Index

The GPSMON is an interactive tool developed to help GPS system integrators to  communicate with the ALLSTAR 12-channels GPS Receiver. It is the most powerful application software available in the Low Cost GPS Receiver World .

Introduction to GPSMON

ALLSTAR Configuration

Installation

Menu Bar

Control& Indicators

Port Config Menu

Windows Menu

Logging Menu

Xmit Msg Menu

Options Menu

Data Logging Capability

Playback Capability


Introduction
Introduction to GPSMON

The GPS Monitor (GPSMON) software is used to communicate with the ALLSTAR GPS engine in CMC_Binary or NMEA format. NMEA messages can either be displayed in the "Terminal window" or in specialized windows. The default mode is CMC_Binary protocol @ 9600 N-8-1.  The GPSMON communication function can be configured to values between 300 and 19200 Baud rate and the PC Serial Comm Port to values from #1 to #4.

The GPSMON displays the data received from the ALLSTAR and transmits data request to the ALLSTAR or Record/Playback log files (see mode indicator in the MENU BAR). Log files are data files that contain CMC Binary or NMEA messages transmitted by the ALLSTAR. The data files format is defined as per the communication protocol defined in the  ALLSTAR SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT (Doc no. 1826-1127) Appendix E and D .

To display data on the GPSMON screen, the user must first request the data from the ALLSTAR (if not already transmitted). To request data from the ALLSTAR, the GPSMON Xmit Msg menu contains the list  of all possible command messages that can be transmitted to the ALLSTAR. If parameters are required to build the user request, additional dialogue boxes shall be presented.

Once the data is requested, the corresponding window needs to be opened from the Windows menu.  It is also possible to request for specific data related to an opened window by clicking the right button of the mouse when within the appropriate window limits.  This action has the same effects as using Xmit Msg menu).See also Message Request Short Cut.


ALLSTAR Configuration

At every power-up, the ALLSTAR transmits  a sequence of ASCII characters @ 9600 baud rate. The installation  can be verified by looking at the Terminal window. An example of the sequence of ASCII characters transmitted is shown bellow :

    ALLSTAR

    V4

    G : XXXXXXXXXX

    169-613914-005

    D0

    PCPB: XXXXXXXXXX

    GO

    <CMC,Part Nb:169-613913-055, CB=0x0000003F SHP

    Go to CMC Binary @ 9600 baud.

    In CMC Binary @ 9600 baud

    I>

If the ALLSTAR operating mode  is modified to NMEA @ 4800, the last three lines at next power up,  will be :

    Go to NMEA @ 4800 baud.

    In NMEA @ 4800 baud

    I>

The Go to MODE @ BAUD RATE line is always transmitted @ 9600 while the two following lines will be transmitted @ the Operational Baud Rate to show that the ALLSTAR has entered the selected operating mode.

If this information  is not displayed in the window,  verify the installation at the terminal.

CMC Part Number

169-613914-xxx and 169-613913-yyy are respectively the BOOT S/W  and  Operational S/W Part Numbers.

Power Up BIT Result

After the Operational S/W part number, the Power Up BIT Result is displayed :  CB=0x0000003F

where the "3F" indicates that all H/W and S/W components have successfully passed the Built-in Test (BIT). If the value is not "3F", verify according to the following   table  :

Bit 0 : RAM

Bit 1 : FLASH

Bit 2 : EEPROM

Bit 3 : UART

Bit 4 : RTC

Bit 5 : CORRELATOR & RF

Note : each bit is associated to a specific section of the ALLSTAR

1 = PASS

0 = FAIL


Installation

The GPSMON files together with the two associated directories shall be installed in the directory c:\cmc\gpsmon as follows:

c:\cmc\gpsmon\gpscfg.cfg

c:\cmc\gpsmon\gpsmon.cfg

c:\cmc\gpsmon\gpsmon.hlp

c:\cmc\gpsmon\gpsmon.exe

c:\cmc\gpsmon\alman 	(to store almanac files (YUMA format))

c:\cmc\gpsmon\gpslog 	(to store log files)

The GPSCFG.CFG file contains the CMC plant location.  This file is used to initialize the windows->Navigation->Position Display and the Xmit Msg->Navigation->Set User's Position command.  It can be modified to ease GPSMON operation at the user's site.

 	Ex :

c:\cmc\gpsmon\gpslog       	;Logging file complete path

c:\cmc\gpsmon\alman        	;Almanac file complete path

m:\cmc\prog\prog.exe       	;Programming file complete path

23.36                         	;Altitude by default

-73:41:35.01659               	;Longitude DEG:MIN:SEC

45:29:42.72287                	;Latitude DEG:MIN:SEC

At the first installation, the files gpsmon.cfg and gpscfg.cfg will be generated at the first execution of GPSMON.EXE

     GPSMON default configuration :

Protocol  : CMC Binary

Baud Rate : 9600

PC Comm Port: 2

Opened Windows :

Terminal

Sv_Status

Navigation Status (User Coord)


Control - Menu Bar
Menu Bar

The items in the Menu Bar are listed bellow:

Port Config menu  	:	presents a dialogue box for Baud rate and COMM# Selection.

                         	            	Save GPSMON configuration

Windows menu 	: 	Presents the list of available windows

Logging menu 	: 	Presents Controls for Logging Mode

Xmit Msg menu 	: 	Presents the list of available commands to the ALLSTAR

Options  menu 	: 	Presents the Controls for PlayBack Mode

Help                             	:       	Help on GPSMON


Indicators & Control Bar
Controls & Indicators

File Name    	: 	Displays the selected file  only when in Playback or Log modes

Marker       	:  	Displays the file marker in Playback or Log modes

Sample #    	: 	Displays the internal Timer used to insert markers in

                 	  	log files

Protocols    	:  	Displays the number of Protocol Errors for the session

Errors

CMC_Binary/  	: 	Indicates the present GPSMON protocol in use

NMEA button

Reset All    	:  	Resets all GPSMON parameters and window data

button

COMM #      	:  	Control the selected PC Serial Port

button

Baud Rate    	:  	Select and display PC Serial Port

button       	  	baud rate

Operating Mode 	:  	Displays the mode in use :

Indicator      	 	User     	: 	Dick Tracy watching the GPSMON

  	Log      	: 	GPSMON sending data to Hard Disk

  	Playback 	: 	Magnetic tape sending data to GPSMON

Init Link button	: 	Send the CMC Binary msg 63 (stop ALLSTAR from sending data)

Freeze button   	: 	Used to temporarily freeze the update of the

     	 	information displayed on the screen

Msg Waiting for Ack 	: 	Indicates the number of msg transmitted and

  	not acknowledged yet by the ALLSTAR.

RS232 buffer read   	: 	Number of bytes received in the serial port

    	 	during the last 100 ms

Number of Expected	:   	Proprietary

Blocks


Port Config
Port Config Menu

Select Port

Presents a dialogue box to select the appropriate COMM# and baud rate.

Config->Save Config

Saves the following information in the GPSMON.CFG file  so that the GPSMON will restart with the saved configuration at the next working session:

- COMM# and baud rate in use

- Opened windows and location

- DGPS Configuration

Config->Restore Factory Configuration

Delete the present information contained in the  GPSMON.CFG file and uses the default configuration :

Protocol  : CMC Binary

Baud Rate : 9600

Comm Port : 2

Opened Windows :

Terminal

Channel Assignment

Navigation Status (User Coord)


Windows
Windows Menu

Presents a list of menu leading directly or through a dialogue box  to  real time information display window. The related CMC Binary message number is displayed in the Title bar of each window.    To get information from the ALLSTAR, you can use the Xmit Msg menu or just point arrow to the MOUSE BUTTON icon displayed on the screen  and click the mouse right button.

Debug

Navigation

Channel_Assignment

Satellite

Measurement Block

Ephemeris

DGPS

Receiver Status

HW/SW Part Numbers

BIT

Terminal


Debug
Debug Window Menu

  Debug->Show Err Stat

Displays information on errors occurred during the session

  Debug->Display Message

Displays the last received and transmitted messages.

Helpful when analyzing data and learning message structure.

  Debug->Message received

Displays the number of messages received during the present session.

Helpful when verifying if the PC Serial Port baud rate is well set.

Note:   In NMEA mode, only the Debug->Display Message window is available


Navigation Window Menu

  Navigation->Navigation Status

Displays the latest navigation solution transmitted in one of the following formats :

User_Coordinates(Lat,Long) 	:	CMC_Bin #20

                          	:	GGA,GLL,RMC,ZDA

GPS_Coordinates(WGS-84_XYZ)	:	CMC_Bin #21

Notes:

1. Only one format can be displayed at a time.

2. In NMEA mode, all navigational messages are

summarized in this window.

  Navigation->Position Display (CMC_Bin #20 / NMEA_GGA_GLL_RMC)

Displays the  real-time positioning data retrieved from messages that have position information in Lat_Long format.

This information is not maintained in memory and will be lost if overlapped by another window or screen saver function.

Control Buttons :

+    	:   	ZOOM IN

-       	:    	ZOOM OUT

XY       	:  	Turn the axis information On/OFF

Ct=Nav 	:   	Use the last computed position by the

 	ALLSTAR as plot centre

Ct=Cfg  	:   	Use the position contained in the

        	    	C:\CMC\GPSMON\GPSCFG.CFG file

        	    	as plot centre  See also Installation


Channel Assignment Window
Channel_Assignment Window

  Channel_Assignment (msg 6,7)

In this window, the right button of the mouse is used for two purposes:

- at the TOP for the Xmit Msg->Satellite->Track Sv Req command

- at the BOTTOM for the Xmit Msg->Channel->Channel Assign. command (msg 6,7).


Satellite Window Menu

  Satellite->Show Position (CMC_Bin #33/ NMEA_GSV_GSA)

Displays the real-time SV positions :

 0 deg         	: 	North

 Centre        	: 	Above your head

 Circle limits 	: 	Horizon

  Satellite->SV_Status (CMC_Bin #33 / NMEA_GSV_GSA)

Displays the status of All-In-View Satellites :

       SNR

       Elevation

       Azimuth

       Use By NAV

  Satellite->SV_Health_Summary (msg 50)

Displays the Health status for all satellites


Measurement Block Window

  Measurement Block (msg 13-16 or msg 23 )

These messages are available only with the MEAS DATA (1 Hz or 10 Hz) option.

The user shall develop its application by using the message 23.

Messages 13 through 16 are not longer supported by CMC Binary


Ephemeris Window

  Ephemeris (msg 11,12  or 22)

The user shall develop application by using message 22.

Messages 11-12 are no longer supported by CMC


DGPS Window Menu

  DGPS->DGPS Status (msg 48)

Provide Reference Station and Communication Status

  DGPS->DGPS Configuration (msg 43)

Displays the current DGPS ALLSTAR Configuration

  DGPS->DGPS Data (msg 83)

The ALLSTAR can retransmit the Differential Correction received at its auxiliary port to the User.  (see input msg Set DGPS Configuration)

  DGPS->Beacon Information (msg 85)

The message 85 is  available only when the ALLSTAR is used in a 8900 DGPS Receiver (2 Channel Beacon Receiver and  12-Channel ALLSTAR GPS engine).


Receiver Status Window

  Receiver Status (CMC_Bin #49 / NMEA_$PMCAG,908)

Displays the status of the ALLSTAR Receiver parameters:

Mask Angle

MSL Model On/Off

Tropo Model On/Off

Current Almanac Week Number

Etc..


HW/SW Part Numbers Window

  HW/SW Part Numbers (msg 45)

Displays the S/W and configuration part numbers and their associated checksums.


BIT Window

  BIT Results (msg 51)

Displays the  Build In Test Results at Power-Up or when initiated.


Terminal Window

Displays all characters received by the GPSMON in ASCII or Binary.


Xmit Msg
Xmit Msg Menu

All messages can be requested in ONE SHOT mode or in CONTINUOUS mode (1Hz).

See also Message Request Short Cut.

Every Item below presents a sub-menu and/or a dialogue box with multiple choices as described in the following pages.

Navigation

Channel

Satellite

Almanac

Status & Configuration

Interface

Misc Commands

BIT

DGPS

NMEA


Navigation
Navigation Menu

    Nav Status (User Coord)	(CMC_Bin msg 20 / NMEA)

    Nav Status (GPS Coord) 	(CMC_BIn msg 21)

Both messages will be sent @ 2Hz when the ALLSTAR is configured to 2Hz PVT mode and if CONTINUOUS mode is requested.

In NMEA mode, the Nav_Status (User Coord) is also used to configure the ALLSTAR NMEA output msg list.

    Set Data/Time        	(CMC_Bin #103 / NMEA_$PMCAG,001)

Sets the ALLSTAR time by using the current PC time

    Set User's Position  	(msg 80 \ NMEA_$PMCAG,001)

Initializes the ALLSTAR position by using a position taken from the C:\CMC\GPSMON\GPSCFG.CFG file

    Invalidate Position  	(msg 80)

Forces the ALLSTAR to enter Search The Sky mode

    Tropo Model Use    	(msg 84)

Turn the Tropo Model Use ON/OFF. The Tropo Model Use is recommended when the low elevation satellites are in use : this is the default mode when not in DGPS mode

    MSL Model Use        	(msg 86)

This mode is Enabled by default

    Set Time Align Mode  	(msg 103)

After turning the Time Align Mode ON, wait 5 seconds, then turn the ALLSTAR OFF and ON to allow  the TIMEMARK alignment to the GPS time.  The  setup mode is kept in Non-Volatile Memory.


Channel
Channel Menu

    Channel Assignment        	(msg 6)

Requests the current status of all 12 tracking channels.

    Meas Block Data Req->1Hz    	(msg 13-16)

    Meas Block Data Req->10Hz   	(msg 23)

Msg 23 can be requested @ 1Hz if the ALLSTAR is configured to 1Hz MEAS DATA and @ 1,2,5 or 10 Hz if the ALLSTAR is configured to 10Hz MEAS DATA.

The use of messages 13,14,15 and 16 is not recommended by the system integrator and is no longer supported.

    Deselect Channel                  	(msg 64)

Turns the tracking channel On/Off.


Satellite
Satellite Menu

    SV Heath Summary    	(msg 50)

Provides the current satellite health status.

    SV Status                   	(CMC_Bin #33 \ NMEA_GSV)

Provides the current position of the all-in-view satellites and their status (tracking/use_by_nav/DGPS_Corrections available)

    Ephemeris->Marconi   Ephemeris STD   	(msg 11)

    Ephemeris->ICDGPS200 Ephemeris STD   	(msg 22)

Provides all Ephemeris data stored in the ALLSTAR.

It can take up to 30 seconds after the request has been sent before to receive the Ephemeris data. .

Each new Ephemeris (new IOD) will be sent only once to the serial link when decoded.

    Set SV Mask Angle   	(msg 81)

    Track SV Req        	(msg 95)

Sends a command to the ALLSTAR to proceed to a parallel research with all available channel for a selected SV.

    Deselect SV                 	(msg 90)

Sends a command to the ALLSTAR to remove some satellites from the Navigation solution.


Almanac
Almanac Menu

Almanac Data Xfer  	(msg 79)

The ALLSTAR accepts ALMANAC file in YUMA format; Use the following procedure to transfer ALMANAC file to the Allstar:

1. GET ALMANAC FILE

\\www\navcen.uscg.mil

a) Select   GPS

b) Select   Latest GPS Almanac (YUMA Format)

2. Rename the file YUMAXYZ.ALM

3. Store the file in the c:\cmc\gpsmon\alman directory

4. Select :

Xmit_Msg->Almanac->Almanac Data Xfer and follow the instructions

Update Almanac     	(msg 77)

Forces the ALLSTAR to decode a new Almanac from the sky and store it in the NVM .


Status & Configuration
Status & Configuration Menu

    HW/SW Part Numbers 	(msg 45)

Requests HW/SW Part numbers and Checksum values.

    Receiver Status    	(CMC_Bin #49 / NMEA_$PMCAG,008)

The Receiver Status message contains a list of parameters used by the ALLSTAR for its operation :

Mask Angle

MSL Model On/Off

Tropo Model On/Off

Current Almanac Week Number

Etc..


Interface
Interface Menu

Initiate Link 	(msg 63)

Stops the ALLSTAR from sending any message until the next data request. Same effect as the Init Link button.

Set RS232 Default Msg List 	(msg 105)

Sets the list of messages that will be sent by the ALLSTAR in CONTINUOUS mode after every power up.

Configure ALLSTAR Operating Mode  (CMC_Bin #110 / NMEA_$PMCAG,005)

Displays the current mode of operation and gives a list of possible configuration of the  ALLSTAR.  When you click at OK, the GPSMON will be set according to the selected baud rate

The "Force ALLSTAR to CMC Binary, 9600BPS" button will force the GPSMON to send  the messages NMEA_$PMCAG,000  and CMC_Binary #110 at all baud rates in order to bring the ALLSTAR back to its default configuration.


Misc Commands
Misc Commands Menu

Clear_NVM (msg 99)

This command will remove the selected element from the NVM (Non Volatile Memory).

At the next power up, the element will be set to its default value  ( if elements 9,13,14 or 15 )  or will be re-acquired from Satellite data (if elements 5,10,11 or 12).

    00        	:    ALL

    01-04     	:    RESERVED

    05        	:    ALMANAC

    06-08     	:    RESERVED

    09        	:    TCXO PARAMETERS

    10        	:    IONO  & UTC PARAMETERS

    11        	:    POSITION

    12        	:    TIME

    13        	:    DGPS CONFIGURATION

    14        	:    DEFAULT NMEA MSG LIST

    15        	:    RS232 CONFIGURATION

              	        I/O Mode : NMEA/CMC Binary

              	        Baud Rate

              	        Default CMC_Binary Msg List

              	        Time Alignment Mode Status

              	        Mask Angle

Misc Parameters (proprietary)


BIT
BIT Menu

    BIT Result    	(msg 51, byte 5 = 0)

Gets the last BIT result.

    Initiate BIT  	(msg 51, byte 5 = 1)

After the BIT,the ALLSTAR will transmit the result (msg 51) and will perform a system reset.


DGPS
DGPS Menu

    DGPS Status           	(msg 48)

Gets the Reference Station and Communication Status

    DGPS Configuration 	(msg 43)

Requests the current DGPS ALLSTAR Configuration

    Set DGPS Config    	(msg 83)

The dialogue box allows to set the DGPS parameters. If the MAIN port option is selected, the user has to specify the baud rate and the PC Serial Port from which the GPSMON will receive the RTCM-104 data, before sending all the DGPS corrections  to the ALLSTAR within the CMC Binary msg 82.

The GPSMON will start to re-transmit the RTCM DGPS corrections only when the "Xmit_msg->DGPS->Transmit_DGPS_Data" option is triggered.

    Transmit DGPS Data

Commands the GPSMON to send message 82 to the ALLSTAR.

The PC Serial Port shall be previously selected from the Xmit_Msg->DGPS->Set_DGPS_Config window.

    Beacon Board (8900 DGPS Receiver)  	(msg 85)

Configures the Beacon Board Interface and sets Demodulation parameters


NMEA Control
NMEA Menu

    Output Configuration  	($PMCAG,004 , 005)

Configures the NMEA output and the Default list stored in NVM

    Set Receiver Parameter 	($PMCAG,008)

Configure  receiver parameters :

Mask Angle

DGPS Configuration

Time Alignment Mode

etc...


Logging Menu

    Log OFF

Turns the Logging mode OFF

    Data File Select

Selects the file name and messages to be recorded .

    Select Messages

If a subset of  the message being presently transmitted has to be recorded,select it before selecting the file.


Options
Options Menu

    Playback Mode

Turns Playback mode ON/OFF

    Playback File

Presents a dialogue box to Select appropriate log file and start Playback mode.

    Playback Marker

The GPSMON will immediately enter Playback Marker and start to play the log file at normal speed.

    Playback Rate

Controls the number of CMC Binary messages to be displayed per second.

    Baud Rate->Normal

When selected, all baud rate values from 300 to 19200 are valid to set the PC Serial Port.

    Baud Rate->Limited

When selected, only baud rate values from 4800 to 19200 are valid to set the PC Serial Port.

    Protocol

Select the GPSMON Protocol mode , CMC Binary or NMEA.

Same effect as the CMC_Binary/NMEA button

    Programming

Used to force the ALLSTAR programming mode and transfer new operational S/W file.


Logging Capability
DATA LOGGING CAPABILITY

The GPSMON has the capability of logging the received data into a disk file. To enable this function, select the Logging menu , then the Data File Select menu item; a dialogue box shall be displayed to select the file name into which the data will be stored. After selecting the appropriate filename, a comment box will be opened, allowing  the entry of up to 1024 bytes of comments that will be stored along with the ALLSTAR data. These comments can be used to specify relevant information such as special conditions of test ( example: input signal applied) and  will be displayed when playback mode is selected to help to identify the correct data file.

When Data log is in progress, the GPSMON will display the icon of a computer and a red arrow pointing to the hard disk. The filename and length of the current log file are displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. While the GPSMON is creating the log file, it inserts a marker  approximately  after every minute of log; this helps to locate events and to allow playback from a specific point into the log file. It will also allow the GPSMON to playback the file at normal or accelerated speed.

To exit log mode, select Logging menu, then Log OFF menu item. The log file will close immediately.

Select Message

During the logging operation, the GPSMON will save all valid incoming data messages received from the GPS receiver into the disk. If only certain data messages need to be stored into the disk , it can be done selectively. To enable this feature, select the Logging menu, then the Select messages item and a list of all possible messages will be displayed. Click on the check box next to the message description  corresponding to the data message to log (Check box checked). Any message not checked will not be stored into the log file. Now repeat the procedure described above in the Data Logging capability section but this time, when the log Data file selection dialogue box appears click on Log Selected Messages. This informs the GPSMON to use the Selected message list to screen incoming data before writing it into the disk.


PLAY BACK Capability

Once a log file has been created, you can replay it for analysis or review. To Enable this feature, select the Options menu, then the Playback file menu item. This will bring up the file selection dialogue box That shows the name of the last Log file created (since the GPSMON was started). Clicking the OK button will display the comment field entered for this file, if a comment field exists.  If the Log File comment field appeared, click OK button to start the playback of the selected file.

When in playback mode, the GPSMON will display the icon of a Tape Recorder with a RED arrow pointing to a computer, to indicate that the data is played back from a recording. As soon as this process is started any open window will start displaying the data from the log file.

The Speed of the play back mode can be altered to accelerate  sections containing irrelevant data . To control the play back rate, select the Options menu, then the Play Back Rate menu item. A Play back speed selection scroll bar will be displayed to select a playback speed from 1 message per second to a maximum of 100 messages per second.

Goto Marker

Rather than accelerating the display near an event of interest and reducing the speed slightly before the event, which can be a lengthy process on a large log file, a direct access method is available if the Marker number was activated when the playback was created. To jump directly to a Marker in the log file, select  the Options menu, then the Play Back Marker menu item.  A Dialogue box will allow  to enter the maker number(activate  a marker) from which you may start the data file playback. Note that the playback mode processes the data internally but does not display it. When the marker specified is reached,the display of the data is re-enabled and normal speed or the currently selected playback rate takes effect. Since no data is displayed, the computer can process the data file much faster and get to where the data of interest are stored more quickly.