ADCON T E L E M E T R Y A733 RTU Technical Reference (Type Approval) SMART WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
ADCON T E L E M E T R Y A D C O N T E L E M E T RY A G INKUSTRASSE 24 A-3400 KLOSTERNEUBURG A U S T R I A TEL: +43 (2243) 38 280-0 FAX: +43 (2243) 38 280-6 h t t p : / / w w w. a d c o n . a t ADCON TELEMETRY INC 1 0 0 1 YA M A T O R O A D SUITE #305, BOCA RATON F L 3 3 4 3 1 U S A TEL: +1 (561) 989-5309 FAX: +1 (561) 989-5310 h t t p : / / w w w. a d c o n . c o m A D C O N T E L E M E T RY S R L BD.
Table of Contents Introduction ____________________________________________________7 About the A733 ______________________________________________________________ 7 Hardware _______________________________________________________9 Overview_____________________________________________________________________ 9 The Modem Interface _________________________________________________________________ 10 The Microcontroller and the Power Management Sections _________________________________ 10 The Analog + Digita
Manufacturing Issues ________________________________________________________ 28 Marking and labeling issues ____________________________________________________________ 28 Alignment Range and Switching Range __________________________________________________ 28 Tuning Procedure _____________________________________________________________________ 29 Setting Up the Default Parameters ______________________________________________________ 29 Commands valid for all bands ______________________________________
INFO _________________________________________________________________________ 52 RX ___________________________________________________________________________ 53 TX ___________________________________________________________________________ 54 B ____________________________________________________________________________ 54 Returned errors list____________________________________________________________________ 54 Command line interpreter _______________________________________________________ 54 Device d
1. Introduction 1.1. About the A733 The A733 Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) is a portable low-power, medium-range telemetry device capable of sampling up to 12 analog and 8 digital inputs (of which 4 are counter types); in addition, it can control up to 4 outputs. A 3-volt CMOS serial interface is also built-in, allowing for configuration, data download, or expansion (e.g. various bus implementations).
Introduction • Hardware: includes the schematics as well as a description of the main board and interface boards of the A733 • The A431 radio module: includes the schematics and description of the radio module • Software: a short description of the software with the most important commands that can be used to control the unit over the serial interface This manual is intended for the radio approval authorities and laboratories.
2. Hardware 2.1. Overview Most of the electronics (including the A431 radio module) are situated on the main board (for the A431 description, see “The A431 Radio Module” on page 25). The main board (Figure 1) contains the radio unit, a low-speed modem interface, a microcontroller and a power management subsystem. For the analog inputs and the digital inputs/outputs, two identical interface boards (A733CA) holding the 7-pin Binder connectors are used.
Hardware For further details, consult the schematic diagram in Figure 2. 2.1.1. The Modem Interface The modem operates with two tones: 1 kHz (representing the “1” bits) and 2 kHz (representing the “0” bits). A bit cell is represented by a complete time period (1/f), thus the raw throughput varies between 1 and 2 kbps (average 1.5 kbps). The modem functions are essentially implemented in software. However, a signal conditioning is performed on both receive and transmit paths.
The Microcontroller and the Power Management Sections The radio unit is controlled via the SPI bus (to set the PLL chip parameters) and via several ports of the microcontroller for such operations as transmit and receive. In addition, the high current 5 volt LDO voltage source (U4) is switched on before the radio module’s PA must be activated.The modem’s output (implemented in software) is available on PB5 (TXDI), while the receiver output is fed to PD4 (RXDO).
The Analog + Digital I/O Interface Board 2.1.3. The Analog + Digital I/O Interface Board The two identical interface boards ensure the connection between the main board and the outside world (see Figure 3). The interface boards contain two connectors each (I/O A and I/O B or I/O C and I/O D respectively) and some active/passive components protecting the inputs.
External Power Supply when the battery voltage drops below 5.6 Volts, and under 5.9 Volts the RF operation may stop. Power Cable Serial Adapter Cable + POWER RS232 + I/O D Red + I/O C 5 to 10 Volt Black I/O B ANT I/O A Figure 4. 2.2. Connection of an external power supply. Specifications The A733 fulfills the specifications of the EN 300 220-1, Class 12, ETS 300 086 and ETS 300 113, as well as the FCC Part 90.214 (Subpart J) of the CFR 47.
Hardware Parameter Min Typ Local Oscillator Leakage Max 2 Unit nW Adjacent Channel Attenuation -70 dB RSSI dynamic 90 dB Operating Current (incl. On-board Microcontroller) 25 mA Transmitter (all measurements made on a 50 Ω resistive load) Output Power 27 dBm Spurious Radiation 200 nW Adjacent Channel Power (12.5 kHz version) -34 dBm Adjacent Channel Power (25 kHz version) -44 dBm Occupied Bandwidth (12.5 kHz version) 7.
A733CA Figure 9. A733, Back view. Figure 10. A733, Top view.
Hardware Figure 11. A733, Bottom view. Figure 12. A733, Left view.
A733CA Figure 13. A733, Right view. Figure 14. A733, Case opened.
Hardware Figure 15. A733 Motherboard, top view. Figure 16. A733 Motherboard, bottom view.
3. The A431 Radio Module 3.1. About the A431 Radio Module The A431 was specially designed for narrow-band FM data communication. It exhibits a relatively flat response in the audio band from 10 Hz to 2.5 kHz, both on send as well as on receive paths. Additionally, the receiver’s group delay is very low. The module operates in the 430 to 470 MHz range, making it compatible with most radio communication regulations in the world. The output power is 0.5 W, while the modulation is narrow-band FM (12.
The A431 Radio Module The incoming signal is then applied to the first mixer, U7, through an LC impedance matching network (L12/C48). The local oscillator signal is obtained by means of the VCO built around U10 and applied to the mixer. The VCO is locked to the OSC1 reference by means of the U9 dual-PLL chip. The mixer’s output on 45 MHz is filtered by means of XF1, which is needed to ensure a sufficient attenuation (over 70dB) of the second image frequency (at 44.090 MHz).
The A431 Radio Module An Automatic Level Control (ALC) system is responsible for keeping the output power constant, regardless of the external influences (temperature, VCO excitation and/ or supply). A small part of the RF energy is rectified by D2 and applied to the U5:A amplifier. By means of U5:B, the power is controlled according to the pre-set power level (ALC input). U5:A is basically an analog comparator between the actual and the programmed power output.
Tuning Procedure For North America (FCC), only the portion 460 to 470 MHz will be used; therefore, a single device model A733-46 having the switching range between 460 and 470 MHz will be submitted for testing. 3.3.3. Tuning Procedure The A431 modules are to be tuned by mounting them on a test fixture consisting of a specially modified A733 motherboard.
The A431 Radio Module Commands valid for all bands ID 1 PMP 65 72 SLOT 900 15 RSSI 58 Commands required for band 1 TF 430000000 BL 430000000 440000000 FREQ 430000000 12500 Commands required for band 2 TF 440000000 BL 440000000 450000000 FREQ 440000000 12500 Commands required for band 3 TF 450000000 BL 450000000 460000000 FREQ 450000000 12500 Commands required for band 4 TF 460000000 BL 460000000 470000000 FREQ 460000000 12500 Note: The TF command sets the start tuning frequency, the BL command sets th
Definitions 3.3.5. Definitions The diagram of the setup environment is depicted in Figure 18. Scope Service Monitor Network Analyzer Voltmeter 0.765 V Optional Wobble Power/ Sens Out Scope Ant I/O Out Out Voltmeter Network Analyzer RS232 To/From PC A733MB Connector Testing Fixture + 6.5 V – Figure 18. Trimming Setup. The testing fixture is used to fasten the A431 Module under test both mechanically and electrically in such a way as to allow its rapid and comfortable alignment.
The A431 Radio Module 3.3.6. Test Equipment Settings Before proceeding, certain controls on the test equipment must be set; some of the settings depend of the operating band (high or low) of the device under test (DUT). In addition, it is highly recommended that the ambient temperature during alignment is kept to 24° C (±2°C). 3.3.6.1. Network Analyzer (HP 8712 or equivalent) The settings for the Network Analyzer are as follows: • Center frequency: 450 MHz • Span: 100 MHz • Display: 10.
Trimming Elements 3.3.7. Trimming Elements The location of the trimming elements on the A431 Module is shown in Figure 20. FL2 FL1 L15 (RX VCO) L7 (TX VCO) R75 (Crystal Reference) Figure 20. Location of the trimming elements. 3.3.8. Adjusting the Receiver Front End 1. Mount the DUT (Device Under Test) on the testing fixture and connect it to the host via the serial cable. 2. Select the appropriate instrument profile depending on the device’s band. 3.
The A431 Radio Module If the adjustments do not achieve the appropriate curve, check the power supply, the cable connections to/from the test equipment, etc. Verify also that all the pins of the FL1 and FL2 filters are properly soldered. Figure 21. Helical Filter + LNA’s selectivity diagram. 3.3.9. Adjusting the VCOs 1. Flip the switch on the Testing Fixture to the Power/Sens. position. 2. Verify that the DUT is in receive mode (enter the RX command at the terminal program). 3.
Adjusting the Crystal Reference • No parts are missing, or have the incorrect value, or are badly soldered (check the parts around U2 and U10). 3.3.10. Adjusting the Crystal Reference 1. Flip the switch on the Testing Fixture to the Power/Sens. position. 2. Switch the unit to transmit mode by entering TX at the terminal. 3.
The A431 Radio Module 3. Switch the Service Monitor to TX TEST mode, on the appropriate frequency (430 / 440 / 450 or 460 MHz respectively). You should see the following parameters on the Service Monitor readout: a. Carrier: 430000000 ± 200 Hz (or 440000000 / 450000000 / 460000000 respectively) b. Output Power: 26.5 dBm (+ 0.5 dBm / - 1 dBm) c. Frequency Deviation: ±2.0 kHz (±0.2 kHz) 4. Switch the unit to stand-by by pressing the Enter key. For item 3.a above, adjust R75 (see Figure 20). For item 3.
Data Transfer Check 3.4. PCB Parts Placement Figure 22. A431 Parts placement (top).
The A431 Radio Module 3.6.
Data Transfer Check 3.7. A431 Module’s Photographs Figure 24. A431 Module, General view. Figure 25. A431 Module, Top view.
The A431 Radio Module Figure 26. A431 Module, Bottom view.
4. Software 4.1. Short Description The software is written entirely in C. It consists of a collection of standard C library functions, a pre-emptive multitasking operating system (CMX) offering basic configuration and administration functions (including a command line terminal on a serial port), and the application software itself, which assures the desired functionality of the device. 4.2.
Software and are used for event counting, e.g. rain gauges). These interrupts are handled by a separate driver. One of the main concerns of the software design is the power consumption of the device. The software must ensure that all the peripherals are left in the correct state in order to reduce their consumption to a minimum; all operations are executed in the shortest possible time. Reset 0.5 sec Interrupt Initialization No Increment the RTC? Sleep Yes Advance the RTC one second No 0.
Serial Communication Protocol 4.3. Controlling the Unit The unit under test can be controlled by means of the special serial cable supplied by Adcon Telemetry that is connected to a PC (e.g. a laptop) on one side and to the POWER connector on the other side. In order to switch the unit to various modes of operations, a simple communications terminal program will suffice (e.g. Terminal or Hyperterminal in Windows, or Kermit under other platforms).
Software you type parameters, you are issuing the SET version of a command and are setting the command to the parameters you typed. 4.3.3. General Format of an Answer The answers have the following format: ID Command Result1 Result2 ... ResultN ErrResult # • ID is the answering device. If a command was further routed, it is the ID of the end device. The answer must always contain the ID on return. • Command is the string representing the original command.
Commands TIME DESCRIPTION Sets/returns the real time clock. PARAMETERS The actual time, or none in the GET version. RETURNS The actual time as dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm:ss. REMARKS GET/SET. REMOTE No. EXAMPLES TIME 12/12/1999 22:10:10 193 TIME 0 # TIME 193 TIME 12/12/1998 22:10:10 0 # BL DESCRIPTION Sets/returns the band limits. PARAMETERS The frequency band limits (Hz), or none in the GET version. RETURNS The actual frequency band limits, in Hz. REMARKS GET/SET. This is a hidden command (i.e.
Software FREQ 193 FREQ 433925000 25000 0 # DATA DESCRIPTION Returns data stored for a certain device. PARAMETER The ID of the device for which the data is requested and the date/time (in the standard format) the data was stored. If missing, it refers to the data of the local device. RETURNS A data block. REMARKS GET only. If the date/time parameter is not included, the latest data is returned.
Commands The A733 devices always respond with a type 37 data frame (see also “Data12” on page 62). The composition of the data block of such a frame (the values marked as d1, d2... dn) is depicted in Figure 28, while the digibyte is depicted in Figure 29.
Software # IMME DESCRIPTION Samples all inputs and immediately returns the sampled data. PARAMETER The ID of the requested subsystem, default is the standard A/D subsystem of the A733 (ID=0). Note: Currently only the default subsystem is implemented on the A733. RETURNS A data block. REMARKS GET only. The command needs a certain delay to execute, e.g. for the standard subsystem this delay amounts to two seconds. The delay is necessary to allow for the sensors to settle after applying power to them.
Commands battery power management (charge/discharge).
Software TX DESCRIPTION Switches the unit to transmit mode (for tuning purposes). PARAMETERS None (sends an unmodulated carrier), 1 (sends a 1 kHz modulated carrier), 0 (sends a 2 kHz modulated carrier) or 5 (sends a mixed 1 + 2 kHz modulated carrier). RETURNS Nothing. REMARKS The system stops, and exits the command only when a key is pressed. This command returns no message. REMOTE No. EXAMPLE TX 193 TX 0 # TX 1 193 TX 0 # TX 5 193 TX 0 # B DESCRIPTION Sends a broadcast frame.
Returned errors list • 4 — reserved • 5 — missing or false parameters in command • 6 — operation not implemented Device descriptors and storage handler • 10 — device not found (attempt to perform a command on a nonexistent device) • 11 — device already exists • 12 — reserved • 13 — no more space for descriptors (too many devices) • 14 — no more records for the specified device • 15 — temporary communication break, no more data (the last request was not successful) • 16 — time-out (the handler blocked or is
Software 4.4. Adcon Packet Radio Protocol The A733 is basically intended as an end device in a radio network. Most frames defined by the Adcon Packet Radio Protocol are recognized and answered by an A733; a complete list is provided (see “Frame Types” on page 59). In addition, full source routing of frames for other destinations is implemented. Timeout Expired Wait Nhops + 1 s and Hunt Syncs rupt Measure RF Ac k e l Fr am igna No S N ew Idle ic nt Tw e Se Po s sib le Inter Fram 0.
Modulation Technique Used ware, and takes at most 6 additional milliseconds. If no valid tone is detected, the unit goes back to sleep, otherwise it tries to decode the frame. Based on the destination ID, the frame will be identified. If it is not for that particular unit (own ID), then the microcontroller will cease decoding it and will go immediately to sleep. The destination ID is positioned very early in the frame header (see also “Generic Format of a Radio Frame” on page 57).
Software • The frame starts with a header of zeros and there are two header types: long and short. The long headers are used to wake up a remote station and must be 140 bytes long, while the short headers are only 16 bytes long. • After the header, a synchronization character is used; this is a hex 0xAA byte. The implementation must ensure that a 16-bit sync character is checked, i.e. 0x00AA, and not only an 8-bit 0xAA character.
Data Frames 4.4.4. Data Frames The data frames (payload) are the blocks of data extracted from the radio frames, after the CRC and other information (source address) was checked. The data frame and its length are passed to the upper layers of the software. TYPE HLEN SRC-H SRC-L HOP1-H HOP1-L ....... HOPn-H HOPn-L DEST-H DEST-L DATA1 DATA2 Header (Frame Type + Routing Information) ....... DATAn Data Figure 31. Generic Data Frame structure.
Software frames: normal (type 8), extended (type 37), and reduced (type 38); the A733 answers with the extended type (see also “Data12” on page 62). • init_time represents the actual time to be used by the remote to re-initialize its local RTC; if its value is time_t NULL (default), then no re-initialization will be performed. • req_time is the time for requested data. An A733 will search its internal data buffer for data that has a time stamp that is strictly newer than req_time.
Frame Types DESCRIPTION This frame is sent by the device when the LED tool is inserted in the POWER connector, or if the command B is issued in terminal mode. This frame is special in that the destination address (DST) in the header is 0. This type of frame is not routable. All devices having received this frame must reply in a random fashion with a Broadcast answer frame. SEE ALSO Broadcast Answer frame. Ping ID 9 FORMAT The data frame body is empty.
Software • version is the software/hardware version of the device. • clkfail and stackfail are meaningless for an A733; they are kept for historical reasons. • WDT is a counter incremented each time the device was reset due to a Watchdog timeout; its value is cleared at power-on reset. • batt is the battery voltage (this value will be also found in the Data frame).
Frame Types unsigned int unsigned char unsigned int } data_frame; DESCRIPTION counter3; /* Pulse Counter I/O D input */ battery; analog_data[9]; This frame will be sent back by the device as an answer to the Request frame. • RF_levelIn is the left zero (it is a placeholder and will be filled by the first device receiving the frame). • RF_levelOut is the RF level measured by the device on the Request frame. • slot_timeStamp is the actual time stamp on the data sent.
Software FORMAT struct { unsigned int } setId; ID; DESCRIPTION This frame requests a remote to change its own ID number. The remote will answer with a General acknowledge frame before changing its ID. An A733 will never issue this frame type, but it will answer to it. SEE ALSO General Acknowledge frame.
Frame Types Set Battery Charge Levels ID 43 FORMAT struct { unsigned char unsigned char } setBattCharge; DESCRIPTION chargeStart; chargeStop; This frame requests that a remote change the battery charge management parameters. The device will answer with a General acknowledge frame. An A733 will never issue this frame type, but it will answer to it. • chargeStart is the value where the external power (normally a solar panel) will be enabled to charge the battery.
