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GeoBox tBeacon 0.54 User Manual

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tBeacon 0.54
User Manual
1. Introduction
2. Legal notice
3. Searching basics
3.1. Searching with GPS
3.2. Proximity search mode
3.3. Classical radio direction finding
4. Using the beacon
4.1. Triggering by a call
4.2. Triggering by a timer
5. Installing the beacon on the craft
6. GPS connection
7. Connecting light and sound alarms
8. Configuring the beacon
8.1. UART adapter connection
8.2. Flashing Bootloader
8.3. Flashing firmware upgrade
8.4. Config mode
8.5. Frequency calibration
8.6. GPS track download
9. Parameters descriptions
9.1. Basic
9.2. Timer based beacon
9.3. OnCall beacon
9.4. GPS
9.5. Advanced
10. Typical configurations

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Summary of Contents for GeoBox tBeacon 0.54

  • Page 1 0.54 User Manual 1. Introduction 2. Legal notice 3. Searching basics 3.1. Searching with GPS 3.2. Proximity search mode 3.3. Classical radio direction finding 4. Using the beacon 4.1. Triggering by a call 4.2. Triggering by a timer 5. Installing the beacon on the craft 6.

  • Page 2: Legal Notice

    1. Introduction The beacon is designed to help search for lost objects. Primary purpose: locating downed R/C planes, multicopters, lost balloons, model rockets, etc. The beacon operates in the UHF radio spectrum, therefore an UHF radio transceiver is required for interaction with the beacon. The transceiver must be capable of operating in the UHF band (LPD, PMR, or FRS) and preferably should be capable of transmitting a Tone burst (acoustic signal of 1750 Hz).
  • Page 3 Also your radio may be capable of transmitting on frequencies which you may not have rights to use. Make sure you do not break the law. It is always a good idea to quickly check the desired frequency by asking a simple question ("is the frequency in use?") in order to avoid interference to other users.
  • Page 4 GeoCompass for Android Please note that coordinate format used by your navigation unit must comply with the format configured for the beacon! 3.2. Proximity search mode This mode represents a form of “inverted” RDF. In this mode the beacon evaluates received signal strength of the calling tone and reports it back to you by means of a voice message.
  • Page 5 3.3. Classical radio direction finding The method uses the same principle as previous (Proximity search mode). The main difference is that you will have to determine signal strength by your ears or by your radio’s S-meter. The tone signal transmitted by the beacon consists of three tones of different power...

  • Page 6: Using The Beacon

    4. Using the beacon Upon connecting a power supply, the beacon will transmit a “hello beep” (or your callsign if set) and announce the voltage of its battery. If the beacon has an external voltage sensor and it is enabled in configuration and there is a non-zero voltage on appropriate input, then the beacon will report cell count of the LiPo by beeping it's buzzer and will announce average cell voltage with voice message.
  • Page 7 4.1. Triggering by a call Activation by a call is done by transmitting a call on the beacon’s frequency. The call itself is a simple sound tone of defined frequency (“Calling tone frequency”). It is preferably to use a Tone burst (1750Hz tone), which is used by HAMs for interacting with repeaters.

  • Page 8: Gps Connection

    4.2. Triggering by a timer When using a transceiver which is incapable of sending calling tone, there is only one way to activate the beacon: using timer. Timer is set by a parameter “First-time delay”. By default the timer is disabled. When the specified time elapses the beacon will be activated and starts transmitting three-tone signal with periodical report of current location.
  • Page 9 • NAZA. Binary protocol of DJI proprietary telemetry bus. Used in DJI NAZA flight controllers for linking GPS module with the main controller or PMU. • MAVLINK. Binary protocol of APM telemetry (ArduCopter, ArduPilot etc.); Examples and diagrams of connection to various autopilots, flight controllers and “GPS connection examples”...
  • Page 10 8. Configuring the beacon Every service routine is performed with the help of configuration utility. For instance: change settings, frequency calibration, firmware upgrade, bootloader flashing, GPS track download. For the utility to work you need an USB UART adapter. The utility is currently available only for Windows OS. Details on connection and power supply for specific beacon’s models can be found in “tBeacon model differences”...
  • Page 11 8.3. Flashing firmware upgrade This procedure is necessary for firmware upgrades and for the initial setup of self- made beacons. The process is initiated by pressing the button “FLASH FW” while the beacon is connected and powered on and the COM-port is chosen correctly. Details “tBeacon model differences”...

  • Page 12: Parameters Descriptions

    DEFAULTS” button on the Configurator and then write the configuration to the tBeacon. 8.5. Frequency calibration Each beacon should be adjusted to the reference frequency. This procedure requires a handheld radio with the Tone burst transmission function or CTCSS. Purchased beacons have already been calibrated, but repeating the procedure with your own radio wouldn’t hurt.
  • Page 13 9.1. Basic Freq (Hz, 433075000) Frequency the beacon will be operating at. For instance, first channel LPD (433.075МHz) is written as: "433075000". First FRS channel is written as 462562500 (462.5625MHz). For your convenience, basic channels of unlicensed bands can be selected from drop-down menu.
  • Page 14 Search time (min, 240) Search period within which the timer-based beacon is active. Default is: 240 min = 4*60, that is 4 hours. The beacon will be active within this time, increasing time interval between transmissions. In the beginning and at the end of the search period time interval is defined corresponding parameters.
  • Page 15 NOTE: Minimum value is determined by a formula (30000 / (Calling tone frequency in Hz)). For instance, when using CTCSS it is recommended to set the parameter to value of 150. Number of transmissions after a call (times, 3) Number of transmissions (voice and beeps) of the beacon after a call. Default is 3 transmission.
  • Page 16 GPS reading interval (sec, 10) Time interval for tracking GPS coordinates (sec). Default is 10 seconds. Specifies time interval within which the beacon wakes up and listens to GPS incoming data. The lower the value is, the more accurate data the beacon has and higher battery consumption...
  • Page 17 Different GPS formats and their corresponding location error tolerance: DD ММ SS.S 3 meters DD ММ.МММ 2 meters DD.DDDDD 1 meter DD.DDDD 10 meters .DDDDD 1 meter .DDDD 10 meters Minimum GPS sats count Minimum visible satellites as reported by the GPS receiver for processing by the beacon.
  • Page 18 NOTE: This type of signal might be inaudible for some handheld radio squelches. GPS periodicity (times, 5) Periodicity of coordinates report for timer beacon (0 – don’t report, 1 –every transmission, – every fifth transmission etc.). Buzzer Parameters (pin, number, 6177) Pin number for buzzer connection and resonant frequency of the buzzer.

  • Page 19: Typical Configurations

    GPS save periodicity (times, 1) Determines how often GPS coordinates are saved to non-volatile memory. 0 - do not save, 1 - every time, 5 - every fifth time, etc. NVRAM size allows saving ~100 points. External battery thresholds (voltage, 0) 'WARNING' and 'CRITICAL' voltage thresholds for external battery monitoring.
  • Page 20 ● Plane/multicopter with GSP. Radio with CTCSS only. ● Plane/multicopter without GPS. Radio incapable to emit a calling tone.
  • Page 21 ● Minicopter without GPS. Radio capable to emit Tone burst. External voltage monitoring is enabled with thresholds 3.5V and 3.3V.

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