Microwave Telemetry PTT FAQs
- How do I place an order?
- What is the lifetime of my battery powered transmitter?
- How do I calculate the duty cycle for the NANO or multi-season NANO timer?
- How do I set up the proper sensor data formatting for my PTT?
- How do I test my PTTs?
- How do I decode my data?
How do I decode my data from PTTs with 28 bit ID numbers?
The sensor information on the PTT-100 transmitters with 28 bit ID numbers is transmitted as follows:
- Sensor CH #1- 8 bits
- Sensor CH #2- 8 bits
- Sensor CH #3- 2 bits
- Sensor CH #4- 6 bits
This results in a total of 24 bits per transmission. In order for you to interpret the data easily, you should ensure that Service Argos is passing the data to you in this format.
Simply request that they decode your data as above and ask for A 1 processing.
This should be defined in your Argos technical file.
Standard transmitters are set up to transmit information as follows:
- CH #1 The internal temperature of the unit
- CH #2 The battery voltage
- CH #3 A counter that increments by one on each transmission
- CH #4 Activity
Figure 1 shows examples of the sensor information as transmitted to the user.
On every fourth transmission, the normal sensor frame is replaced by a special information frame. This is formatted as follows:
- CH #1 The current hour of present ON part of duty cycle
- CH #2 A current cycle of present season
- CH #3 Spare (normally 0)
- CH #4 The current season
DS Format
00123 35222 8 4 D 2 1996-07-12 16:34:55 65.588 251.759 0.000 401652330
1996-07-12 16:29:19 1 91 124 01 09
1996-07-12 16:30:34 1 01 02 00 03
1996-07-12 16:31:48 1 90 124 03 09
1996-07-12 16:33:03 1 90 124 00 09
1996-07-12 16:34:18 1 90 124 01 09 *
1996-07-12 16:35:33 1 01 02 00 03 **
1996-07-12 16:38:02 1 90 124 03 09007 msgs 000>-120dB Best: -127 Freq: 652330.3 IQ: 66
Lat1: 65.588N Lon1: 108.241W Lat2: 71.196N Lon2: 140.678WDIAG Format
35222 Date: 12.07.96 16:38:02 LC:2 IQ: 66
Lat1:65.588N Lon1: 108.241W Lat2: 71.196N Lon2: 140.678W
Nb mes: 007 Nb mes>-120dB: 000 Best level: -127 dB
Pass duration: 523s NOPC : 2
Calcul freq: 401 652330.3 Hz Altitude: 0m
90 124 03 09
*Normal information frame
Temp=90 Bat Volts=124 Counter=01 Activity Counter=09**Special information frame
Hour=01 Cycle=02 Spare=00 Season=0320 bit IDs — with a number value less than 32768
(See Graphs to decode temperature and battery voltage readings) - How do I know if mortality mode Ground Track™ has been initiated in my PTT?
- How do I store my PTTs?
- Can my PTTs be refurbished?
- How do I send my PTTs back to you?
- Can I become your agent or distributor?
- Can I use one of your transmitters to track my spouse?
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Microwave Telemetry, Inc.
8835 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suites K&L
Columbia, MD 21045
410.715.5292
