BIOTRACKER RADIO RECEIVER User's Manual Lotek Biotracker Receiver User’s Manual Page 1
Contents Quick Start Guide................................................................................................. 4 Description of receiver operation ......................................................................... 4 Basic Functions ................................................................................................. 4 Frequency Mode................................................................................................ 4 Channel Mode ..................................
Battery life................................................................................................... 25 External power supplies ................................................................................. 25 Back-light on LCD ......................................................................................... 25 Regulatory Compliance........................................................................................ 25 Location of Inputs, Outputs and Controls .......................
Quick Start Guide Before first use, we recommend you put the Biotracker on charge. The battery is fullycharged when the receiver is manufactured, but rechargeable batteries self-discharge slowly over time and after any period of storage will not be at full capacity. Description of receiver operation The receiver has three modes: Frequency, Channel and Scan. Frequency Mode: Frequency is set directly via the numeric keypad or arrow keys.
Storing Frequencies in Channels • • • • Start in Frequency mode and tune to the frequency to be stored Press [Store] to display the last used channel on the top line of the display Choose a channel using the up/down arrow keys, or enter a channel number followed by [ ]. Press [Store] to save the frequency to the channel displayed on the top line. The receiver will then be in Channel Mode on the chosen channel. Scanning Mode • • • • • • • • Press [SCAN] to enter Scanning Mode.
Top Panel Controls This section explains in detail the function of individual keys. Power Hold this key down for one second or more to switch the receiver on or off. When the receiver is switched on it returns to the state it was in when it was last switched off. It remembers mode, digital gain level, step size and frequency or channel. All memory contents are also retained. LCD Backlight This key switches the LCD back-light on and off.
generally the digital keys are used for setting gain to a particular, repeatable level (displayed on the LCD). For normal tracking situations, where it is not necessary to know the exact gain level, the knob allows both faster and finer control of gain. Scanning This key puts the receiver into Scan Mode. The top row of the LCD displays ‘INTERVAL’ and a number between 001 and 999. This is the period in seconds the receiver dwells on each selected channel when scanning.
3. Change the frequency (either using the arrow keys or by direct entry via the numeric keypad followed by [ ]) 5. Press [STORE] to display the channel on the top row of the LCD. 6. Press [STORE] again to set the new frequency in the channel and automatically switch back to Channel Mode with the new frequency displayed. Change MHz This key allows the MHz frequency to be changed in Frequency Mode.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) The LCD has two rows with 16 character places per row. position of information displayed in different modes. The diagrams below show the LCD Functions in Frequency Mode or Channel Mode Signal Strength Bar Chart Signal Strength (01 to 99) Battery Low Mode Frequency in MHz 0.1 kHz resolution 1 kHz resolution Gain Channel Number Relative scale (01 to 99) In Channel Mode only.
Front Panel Connectors and Controls Gain Control Knob Receiver gain is controlled by two keys (marked with loudspeaker symbols) on the keypad and by a knob on the front of the box. The keypad controls are digital and set gain to a level shown in the LCD as a whole number between 0 and 99. The knob also controls gain, but on a continuum between zero and the value shown in the LCD. The knob does not change the gain level number displayed on the LCD.
Antenna input The connector is a standard BNC ‘bayonet’ socket with an impedance of 50 ohms. Headphones Socket This is a 3.5mm stereo jack socket designed for a matching stereo jack plug. The headphones supplied with the receiver have 32 ohm speakers. These are standard personal stereo headphones. Headphones with 8 ohms speakers can also be used, though they increase the power consumption. A mono jack plug can be used, but the sound will be quieter. The internal speaker cuts out when headphones are used.
Step-by-step instructions This section of the manual explains step-by-step how to use the main functions of the receiver. The functions covered are: • • • • Changing frequency Storing frequencies to memory channels Deleting channels Scanning Changing frequency Normally when entering a new frequency in Frequency Mode the three places to the left of the decimal place (the MHz value) do not need to be changed.
Storing frequencies to memory (channels) The receiver has 256 memory channels to which you can save frequencies. Initial Conditions The receiver needs to be in Frequency Mode, and set to the frequency you wish to store. Step 1 Press to display the last used channel on the top row. Step 2 Use to select the channel in which you want to store the frequency. OR… Enter the channel number from the numeric keypad 1 9 then Step 3 Press to save the frequency in the chosen channel.
Deleting Channels Initial Conditions The receiver needs to be in Channel Mode. Step 1 Use the arrow keys to select the channel which you want to delete. OR… Enter the channel number from the numeric keypad 1 9 then Step 2 Press and hold for 1 second or more to delete the contents of the channel. This will set the channel frequency to ‘000.0000’, but the channel will still be displayed. When another channel is selected (e.g. via the arrow keys) the empty channel will be removed.
Scanning The receiver has a Scanning Mode in which selected channels are automatically stepped through in sequence at a user-definable time interval. There is no facility to automatically detect signals in this mode (unlike an amateur radio ‘scanner’). Initial Conditions The receiver can be in either Frequency Mode or Channel Mode. The frequencies to be scanned should already be stored in memory. Step 1 Press to display the scanning interval (in seconds) on the top line of the display.
The following LCD diagrams show the characters displayed for the different selection states: Individual channel not selected Individual channel selected All channels selected Step 4 When the channels to be scanned have been selected, press scanning process. to start the When only selected channels are being scanned the top line of the display shows ‘SC’. When all channels are being scanned the top line of the display shows ‘AC’.
Receiver Use Tracking in wet weather You do not need to protect this receiver from the rain. The membrane keypad on the top panel is completely waterproof, as is the battery compartment lid. All front panel controls and connectors are sealed on the inside of the receiver box so that water can not reach the receiver electronics. When they are not in use, the open sockets (headphones, serial port and charger) should have covers fitted to prevent water entering them.
Trouble-shooting Charging Problems There are some special cases where charging may be problematic. The battery in a new receiver has been charged only once or twice and may not yet have reached its full capacity. As a result, for the first few charge-discharge cycles, the receiver may not run for quite as long as expected. Similar problems may occur if the receiver has been stored for a long time and the battery is deeply discharged. This may also result in the battery apparently not charging properly (i.e.
Using the serial port The receiver should be connected to a PC via its serial port (RS232, or ‘COMM’ Port) then switched on and set to Frequency or Channel Mode. The PC sends messages to it via this serial link, and the receiver replies. If the message is a command, the receiver replies with “OK” (as an ASCII code), whereas if the message is a query, the receiver sends data corresponding to the query type (i.e. frequency, channel number or gain). The command and query formats are detailed below.
Glossary Analogue Variable on a continuous scale (cf. Digital). Back-light The light that illuminates the display for tracking at night. Bar graph Shown on the top line of the display. Battery A power supply comprising a number of cells, usually connected in series. To get greater voltage cells are wired together in series to make the battery. Cell The individual units comprising a battery. Can also be used alone (i.e. not as part of a battery), if their voltage is adequate for the equipment being powered.
MHz, kHz, Hz Units of measurement of frequency. The full frequency display on the Biotracker (e.g. 150.1234) is in MHz. During tracking you rarely need to change the ‘MHz frequency’ (the numbers to the left of the decimal point) so the Biotracker allows you to change the ‘kHz frequency’ separately (those to the right of the decimal). Minimum Discernible Signal (MDS) This is the weakest signal that can be heard on a receiver. It is usually measured in bench tests using a calibrated signal generator.
Biotracker Specifications The Summary Specifications Table below gives at-a-glance features that make the Biotracker receiver so different from the crowd. The Full Specifications Table overleaf lists specifications, their values and explains what they mean and why they are important in practical terms for animal radio-tracking. Sentences in bold italics are the key ways in which you should judge receiver performance.
Full Specifications Table Specification Value Explanation 4, 8 or 30 MHz bands between 138and 174 MHz. Most tracking receivers cover a 1-2 MHz band only. Biotracker can cover up to 30 MHz! If such a wide band is not required there are versions with 4 or 8 MHz bands (these cost less). Receivers with narrower bands can be upgraded.
Full Specifications Table (continued) Specification Value Explanation Scanning The Scanning function steps through the channels on your receiver and stops on each one for a predefined interval. You can set the scan interval and select which channels are to be included in the scan. Scanning automates the process of frequency changing when searching for a number of tags at once. It is especially useful during searches from vehicles (including aircraft).
Full Specifications Table (continued) Specification Value Explanation Tuning The receiver can be tuned in 100 Hz (0.1 kHz) or 1 kHz steps. The fine tune (0.1 kHz) is good for selecting the sound (pitch) you find most comfortable to listen to. The 1 kHz tuning resolution allows faster frequency stepping using the arrow keys. Long battery life reduces both running costs and the risk that the receiver will stop working in the middle of fieldwork.
Location of Inputs, Outputs and Controls Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Top row: signal strength and low battery symbol Bottom row: frequency - channel - gain - mode Enters Scan Mode Sets MHz frequency Numeric Key Pad On/off Switch Tick and cross keys are accept (enter) and reject (cancel) LCD Back-light Timed auto switch off Shoulder Strap Frequency/Channel up/down keys Leather stirrups and adjustable nylon strap Frequency/Channel mode switch Current mode is shown in bottom right of LCD (after gain
APPENDIX A: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
