of LED’s (light emitting diodes), audible alarms, and the handheld terminal to provide both status and a means of control to the operator. These indicators are used to convey the status of the power supply unit, external voltages, temperature, and transmitter/receiver operation. This section should be well understood before operating the MMI.
Chapter 3 Controls & Indicators Power/Status Panel Indicators & Control: The power/status panel shown in Figure 2 contains 2 switches and 4 LED’s used to monitor and control the main power provided to the MMI as well as to monitor the internal temperature. All four of the status LED’s should be off under normal conditions. The bottom switch is the main power switch and is used to power the MMI on and off.
Chapter 3 Controls & Indicators Transmitter/Receiver Status Indicators: The MMI is equipped with eight receivers and one transmitter. All of these devices use phase-locked-loops (PLL’s) to control each frequency with a high degree of accuracy. The PLL’s also allow both transmitter and receiver frequencies to be easily changed with software in real time. Many of the status LED’s to be described below display PLL programming status.
Chapter 4 Operation Chapter 4 Operation Once the MMI is unpacked and the external components are properly connected, the route disk may be inserted. Once the MMI is powered on, it performs several internal selfchecks. The indication and results of these tests are displayed on the hand-held terminal. Some self-check problems will require the operator to press a key to acknowledge the error before continuing.
Chapter 4 Operation If the transponder Lat/Lon database is known to be good, then the performance enhancement feature known as Dynamic Windowing may be enabled. This feature examines the route transponder density in real time, and adjusts the interrogation window automatically to allow only the optimum number of transponders into the window at a given time. The MMI should typically be used in the GEO mode of interrogation, although there may be some instances where the FIFO mode may be necessary.
Chapter 4 Operation backspace key. This will change the current interrogation mode from FIFO to GEO to L/L. The mode of interrogation may also be changed using the System Setup command within the Tools sub-menu. As shown in figure 4, several pieces of information are displayed for a good transponder reply during the reading mode (if the option to do so has been enabled). The first item displayed is the serial number. Next, the meter reading is displayed. The next item is the tamper status. A '.
Chapter 4 Operation GPS Self Navigation & Lost Coverage Alarms While in the Reading mode using either L/L or GEO modes, the MMI depends on the continual position updates provided by the GPS receiver. Since the GPS receiver is listening to satellites at various positions in the sky, objects such as tall buildings, trees and high-growing foliage may block the view of some of the necessary satellites. When such a blockage occurs, the GPS receiver is temporarily unable to provide Lat/Lon coordinates.
Chapter 4 Operation Reading Mode Performance Enhancement Features This section describes three MMI performance enhancement features that are often employed to achieve a greater read success in certain situations. These features are the GEO mode of interrogation, Dynamic Interrogation Window, and Frequency Scan. The interrogation mode and the Dynamic Interrogation option may be enabled or disabled at any time through the System Setup menu contained within the Tools command.
Chapter 4 Operation that does not meet the signal strength requirement will result in a NO_RD status. This is the same status which occurs any time the MMI does not receive a reply from a transponder. The default minimum signal strength setting will most not likely never need to be altered. Dynamic Interrogation Window Another performance enhancement feature implemented in the MMI is the Dynamic Interrogation Window.
Chapter 4 Operation Command Mode The operator may stop reading at any time by pressing any key other than the backspace key on the hand-held terminal. Doing so will place the MMI in the Command mode, where various operations are available. Stopping the reading process in this manner will not affect any previously read transponders, and the Reading mode may be entered or exited as often as necessary.
Chapter 4 Operation The Summary command menus display information in the format shown in Figure 6. When the operator selects a particular Summary command menu, the MMI searches the route for only those transponders that have responded accordingly. Summary Entry # 1 2 3 4 4 Address 2804 Weber St. 12806 Weber St. 1474 Main St. 1795 North Main St. UP SN # Status Reading 2789321 2930587 2002189 2501987 G_NT G_NT G_NT G_NT 3749 9712 7834 0328 DOWN QUIT HELP Figure 6.
Chapter 4 Operation Particular entries may be searched for in any of the summary displays by using the S (search) key. This will allow the operator to input a street number, street name, serial number, or just a part of an entry that corresponds to a transponder of interest. The summary display will then display only those transponders that match the search string and are in the main summary category initially selected.
Chapter 4 Operation G_NT The transponder has replied with a good read, no tamper condition. G_NR The transponder has replied with a good reading and is showing a tamper status, but the MMI is not going to reset the tamper condition as controlled by the system configuration. The system configuration may be changed in the System Setup menu, or by changing the values in the Guide file.
Chapter 4 Operation BAD_B2 The 3rd generation transponder has replied with an indication that both the meter reading and serial number checksums have failed. This could be due to a new battery being inserted in the transponder, or due to a malfunction. The transponder should be checked and reprogrammed. The meter reading should not be trusted.
Chapter 4 Operation Tools Command The Tools command consists of seven sub-menu options. These options are used for trouble shooting a problem with one of the Trace system components, changing the system configuration, turning the transmitter on and off, searching and displaying expanded data for a particular transponder, accessing stored data in the non-volatile backup memory, or changing the default frequency control values.
Chapter 4 Operation Trouble Shoot Menu (key 4) The Trouble Shoot menu is used to interrogate 4 user-definable transponders, and display useful statistics for each one. The display used for this menu may be broken down into two parts; the bottom half is used for user entry of transponder serial numbers and basic commands, while the top half is used for transponder response information. An example of the troubleshoot menu is shown in figure 8. Rx Chans Reading Tries % Good Status -------0 41 0.
Chapter 4 Operation The top half of the display contains five columns. The channel activity displays which of the 8 receiver channels are receiving valid data using a + or * symbol. Channel 1 appears at the left of the channel display, and channel 8 appears at the right. The next field is the meter reading. This data is not checked for any errors, and will be displayed with or without errors. Next is the interrogation count field.
Chapter 4 Operation System Setup Menu (key 6) The System Setup sub-menu allows the operator to display and modify various system operation parameters. The default system parameters that the MMI uses after turn-on is stored in the floppy disk file Guide. A 6-digit password (which is also stored in the Guide file) must be entered correctly before access to the System Setup screen is allowed. The password digits are not echoed as they are entered, and no Enter key is required.
Chapter 4 Operation Option 2: This selects whether the MMI will beep after each good reading. The options are YES and NO. Option 3: This selects whether the MMI will attempt to reset a tamper indication after it performs a reading. The options are YES and NO. Option 4: This option allows the user to set the interrogation window size. When selected, the user must key in a new value, followed by the Enter key. The value entered must be the desired window size divided by 100. Valid ranges are 1-99.
Chapter 4 Operation Route Scan Sub-menu (key 5) To view detailed transponder information not available with other menus, the Route Scan menu may be used. Information such as read status, meter reading, street address, and location are displayed. If the transponder has not yet been read, then the Lat/Lon coordinates that are displayed are those which were read from the floppy disk.
Chapter 4 Operation BRIEF TOTAL DETAIL ONE LD_TO DISK QUIT Figure 11. Backup Memory Sub-menus Brief Total The Brief Total sub-menu displays a description of all routes stored in memory. This display shows the internal route number used by the MMI, the route name and date, and the number of transponders (records) in the route. The route number is used by the MMI in other Backup Memory menus to select a particular route.
Chapter 4 Operation Frequency Control Menu (key 9) The Frequency Control menu, shown in figure 12 below, enables complete control of each receiver channel frequency. It also allows control of the transmitter frequency with the use of a factory password which is obtained by a special request to American Meter Company. This menu is also used to setup and enable/disable the frequency scan option on channel 1. The frequency for each channel is displayed in the frequency grid at the top of the display.
Chapter 4 Operation REDO (key R): This option simply re-initializes each receiver channel with the frequencies displayed in the frequency grid. XMIT (key T): This allows the factory-set transmitter frequency to be adjusted. This command requires a special password acquired from American Meter Company to enable operation. QUIT (key Q): As with most menus, this exits out of the current menu.
Chapter 4 Operation Set Perm Menu (backspace key) This menu displays and allows control of all permanent settings stored in special nonvolatile memory. Settings found in this menu never need to be loaded from the floppy disk, and typically never need changed. Special items such as the MMI electronic serial number, usage statistics, receiver delay parameters, licensed transmitter frequency, and service history are shown in this menu, an example of which is shown in Figure 13.
Chapter 4 Operation Quit Command The Quit command consists of three menus which are used to conclude or pause the execution of a route. Figure 14 is an example of the Quit command. An explanation of each sub-menu is given in the remainder of this section. SUMMARY READING TOOLS QUIT SAVE & EXIT HELP BREA K EXIT Figure 14. Quit Command Sub-menus Save & Exit The Save & Exit option is used to save the results of the current route to floppy disk, and then exit the menu system.
Chapter 4 Operation Exit The Exit option is used to exit out of the current route without saving it to floppy disk. After this option is used, the MMI will load a new route from disk the next time it is powered up. This option may be used at any time during a route, even if no or few readings have been collected. Note: Even though the Exited route was not saved to disk, the entire route is still saved in the backup memory, and will remain there until it is overwritten by subsequent route data.
Chapter 4 Operation Help Command The Help command is used to display a brief on-line operation guide (Quick Manual), current vehicle position, to view or set the time/date (Loc & Time), and to execute and view self-check results, as well as display the firmware revision currently executing (About MMI). Figure 15 shows the Help sub-menus. Both sub-menus are described in more detail below: SUMMARY READING TOOLS QUIT HELP ABOUT MI QUICK Manual LOC & TIME Figure 15.
Chapter 4 Operation Location & Time The Location & Time menu displays GPS navigation information as well as the current system time and date. This menu also allows the GPS, time, and date information to be changed. An example of the Location & Time menu is displayed in figure 16. Location & Time GPS: No Response GPS Sats: 0 GPS DOP: 0.0 System Time: System Date: GPS UTC Time: GPS Latitude: GPS Longitude: Time 08:24:47 10-29-97 13:25:16 38.1345 81.5516 GPS QUIT Figure 16.
Chapter 4 Operation The current system date and time may also be adjusted from with the Loc & Time display using the Time option by pressing the ‘S’ key. This will invoke the display shown in figure 17. New time or date digits are simply pressed on the handheld terminal, and the two arrow keys moves the flashing cursor over top of the digit to be changed. Also, the system time and date may be synchronized to the GPS UTC time and date by using the UTC option (key ‘T’). It should be noted, that in the U.S.
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting This section offers brief suggestions to try in the event that the MMI is not functioning properly. The only items covered in this section are those which are user serviceable, or those which the operator is responsible for properly setting up or checking during operation. • Handheld terminal does not turn on, or does not respond.
Appendix A File Formats File Formats The MI requires three important disk files for operation. These files consist of operating parameters and transponder data which is usually generated with a PC, but may be created with any system capable of accessing a 1.44Meg PC-formatted floppy disk. Normally the first two files, the Start and Guide files are not altered or re-created. They may be simply copied from a master source each time they are needed. The Reading.
Appendix A File Formats The READING.RTE File The data in the Reading.rte file specifies what transponders are to be read. This data contains the transponder serial number, latitude, longitude, and street address. The latitude and longitude are used when the MI is in the Lat/Lon or GEO modes of interrogation. The list of transponders loaded from disk may be examined at any time by using the options under the Summary command.
Appendix A Example: File Formats Degrees/Minutes/Seconds value: 38° 27' 06" Total degrees = 38 + ( 27 ÷ 60 ) + ( 06 ÷ 3600 ) Total degrees = 38.4517 (round result to 4 places right of the decimal) BAMS = ( 38.4517 ÷ 360 ) × 16777216 BAMS = 1791979 decimal -or- 1B57EB hexadecimal AMR,1C5852,358B16,100292,00006 0011758,1B57EB,3A42A0,84 ERSKINE LANE ,WVA 0011486,1B57EB,3A42A0,86 ERSKINE LANE ,WVA 0012061,1B57EF,3A42A2,101 E. MAIN STREET,WVA 0010783.1B57F0,3A42A2,123 E.
Appendix A File Formats The .VAN Output File Each time the MMI Save & Exit command is used, an output file is created on the floppy disk. This file contains transponder information such as the meter reading, the receiver channel activity, and the status code. This file, like the Reading.rte file, has a header followed by a variable number of transponder records. The actual filename used for this file is built from a combination of the route name stored in the Reading.
Appendix B Specifications Specifications Power Source: 12 VDC Vehicle Power / Sealed Internal Gel-Cell Battery Power Consumption: 120 Watts (10 Amps maximum current) fully loaded RF Transmitter: 5 Watts Nominal Power, Software Tunable RF Receiver: 8 Independent Channels, Software Tunable, -106 dBm sensitivity FCC Compliance: Part 90:63 / FCC ID: G8JVAN01 Operating Temperature: -5ºF to +160ºF Package Temperature -4ºF to +140ºF Handheld Terminal Storage Temperature: -40ºF to +185ºF Package Temp