Rhein Tech Laboratories 360 Herndon Parkway Suite 1400 Herndon, VA 20170 http://www.rheintech.com Client: AMCO Automated Systems, LLC Model: TRACE URFI FCC ID: G8JURF01 Standards: FCC Part 90 Report Number: 2003202 Rev 0.01 APPENDIX E: MANUALS Please see the following pages.
INSTALLATION GUIDE TRACE® Universal RF Interrogator
Copyright Acknowledgements The contents of this document are the property of AMCO Automated Systems and are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. For additional copies of this document, please contact: AMCO Automated Systems 107 Erskine Lane Scott Depot, WV 25560 Phone 304-757-3300 Fax 304-757-3388 The information contain herein has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.
TABLE OF C ONTENTS Universal RF Interrogator INSTALLATION GUIDE Table of Contents Chapter One—Introduction ........................................................................... 2 About this Document ................................................................................. 2 Audience............................................................................................ 2 Conventions .......................................................................................
I NTRODUCTION Chapter One Introduction ® The TRACE Universal RF Interrogator (URFI) is an important part of AMCO Automated Systems’ portfolio of products for remote, automated meter reading (AMR). The URFI provides a convenient radio frequency (RF) interface necessary to enable AMR via an existing handheld data entry terminal.
I NTRODUCTION Conventions In the interest of brevity and simplicity, this document uses the following conventions: ! ! Additional information relevant to a given instruction step may be shown in one of three ways: 1. A bulleted item covers “how-to” and verification information. 2. An italicized NOTE contains relevant background information. 3. An italicized and bolded CAUTION contains information important to the safety of either the user or the equipment.
AMR OVERVIEW Chapter Two Automated Meter Reading Overview The TRACE system uses radio frequency (RF) signals to allow utility personnel to read meters from a distance while the reader is in motion. This technology is called automated meter reading (AMR). This technology greatly increases the speed at which routes can be covered with a high degree of accuracy.
TRACE AMR OVERVIEW The TRACE AMR System Overview In addition to standard automated meter reading functions, AMCO Automated Systems’ TRACE portfolio of products permits the remote recording of tamper conditions and linking of meter latitude and longitude data using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. With the optional Vehicle Interactive Display, TRACE makes driver-to-meter orientation more intuitive and efficient. TRACE interrogators transmit at 451.
TRACE AMR OVERVIEW The information acquisition, storage and handling process includes several basic elements: Meter interface. Using a mechanical-to-digital interface, the TRACE transponder senses the output from the index of a utility meter, translates this into electronic form and stores it in the transponder’s memory. Transponder data acquisition. The transponder is programmed with a unique serial number at the time of manufacture.
URFI OVERVIEW Chapter Three Universal RF Interrogator Overview The TRACE Universal RF Interrogator is a plug-in adapter that allows any current DOS-compatible handheld data terminal to transmit and receive data from TRACE transponders. With the URFI, your existing investment in handheld terminals can accommodate manual reads as well as TRACE automated meter reads.
URFI OVERVIEW Power Battery pack. A detachable battery pack allows the user to keep a spare battery pack in the vehicle for extended service time. A/C adapter. The battery may also be recharged by connecting the battery back via its A/C adapter to a normal 120 VAC outlet. On/Off control. On/Off control of the URFI is done by the handheld terminal to maximize battery performance.
URFI OVERVIEW 2. The transponder then calculates an error-detection code which must be verified by the handheld terminal before the transponder data can be acquired and stored. 3. The ReadIt software compares the current meter reading with hi/low audit values (established by the billing department and entered into the route file prior to reading meters) and it looks for readings that fall outside those limits.
URFI OVERVIEW URFI Specifications The following table shows the URFI specifications: Power UL approved, high-capacity sealed lead-acid battery. Vehicle cigarette lighter/accessory adapter included for mobile use. RF Transmitter Frequency: 451.35 MHz, 2W peak power RF Receiver Frequency: 415 MHz, 4 MHz narrow band, single channel FCC Compliance The URFI has been type accepted by the FCC for use under Part 90 FCC ID G8JURF01 Weight 2 lb. Dimensions 6.2” x 4.3” x 1.
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS Chapter Four Preparation and Installation The URFI is easy to install and connect to your handheld terminal or laptop PC. For wearable use, the URFI and battery back come with durable fabric pouches that may be worn on the belt or over the shoulder.
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS Assembling URFI Components The URFI/handheld terminal interrogator system will take about five minutes to assemble using the procedures described below. No special tools are required. Connecting Antennas and Handheld Terminal The URFI system will be shipped with a bracket designed specifically for your type of handheld terminal.
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS 3. Attach the receive antenna (long) to the antenna port on the top right of the installed bracket. • 4. Align the antenna connector’s center pin with the center of the antenna port on the bracket and push antenna connector into port. Twist until connector locks in place. Connect one end of each coax cable to an antenna port on the right side of the bracket. • The transmit antenna port is nearest the front of the handheld terminal (top, in the photo below).
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS Connecting Handheld Terminal to URFI 1. Slip the URFI unit into its wearable carrying pouch and snap closed. Transmit Antenna Port RS232 Serial Port • 2. 3. Receive Antenna Port Power Port Ensure the serial port, power and antenna ports are properly exposed through the opening in the fabric. Connect the male end of each antenna coax cable to the corresponding port on the URFI. • Transmit antenna connects to the port on the left, receive antenna on the right.
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS Universal RF Interrogator ? Installation Guide AMCO Automated Systems • P/N 52845G120 Rev 1 FEB 2004 Page 15
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS 4. Connect the power cable to the URFI power port. • Push connector into port until secure. Connecting the Battery Power Supply and URFI 1. If not already done, slip the battery into its carrying pouch. 2. Connect the power cable (with its cigarette lighter-type plug) into the corresponding receptacle on the battery pack. 3. Connect the other end of power cable to the power jack on the URFI. 4.
ASSEMBLING URFI C OMPONENTS 5. With the URFI in its carrying pouch, attach it to your belt or to its shoulder strap. URFI on belt Battery on shoulder strap You are now ready to interrogate TRACE transponders automatically.
U SING BATTERY PACK Chapter Five Using the Battery Pack The URFI battery is part of a rechargeable battery kit that provides a portable 12VDC power source. New Batteries When using a new battery, always charge for about 8 hours prior to use. Recharging Batteries URFI batteries can be recharged using standard 120 VAC household current. To recharge batteries: 1. Disconnect the battery from the URFI by removing the cigarette lighter-type plug from the receptacle on the battery pack. 2.
TROUBLESHOOTING Chapter Six Troubleshooting There is very little the user can do to troubleshoot URFI problems. Contact AMCO Automated Systems if you need assistance. Symptom Unable to read transponders at more than 100 feet. Possible Cause Obstacles between URFI/interrogator and transponder are limiting read range. Universal RF Interrogator ? Installation Guide AMCO Automated Systems • P/N 52845G120 Rev 1 FEB 2004 Solution Move URFI or obstacle to gain line-of-sight with transponder, if possible.
PR OGRA MM IN G GUID E TRACE® Universal RF Interrogator HOST SOFTWARE
Copyright Acknowledgements The contents of this document are the property of AMCO Automated Systems and are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. For additional copies of this document, please contact: AMCO Automated Systems 107 Erskine Lane Scott Depot, WV 25560 Phone 304-757-3300 Fax 304-757-3388 The information contain herein has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.
TABLE OF C ONTENTS Universal RF Interrogator HOST PROGRAMMING GUIDE Table of Contents Chapter One—Introduction ........................................................................... 2 About this Document ................................................................................. 2 Audience............................................................................................ 2 Conventions .......................................................................................
I NTRODUCTION Chapter One Introduction ® The TRACE Universal RF Interrogator (URFI) is an important part of AMCO Automated Systems’ portfolio of products for remote, automated meter reading (AMR). The URFI provides a convenient radio frequency (RF) interface necessary to enable AMR via an existing handheld data entry terminal.
I NTRODUCTION Conventions In the interest of brevity and simplicity, this document uses the following conventions: ! ! Additional information relevant to a given instruction step may be shown in one of three ways: 1. A bulleted item covers “how-to” and verification information. 2. An italicized NOTE contains relevant background information. 3. An italicized and bolded CAUTION contains information important to the safety of either the user or the equipment.
AMR OVERVIEW Chapter Two Automated Meter Reading Overview The TRACE system uses radio frequency (RF) signals to allow utility personnel to read meters from a distance while the reader is in motion. This technology is called automated meter reading (AMR). This technology greatly increases the speed at which routes can be covered with a high degree of accuracy.
TRACE AMR OVERVIEW The TRACE AMR System Overview In addition to standard automated meter reading functions, AMCO Automated Systems’ TRACE portfolio of products permits the remote recording of tamper conditions and linking of meter latitude and longitude data using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. With the optional Vehicle Interactive Display, TRACE makes driver-to-meter orientation more intuitive and efficient. TRACE interrogators transmit at 451.
TRACE AMR OVERVIEW Meter interface. Using a mechanical-to-digital interface, the TRACE transponder senses the output from the index of a utility meter, translates this into electronic form and stores it in the transponder’s memory. Transponder data acquisition. The transponder is programmed with a unique serial number at the time of manufacture. Upon installation on a meter, the current (or baseline) meter index reading is also programmed into the transponder’s memory.
URFI OVERVIEW Chapter Three Universal RF Interrogator Overview The TRACE Universal RF Interrogator is a plug-in adapter that allows any current DOS-compatible handheld data terminal to transmit and receive data from TRACE transponders. With the URFI, your existing investment in handheld terminals can accommodate manual reads as well as TRACE automated meter reads.
URFI OVERVIEW Power Battery pack. A detachable battery pack allows the user to keep a spare battery pack in the vehicle for extended service time. A/C adapter. The battery may also be recharged by connecting the battery back via its A/C adapter to a normal 120 VAC outlet. On/Off control. On/Off control of the URFI is done by the handheld terminal to maximize battery performance.
URFI OVERVIEW 2. The transponder then calculates an error-detection code which must be verified by the handheld terminal before the transponder data can be acquired and stored. 3. The ReadIt software compares the current meter reading with hi/low audit values (established by the billing department and entered into the route file prior to reading meters) and it looks for readings that fall outside those limits.
URFI OVERVIEW URFI Specifications The following table shows the URFI specifications: Power UL approved, high-capacity sealed lead-acid battery. Vehicle cigarette lighter/accessory adapter included for mobile use. RF Transmitter Frequency: 451.35 MHz, 2W peak power RF Receiver Frequency: 415 MHz, 4 MHz narrow band, single channel FCC Compliance The URFI has been type accepted by the FCC for use under Part 90 FCC ID G8JURF01 Weight 2 lb. Dimensions 6.2” x 4.3” x 1.
URFI H OST PROGRAMMING Chapter Four URFI Host Programming Customer Serial Interface This chapter provides host programming information for the TRACE Universal RF Interrogator. Changes The following changes have been implemented since Beta model: Pressure Compensation New Command for V9 support of Pressure Compensation Factors (see PC and RC) Power On/Off Change Power On/Off from RTS (pin 7) to DTR (pin 4) and other small corrections. URFI Attributes and Performance Characteristics 1. Communications.
URFI H OST PROGRAMMING 5. Throughput enhancement. In between a command and its reply the URFI will ignore the serial port, to reduce overhead and improve throughput. If the URFI fails to respond in the maximum time for that command the S/W can reset the URFI by toggling the serial port DTR line. 6. URFI response. After all replies, the URFI will resend the “URF>” cursor to acknowledge it is ready for another command. Except after the Stand-By or Power-Down commands, because it will not be ready then.
URFI H OST PROGRAMMING URFI Command Conventions 1. Command termination. All commands end with a Carriage Return and Line Feed (not shown below). 2. Checkum On. When Check-Summing is on (CS+), commands and replies will be followed by a 2 digit ASCII-Hex sum as the last two characters, except for CheckSumOff (“CS -”) and Help (“?”). 3. Valid serial number characters. = a 1 to 8 digit Serial Number, with wild card digits as “?”. (H, E, L, and P are also valid).
URFI H OST PROGRAMMING URFI Commands The following tables detail the URFI commands and responses. Purpose Command Response Power-Up {DTR (Pin 4)=logic1} {CTS (Pin 8)=logic1} URF> (~ 0.25 sec) Power-Down {DTR line=logic0} {CTS=logic0} Stand-By SB {ignore all commands except WU[]} Wake-Up WU[] URF> Where: is the 5 digit Serial Number of the URFI. If none is supplied any unit will respond.
URFI H OST PROGRAMMING Purpose Read Sub-Counts & P.C.F. Command RC[][,T][,F<1|2>] Response /,[/,], or R|A|J> Where: Count and divisor are 3 digit numbers, representing the fractional reading not counted yet. On Transponders with V9 code or later the Num/Denom is the Pressure Compensation Factor (P.C.F.) (default: 1/1, see PC). R = Reply: N= None, B = Bad, C= Try Channel , A= Aborted, J= Jammed.
URFI H OST PROGRAMMING Purpose Group Mode Command G<+|->[,nn] Response [GA] Where: G- = Normal Interrogation mode, 1.5 seconds of Dummies before each command. G+ = run the transmitter continuously , sending Dummy Ints. between commands. About 15 times faster, when conditions permit. (60 dummies before first Int. only) nn = G+ mode Time-out (in seconds), reverts back to G- mode (default=30 sec.) GA= Group mode Aborted, if Vbat<9V or Vcc<5V or TxPwr>~3W, and stops the Tx.
