Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for Datawell BV RX-C4
- Page 1 Datawell Waverider Receiver Manual RX-C4 from serial no.: 60900 and firmware rev.: 60M02x11 Service & Sales Voltastraat 3 1704 RP Heerhugowaard The Netherlands +31 72 534 5298 March 20, 2019 +31 72 572 6406 www.datawell.nl...
- Page 2 The state of the art receiver and antenna splitter used for receiving our Waveriders are fully similar with our receiver and antenna splitter tested by the Notified Body in 2015 and therefore compliant with our Declaration of Conformity. Check if mains supply matches with the specifications of the device.
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Page 3: Declaration Of Conformity
Manufacturer's address: Zomerluststraat 4 2012 LM Haarlem The Netherlands Declares under sole responsibility that the product: Product name: RX-C4 receiver, Antenna Splitter Trade name: Datawell Models: 230 VAC, 12 VDC, 19 inch, low/high band complies with the essential requirements of the following applicable European... -
Page 5: Table Of Contents
Contents Introduction ....................7 Front- and back-panel layout ..............9 Back panel layout ................10 Installation ....................11 Power supply ..................11 Receiving antenna ................11 Connecting the serial output to a PC..........12 Connecting to a local area network ............ 13 Grounding .................. -
Page 7: Introduction
The RX-C4 is equipped with an easy to use electronic tuning system. This makes it possible to tune exactly into a buoy frequency without the need to change the receiving crystal. The RX-C4 can be connected to a PC using RS232 or a LAN network connection. -
Page 9: Front- And Back-Panel Layout
2 Front- and back-panel layout Figure 2.1. RX-C4 front panel layout desktop version. Figure 2.2. RX-C4 front panel layout 19” rack-mounted version. The front panel contains the LCD and the buttons up/speaker ( ▲ ), menu/select ( ) and down ( ). -
Page 10: Back Panel Layout
2.1 Back panel layout Figure 2.3. Back panel layout AC power supply version. Figure 2.4. Back panel layout DC power supply version. The back panel contains the following connectors: Socket for mains supply with fuses (AC power supply version only). ... -
Page 11: Installation
The customer should provide for a cord set terminated with connector type C13 according to IEC 60320-1 and a mains plug in accordance with national standards. The RX-C4 is a class I appliance and requires an earthed socket for connection to protective-earth. -
Page 12: Connecting The Serial Output To A Pc
For interference free reception it is advisable to install the Receiving antenna as far as possible from local interference sources such as combustion engines, electric motors and fluorescent lamps. In general a transmitting distance of 50 Km (30 n.m.) over sea water can be attained when the receiving antenna is located at least 100 m from interference sources mentioned. -
Page 13: Connecting To A Local Area Network
3.4 Connecting to a local area network Connection to a local area network (LAN) is done using a straight CAT5 UTP cable. Before connecting the receiver to a LAN, the IP address and network settings must be properly configured. Please refer to paragraph 4.1.4. It is also possible to connect the receiver directly to a PC. -
Page 15: Configuration And Receiving Data
4.1.1 and paragraph 4.1.3. When the RX-C4 needs to be connected to a LAN, it is very important to correctly configure the RX-C4’s network settings before connecting the receiver to a LAN. The network settings are discussed in paragraph 4.1.4. -
Page 16: Changing The Frequency
4.1.3 Changing the receiver mode The RX-C4 can receive data in the HXV format and in the HVA format. The HXV format is transmitted by the MkI, MkII and MkIII generation of buoys. The MkIII generation includes the WR-SG, the DWR-MkIII and the DWR-G. -
Page 17: Changing The Network Settings
0. The RX-C4 only supports static IP addresses. Dynamic (DHCP) addresses are not supported. It is therefore important to choose an IP address that is not used by any other device on the LAN. -
Page 18: Info Functions
To change the gateway address: Select the “gway” menu item to enter the gateway address menu. To change the gateway address, use the ▲ and buttons to select the number (byte) of the gateway address that needs to be changed (see figure 4.5). The selected number is the number that is underlined. To change the number, press the ... -
Page 19: Gps Position
“heave: ??? cm” This message indicates a transmission error. Figure 4.6. Receiving data. Normally, after power up or loss of signal, the receiver will display “synchronizing” for some time. When the quality of the received signal is high enough, the “heave” messages will be displayed. -
Page 20: Speaker
Figure 4.8. RX-C4 web interface home page. This will bring up the RX-C4 web interface home page as shown in figure 4.8. The home page shows the current receiver status and the current server status (see paragraph 4.4). The menu on the right gives access to the “settings”... -
Page 21: Web Interface Settings Page
4.3.1 Web interface settings page The settings page is protected by a username and password to prevent unauthorized access to the RX-C4 settings. The login user name is “rxc” and the default password is “waverider”. Figure 4.9 shows the web interface settings page. -
Page 22: Retrieving Data Over A Network
The RX-C4 is provided with a so-called “data server”. The data server provides an alternative way of getting the received data from the RX-C4 to a computer. Normally, a computer receives data from the RX-C4 over a serial port connection. The data-server allows a computer to receive data over the LAN network or, if the LAN is connected to the internet, over the internet. -
Page 23: Troubleshooting
This section of the manual describes the steps you should take when you believe the Datawell RX-C4 is operating improperly. The results of these simple investigative procedures may help you avoid the down-time and inconvenience of repair service. It is assumed that the installation worked before the trouble started, in other words: installation has been done in a correct way according to chapter 3. -
Page 24: Data Interface
Now look at the first line of the display. An occasional ''bad vector'' message is normal and no reason for concern. The same goes for an occasional ''checking sync'' messages between normal ''heave'' indications. Only continuous flipping between ''synchronizing'' and ''checking sync'' means that the signal-to-noise or interference ratio is troublesome. -
Page 25: Specifications
6 Specifications Frequency range: 25.5 ... 35.5 MHz (standard) or 35.0 … 45.0 MHz (extended). Frequency accuracy: better than 100 Hz over specified temperature range. Usable sensitivity: -116 dBm (0.5 μV). Dynamic range: >60 dB. In practice this means that a signal differing 5 kHz or more with the buoy signal will do no harm at signal levels below -50 dBm. -
Page 27: Contact Information
7 Contact information Sales Voltastraat 3 1704 RP Heerhugowaard The Netherlands Tel: +31 72 534 5298 Fax: +31 72 572 6406 E-mail: sales@datawell.nl Service Voltastraat 3 1704 RP Heerhugowaard The Netherlands Tel: +31 72 571 8219 Fax: +31 72 571 2950 E-mail: servdept@datawell.nl Website www.datawell.nl... -
Page 29: Appendix A: Buoy Hf Data Link And Range
A.1, and consists of a buoy with its transmitter and transmit antenna, a channel –the atmosphere through which the buoy signals are wirelessly transmitted- and a receiver, namely the RX-C4 and its receiving antenna. Those functional blocks will be described in the next paragraphs, together with technical details, error sources and solutions. - Page 30 Solution: Retune the RX-C4 receiver. A.2 Buoy transmit antenna The transmit antenna is the interface between the buoy transmitter and the physical channel, namely the atmosphere.
- Page 31 A.3 Communication channel The communication channel between the buoy and its receiver is the atmosphere through which the buoy’s RF signal propagates wirelessly. This is the least predictable part of the buoy communication link and determines for a large part the quality of the received signal. Phenomena which play a role in the communication channel between the buoy and its receiver are distance, noise, interference, propagation, wave height and the existence of other transmitters.
- Page 32 An important distinction can be made between in-band interferers and out-of-band interferers. An in-band interference falls in the signal bandwidth of the receiver (plus and minus 100 Hz around the receive frequency for the RX-C4) and it directly harms the translation process from an analog buoy signal into a digital data stream.
- Page 33 3x10 Fresh water ice -10°C A 27 MHz CB transmitter within 100 m will overload the input stages of commercial HF receivers, including those of the RX-C4. In the range of 10 up to 50 dB, available from e.g. www.minicircuits.com.
- Page 34 A.3.5 Wave height The height of the waves around the transmitting buoy influences the received signal strength. The higher the waves the higher the attenuation on the transmission path, thus the lower the received signal strength. Two mechanisms exist, the first being active in the region between = 0 and H = 2 meters and a second mechanism which determines the attenuation above an...
- Page 35 The receiving antenna is the interface between the physical channel, namely the atmosphere and the RX-C4 receiver. The antenna is connected to the RX-C4 using a low loss coaxial cable. Contrary to the transmit antenna of the buoy we have at least some freedom to choose the position and the height of the receiving antenna.
- Page 36 A vertically polarized quarter wavelength whip with groundplane and with a gain of 2 dBi and an impedance of 50 Ω is normally used as a receiving antenna for the RX-C4. This is an omni directional type. Sometimes a directional antenna is used in the case of a too little link margin or in the case of interferers (see above).
- Page 37 Example 2: a “maximum setup” for 10 km mainly over fresh water ice with other obstacles will have an approximate loss of: (transmit antenna, see A.2) (distance over fresh water ice, see A3.1) (max. wave height 8 meters, see A.3.5) (some obstacles) + 10 (normal antenna height of 20 meters)
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Page 38: Appendix B: Output Message Format
Appendix B: Output message format The RX-C4 can receive data in HXV format and in HVA format. This appendix discusses the basics of these two formats. For more information about the HXV format, refer to the “Datawell Waverider Reference Manual” (for the WR-SG, DWR-MkIII and the DWR-G buoys). For more information about the HVA format refer to the “Datawell Waverider Transmission Protocol”... -
Page 39: Appendix C: Abbreviations
Appendix C: Abbreviations Alternating Current. Bose, Chaudhuri, Hochquenghem error correction code. deciBell. deciBell referenced to an isotropic antenna. deciBell referenced to a power level of 1 mW. Direct Current. Instantaneous Frequency Deviation. Internet Protocol Global Positioning System. High Frequency. Hexadecimal Vector format A Hertz. -
Page 40: Appendix D: Receiving Antennas
Appendix D: Receiving antennas Standard groundplane antenna Figure D1: Standard groundplane antenna. - Page 41 Adjust the antenna L1 and L2 lengths to the transmit frequency of the buoy. Figure D2: Standard groundplane antenna (continued).
- Page 42 Figure D3: Directional quarter wave antenna.
- Page 43 Using the directional antenna for the Reception of Waveriders over longer distances. 1. The received signal strength when the buoy is over the horizon decreases fast with increasing distance. To receive a buoy at 75 km distance with the same signal strength as at 50 Km distance 10 times the transmitting power will be needed.
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Page 44: Appendix E: Data Server Programming
Making an connection A connection to the data server is simply made by opening an TCP/IP socket to <RX-C4 IP address>:1180. Up to 4 clients can make a connection to the data server simultaneously. -
Page 45: Appendix F: Demonstration Mode
The RX-C4 will output heave, north and west displacements as well as a heave and directional spectrum which are programmed in the firmware. The displacements and spectrum have the following characteristics and are easily distinguished from ‘real’... - Page 46 To prevent customers from accidently set the RX-C4 in demonstration mode, the option is not incorporated in the default menu of the RX-C4. Pressing the lower two buttons ( and ) for a second during start-up of the RX-C4 is required to activate the demonstration capabilities.
- Page 47 Press and hold the button to enter the menu of the RX-C4. Press or to go to the receiver (recv) settings. Press again to enter the receiver settings. Press or to select the mode option. When the mode option is selected, you can press the button repeatedly to select one of the receiver modes: HXV;...
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Page 48: Appendix G: Antenna Splitter
Appendix G: Antenna splitter With an antenna splitter (and up to 6 RX-C4 receivers) you can receive up to 6 buoys with the same receiving antenna installation. Connect the antenna cable with the antenna input of the antenna splitter, labelled ANTENNA IN. - Page 49 Figure G4. Antenna Splitter back panel layout DC power supply version Optional Accessories Cable for receiver connection SMA male – N male, length 1m Spare terminations Mini-Circuits 50 Ω (ANNE-50L) Specifications Frequency range 27MHz - 33 MHz (-1.5 dB relative to centre RF part frequency of pass band) Gain...