CSI LGBX Pro DGPS Receiver
Tripod Data Systems Husky FS/2 Data Collector
© Brooke Clarke 2014Fig 1
Fig DC1
I'm a GPS junkie and have wanted a differential GPS setup but most of my GPS receivers are so old that they can take differential corrections from an external LF receiver, but don't have an internal LF RTCM SC-104 (Wiki, US Coast Guard: NDGPS) or WAAS (Wiki) differential receiver. It turns out that this model does not support WAAS, but a later version (DGPS MAX) does.
The military PLGR and DAGR GPS receivers have provision to use the military version of WAAS, but not the civilian WAAS system. They also do not have an internal LF DGPS marine beacon receiver, but will accept an external DGPS input.
It appears that CSI is no longer in business and so far it's been difficult to get documentation on the receiver.
MBX-2 is the basic LF differential correction receiver, no other receivers.
MBX-3S is the basic LF differential correction receiver, no other receivers, but has a GPS output and works with the MGL-3 combined GPS & LF antenna for neater cabling.
The MGL-3 antenna combines GPS and LF beacons on a single coax. The MBX-3S receiver has a splitter and outputs a signal that goes to an external GPS receiver..
The MBX-3S can take in the NMEA GPS data and display it.
GBX is a combined GPS (8 or 12 channels) receiver plus an internal LF beacon receiver. MGL-3 antenna.
The GBX-12R has the Rockwell Jupiter receiver (Aug2000 $1400)
The GBX-Pro has the Ashtech G-12L GPS receiver (Aug2000 $3000)
LGBX is the GBX plus an L-band receiver for the OmniSTAR differential correction service. USes the CDA-1 antenna for GPS, LF beacons & OmniStar L-band corrections.
The LGBX-Pro has an Ashtech G-12L GPS receiver (Aug2000 $4100) The Ashtech GPS receivers are very good, see the Z12.
The LGBX-12S has a Satloc SLX GPS receiver (Aug2000 $3400)
DGPS MAX is the LGBX plus WAAS capability. USes the CDA-3 Antenna that covers: GPS, LF beacons, OmniStar and WAAS corrections.
In the LGBX Pro receiver menu under Setup\Options\XBX3 Mode: you have the following choices:
GBx: GPS & Beacon only (this is the mode it came in and the mode I'm using)
Gx-E: GPS & External beacon correction
Bx-E: Beacon & External GPS
GLx: GPS w/L-Band corrections
Lx: L-band corrections with external GPS
Bx: Beacon only
CSI made a number of antennas to go along with their receivers.
Model
GPS L1
Bandwidth
LF
MBA-3
none
Whip
MBL-31
none
Loop
MGA-2
3 MHz
none
MGL-3
3 MHz
Loop
CDA-21
GPS
WAAS
OmniSTAR
Loop
CDA-3
40 MHz
Loop
CDA-3RTK
10 MHz
none
Note 1: The LGBX Pro receiver has two antenna jacks on the back panel, one marked CDA-2 and the other marked MBL-3.
CSI started out making Low Frequency differential GPS receivers and migrated up to making a single box that can receive both GPS and a number of differential corrections such as WAAS, LF beacons or OmniSTAR L1 only corrections by means of a subscription. Some of the GPS receivers they got from others. Note WAAS and the LF beacons are free.
In order to do this the box has three receivers, GPS on the L1 frequency, LF beacon receiver that tunes from 283.5 to 325.0 kHz and an L-band receiver for the OmniSTAR corrections. In a like manner the CDA-1 antenna also covers all these frequencies with an active amplifier and triplexer.
I did find a manual for the CSI DGPS MAX receiver that uses the CDA-3 antenna.
If you have a manual for this receiver or information on the TDS Husky FS/2 Data Collector please contact me.
Photos
The GPS satellite list stopped showing the satellites. Later turned off all NEMA outputs and that seemed to restore a couple of satellites, but the number of SV was showing 6, so something wrong. After a power cycle the satellite status was || that's to say not locked to anything. But the beacon receiver is locked, i.e. the antenna cable and LF antenna are working.
Some type of intermittent problem. Maybe need to open it up and take apart to clean all the electrical connections, see: What goes wrong. You can see the holdup battery is working because the beacon receiver comes up locked and on the correct frequency and baud rate.
The receiver came with a power cable with a small LEMO connector on the far end and I don't know what that fits, so I opened the fuse holder and plugged the fuse into the receiver end of the fuse socket and used an alligator clip to the free end of the fuse and another clip to the chassis of the receiver and applied +12 Volts DC to the fuse and the receiver came to life. I haven't made a movie of the start up sequence, but will shortly. After a short while (to be timed in the future) my Lat and Lon were displayed as shown in Fig 1 above. Note the symbol in the top line which is an open padlock which means no differential lock. The symbol just below the open padlock is a "?" and it's being overlaid with a solid block meaning there's not a good GPS fix.
At power up it draws over 1 amp so will not start with the HP E3617A bench supply, needs the HP 6038A power supply to get going. But once running only draws 0.7 amps at 12.0 volts.
After playing with the menu system I got to a place where I could choose the LF beacon by it's location and tried Cape Mendocino but no lock then tried Chico and got a lock. I've let the receiver just sit for a number of hours and the Lat and Lon seem to be converging.
After the first couple of readings in the table below the antenna cable was changed to a 10 foot BNC cable and the antenna placed outside about five feet from the house.
So a little better than inside like for the first line in the table.
Here is some data taken from my camera:
Date
Time
Lat
Lon
DGPS FIX 2014, May, 8
17:45:48
39611.5764 W
12309.7538 N no
poor
2014, May, 8 18:13:17
3911.4050
12309.8468
no
GPS
2014, May, 8 18:14:43
Stn: 314.5 B200, SS: 031 SNR 003 (very poor)
2014, May, 8 18:36:16
3911.3838
12309.8504
lock 318.0
Fix
2014, May, 8 19:12:25
3911.4086
12309.8433
"
"
2014, May, 8 19:31:52
3911.4112
12309.8433
"
"
2014, May, 8 20:03:24
3911.4127
12309.8433
"
"
2014, May, 8 20:47:20
3911.4117
12309.8444
"
"
2014, May, 8 21:08:46
3911.4117
12309.8444
"
"
Rooftop ant is at: 39:11:24.5833 N
The Lat 3911.4117 corresponds to 39:11:24.702 N
The Lon 12309.8444 corresponds to 123:09:50.664 W
Rooftop ant is at: 123:09:50.4842 W
The last digit in the Latitude corresponds to about 0.6 feet and the last digit in the Longitude corresponds to about 0.46 feet.
I have cut off the old power Lemo plug and replaced it with Power Pole connectors. I'm now powering from a laptop type desktop power brick.
This gets rid of the fan noise from the HP 6038A power supply.
After restarting the LGBX and selecting the Chico LF correction station the beacon receiver did not lock after a few minutes.
The antenna had fallen off the 5 gal bucket and was face down on the dirt.
But scrolling through the menus it appeared as if the time was correct. Maybe there's an internal real time clock that's either battery powered or it runs off a super capacitor.
Also have connected the antenna to a tripod and extension mast.
This lifts the antenna off the ground which is both better for the LF signal strength and also for sky visibility for the GPS (more satellites in view).
Now the beacon receiver locks in a few minutes as does the GPS receiver.
Here the official USCG U.S. list of LF beacon stations.
Menus
The display has two lines and the far right character in each line is always a status icon.
The top line icon is for beacon status. It might be the top of a question mark with a solid block below or a unlocked padlock or a locked padlock.
The second line icon might be two vertical parallel lines (| |) when not enough satellites for a fix, to an (H) with an open diamond on the horizontal bar for fix but not good lock to an (H) with a vertical bar in the center of the horizontal bar for a good sat fix.
These two icons appear on all menu lines.
Startup
$PCSI26D 012P
CSI XBX-3
Receiver
S/N: 00019001
P012-0.009 GBx
Top Menu
Position Status
Satellites
Beacon Status
Setup
Position Status Menu
LT 3911.4127 N
LN 12309.8444 W
Hgt 897.244f
Vel 0.0 MPH
Time 14:03:32
Age 8.0 s (age of differential correction data)
SV Count 07
HDOP 2.0 (Horizontal Dilution of Position - a measure of good the position is)
Back
Satellites Menu (12 channels + Back)
Ch01-SV16 El 51
Az 090 SNR 38
Ch02-SV23 El72
Az 035 SNR 42
Ch03-SV13 El 53
Az 314 SNR 45
Ch04-SV10 El 19
Az 315 SNR 40
Ch05-SV00 El 00
Az 00 SNR 00
. . . .
Ch12-SV00
Az 00 SNR 00
Back
Beacon Status Menu
Stn 318.0 B100
SS 050 SNR 015
MTP 100% Q 25
Chico CA
ID 00256 H 01
Top Menu
Back
SetupMenu
Options
Auto Bx Search
Tune 318.0/AUTO (or Tune AUTO/AUTO)
Select Beacon
Subscription
Version Display
Back
Setup\Options Menu
Baud Rt 9600
XBX3 Mode: GBx (See Receiver Versions above)
L/L Unit DM.M
Hgt Unit Feet
Vel Unit MPH
UTC Offset -8
Pos Update: 1 Hz
NMEA ON/OFF
Back
Setup\Auto Tune Bx Search
Pressing Enter -> Sending Command -> a few minutes found 318.- B100 Chico CA -> Beacon Status menu
Setup\Tune Auto/Auto or Tune 318.0/Auto
Pressing Enter -> Sending Command -> finds station almost immediately
Pressing Up or Dn arrow changes station frequency, so with a lot of presses you can tune any frequency.
This allows accessing a station, such as Lincoln, CA that is not on the built-in station list.
Setup\Select Beacon
Africa
Asia
Australia
Central America
Europe
North America
South America
Back
If North America is selected then:
Bermuda
Canada
U.S.A.
BackIf the U.S.A. is selected then:
Alexandria VA
Anncte Is AK
Appeleton WA
Aransas Pass TX
Brunswick ME
Cp Canaveral FL
Cp Henlopen DE
Cape Henry VA
Cp Hinchilobr AK
Cp Mendocino CA
Charleston SC
Chatham MA
Chcboygal MI
Chico CAPressing Enter -> Sending Command -> Beacon Status Menu
Setup\Subscription Menu
There is a long hex number that can be edited.
Setup\Version Display
The following screens scroll and there's nothing to change:
P012-0.009 GBx (GPS Receiver)
s/n: 00019001
P003-4.007 SBX-2 (Beacon Receiver)
s/n: 00019001
C100-1.000 BxTAB (OmniSTAR Receiver?)
G12, GH00 (12 chan GPS? +? +?)
CRC: C991
VB14278
15 May 2014 - When looking at the Satellite Status page when the number of SV was 7 there was no satellite data, i.e. all the variable characters were zero.
Opened up box (See Fig 9 and Fig 10 above) and expected to find a dead battery, but it tests good. After putting it back together still no satellite data.
Why?
Possible Answer: SV64 is being tested for the new L5 frequency and has it's health set to unusable. If the Ashtech receiver sees the unhealthy status it may turn off the listing for all the space vehicles even though only that one is marked do not use.
2014018------------------------
NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2014018 SUBJ: SVN64 (PRN30) LAUNCH JDAY 052 1. NANU TYPE: LAUNCH NANU NUMBER: 2014018 NANU DTG: 210207Z FEB 2014 SVN: 64 PRN: 30 LAUNCH JDAY: 052 LAUNCH TIME ZULU: 0159 2. GPS SATELLITE SVN64 (PRN30) WAS LAUNCHED ON JDAY 052. A USABINIT NANU WILL BE SENT WHEN THE SATELLITE IS SET ACTIVE TO SERVICE. 3. POC: CIVILIAN - NAVCEN AT 703-313-5900, HTTP://WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV MILITARY - GPS OPERATIONS CENTER AT HTTPS://GPS.AFSPC.AF.MIL/GPSOC, DSN 560-2541, COMM 719-567-2541,GPSOPERATIONSCENTER@US.AF.MIL , HTTPS://GPS.AFSPC.AF.MIL/GPSOC/GPS MILITARY ALTERNATE - JOINT SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER, DSN 276-3514. COMM 805-606-3514. JSPOCCOMBATOPS@VANDENBERG.AF.MIL
6625209Short synchronization time data modem, Hamid Najafi, Csi-Wireless, Inc., Mar 29, 1999, 375/222 - data modems for systems using 2 GPS receivers for DGPS corrections.
6397147Relative GPS positioning using a single GPS receiver with internally generated differential correction terms, Michael L. Whitehead, Csi Wireless Inc., Jun 6, 2000,
701/472, 342/357.42, 342/357.58, 342/357.44, 342/357.24, 701/469 - single GPS receiver corrections good for a short time
6469663 Method and system for GPS and WAAS carrier phase measurements for relative positioning, Michael L. Whitehead, Walter Feller, Csi Wireless Inc., Mar 21, 2000,
342/357.31, 342/357.41, 342/357.44, 342/357.48, 701/470, - combines GPS and WAAS carrier phase processing.
6865465 Method and system for implement steering for agricultural vehicles, John A. McClure, Csi Wireless, Inc. May 6, 2002, 701/50, 701/468 - uses corrections
6744404Unbiased code phase estimator for mitigating multipath in GPS, Michael L. Whitehead, Steven R. Miller, si Wireless Inc. Jul 9, 2003, 342/357.61, 375/148
7400294Portable reference station for local differential GPS corrections, Michael L. Whitehead, John McClure, Hemisphere Gps Inc., -
some of the people from CSI have moved to Hemisphere GNSS. CSI made the application in 2004, but Hemisphere has this patent in 2005.
Background
Surveying data collectors are used in the field to collect data from either a GPS receiver or a total station so the data can be taken back to the office and worked on there.
This is the intersection of Surveying, Navigation and Electronics.
The kit of GPS surveying stuff I got on eBay included the CSI LGBX DGPS receiver, this data collector and a couple of cables, the power cable for the LGBX receiver and some flavor of DB-9 RS-232 cable.
The TDS data collector has a screw out plug on the bottom that maybe is to hold some rechargeable AA batteries, but I'm just guessing since so far I haven't found a manual for it.
I have on order (May 2014) a battery that looks like 3 AA rechargeable cells (Ni-MH) 3.6 V 2700 mAh. Tried 3 AA Ni-MH cells but don't know the polarity and maybe they don't make contact because there's springs on both ends of the battery compartment (maybe to protect from mechanical shock).
There also may be a memory backup battery inside the case?
Description
These are pretty much a handheld computer with specialized software to manage GPS & surveying data.
Photos
Fig DC1 Front & Bottom
Fig DC2 back
Fig DC3 RS-232 ports
4GPS 4 Way power splitter for GPS
5001A Stanford Telecom 5001A Navstar Test Transmitter - made to test their GPS receiver ICs
AstechZ12 Ashtech Z-12 Reference Station GPS receiver
DAGR - Defense Advanced GPS Receiver
GPSpat GPS & Satellite Navigation Patents
HNV600 Rockwell Trooper GPS HNV-600
HNV-2000 Rockwell HNV-2000 PLGR II SPGR GPS Receiver
HP Z3805A Time & Frequency GPS Receiver
Magellan GPS Commander
Magnavox MX7221 GPS Receiver
MOTGPS Motorola GPS Receivers
MX4102 MX 4102 Transit Satellite Navigator & MX 4200 Differential GPS receiver
Navigation
NTgpsSTR2760 Northern Telecon GPS Satellite Sumulator STR2760
PLGR GPS Family
PLGR-II Rockwell HNV-2000 PLGR II SPGR GPS Receiver
PSN-8 VSN-8 GPS receiver
PSN-9 GPS receiver
PSN-10 SLGR GPS receiver
Q5200 Quantic Q-5200/SM Timing GPS Receiver
Rockwell Trooper GPS HNV-600
Rockwell HNV-2000 PLGR II SPGR GPS Receiver
ThunderBolt Trimble GPSDO Timing receiver
Trimpack Trimble Trimpack Family of GPS receivers )& many other Trimble GPS receivers)
Tripods - camera, survey, GPS antenna, Binocular
URN502 URN-502 Vehicle Mount GPS Receiver System
Z3805A Time & Frequency GPS Receiver
Outside web pages:
Surveying & Mapping Office / EFB-3 Electronic Field Book v3.2 Software - Downloads
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Page Created 10 May 2014
