Configuration of the Pacific Crest Radios using PDLCONF software

PDL Base Radio

This document will guide user’s through configuration of the PDL Base Radio.

Required items: PDL Base Radio, PDL Config software, PCC cable P/N – A00470,
a rubber-duck antenna, and a power supply (Battery) for the PDL Base Radio.

Step 1.
Connect rubber-duck antenna to the PDL Base Radio. Always have some type of antenna
connected to the PDL Radio before turning on the power.

Step 2.
Connect PCC cable P/N – A00470 to the PDL Base Radio and the COM Port on the PC.

Step 3.
Turn on the Power for the PDL Base Radio.

Step 4.
Start the PDL Config software…

Start | Programs | Pacific Crest Corporation | PDL Config…

Figure 1

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The next screen…

Figure 2

Next, click on the Load button…

The next screen…

Figure 3

This dialog indicates attempt to capture modem by soft-break…

Thales Navigation: Configuration of the Pacific Crest Radios using PDL Config 2
The next screen…

Figure 4

This dialog confirms the connection to the PDL Base radio; the software is “reading” the
current configuration of the PDL Base radio.

If you observe the software continually “Polling the Baud Rate” dialog, then displaying
an error-message. The selected Baud Rate in the PDL Config software and Baud Rate
SET in the PDL Base radio may not agree, preventing a successful connection. You may
have to try another Baud Rate.

Typically, the default Baud Rate of the PDL Base radio is 9600.

The next screen…

Figure 5

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Next, select the Radio Link tab…

The next screen…

Figure 6

Link Rate: 9600

This setting is for the “Radio to Radio” communications over the Airwaves. Base and
Rover Link Rate’s must match.

Modulation Type: GMSK

This is default setting for Ashtech RTK receivers. Base and Rover Modulation Type’s
must match.

Digisquelch: Low
This is default setting for the PDL Base radio.

Channel Select: the default radio “channel / frequency” are displayed in this template.
To change the radio channel / frequency, click on the Down-Arrow, browse the available
channel / frequency table and select the desired channel / frequency.

TX ACK Timeout: 0.1

This is the default Timeout value in milli-seconds for Ashtech GPS receivers.

The Channel / Frequency selection MUST Match on both the Base and Rover Radios !

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Next, select the Serial Interface tab…

The next screen…

Figure 7

Port Baud Rate: 9600

This is the default Baud Rate to interface between the PDL Base radio and the Ashtech
GPS receiver.

Parity: None
This is the default Parity for Ashtech GPS receivers

Protocol: Transparent w/EOT Timeout

This is the default for Protocol for Ashtech GPS receivers.

EOT Count 10
This is the default for Ashtech GPS receivers.

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If you have made any changes, click Program.

The next screen…

Figure 8
Click on Yes…

The next screen…

Figure 9

You may want to Print the PDL Base Radio’s configuration for future reference.

To exit the PDL Config software, click Close.

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Configuration of the Pacific Crest Radios using PDLCONF software
Internal PDL – RXO Rover Radio
This document will guide user’s through configuration of the Internal PDL – RXO
Rover Radio. The radio is installed inside the Z-Xtreme RTK Rover GPS receiver.

Required Items: Z-Xtreme GPS receiver with Internal PDL-RXO radio, Ashtech RCS
Commander software, PDL Config software, Ashtech PC-Download cable,
P/N–700461.

S0tep 1.
Connect rubber-duck antenna to the back panel of the Z-Xtreme GPS receiver. Always
have some type of antenna connected to the PDL Radio before turning on the power.

Step 2.
Connect Ashtech PC-Download cable P/N – 700461 to Serial Port A on the back panel of
the Z-Xtreme GPS receiver and the COM Port on the PC.

Step 3.
Turn on the Power for the Z-Xtreme GPS receiver.

Step 4.
Start the Ashtech RCS | Commander software…

Start | Programs | Receiver Communications | Commander…

Figure 10

Select the Z-Surveyor option,

In the RCS | Commander software, the Z-Surveyor and Z-Xtreme receivers are
recognized as being the same.

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The next screen…

Figure 11
Select the COM port (the COM port the DB9 cable is connected to on the PC).

The next screen…

Figure 12

Select 9600 Baud Rate,

Thales Navigation: Configuration of the Pacific Crest Radios using PDL Config 8
The next screen…

Figure 13

The next screen…

Figure 14
Screen capture from RCS | Commander software…

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From the Z-Xtreme Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document Pages 7 & 8:

Q. How do I change the settings for the internal Pacific Crest PDL UHF radio?
A. First verify that a PDL radio is present inside the receiver. The part number (label on
the rear panel) will indicate the radio type and frequency range. Simple channel changes
can be done using TDS Survey Pro or Fieldmate radio set up routines. For more
advanced setting changes Pacific Crest configuration software must be used. To use
configuration software execute the following steps:

With the RCS | Commander software, send the following commands to the Z-Xtreme
GPS receiver with the Internal PDL-RXO radio…

1. Using Ashtech Commander s/w (RCS), enter the following command through
any receiver comm. port: $PASHS,CTS,A,OFF
2. Using Ashtech Commander s/w (RCS), enter the following command through
any receiver comm. port: $PASHS,SAV,Y
3. Power cycle receiver.
4. Using Ashtech Commander s/w (RCS), enter the following command through
any receiver comm. port: $PASHS,SPD,D,5
5. Using Ashtech Commander s/w (RCS), enter the following command through
any receiver comm. port: $PASHS,DSY,D,A
6. Using Ashtech Commander s/w (RCS), enter the following command through
any receiver comm. port: $PASHS,DSY,A,D
7. Exit the Ashtech Commander s/w (RCS) program.
8. Connect PC serial port to comm port A of the receiver.
9. Start PDLConf 1.20 or later version. (this software can be downloaded from
http://www.paccrst.com/download/upgrade.htm or by request from Ashtech
customer support)
10. Click on the Pacific Crest icon in the upper left corner of the program, which
enables a drop down menu.
11. Select “Set Capture Method” and select the “Soft Break” option.
12. From the main toolbar, select “Load”.
13. The software should connect to the radio @ 9600 baud and display radio
settings.
a. NOTE: If PDLConf cannot connect to the internal radio after following
the steps above, issue $PASHS,RST using RCS, then try set Z-Xtreme
port D baud rate to 38400 instead of 9600 in step four
($PASHS,SPD,D,7) and repeat steps 5-11.
14. After modifying the desired settings (DCE/DTE baud rate=9600, link
rate=9600 and Modulation=GMSK) select “Program” from the main toolbar.
15. Power cycle receiver.
16. Verify base and rover radio settings and frequencies match and then set up
RTK system.

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Screen Capture – displaying RCS | Commander $PASH Commands…

Figure 15

Once the Daisy Chain between the Z-Xtreme GPS Receiver and the Internal PDL-RXO
radio has been successfully established with the RCS – Commander software, Exit the
RCS Commander software, then Start the PDL Config software…

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Start | Programs | Pacific Crest Corporation | PDL Config…

Figure 16
PDL CONF – Logo / Splash screen..

Figure 17

Click on the Load button…

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The next screen…

Figure 18
This dialog indicates attempt to capture modem by soft-break…

The next screen…

Figure 19

This dialog confirms the connection to the Internal PDL-RXO radio; the software is
“reading” the current configuration of the Internal PDL-RXO Rover radio.

If you observe the software continually “Polling the Baud Rate” dialog, then displaying
an error-message. The selected Baud Rate in the PDL Config software and Baud Rate
SET in the internal PDL-RXO radio may not agree, preventing a successful connection.
You may have to try another Baud Rate.

Typically, the default Baud Rate of the internal PDL-RXO Rover radio is 9600.

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The next screen…

Figure 20

The Identification tab…

Note the Model Information, Serial Number, and Owner information…

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Click on the Radio Link tab…

The next screen…

Figure 21

Link Rate: 9600

This setting is for the “Radio to Radio” communications over the Airwaves. Base and
Rover Link Rate’s must match.

Modulation Type: GMSK

This is default setting for Ashtech RTK receivers. Base and Rover Modulation Type’s
must match.

Digisquelch: High
This is default setting for the Internal PDL-RXO Rover radio.

Channel Select: the default radio “channel / frequency” are displayed in this template.
To change the radio channel / frequency, click on the Down-Arrow, browse the available
channel / frequency table and select the desired channel / frequency.

The Channel / Frequency selection MUST Match on both the Base and Rover Radios !

Thales Navigation: Configuration of the Pacific Crest Radios using PDL Config 15
Click on the Serial Interface tab…

The next screen…

Figure 22

Port Baud Rate: 9600

This is the default Baud Rate to interface between the PDL Base radio and the Ashtech
GPS receiver.

Parity: None
This is the default Parity for Ashtech GPS receivers

Protocol: Transparent w/EOT Timeout

This is the default for Protocol for Ashtech GPS receivers.

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If you have made any changes, click Program.

The next screen…

Figure 23
Click on Yes…

The next screen…

Figure 24

You may want to Print the Internal PDL-RXO Rover Radio’s configuration for future
reference.

To exit the PDL Config software, click Close.

Final Step: Perform a front panel “Parameter – Reset” on the Z-Xtreme RTK Rover
GPS receiver, this will cancel the Daisy Chain mode in the receiver, your ready to RTK.

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