Users Manual Tron Dec 476212

7/30/2019 Users Manual Tron Dec 476212

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your safety our concern

OPERATORS MANUAL

Tron DEC406 MHz Decoder


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

0. SOFTWARE REVISION HISTORY:.............................................................................................3

1. INTRODUCTION. ............................................................................................................................4

2. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION. ......................................................................................................4

3. OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS......................................................................................................4

3.1CONNECTIONS ..............................................................................................................................4

3.2CONNECT TO PC ORSTAND-ALONE USE ....................................................................................5

4. DECODING OF USER PROTOCOLS...........................................................................................6

4.1ORBITOGRAPHYUSERPROTOCOL...................................................................................6

4.2AVIATIONUSERPROTOCOL. ..............................................................................................7

4.3MARITIMEUSERPROTOCOL..............................................................................................74.4SERIALIZEDUSERPROTOCOL. ..........................................................................................8

4.5RADIOCALL-SIGNUSERPROTOCOL................................................................................8

4.6TESTUSERPROTOCOL..........................................................................................................9

5. PRACTICAL ADVICES. .................................................................................................................9

6. EXAMPLES.....................................................................................................................................10


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0. SOFTWARE revision history:

1.3 - Decoding of serial numbers for UK (MID 232) included.

1.4 - Removal of bug in receiving routine.

1.5 - Removal of minor bug in initialisation routine.

1.6 - June -91,

Decoding of swedish serial numbers included.

1.7 - Removal of minor bug in decoding routine.

2.0 - October -93,

Decoding of UK serial numbers higher than 8192.(Type appr.no:32).

Display of last received Hexcode when the TronDEC are switched off and on again

within approx. 1 sec. (Not 100% !).

2.1 - 8.nov.-93,

Removal of display bug in RADIO CALLSIGN decoding procedure.

2.2 - 17.feb.-94,

A warning message is diaplayed if the tested EPIRB is transmitting a real live

transmission (transmission with normal frame sync).

2.3 - 7.apr.-94,

Improved error correction of frame sync.

Protected message are now displayed

USA & Canada serial numbers are diplayed.

2.4 - 29.jun.94,

Decoding of Great Britain country code 233 is now implemented.

If frame sync = FFFD0 (test) and Test prot.= true, the message will be decoded as

maritime protocol.

.

3.0 - 4. feb.96,

Serial port (RS232 ) are now included, and routines to print out data at 9600 baud are

now implemented.


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1. INTRODUCTION.

Tron DEC is a decoder for COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBS, developed by JOTRON electronics a.s in Norway. It is designed

to receive and decode transmissions from an EPIRB, and present the coded information on a display. It will decode

transmissions from all kinds of COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBS.

2. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION.

Tron DEC consists of a small UHF receiver for 406.025 MHz. The detected signal is handled by a microprocessor which

decode the coded message and present the information on the display.

With the built-in antenna, the range of the Tron DEC is upto 10 metres from the beacon being tested.

With external antenna, longer distance is possible.

With an attenuator of at least 40 dB, direct connection to a SARSAT-COSPAS EPIRB is possible if the EPIRB does not

have test message with inverted frame sync. (FFFED0... in the start of the message). WARNING! - THIS MEANS

THAT THE EPIRB TO BE TESTED ARE TRANSMITTING EMERGENCY MESSAGE AND HAVE TO BE

PLACED IN A ROOM WHERE NO RADIO SIGNALS CAN ESCAPE FROM THE ROOM AND BE

RECEIVED BY AIRCRAFTS OR SATTELITES

The unit is powered by an internal rechargeable battery. When the battery voltage is low, a warning is shown on the

display. The batteries are charged with an external charger unit.

The TEST/OFF switch is springloaded in both positions, and if the receiver does not receive any signal within 3 - 4

minutes, the unit is automatically switched off to save battery.

3. OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 Connections

There are now tree connectors on the TronDEC, and they are:

BNC to external antenna or attenuator between EPIRB and TronDEC. Charger input - will accept 12 to 15 volt DC. RS232 output - can be connected to a PC for logging. The cable are 1-1, which means that pin 1 on PCs COMx

port goes to TronDECs pin 1 etc. - Any terminal program may be used with fixed baud rate: 9600,n,8,1


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3.2 Connect to PC or Stand-alone use

The earlier versions of TronDEC (before 3.0) didnt got any possibility to connect to a PC, but you can still use the newerversions as a stand-alone unit:

If you want to connect to a PC for logging of test results, connect cable between PCs COM1 or COM2 port, and

TronDECs 9-pin connector.

Start a terminal program like WINDOWS own TERMINAL. Check that the COM port and baudrate are properly set and

you are ready to test COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBS: Activate Tron DEC by pressing the TEST/ OFF switch to "TEST"position. The switch is springloaded and will return to neutral position.

The following display is shown:

x.x indicates software version number.

This message will be shown on the display in about 2 seconds.

At the same time, this text will also appear at the PC display.

After initializing, the decoder will wait for data and present the message "Waiting for data..." If the battery needs to be

charged, the message "Battery voltage low" will be shown on the bottom line. When a signal is detected on 406.025

MHz, the message "Receiving data..." is shown on the display.

If the signal is not a COSPAS-SARSAT coded signal, or if the coding is not according to a standard protocol, the message"Error in data! - Can not be decoded" is presented. See practical advices in section 5.

In the coded signal, there is an error correcting code which can be used to detect errors. If errors are detected by the proces-

sor, the following warning is given: Error detected. This warning is shown for 2 seconds, afterwards the decoder returns

to stand by.

If the signal is successfully decoded, the received decoded string is presented as hexadecimal numbers.

Here the xxx.... is the hexadecimal string. This message is present for about 6 seconds, and after that the display shows the

same information but now decoded according to the protocol being used.

At present there are 6 different user protocols in the COSPAS-SARSAT system:

1. Orbitography

2. Aviation

3. Maritime4. Serialized

5. Radio call sign

6. Test

*** JOTRON ***COSPAS-SARSAT

Test Unit v.x.x

Received data:xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

xxxx xxxx


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The displayed information will depend on which protocol being used in the EPIRB, below this is described in detail for

each of the protocols.

When the decoded information is displayed, this will be shown until a new transmission is received. If no transmission is

received within 3 to 4 minutes, the decoder will switch itself off.

4. DECODING OF USER PROTOCOLS

4.1 ORBITOGRAPHY USER PROTOCOL.

The orbitography user protocol is used by special system calibration transmitters. Coding of these transmitters are notstandarized, the Tron DEC is therefore not able to decode these transmitters.

The following is shown on the display:

xxx is the country code in decimal form, according to the MID number.

yyy.... is the hexadecimal string.

If PC are connected,the following will be displayed:

Received data ...: yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy

Country .........: xxx

Protocol ........: Orbitography

Will not be decoded!

Cntr:xxx Prot:Orbit.

Will not be decoded!yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy

yyyy yyyy


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4.2 AVIATION USER PROTOCOL.


yyyyyyy is the aircraft registration number.

zzzzzzzz is the EPIRB's auxillary homing device.

This can be either None, 121.5 MHz, SART or Other.


Received data ...: wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww


Protocol ........: Aviation

Reg.no. .........: yyyyyy

Homing device ...: 121.5 Mhz

www.. is HEX data received

4.3 MARITIME USER PROTOCOL.


yyyyyyy is the radio call sign or trailing 6 digits of ship station identity.

zzzzz is the EPIRB's number in case of more EPIRBS on the same ship.

tttttttt is protected message (bit 26-85) in hex format. uuuu is the EPIRB's auxillary homing device.

This can be either None, VHF, SART or AUX. VHF is here 121.5 Mhz.

If PC are connected,the following will be displayed:Received data ...: wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww


Protocol ........: Maritime

Call sign/MMSI no: yyyyyy

EPIRB no.........: zzz

Protected message: tttttttttttttt

Homing device ...: uuuuu


Cntr:xxx Prot:Aviat.Reg.no: yyyyyyy

Homing dev: zzzzzzzz

Cntr:xxx Prot:Marit.

Id: yyyyyy

Epirb no: zzzzz

ttttttttttttttt uuuu


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4.4 SERIALIZED USER PROTOCOL.


yyyyyyy gives the beacon serial number.

zzzzzzzz gives the beacon type; selected between the following types: Aviation, Maritime, Survival and Personal.

tttttttt is the protected message. uuuu is the EPIRB's auxillary homing device.





Protocol ........: Serial

Serial no........: yyyyyyy

Beacon type .....: Maritime

Protected message: ttttttttttttttttt

Homing device ...: uuuu


4.5 RADIO CALL-SIGN USER PROTOCOL.


yyyyyyy gives the radio call-sign.

zzzzz is the EPIRB's number in case of more EPIRBS on the same ship.tttttttt is the protected message. uuuu is the EPIRB's auxillary homing device.

This can be either None, VHF, SART or AUX. VHF is here 121.5 MHz.




Protocol ........: Radio call sign

Call sign .......: yyyyyyy

EPIRB no.........: zz

Protected message: ttttttttttttttttttHoming device ...: uuuu


Cntr:xxx Prot:Serial.Serial no: yyyyyyy

Beacon type:zzzzzzzz

tttttttttttttt uuuu

Cntr:xxx Prot:Call.S.

Call sign: yyyyyyy

Epirb no: zzzzz

tttttttttttttt uuuu


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4.6 TEST USER PROTOCOL.


yyy... is the hexadecimal presentation of bit 37 - 84.

tttttttt is the protected message. uuuu is the EPIRB's auxillary homing device.





Protocol ........: Test

Bit no.37-84 HEX.: yyyy yyyy yyyyy

Protected message: ttttttttttttttt

Homing device ...: uuuu


5. PRACTICAL ADVICES.

Tron DEC is able to decode transmission from all existing COSPAS-SARSAT beacons available. However, be aware that

when beacons are activated, they will be recognized by the satellite system as a distress alarm.

Beacons should only be activated in RF-screened chamber to avoid false alarms.

If used together with JOTRON's Tron 30S with extended internal self-test, all beacons with serial number higher than 1200

will have this facility, testing of the beacon can be done outside screened chamber if the Tron 30S is operated in the TEST

position.

The beacon will transmit a signal with inverted framesync which will not be recognized by the COSPAS-SARSAT systemas a distress alarm. Inverted framesync means that the message transmitted from the beacon start with hex FFFED0 instead

of FFFE2F which is the start of a "normal" transmission.

On version 2.2 and up a warning is displayed if the received signal does not have the test synk.

NB!: If a buoy is not decoded the first time trying, it might be because the oscillator in the buoy has not achived the right

"working temperature" and therefore is getting wrong frequency. When the environment is very cold, it might take 5 - 6times before the buoy decodes. The Sarsat specifications say max. 15 min. from turned on to that the spesifications is OK.

The battery capacity is enough to operate. If the voltage is low, the battery must be charged before any further testing is

done. If operated at low

voltage, the data received could be distorted and the Tron DEC will notdecode the signals. The decoder may be operated

while charging the battery.

Cntr:xxx Prot:Test

Bit no 37 - 84

Hex: yyyy yyyy yyyy

tttttttttttttt uuuu


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6. EXAMPLES

Here are some examples of printouts after logging data to a PC, saving to file and print out :

JOTRON TRONDEC - SARSAT/COSPAS test unit v.3.0

Received data ...: FFFE D054 3D4F 0502 CF06 8952 EC40

Country .........: 323

Protocol ........: Radio call sign

Call sign .......: LA45678

EPIRB no.........: 0

Protected message: A87A9E0A059E0D12

Homing device ...: VHF

Received data ...: FFFE D050 1525 3C19 6DEE 8FB9 0D00

Country .........: 257

Protocol ........: Maritime

Call sign/MMSI no: LA8PV

EPIRB no.........: 1

Protected message: A02A4A7832DBDD1F


Received data ...: FFFE D04E 8685 B7C6 0000 0D24 CFC0

Country .........: 232

Protocol ........: Serial

Serial no........: 22-7139

Beacon type .....: Maritime

Protected message: 9D0D0B6F8C00001A


Note that the Serial no. on the above decoding are special for U.K. which have split the serial number in a two digit

manufacturer approvel number and the serial number. If the serial number was higher than 8191, another manufucturer

app.no is printed together with a number between 0-8191. If the EPIRB had serial no. 10000, the printout for serialnumber would show:

Serial no........: 32-1809(10000)

Where 32 are Manuf. app.no (JOTRON) for serial number between 8192 and 16383, and 1809 are serial number to be

calculated as 8191+1809 = 10000 which is the actual serial number.

Received data ...: FFFE D050 1F24 94F0 65B7 8847 8F80

Country .........: 257

Protocol ........: Test

ID ..............: LA8PV

EPIRB no ........: 0

Protected message: A03E4929E0CB6F10



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JOTRON Electronics a.s

P.O. Box 54, NO-3280 Tjodalyng

Tel: +47 33 13 97 00, Fax: +47 33 12 67 80j t

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Users Manual Tron Dec 476212