Intuicom RTK Bridge User Manual

Intuicom®

Wireless RTK Bridge - Cellular

User Guide

Intuicom, Inc. 1880 S Flatiron Court Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 449-4330 www.intuicom.com

Wireless RTK Bridge – Cellular User Guide

This manual is for use by purchasers and other authorized users of the Intuicom Products. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or for any purpose without the express written permission of Intuicom Inc.

Intuicom reserves the right to make changes to this manual without notice. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, Intuicom assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of this manual or for the infringement of any copyright or other proprietary right and Intuicom shall deem nothing contained in this manual a warranty or guarantee.

Intuicom, CommPro, WiGate, Nav-Link, TargeTracker, Intuicom Navigator II, Navigator IIm and Intuicom Communicator II, Communicator T, 1200 Data Link, DIO, and Wireless RTK Bridge are trade names of Intuicom, Inc.

Other product names mentioned in this manual may be copyrights, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.

Wireless RTK Bridge – Cellular User Guide

This product is licensed by The United States.

Diversion contrary to U.S. law is prohibited.

Shipment or re-export of this product outside of The

United States may require authorization by the U.S.

Bureau of Export Administration. Please contact

Intuicom, Inc. for assistance and further information.

Wireless RTK Bridge – Cellular User Guide

Table of Contents



Overview ................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1



Key Features ................................................................................................................... 1

1.2



Front Panel Connectors and Controls ............................................................................ 2

1.3



Example Applications ..................................................................................................... 3

2Initialization and Configuration .......................................................................................... 6

2.1



Accessing the Configuration Menu ................................................................................. 6

2.2



Embedded Cellular Modem Activation ........................................................................... 9

2.2.1Verizon Service (US Customers) .............................................................................. 11

2.2.2GSM/GPRS/EDGE Service ...................................................................................... 13

2.3



Configuration Process .................................................................................................. 16

2.3.1Administrative........................................................................................................... 22

3Operation ............................................................................................................................. 24

3.1



Basic Steps for Operation ............................................................................................. 24

3.2



Startup Sequence ........................................................................................................... 27

3.3



Front Panel LEDs ......................................................................................................... 28

3.4



Config Port Status Display/Messages ........................................................................... 30

3.5



Antenna Aiming / Cellular Signal Strength Mode ........................................................ 32

3.6



Changing Profiles ......................................................................................................... 33

3.7



Optimizing Wireless Performance ................................................................................ 34

3.8



Connecting to Third-Party Radio ................................................................................. 36

4Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................. 37

5Accessories ........................................................................................................................... 39

6Technical Support ............................................................................................................... 41

7FCC Notification ................................................................................................................. 42

8Warranty ............................................................................................................................. 43

                        

Section 1: Overview

1 Overview

The Intuicom Wireless RTK Bridge - Cellular expands access to GNSS network RTK corrections for rover users in the field. The RTK Bridge - Cellular combines an embedded GPS and cellular (CDMA or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) Internet connectivity with an Intuicom Wireless Data Radio with to support a wide range of deployment configurations.

1.1 Key Features

• Connect to the Internet using a choice of either an embedded CDMA or

GSM/GPRS/EDGE cellular modem

• Connect to NTRIP Casters and stream any data/messages/corrections, etc.

• Connect to Raw/Dedicated TCP Sockets (non NTRIP)

• Embedded GPS can provide unit’s position to the GNSS network server for

individualized corrections or virtual reference station creation. Optionally enter a user supplied fixed location or passthrough GGA messages from an external source

• All correction messages received are available on a front panel serial port for

connection directly to a GNSS rover, or to a third party radio for rebroadcast.

• Unit can provide authentication messages for Leica Spider ($GPUID) GNSS server

• Compatible with Intuicom 1200 Data Link radios for easy Leica System 900 and

1200 integration, as well as Intuicom Communicator and Communicator II, radios in both Point-to-Multipoint and TDMA modes

• Compatible with Intuicom wireless data repeaters to extend wireless coverage area

• Store up to four configuration sets called “PROFILES” that can be selected for use in

the field without a PC– a PROFILE contains configuration data such as GNSS server IP, port, username, password, mountpoint, static location, front panel baud rate, etc.

Section 1: Overview

1.2 Front Panel Connectors and Controls

987

GPS RADIO

MDM

CONFIG DATA

1 2

MODEM

RTK Bridge

SVR SIG GPS PWR

TXD

Figure 1-1: RTK Bridge - Cellular Front Panel

(1) Configuration / Power Port (2) Data Copy Output / External GPS Input / Power Port (3) Profile Select / Mode Select Button (4) Current Profile / Modem Signal Strength (Antenna Aiming Mode) (5) Status LEDs (6) Power On/Off Button (7) TNC antenna connector for internal CDMA/GSM/GPRS/EDGE modem (8) TNC antenna connector for internal L1 GPS (9) TNC antenna connector for internal Intuicom 900 MHz Wireless Data Radio or other

embedded data radio

Section 1: Overview

1.3 Example Applications

Internet

RTCM 3 .x RTCM 2 .x

CMR/CMR+

Leica

Spider/VRS/

NTRIP Ca s ter

CDMA/GSM

GSM/CDMA

Wireless Internet/Data

Intuicom RTK Bridge - Cellular

RTK Corrections

L1 GPS Antenna

Intuicom 900 MHz

Spread Spectrum

Wireless Data

RTK Rover

Machine

Control

Construction

Agriculture

Figure 1-2: Intuicom Wireless RTK Bridge - Cellular Architecture Overview

Typical Application - The Intuicom Wireless RTK Bridge has a flexible configuration

and can be used to satisfy a range of connectivity needs. Typical installations have the RTK Bridge configured to connect to an NTRIP Caster where it provides mountpoint and authentication information. Once connected to a mountpoint, it will stream its GPS point position (from its internal L1 GPS) allowing the Network Correction Server (such as Leica Spider) to generate individualized corrections or create a virtual reference station. The unit receives these corrections via IP and then broadcasts them to receiving RTK rover units.

RTCM 3. x RTCM 2. x

CMR/CMR+

Leica

Spider/VRS/

NTRIP Caster

Internet

CDMA/GSM

Section 1: Overview

Intuicom 900 MHz Spread Spectrum

Wireless Data

L1 GPS Antenna

GSM/CDMA

Wi reless Intern et /Data

Intuico m RT K Bridge - Cellular

RTK Corrections

Optional Copy of RTK corrections output on

Data Port

RS 232 Seri al

4800 -115200 Baud

Optional 3rd Party

400 MHz Base Rad i o

PacCrest/Trimble/

Topcon, etc.

Figure 1-3: Intuicom RTK Bridge - Cellular used with third party base radio

Leveraging Existing Data Radios - The Intuicom Wireless RTK Bridge can be used to

supplement and existing wireless network, replacing the local base station GPS. Users simply connect a third party base radio to the Data Out port on the front of the unit to broadcast a copy of the correction stream. If no rover RTK users are utilizing Intuicom Wireless Data Radios, the internal radio can be disabled to conserve power.

CDMA/GSM

Internet

Spider/VRS/

NTRIP Ca s ter

Section 1: Overview

GSM/CDMA

Wireless Internet/Data

RTCM 3.x RTCM 2.x

CMR/CMR+

Leica

Intuicom RTK

Bridge - Cellular

RTK Corrections

Figure 1-4: RTK Bridge Extending Carrier Data Network

Intuicom 900 MHz Spread Spectrum

Wireless Data

Construction

RTK Rover

Machine

Control

Agriculture

Extending CDMA/GSM Data Service Reach – In this example, rovers are operating in an area not directly covered by CDMA/GSM cellular data service. The rovers however are still within the network of GNSS reference stations and thus can benefit from a network correction. Using a high gain antenna on the CDMA/GSM cellular modem, a reliable connection can be established allowing the RTK Bridge to connect to the Internet and the GNSS network server. Corrections are streamed from the GNSS network server to the RTK Bridge where they are broadcast over an Intuicom Wireless Data Network to all RTK rovers. In this case the rovers are utilizing Intuicom 1200 Data Link radios to receive the correction messages. Note that in this application, any number of Rover users can receive the same correction messages broadcast from the RTK Bridge. Furthermore, if the distance between the RTK Bridge and the rover users is great – the RTK Bridge can be configured to report its position to the GNSS Network server as if it were in the location of the rovers – further optimizing the network correction generated by the GNSS network server.

Section 2: Initialization and Configuration

2 Initialization and Configuration

Prior to the first use of the Intuicom RTK Bridge must be activated and configured. A onetime process of activation is required to setup the integrated CDMA or GSM cellular modem for use on the chosen carrier’s network. For the device to connect to the current GNSS Network server, further configuration is required. The unit can store up to four configuration sets called Profiles. In the field, the current Profile can be changed without the need of a PC. Profiles enable the user to do things like change NTRIP mountpoints, change GNSS servers, change how locations sent to the server, etc. At least one Profile must be configured.

2.1 Accessing the Configuration Menu

All configuration and initialization is performed by accessing the configuration menu on the RTK Bridge with a PC using a terminal emulation program (such as HyperTerminal, ProComm, TerraTerm, or Minicom), an available serial port, the power/data cable, the RTK Bridge itself, and the power adapter for the RTK Bridge.

Figure 2-1: Cable Connections for Accessing Configuration Menu

To access the RTK Bridge configuration menu use the following steps:

1. Connect the Lemo end of the power/data cable to the CONFIG port of the RTK

Bridge, and the DB9 connector to an available DB9 COM port on the PC to be used for configuration. If no COM port is available, a USB-COM port adapter may be used. Attach the AC power adapter to the power connector on the power/data cable and plug the AC adapter into an outlet.

Section 2: Initialization and Configuration

2. Start HyperTerminal, or another terminal program such as Procomm or TerraTerm,

and configure it to use the same COM port to which the cable was just attached, and for 19200 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, and no flow control:

Figure 2-2: Hyperterminal Connection Properties Dialog

3. Power the RTK Bridge unit by pressing and holding the green power button until the

PWR LED turns red. Wait for approximately 30 seconds for the unit to boot, then type “700” on the terminal screen to invoke the setup menu.

If the unit has not been activated (CDMA) or does not have a SIM inserted (GSM/GPRS/EDGE), or is not within coverage, it may be necessary to type ‘q’ to skip the modem’s network registration step.

Section 2: Initialization and Configuration

Figure 2-3: RTK Bridge Initial Startup Output

Figure 2-4: RTK Bridge Main Configuration Menu

4. You are now ready to interact with the configuration menus. Pressing the ESC key at

the top level menu will exit the menu and the unit will restart and begin running using the currently selected PROFILE configuration parameters.

Section 2: Initialization and Configuration

2.2 Embedded Cellular Modem Activation

The activation process involves two steps: contacting your carrier and establishing or adding a new line to an account, and activating the device after the account/line has been established. Currently the Intuicom RTK Bridge - Cellular can be ordered with an embedded modem compatible with either Verizon (CMDA) or any GSM/GPRS/EDGE carrier such as AT&T or T-Mobile. The activation process differs slightly depending on the carrier. In either case you will typically need a few pieces of information available from the configuration menu of the unit.

Access the modem configuration menu by selecting Administration->Embedded Cellular Modem Configuration:

Figure 2-5: Administration Menu

Section 2: Initialization and Configuration

Figure 2-6: Example Verizon Embedded Modem Configuration Screen

Figure 2-7: Example GSM/GPRS/EDGE Embedded Modem Configuration Screen

Section 2: Initialization and Configuration

2.2.1 Verizon Service (US Customers)

Establishing Service

For a Verizon modem, service will need to be established by contacting Verizon Wireless or your customer service representative:

www.verizonwireless.com/activateyourdevice

Business Sales: 800-899-4249

Government Sales: 800-293-3048

Customer Service: 800-922-0204

Provide the Verizon representative with the Intuicom RTK Bridge – Cellular identifier: RTKBC-VZ and your unit’s Electronic Serial Number (ESN). The ESN (in HEX form) can be found in the Embedded Cellular Modem Configuration menu as shown in or on the label on the side of the device.

The most appropriate data plan for most users to request is “Mobile Broadband Access”. This plan is a 5GB/month data only plan for a fixed monthly price. Note: used 24x7 with a 1 Hz RTCM3 correction, an RTK Bridge should use ~ 2GB/month of data.

The representative will provide a 10-digit phone number (MDN) – record this number, you will be prompted to enter it during the provisioning step. If not provided by the Verizon representative, request the 10-digit “MIN” number. You will be prompted to enter both numbers during the modem activation step next.

Activation

After service has been established with Verizon for your unit, a final activation step completed on the RTK Bridge itself is required. The activation process for the Verizon modem requires access to the carrier’s wireless network. If you are not located within coverage, wait to complete the next steps until the unit is located Verizon wireless network coverage. A Verizon mobile phone can be handy here to help verify coverage. Attempting to activate the modem outside of Verizon coverage will not damage the unit and activation can be attempted again later if it fails due to lack of wireless service.

Be sure the device has the modem antenna attached to the connector on the front panel. From the Embedded Cellular Modem Configuration menu, select the Activation option. You will be prompted to enter the 10-digit MDN number provided when the service was established. Next you will be prompted for the MIN number. If the MIN is the same as the MDN, enter the MDN a second time. Be sure to carefully and accurately enter this number with no spaces.

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Intuicom RTK Bridge User Manual

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