Campbell AL205E Product Manual
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Campbell AL205E Product Manual

Alert2 encoder
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07/2020
Copyright © 2020
Campbell Scientific, Inc.

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Summary of Contents for Campbell AL205E

  • Page 1 07/2020 Copyright © 2020 Campbell Scientific, Inc.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of contents 1. Overview 1.1 Power 1.2 Port descriptions 1.3 Status LEDs 2. Specifications 3. Configuration 3.1 Settings explanations 4. Controlling and sending data using the API interface 5. Test transmission procedure 6. Operating system update 7. Port descriptions 7.1 Radio output level Appendix A.

  • Page 3: Overview

    Typical applications have an average current draw of less than 4 mA at 12 VDC, making the AL205E suitable for use with a small (5 W or 10 W) solar panel.

  • Page 4: Status Leds

    Tx Radio On Lights up to indicate power is being supplied to the TX radio. Transmit Lights up while the AL205E is transmitting A solid light indicates that the AL205E has a reliable clock source, and will transmit Clock Sync in TDMA mode. The clock can maintain synchronization for up to 4 hours without the GPS being on.
  • Page 5 Flexible addressing support: assign an address to the whole device or customize a specific serial port with a unique address Dimensions: 19.0 x 10.2 x 3.2 cm (7.5 x 4 x 1.25 in) Weight: 600 g (1.3 lb) AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...

  • Page 6: Configuration

    3. Configuration The AL205E can be configured using the configuration menu at power up, or using the ALERT2 API at any time. In most installations, the AL205E is used with an ALERT2 Application Protocol Device (APD) that will manage the AL205E configuration. Refer to Settings explanations (p.
  • Page 7 6. Select 57600 from the Baud Rate drop down list. 7. Click Connect . 8. Supply power to the AL205E. The AL205E will display the current operating system, settings, and configuration parameters. After each parameter is displayed, the screen waits 3 seconds for a new value to be entered.

  • Page 8: Settings Explanations

    10. If revisions are needed, press Enter twice within 5 seconds. This will re-enter the process and allow the user to make changes. After 5 seconds without pressing Enter, the AL205E stores the new settings and then starts to operate.
  • Page 9 1 = medium error correction; medium throughput 2 = lowest error correction; highest throughput 1 (default) = the AL205E does not turn on the radio if messages are not transmitted in this frame. In this setting, the APD must complete the message handoff to the AL205E before the radio turn-on time for the message to be sent to this frame.
  • Page 10 (SA). Therefore, an SA entry is not allowed. [11/55] address The AL205E uses this port to send the IND address assigned to the data. Range is 1 to 65534; default is 9000. Baud rate setting for port 0 (serial port 1). Valid entries are...
  • Page 11 (SA). Therefore, an SA entry is not allowed. [17/55] address The AL205E uses this port to send the IND address assigned to the data. Range is 1 to 65534; default is 9001. Baud rate setting for port 1 (Serial port 2). Valid entries are...
  • Page 12 (through repeaters). This setting controls the number of [31/55] Hop limit times a packet from this station can be repeated. Each time the packet is repeated, the hop count decrements. When the hop count reaches 0, the packet is not repeated. Default is 1. AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...
  • Page 13 Table 3-6: Originating IND MANT header settings Setting Setting Description number When enabled, the AL205E adds the destination address to the ALERT2 packet. This value is only used if the default destination Add destination address is enabled. [32/55] address 0 (default) = disable 1 = enable When enabled, the AL205E to encrypt the ALERT2 packet.
  • Page 14 Range is 5000 to 3600000 in milliseconds. Default is 15000. Typically, this value is set to 60000 TDMA frame or 120000 (1 or 2 minutes), and the maximum value is 3600000 (1 [44/55] length hour). AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...
  • Page 15 If enabled, the message is centered in the TDMA slot. TX centered in [47/55] 0 (default) = disable slot 1 = enable TX minimum [48/55] Units are milliseconds. Default is 25. buffer in slot AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...

  • Page 16: Controlling And Sending Data Using The Api Interface

    Advanced Programming Interface (API) commands can drive the AL205E through its serial ports (if configured). The AL205E conforms to the ALERT2 IND API Specification Version 1.0 standard available at www.campbellsci.com/al205e. The API is a series of hexadecimal commands used to manage the AL205E and send ALERT2 and ALERT data through the modem.
  • Page 17 Extensible type value (API command) Extensible length value (value length) Value Example 1: Return GPS time valid flag This example uses ALERT2 IND API to check the status of the AL205E GPS. Table 4-1 (p. 15) provides the display parameters and Table 4-2 (p.
  • Page 18 Example 2: Return GPS time, in seconds, since 2010 This example uses ALERT2 IND API to get the AL205E GPS current time, in seconds, since 2010. Table 4-3 (p. 16) provides the display parameters and Table 4-4 (p. 16) provides the AL205E response.

  • Page 19: Test Transmission Procedure

    FC DF Encoded Hex 5. Test transmission procedure The AL205E can generate test tones for radio and antenna testing. Use the following procedure to generate test tones. 1. Connect the AL205E to the computer using a USB cable. 2. Start the Device Configuration Utility.
  • Page 20 6. Select 57600 from the Baud Rate drop down list. 7. Click Connect . 8. Supply power to the AL205E. The AL205E will display the current operating system, settings, and configuration parameters. 9. Press Enter after the initial information is displayed.

  • Page 21: Operating System Update

    12. Repeatedly press Enter until the end of the settings menu is reached. The AL205E is now in the test mode, and will stay in this mode until power is cycled. Testing output power and antenna and antenna cabling SWR testing can now be accomplished.
  • Page 22 8. Select 57600 from the Baud Rate drop down list. 9. Click Connect . 10. Supply power to the AL205E. The AL205E will display the current operating system, settings, and configuration parameters. 11. Press Enter after the initial information is displayed.
  • Page 23 12. Type 1 then press Enter to put the AL205E into boot-loader mode. 13. Click Disconnect. 14. Open a Windows Command Prompt window. 15. Go to the C:\temp directory where you stored the firmware download. AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...

  • Page 24: Port Descriptions

    Do not cycle power while loading the new operating system to avoid corrupting the AL205E operating system. To confirm a successful update, redo steps 3 through 9 then cycle power to the AL205E and check the window for the new operating system version number.

  • Page 25: Radio Output Level

    Serial port settings can be configured using the ALERT2 IND API or by using the AL205E configuration menu. The AL205E implements version 1.0 of the ALERT2 IND API. Default serial port settings are the following: Table 7-2: Default serial port settings...
  • Page 26 Right CAUTION: To complete the circuit, both jumpers must be in the same jumper position. If the AL205E is ordered with a radio, the AL205E comes configured with the proper jumper settings for that radio. A misconfigured output level can cause poor signal quality and missed messages.

  • Page 27: Appendix A. Terminal Information And Troubleshooting

    6. Select 57600 from the Baud Rate drop down list. 7. Click Connect . 8. Apply power to the AL205E and the AL205E will display the current settings. After the AL205E powers up, the Device Configuration screen will display the AL205E operating system and stored settings, and indicate whether the settings were retrieved from flash memory.
  • Page 28 Originating IND Add Time Service Request....= 1 (Yes) Originating IND Add Path Service Request....= 1 (Yes) Originating IND Hop Limit......= 1 Originating IND Add Destination Address ....= 0 (No) Encrypt Outgoing Packets......= 0 (No) Encryption Key........= XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Pending Encryption Key......= XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...
  • Page 29 The AL205E then retrieves the three dimensional GPS position and time fix. The AL205E shuts off the GPS and displays the current date and time after getting the GPS fix. While the AL205E is getting the GPS fix, the screen will be similar to the following:...
  • Page 30 20-06-11 20:51:50 The AL205E tries to get a GPS fix for 5 minutes. If it does not get a valid GPS fix in that 5 minutes, the AL205Ewill shut off the GPS, wait 5 minutes, then retry to get a GPS fix. This process continues until the AL205E gets a valid GPS fix.
  • Page 31 Source: Unknown Fix type: No Fix # SVs: 0 GPS time valid: False GPS Time: 11-11-17 00:34:04 Leap Source: Unknown Fix type: No Fix # SVs: 0 GPS time valid: False GPS Time: 11-11-17 00:34:10 Leap Source: Unknown AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...
  • Page 32 After getting the GPS fix, the screen will display the Alert2 data (A2) on the S0 (Serial 1) port. A2 on S0 at: 34677 The next line shows the transmission of that received data and the number of bytes in the packet. Create Frame, Mant len: 27 AL205E ALERT2 Encoder...
  • Page 33 See Product Details on the Ordering Information pages at www.campbellsci.com. Other manufacturer's products, that are resold by Campbell Scientific, are warranted only to the limits extended by the original manufacturer.
  • Page 34 Campbell Scientific office serves your country. To obtain a Returned Materials Authorization or Repair Reference number, contact your CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC regional office. Please write the issued number clearly on the outside of the shipping container and ship as directed.
  • Page 35 Do not recharge, disassemble, heat above 100 °C (212 °F), solder directly to the cell, incinerate, or expose contents to water. Dispose of spent batteries properly. WHILE EVERY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO EMBODY THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SAFETY IN ALL CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTS, THE CUSTOMER ASSUMES ALL RISK FROM ANY INJURY RESULTING FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION, USE, OR MAINTENANCE OF TRIPODS, TOWERS, OR...
  • Page 36 Campbell Scientific regional offices Australia France Thailand Location: Garbutt, QLD Australia Location: Vincennes, France Location: Bangkok, Thailand Phone: 61.7.4401.7700 Phone: 0033.0.1.56.45.15.20 Phone: 66.2.719.3399 Email: info@campbellsci.com.au Email: info@campbellsci.fr Email: info@campbellsci.asia Website: www.campbellsci.com.au Website: www.campbellsci.fr Website: www.campbellsci.asia Brazil Germany Location: São Paulo, SP Brazil...

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