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RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC4000 Protocol
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RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC4000 Protocol

Antenna controller
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RC4000 Antenna Controller
APPENDIX REM – REMOTE CONTROL PROTOCOL
Last Revised: 09 FEB 2014
Software Version: 0.05
This appendix describes the configuration required and the commands used to implement the remote
control interface for the RC4000 antenna controller. It is provided as a supplement to the "baseline"
RC4000 manual. Sections in the baseline RC4000 manual are referred to when data specific to the
remote control option are described.
NOTE: RC4000 software is built on a per-mount basis. Some commands may not be available on all
devices.
Revision History
01 FEB 2014
Document added to version control system.
09 FEB 2014
Added move to nominal angle command for polarization.
Appendix REM
REM-1
Remote Control Option
ECG
ECG

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Summary of Contents for RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC4000

  • Page 1 RC4000 manual. Sections in the baseline RC4000 manual are referred to when data specific to the remote control option are described. NOTE: RC4000 software is built on a per-mount basis. Some commands may not be available on all devices. Revision History 01 FEB 2014 Document added to version control system.
  • Page 2 1.0 THEORY OF OPERATION Overview The RC4000 supports a variety of remote monitor and control commands. The controller functions as a slave device within a network. The network is expected to consist of one master and multiple slaves communicating over a single interface (or “bus”). Each slave is internally configured with a unique address.
  • Page 3 The user should query the controller later to see if the command was actually carried out, or is still in progress. Command Restrictions All RC4000 devices will respond to a command "0" (30 hex) with 6 data bytes of ASCII characters in the following form: ADDR...
  • Page 4 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option State Diagram The state diagram illustrated below presents the implementation of the slave device that guarantees the proper transfer and processing of communication messages sent by a master controller. Each state that the device can assume is represented graphically as a circle.
  • Page 5 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option • State 3 – Data State The device is engaged in receiving the command data from the master. The device will enter:  State 4 if the ETX byte is received signifying the end of data in the message.
  • Page 6 If the value is too low, manual movements will be jerky as the operator holds down a jog key from the remote front panel. In this case the RC4000 sees a jog key from the remote front panel but the hold timer expires before another jog key command is received.
  • Page 7 3.0 DETAILED OPERATION RC4000 Online/Offline Reply The RC4000 software must include a remote control option to process commands. If remote control is not available, and a valid message is received (correct format, address, Checksum, etc.), the offline reply is sent to the host. This reply has the following format:...
  • Page 8 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Command Set The following table lists the available RC4000 remote commands. Each command is detailed in the paragraphs listed below. Table 1 – Command Set List CODE (hex) COMMAND PARAGRAPH Device Type Query...
  • Page 9 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.1 Device Type Query Command The SA Bus specification requires that command character 30h must trigger the return of the six character device type string. The message format for this query will be ...
  • Page 10 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Device Status Poll Command (continued) byte 14-19 azimuth position This field will contain the formatted azimuth position -180.0 to 180.0. If the analog to digital converter detects an error this field will contain ‘******’.
  • Page 11 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Device Status Poll Command (continued) byte 34 polarization limits -- binary data 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 $ 0 A B C A ‘0’ in a bit position implies that the antenna is not at the limit, a ‘1’...
  • Page 12 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Device Status Poll Command (continued) byte 36 azimuth movement/alarm status – binary data byte 37 elevation movement/alarm status – binary data byte 38 polarization movement/alarm status – binary data 7 6 5 4...
  • Page 13 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Device Status Poll Command (continued) byte 40 current track status – binary data 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 B B B $ S S S S where ‘BBB’ is ...
  • Page 14 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Device Status Poll Command (continued) byte 46 current internal relay status – binary data 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 $ 0 0 A A where ‘AA’ is ...
  • Page 15 The satellite name should be in capital letters, left justified and padded on the right with blanks in the sat_name/position field. Note that the satellite name specified in the command must exactly match a satellite name stored in the controller's non-volatile memory. Form 1 automates the RC4000 RECALL mode.
  • Page 16 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Auto Move Command (continued) Form 2C. For systems that are capable of generating azimuth, elevation, or polarization position feedback to the one hundredth of a degree resolution, form 2C provides the capability to command either an azimuth or an elevation movement to a target specified within one hundredth of a degree.
  • Page 17 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.4 Azimuth/Elevation/Polarization Jog Command This command jogs the antenna in azimuth, elevation, or polarization. The command contains 11 bytes. Here is the format of the command: byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address...
  • Page 18 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.5 Polarization Command The following command specifies a move to a polarization position. There are multiple forms of this command. The reply to any form of this command will be the same as the reply to the status poll query command except the command code will be 34h.
  • Page 19 Remote Control Option 3.6 Query Name Command This query command instructs the RC4000 to send back to the host computer the name of a satellite stored in non-volatile memory (via the controller’s STORE mode) and the total number of satellites stored in non-volatile memory.
  • Page 20 This specifies the azimuth or elevation drive reset command. This accomplishes the same function as the DRIVE RESET mode of the RC4000: it allows the user to reset the azimuth, elevation, or polarization alarms. When the sub-command code is 'R', the sub-command parameter 'Y' must be either 'A', 'E', or 'P' (for azimuth, elevation, or polarization respectively) to specify which axis will be reset.
  • Page 21 Enter Mode Group Change* *the 47h key code can be used to initiate a RC4000 mode group change which normally requires the Mode key to be held down for five seconds continuously. The reply to the miscellaneous command will be the same as the reply to the status poll query except the command code will be '36h'.
  • Page 22 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.8 Reflect Display Command This command requests the RC4000 to send the 160 (4 rows x 40 columns) characters currently displayed on the LCD. The command format is: byte 0 byte 1...
  • Page 23 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.9 Write Satellite Data Command This command downloads basic satellite data into the RC4000 list of user defined satellites. Storage for 20 satellites is available. byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address byte 2...
  • Page 24 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.10 Read Satellite Data Command This command uploads a stored set of satellite data to the RC4000. byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address byte 2 Read Satellite Data command code byte 3 Index Tens Tens digit of sat data index (0 if index <...
  • Page 25 Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.11 Write Two Line Element Data Command This command downloads NORAD Two Line Element (TLE) ephemeris data into the RC4000. The index must be the same as the associated sat data index. byte 0 byte 1...
  • Page 26 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.13 Write IESS Data Command This command downloads IESS-412 ephemeris data into the RC4000. The index must be the same as the associated sat data index. byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address...

  • Page 27: Table Of Contents

    RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.15 Read Pulse Count Command The Read Pulse Count command returns the current value of azimuth and elevation pulse or resolver counts. The message format for this command will be: byte 0...

  • Page 28: Byte 2

    50 Current Mode This byte contains a value reflecting the current mode with control of the RC4000. See section A.3 of this document for more information about the available values for this field. byte 51 Current State This byte contains a value reflecting the current state within the current mode.

  • Page 29: Byte 55

    RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Extended Device Status Poll Command (continued) byte 54 Extended Azimuth Position For mounts with the ability to generate azimuth position to 0.01 degrees, this byte contains the digit for the one hundredth of a degree.

  • Page 30: Byte 0

    Remote Control Option 3.17 Remote Locate Command This command requests the RC4000 to perform a LOCATE operation based on the satellite data supplied. The command is designed to allow an M&C system to simulate entering satellite data manually or selecting a satellite from the user’s preset list stored in the RC4000.

  • Page 31: Etx

    NOTE: Not applicable if feed type is circular. byte 30 Position Update A – Determine mount position (lat/lon/heading) automatically according to how the RC4000 is configured U – Force an update of position via GPS and compass byte 31-34 Spare Bytes...

  • Page 32: Rc4000 Address

    Remote Control Option 3.18 Remote Store Command This command requests the RC4000 to perform a STORE operation based on the satellite data supplied. The RC4000 will automatically sequence through the STORE operation. Any action that normally requires confirmation from the front panel will be automatically initiated. If a particular satellite name has already been STOREd, it’s data will be overwritten as a result of the Remote Store command.
  • Page 33 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Remote Store Command (continued) byte 23 Band RF Band (0-C, 1-Ku, 2-C/Ku, 3-L, 4-X, 5-Ka, 6-S) bytes 24-28 Pol Offset Satellite Polarization Offset -90.0 to 90.0 negative = counterclockwise Left Justify and pad with blanks NOTE: Future expansion - polarization offset data is not currently used.

  • Page 34: Etx Checksum

    Remote Control Option 3.19 Write Signpost Data Command NOTE: This command is only applicable for controllers with the integrated DVB receiver option installed. This command downloads signpost data into the RC4000 list of user defined signposts. byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address...
  • Page 35 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.20 Read Signpost Data Command NOTE: This command is only applicable for controllers with the DVB receiver option. This command uploads a stored set of signpost data. byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address...
  • Page 36 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.21 Read Navigation Data Command This command uploads the current values of navigation data. byte 0 byte 1 RC4000 address byte 2 Read Navigation Data command code byte 3 byte 4 Checksum...
  • Page 37 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Read Navigation Data Command (continued) byte 29 true heading source 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 $ 0 X X X where ‘XXX’ is ... 001 – Currently no true heading data 010 –...
  • Page 38 The reply to this command will be the standard ACK or NAK reply. NOTE: Any valid lat/lon/heading data will trigger an ACK reply. Upon reception of valid data, the RC4000 will overwrite any existing position data and invalidate (DELETE) any STOREd satellites. REM-38...
  • Page 39 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option 3.23 Azimuth/Elevation/Polarization Jog Command (with minimal reply) This command jogs the antenna in azimuth, elevation or polarization. It is functionally the same command as described in section 3.4 but with a much shorter reply. The command contains 11 bytes and the format of the command is exactly the same as described in 3.4 except that the command code is...
  • Page 40 (section 3.7). This command provides a minimal reply compared to the reply from the Miscellaneous command. This command sends a keypad value to the RC4000. The RC4000 will react to the keypad value as if the corresponding key on the RC4000 front panel was pushed.
  • Page 41 RC4000. 2) The baud rate set in the RC4000 is not being used by the remote commands. Check the baud rate in the REMOTE configuration screen and ensure that it is the same as being used by the remote computer.
  • Page 42 Here are the delimiters used with SA bus messages, along with their values in hex and decimal. ASCII name hex value decimal value A.2 ASCII TABLE As reference, the following table shows the set of ASCII codes available for use by the RC4000 remote protocol. Blank " &...
  • Page 43 A.3 EXTENDEND STATUS REPLY TABLES The following tables define the possible values for bytes 45-48 of the Extended Device Status Poll reply. Possible values are listed for the RC4000 operating modes, exit conditions, and current state per mode. Value Mode...
  • Page 44 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Value Mode Exit Conditions (hex) (byte 45 & 47) (byte 48) MANUAL States LOCATE States SPIRAL_SEARCH_NO_PEAK_MOVING_TO_NOMINAL_AZEL SPIRAL_SEARCH_NO_PEAK_MOVING_TO_AZIM SPIRAL_SEARCH_NO_PEAK_MOVING_TO_ELEV DETERMINE_NOISE_FLOOR INITIALIZE_DVB PERFORMING_PEAKUP LOCATE_COMPLETE Value (hex) TRACK States SPECIAL_AXIS States STOW States ENTERING_MODE WAITING_ELEV_NOT_STOWED...
  • Page 45 RC4000 Antenna Controller Appendix REM Remote Control Option Value (hex) DEPLOY States RECALL States INITIAIZING_MODE ENTERING_MODE WAITING_FOR_CONTINUE_CONFIRMATION NO_SATS_STORED_WAITING_TO_EXIT MOVING_ELEV WAITING_FOR_USER_TO_SCROLL_THROUGH_LIST MOVING_AZIM WAITING_FOR_INVALID_DATA_ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MOVING_AZELPL WAITING_FOR_INITIAL_POLARIZATION_SELECTION MOVING_SPECIAL_AXIS PERFORMING_ELEV_MOVE WAITING_SPECIAL_AXIS_NOT_DEPLOYED PERFORMING_POLARIZATION_MOVE PERFORMING_AZIM_MOVE PERFORMING_AZEL_MOVE REM-45...