SKYSENSE BCON1 User Manual

SKYSENSE AB Kistagången 12, SE-164 40 Kista, Sweden, [e-mail] Page 1 of 19

BCON1

User Guide

Document Number: SSD1000A4

Rev 1.4, 2017-07-31

Document Number: SSD1000A4

Rev 1.4 2017-07-31

SKYSENSE AB Kistagången 12, SE-164 40 Kista, Sweden, [e-mail] Page 2 of 19

Contents

User Guide ..........................................................................................................................................1

Contents .............................................................................................................................................2

Introduction........................................................................................................................................3

Overview of the BCON1 Transmitter ...............................................................................................3

Specifications ..................................................................................................................................3

Get Started .........................................................................................................................................4

Unpacking your parcel ....................................................................................................................4

Connect BCON1 to your computer ..................................................................................................4

Set up BCON1 .................................................................................................................................4

Install BCON1 client .....................................................................................................................4

Install Terminal application .........................................................................................................4

Setup via BCON1 client ................................................................................................................5

Setup via Terminal ......................................................................................................................9

Upgrade Firmware ............................................................................................................................ 10

Connect BCON1 to your drone .......................................................................................................... 13

Hardware Interfaces ..................................................................................................................... 13

Command and Control Interface ................................................................................................... 13

Appendix A: Pin Map of SAMTECH Connector ................................................................................... 14

Appendix B: CLI Commands............................................................................................................... 15

Appendix C: CDC Virtual COM Drivers ............................................................................................... 16

Document Number: SSD1000A4

Rev 1.4 2017-07-31

SKYSENSE AB Kistagången 12, SE-164 40 Kista, Sweden, [e-mail] Page 3 of 19

Introduction

Overview of the BCON1 Transmitter

BCON1 is an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Stand Alone Transmitter for Class
B0 equipment. BCON1 1090 MHz Non-Transponder-Device (NTD) is implemented independent of a
Mode S transponder to provide the implementation of Extended Squitter (ES) for drones and other
light vehicles/airplanes. The carrier frequency of ADS-B Message transmission is 1090 ±1 MHz, the
ADS-B transmitted message is broadcasted automatically once per second. The Downlink Format (DF)
18 is used for transmitting ADS-B Messages from BCON1 transmitter.

BCON1 transmitter accepts own GPS position information via serial (RS232) interface connected
directly to GPS receiver or via autopilot. The transmitter is preconfigured to use built in precision
altimeter which provides accurate altitude data. BCON1 transmitter support mutual suppression which
is needed when the ADS-B equipment is used along with pulse L-band equipment on board.

BCON1 can be supervised through proprietary Skysense Serial Communication Protocol (SSCP) or
Command Line Interface (CLI) via a serial interface using terminal software or BCON1 windows
application.

Specifications

General

Transmitter power

70W/48.45 dBm

Operating altitude:

Unrestricted

GPS:

NMEA-0183, RS232, adjustable data rate

Altitude:

Internal altitude encoder (0.1m accuracy)
Max 5574 m (50 kPa min),Min -698 m (110 kPa max)
Internal temperature sensor
Min - 40 °C, max 85 °C

Electrical

Power supply:

5V-15V

Power consumption (active):

2.5W

Power consumption (stand-by):

<0.1W

Compliance (on-going)

FAA/EASA:

(E)TSO-166b

MOPS:

DO260B, Class B0

Software assurance:

DO-178C

Hardware assurance:

DO-254

Operating Environment:

DO-160G

Physical

Weight:

35g (without enclosure)

Dimensions:

45 x 90 x 12 mm

Temperature range:

–30 – 85 °C

Document Number: SSD1000A4

Rev 1.4 2017-07-31

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Get Started

Unpacking your parcel

Verify that following three items are included in the parcel:

 One BCON1 transmitter. The picture below shows BCON1 with its various interfaces
 One USB cable to connect BCON1 to your computer. This cable is only used for configuration

of BCON1.

 One SAMTECH cable harness (with wires only on one end) to connect BCON1 to your drone.

Connect BCON1 to your computer

To use BCON1 with your computer, you need:

 RS232 (DSUB9 male)-USB adapter cable (not included with BCON1)
 Micro-USB cable for power supply and configuration (Included with BCON1)
 A PC with a USB port, and with Windows Operating system (Windows 7 or later version).
 Terminal emulator program.
 BCON1 GUI client

Set up BCON1

Setup on BCON1 can be made with either an RS232 terminal port (e.g. HyperTerminal) or using BCON1
GUI client.

Install BCON1 client

Install the latest version of windows application that is available on github public repository

https://github.com/Skysense-io/tools/tree/master/bcon1-client-gui

Install Terminal application

Download the terminal application of your choice and then open the application and follow the on­screen instructions.

Red Led – Power On

Yellow Led – Transmit status

Green Led – SW status

SMA Antenna
COAX RG174

DFU BOOT Switch

SAMTECH
connector

USB Port
microUSB

Document Number: SSD1000A4

Rev 1.4 2017-07-31

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Setup via BCON1 client

To connect BCON1 to your computer you need a USB cable, connect the microUSB end to the BCON1
and the standard USB end to the PC/Laptop. If the BCON1 is properly connected then the PC will detect
the new hardware as CDC Virtual COM, this COM port enables RS232 communication to BCON1 via
USB cable. Follow the instructions in Appendix C to install the device drivers.

Connection

Then open the GUI client, on BCON1 tab a new COM port should appear in the serial port list.
Click on the serial port to establish a connection with the BCON1.

Dashboard

This section provides selection of key settings and data.

If no new Com port appears in the Serial Port list, check the cables and make sure that there are
no unknown hardware devices in the Device Manager.

Document Number: SSD1000A4

Rev 1.4 2017-07-31

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Configure ICAO Id
Go to ADSB tab, and then change the transmitter mode to Standby.

 ICAO Id text field and Update button will be enabled.
 Enter the new ICAO Id in hexadecimal and press the Update button to save changes.

Change Internal Attenuation

Go to ADSB tab, and then change the transmitter mode to Standby.
Select the new attenuation value and press the Update button.

Changes to ICAO Id & Attenuation are not permitted when the transmitter mode is set to On.