Falcon MGL-30 User Manual

User’s Ma nua l to

MGL-30

-Comp a ct GP S Receiver/Dat a Logger

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User’s Ma nua l to MG L -30

About This Document

This document is the user’s manual for MGL-30.
Revision: 1.5
Date: Mar. 4,2003
Document No.: TFAC0023

Contact Infor mat ion

Taiwan Falcon Aerospace Corporation
5F, 131,Nanjing E.Rd., Sec 3,Taipei , 104 Taiwan
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail],

Website: www.tfac.com.tw

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Content s

1. Introduction..................................................................................4

1.1 Technical Specification.......................................................................5

2. Installation Guide.........................................................................6

2.1 Connecting MG-30 (For MG-30R/MGL-30R, PS/2 type).................6

2.2 Connecting MG-30 (For MG-30U/MGL-30U, USB type)................7

2.3 Using GPS NMEA Monitor..............................................................11

3 Data Logger Demo Program (for MGL-30R/U) ........................14

3.1 Getting Connected ............................................................................14

3.2 Uploading Data.................................................................................17

3.3 Setup Device.....................................................................................18

3.4 Set Password.....................................................................................18

3.5 Data Review......................................................................................19

3.6 Firmware Update ..............................................................................21

3.7 File Format of Upload Data..............................................................22

4 Trouble shooting..........................................................................23

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1. Int roduction

The TFAC’s MGL-30 Compact GPS receiver/data logger is about the half size of a
computer mouse. Based on the SiRF star II TM chip set manufactured by SiRF
Technology, Inc., MGL-30 supports all features, and maintains the technical
specifications of the SiRF star II TM architecture.

MGL-30 is a fully self-contained receiver for the Global Positioning System with
data logger capabilities. Inside the container, the TFAC’s TFAG 30 module and
embedded antenna design provides complete GPS signal processing functionality.
Moreover, M GL-30 is also a mini data logger (up to 15 hours for PVT data, 1Hz
update rate recording) by using SiRF starII GSP2e integrated ARM7TDMI

TM

microprocessor and on-board flash memory.

Two versions of

MGL-30

are available.

MGL-30R

comes with a 9-pin ser ial

connector, and

MGL-30U

comes with a USB connector. Also both modules can come

with (

MGL-30R, MGL-30U

) data logger or without (

MG-30R, MG-30U

) data

logger function

. These receivers are well suited to system integrators or users who use

popular PC compatible system, notebook PC, PDA and “off-the-shelf” GPS solution.

MGL-30 can be used as an ordinary real-time GPS locator, and

in the mean time to

log the GPS data to its on-board flash memory

. The type of data to be logged as well
as the data format can be specified by the user in the logging setup. The log rate is
also definable by users. When any of these are activated, the character string is
written to the log file along with the GPS data.That is,

TFAC also provides a
companion propr ietary data logger demo softwa re packa ge to provide mentioned
functions above and replays these markers. Please see section 3 “Data logger demo
program” description. As to programming guideline of da ta logger functionality of

MGL-30

, which is frequently used in advanced embedded system design, please refer

to TFAC supplied another “

Pr ogr a mm ing Gu ideline of Data L ogger F u n ctionality

of M G L -30

” manual.

MGL-30 can satisfy a wide variety of application for vehicle navigation, tracking or
leisure purpose. In automotive applications, the interior superior architecture supports
advanced tracking capabilities through fast recovery times combined with reliable
operation in “urban” and areas of dense foliage.

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1.1 Technical Specifica tion

General MG-30R /M G L-30R MG-30U/M G L -30U

GPS Receiver 12 Channel “All-in-view” tracking 12 Channel “All-in-view” tracking
Cable Connections

Terminated DB-9 and PS/2 serial

connector

Terminated USB serial connector,

Mounting Magnetic mount. Magnetic mount.

Performan ce

Position Accuracy 15 meters CEP without SA 15 meters CEP without SA

Velocity Accuracy

0.1 meters/second, without SA 0.1 meters/second, without SA
Max Speed 515 meters/sec.(1000 Knots) max. 515 meters/sec.(1000 Knots) max.
Acceleration 4 g., max. 4 g., max.
Jerk 20 meters /sec.3 max. 20 meters /sec.3 max.
Max Altitude

18,000 meters (60,000 Feet) max. 18,000 meters (60,000 Feet) max.

Time to First Fix

45 sec (Cold Start)

38 sec (Warm Start)
8 sec (Hot start)

0.1 sec (Reacquisition)

45 sec (Cold Start)

38 sec (Warm Start)
8 sec (Hot start)

0.1 sec (Reacquisition)
Update Rate 1/sec 1/sec
Receiver Sensitivity -175dBW -175dBW
Map Datum WGS-84 WGS-84
Data Logger

16M bit (up to 15hrs for PVT data,

1Hz update rate) (MGL-30R only)

16M bit (up to 15hrs for PVT data,

1Hz update rate) (MGL-30U only)

Interfaces

Input Voltage

+5V DC +5V DC

Power Cons.(Avg.

) 0.8 watt 0.8 watt

Serial Comm.

Hardware/ software baud rates: 4800

baud (default)

Hardware/ software baud rates: 4800

baud (default)

Protocol Messages NMEA 0183 v2.2 GGA, GLL, GSA,

GSV, RMC, VTG

NMEA 0183 v2.2 GGA, GLL, GSA,

GSV, RMC, VTG

Physical Com

pact, integrated GPS receiver

and antenna

Compact, integrated GPS receiver

and antenna

Dimensions 66 x 50 x 25.5 66 x 50 x 25.5

Weight

150g 120g

Oper a ting Environments (Compliant to MIL-STD-810F Standard)

Operating

Temp

-10°C to +55°C -10°C to +55°C
Storage Temp -40°C to +71°C -40°C to +71°C
Humidity 98% R.H. 98% R.H.
Altitude Operating -300 ~ +15000 feet Operating -300 ~ +15000 feet

Vibration

Non-operating: 5 Hz ~ 14 Hz /0.6g:
5 minutes, 27 Hz ~ 50 Hz /0.06inch:
2 minutes, 50 Hz ~ 500 Hz / 2g: 7
minutes, Sweep time: 30 minutes,
Duration time: 3 hours/axis
Operating:

5 Hz ~ 14 Hz /0.6g:5

minutes, 27 Hz ~ 50 Hz /0.06inch : 2
minutes,

50 Hz ~ 500 Hz / 2g: 7

minutes, Sweep time: 30 minutes,

Duration time: 3 hours/axis

Non-operating: 5 Hz ~ 14 Hz /0.6g:
5 minutes, 27 Hz ~ 50 Hz /0.06inch:
2 minutes, 50 Hz ~ 500 Hz / 2g: 7
minutes, Sweep time: 30 minutes,
Duration time: 3 hours/axis
Operating:

5 Hz ~ 14 Hz /0.6g:5

minutes, 27 Hz ~ 50 Hz /0.06inch : 2
minutes,

50 Hz ~ 500 Hz / 2g: 7

minutes, Sweep time: 30 minutes,

Duration time: 3 hours/axis

Shock

Operating: 35g for 11 ms Operating: 35g for 11 ms

Rain

IEC 529 IPX5 IEC 529 IPX5

EMI/EMC

CE, FCC CE, FCC

Note: Cigarette lighter plug is optional

Specifications are subject to change without notice

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2. In st a llat ion Gu ide

2.1 Connecting MG -30 (For MG -30R/MGL-30R , PS/2 typ e)

Step 1. Plug RS-232 to COM port of your Notebook PC or Handheld PC.

Step 2. Plug PS2 connector in the PS2 mouse outlet of your Notebook PC or Handheld

PC. If user ordered a cigarette lighter plug, please plug the cigarette adaptor into
the cigarette outlet of the car.

Step 3. Place MG-30R (MGL-30R) on the outside roof of your vehicle with magnetic

base.

Step 4. For MG-30R (MGL-30R ), choose the correct COM port when running TFAC

supplied demo software “GPS NMEA monitor” or map/navigation software.
For MGL-30R, please refer to chapter 3 “Using Data Logger Demo Program”.

Step 5. As to running the TFAC supplied “GPS NMEA Monitor” demo software.

Please refer to several instructions as below:

Step 6. Place your MG-30R (MGL-30R) on the outside roof of your vehicle with

magnetic base.

Notice:

(1) Make sure the power is off before started.
(2) If customer would like to receive NMEA 0183 navigational data through Hyper

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Terminal program of Windows 95/98/ME, please setup the COM port connected
with MG-30R (MGL-30R) to:

Baud r a t e : 4800
Data bit : 8
Parity : None
Stop bit : 1
Flow contr ol : None

2.2 Connecting MG-30 (For MG -30U/M G L-30U, USB type)

Driver Installation :

Step 1. Unzip pl2303v2.zip first. You will find the "serwpl.inf" file in the \PL-2303X

\Win98_me or Win2k_xp directory.
Step 2. Connect the GPS device to the USB port of your computer.
The devices will be detected automatically. Please follow the following

installation procedure until the system asks you to locate the driver file. Please

point out the directory \PL-2303X\Win98_me or Win2k_xp in step 1.

Step 3. The installation on Windows 98/Me is follows. The installation of Win2000/XP is
similar.
Select [NEXT] to specify the location of the driver.

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Step 4. Specify location of the driver . Enter [Next] to continue.

C:\Pl2303x\Win98_me

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Step 5. [Next] to continue installation

Step 6. [Finish]
to end the
installation.

IMP O RTAN
T:

In Windows
XP/2000
environment,
there might be

WARNING

dialog box
pop-up. In this

case, just select

CONTINUE

to execute installation.

Step 7. To check which com port is used by the GPS device, click [My Computer] on
Desktop screen, click [Control Panel], open [System]. On “Device Manager” page,
you will find “Port(COM&LPT)” items prefixed with a “+” sign. Click on the “+” sign
to expand it to check com port used by MG-30.

C:\Pl2303x\Win98_me\Serwpl.inf

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IMPORT ANT: If users can not setup the right COM port (some mapping software can
only support for "COM1" to "COM4" and GPS device may be assigned to use "COM5"),
you may need to :

* uninstall driver first.

* disable or remove one of the existing COM1-4 ports.
* install driver again.

Step 8. You applications can access the MGL-30U via the "COM" port found in Step 3.

The COM port is for the setup of TFAC’s “GPS NMEA Monitor ” demo
software (nmeavw15.exe) and some mapping software which supports GPS
function. For instance, if it shows COM3", you have to switch to the COM port
when you start “GPS NMEA Monitor” demo software. Please notice the action,
it is very important. If you don't setup the right Com port, no matter “GPS
NMEA Monitor” software or other mapping software, it will be unable to
communicate with your computer.

Notice:

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(1) Uninstallation:

Run the program "DRemover98_2k.exe" to uninstall the dirvers.Unzip TFAC
supplied driver program "USBDRV.exe". You will find the "serwpl.inf" file in the

\PL-2303 directory.
(2) If user would like to receive NMEA 0183 navigational data through Hyper Terminal
program of Windows 98/ME/2000, please setup the virtual COM port connected

with

MG-30U (MGL-30U) to:

Baud r a t e : 4800

Data bit : 8

Parity : None

Stop bit : 1

Flow contr ol : None

2.3 Using GP S NME A Monit or

Step 1.Copy promptly TFAC supplied demo software “GPS NMEA Monitor” executive

file “nmeavw15.exe” to the directory of interested (common used setup procedure
is NOT necessary in this case). User can utilize such Demo Software “GPS NMEA
Monitor” to check NMEA ASCII output sentences from MG-30U (MGL-30U) for
general evaluation in Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP OS platform in general PC
applications.

Step 2. Double click icon

Step 3. “GPS NMEA Monitor” screen is shown as below.

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Step 4. Choose correct COM port, press “Start” icon, then NMEA output sentences and
general navigation information is shown.

Step 5. If necessary, users can log NMEA data into PC by pressing “Start log” icon. Then

the logged data will be stored into the same directory where nmeavw15.exe is
placed. Default log file name is “GPSLOG.txt”.

.

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Step 6. If no FIXED navigation information is shown during long time period, users can

try to press “Cold start” icon to force CF-30 to restart its tracking/searching satellite

algorithm, then normal navigation solution can be shown as usual.

Step 7. Enjoy it!

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3 Da ta Logger Demo Progr a m (for MG L-30R/U)

As we mentioned in the previous sections, MGL-30 can be used as an ordinary
real-time GPS locator (to output general NMEA messages), and

in the mean time it
also logs (stores) the GP S data (defa ult format is shown in section 3.5. TFAC can
modify the format for customer’s design upon request) to its on-board flash
mem ory

. The TFAC supplied “GPSLOG DM.EXE” is a Win98/ME/2000

application software program that is used to demonstrate and test data logging
functions of MGL-30R or MGL-30U. It will, according to the configuration, start
recording upon power on and stop on running out of storage.

Befor e using it, users

should turn off or disconnect the TFAC supplied “

GPS NMEA Monito

r” demo

software first. As to programming guideline of data logger functionality of

MGL-30

,
which is frequently used in advanced embedded system design, please refer to TFAC
supplied a nother “

Progr amming Guideline of Data Logger Functionality of

MGL-30

” manual.

After that, users may utilize the demo program to:

˙

Login the device

˙

Upload recorded data

˙

Cha n ge Recording Mode(by time interval or by displacement)

˙

Set password

˙

Pr ogrammable device ID

˙

Clear recorded data

˙

Upgrade firmware

3.1 Getting Connected

First of all, connect M GL-30U (MGL-30R ) to the USB/RS232 slot of your PC.
Launch demo program and use “select comport” button (first speed button) to select
the correct COM port connected. When COM port is correct selected, then press
“connect” speed button to connect MGL-30U (MGL-30R). Once the device
detected, users need to enter a 4-digit password to login MGL-30U/R (see Fig. 1).
The device name(MGL-30) and firmware version(2.00) are shown in the message
area. After login all the other buttons will become enabled(see Fig. 2). The logged
data size and total flash memory size are shown in the message area. Sometimes
users may need to retry if the connection or password is failed.

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Fig 1 Logining Device

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Fig 2 Device connected

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3.2 Upload in g Data

Use “data sync” speed button to upload record. Users need to specify a file to save
the uploaded data. A blue bar will display to indicate the upload progressing. Use
“erase” speed button to clear logged data. After uploading the recorded data, users
need to “erase” the storage of the device to enable the device to record new data
again.

Fig 3 Uploading recorded data

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3.3 Set u p Device

Use “setup” button to configure the device. (see Fig 4)

Fig 4 Device setup

3.4 Set Password

Fig 5 Set password

Use “password” speed button to set new password(see Fig 5) .The password
function is used to protected logged data.

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3.5 Data Review

Use “analysis” speed button to read back and display recorded data. (see Fig 6)
Some summary data is shown in the message area.
The diameter of the yellow circle is 20 meters.
The diameter of the green circle is 100 meters

Fig 6 Record data

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Use “Load map” button to load a map file (must be in BMP format) as a background
map. (see Fig 7) The loaded map file will automatically fit into the current display
range.

Fig 7 Background map loaded

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Users can use “Adj. Map” button to set the correct map range in WGS84 (see Fig 8)
Use “Clear map”button to remove the background map. Use “Zoom In” “Zoom Out”
buttons to change view range.

Fig 8 Adjust the map range

3.6 Fir mware Upd at e

Use “firmware update “ speed button to upgrade firmware.
The new firmware is delivered in S-record format. Please visit the web site at
www .tfac.com.tw for latest firmware version.

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3.7 File For m a t of Upload Data

There are two file formats used for the uploaded data: Binary and NMEA formats.
Data uploaded is saved to two separated files in different formats. Users only need to
specify the binary file name (for example, GPS0001.LOG), another NMEA file will
be generated automatically. Naming for the corresponding NMEA file is like this.

l Binary file : GPS0001.LOG
l NMEA file :GPS0001.LOG.NMEA

The NMEA file conatins only “$GPRMC” type NMEA sentences.
Users can process the NMEA file if they have any map software which supports
NMEA format, .

The data structure of the upload data in binary format is defined as follows:

typedef str u ct {

INT32 x; /* meter */
INT32 y; /* meter */
INT32 z; /* meter */
INT32 vx; /* mm/sec */
INT32 vy; /* mm/sec */
INT32 vz; /* mm/sec */
INT32 TOW; /* 1ms */
UINT16 week;
UINT8 valid;
UINT8 mark;

} LOG G E R_RECO RD;

x, y, z: WGS84 coord inat ion
vx, vy, vz: velocity
TOW: G PS time of week
week: GPS week
valid: 0x20
mark: reserved

The length of each record is 32 bytes. Please notice that bin-endian is used. With
big-endian memory, the bytes are ordered from least significant at the highest
address to most significant at the lowest address.

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4 T rou b le shooting

Pr oblem

Possible Reason Solut ion

T est fail

(No serial port
output )

1.Poor connection

2.Demo software is set at
wrong configuration.

1.Check the RS-232 and PS/2 connector

(MG-30R /MG L-30R )

or USB connector

(MG-30U/M G L -30U

) to make sure they are

well connected.

2.Check demo software is set at correct COM
port configuration.

Open Com port
fail

The serial COM port has been
used for other application
program

1.Close all the other application programs and
return to the demo software.

2.If the problem still happen. Restart the
computer then run demo software again.

No navigation
position output
but timing
information is
normal.

1.Weak or no GPS signal can

be received at the
environment where MGL-30
is placed.

1.Go outdoors or places without many
obstructed buildings, and press “Cold start”
icon in “

GPS NMEA Monitor ” demo

software.