AccuGrade® Version 11 Compaction GPS Mapping and Measurement System Caterpillar

General Notes

The AccuGrade Systems will use either a TC series radio or a CR series radio for transmitting data. The TC series radios may be TC450C, TC900C, or a TC2400C radio. The CR series radio may be either the CR424, CR900, CR902, CR924 or the CR2400.The following notes should be considered when troubleshooting communications problems with the TC series radio.

• The TC900C looks similar to the TC450C and TC2400C.

• The TC2400C is used only with AccuGrade ATS systems.

• The TC450C and the TC2400C have a black, low profile antenna. The antenna on both of these radios is longer than the antenna on the TC900C.

• The black, low profile antennas on the TC450C and TC2400C are nearly identical in length, but the radios are incompatible with each other.

• The 450MHz radio at the base station and the machine TC450C or CR4xx radio must work within the same band. If the radios do not have the correct boards internally, they cannot be configured for the same frequency. Refer to the part number on the TC450C and the part number on the Trimble or Pacific Crest base station radio to check on the internal radio band for compatibility. The TC450C radio bands are listed in Table 1.

TC900C and CR9xx Data Radio

The following notes should be considered when troubleshooting communications problems with the CR series radio:

• The CR series radios may have one or two antenna connectors

• The 450MHz or 900MHz antenna is on the same side of the radio as the 8-pin connector

• The 2400MHz antenna is on the opposite side of the radio from the 8-pin connector

• The 2400MHz band is restricted to transmitting ATS corrections at this time and is not used for Compactor applications

CR424 is available for three 20-MHz bands, where the channel spacing is automatically detected:

• 410-430MHz

• 430-450MHz

• 450-470MHz

Refer to Illustration 1 for additional information.

Illustration 1	g01427729
(1) 2400 MHz Antenna (2) 900 MHz Antenna (3) LED (4) 8-pin Connector

Note: For troubleshooting both the TC series and CR series radios, a 194-8043 Communication Cable As and MCGFlash software may be required. Refer to Special Instruction, REHS2585 for more information.

The TC900C data radio has two LED indicator lights in a single package next to the harness connector. The behavior of these LED indicator lights indicates the status of the data radio.

Table 2 lists the patterns of the LED indicators and the status that is associated with the pattern.

The CR9xx data radio has a single LED on the front of the radio. Table 3 lists the LED states.

Machine Radio Network Synchronization

The machine radio does not synchronize to the network.

Probable Causes

• There is a network mismatch between the base radio and the machine radio.

• There is a radio type mismatch between the base radio and rover radio.

• There is external jamming or some type of interference.

• The machine is out of the range of the base radio.

• The transmitter at the base radio has failed.

• There is no power to the base radio.

Problem Isolation

1. Verify that there is power to the base radio. The TC900C and CR9xx machine radio should synchronize to the powered base radio regardless of whether or not there is correction data being sent to the base radio from a GPS base station. If power to the base radio is reduced, transmission from the base radio is the first function to shut down. The lights may still be on and the base radio will continue to be powered, but transmitting will stop.

2. Verify that the rover radio is within range of the base radio. Use the AccuGrade System or AccuGrade Office in order to verify the radio coverage area. Use a repeater if necessary to improve radio coverage.

3. Jamming can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio or microwave/cellular tower.

4. For 900 MHz applications, verify that the base station radio is a Trimble SNB900 or SN900, compatible with TC900C and CR9xx. Refer to "General Notes" at the beginning of this section.

5. In rare instances there can be a failure of the transmit portion of the base radio. It is possible to reconfigure the base radio as a machine (rover) radio and also to reconfigure a machine (rover) radio as the base radio.

Machine Radio Synchronizes Incorrectly to Network

The machine radio synchronizes to the network even if power is removed from the base radio.

Probable Causes

• Another base radio is nearby and is configured to the same network.

• The machine radio is configured as a base radio but is not actually synchronized to anything.

Problem Isolation

1. Ensure that power is removed from your base radio.

2. Cycle power to the rover radio. Observe the lights on the bottom of the radio. If the orange (power) and green (data) LED indicator lights illuminate immediately upon power application, the radio is probably configured as a base radio and not as a rover radio. If the orange LED indicator light illuminates first followed by the green LED indicator light (typically 10 to 30 seconds to synchronize) the radio is probably configured as a rover.

3. Verify that the radio is configured as a rover. Cycle power to the radio. Note whether the radio synchronizes. If the radio does synchronize to a base radio other than your base station radio, then consider changing the network settings for all on-site radios.

Intermittent Machine Radio Synchronization

Machine radio synchronization to the network is intermittent.

Probable Causes

• The machine is near the outer limit of the reception range of the base radio.

• Someone else is transmitting on the same network setting.

• There is external jamming or some type of interference.

• The base station is not close enough to the work area.

Problem Isolation

1. Move the machine closer to the base radio or add a repeater in order to add coverage. Verify the coverage with the AccuGrade System or AccuGrade Office.

2. "Jamming" can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio, microwave tower, or cellular tower.

Machine Radio on Network but not Receiving Corrections

Machine radio is synchronized to the network but the machine radio does not receive any corrections and the machine GPS remains in autonomous mode.

Probable Causes

1. The base radio is powered and the network settings between the base radio and the machine radio are correct. Any or all of the following conditions may exist:

   1. The base GPS receiver is not plugged into the radio.

   2. There is a port setting mismatch between the base radio and the base GPS receiver.

   3. There is a configuration problem with the base GPS receiver and it is sending correction information out the wrong port.

   4. The radio port settings are incorrect in the AccuGrade System.

   5. Multiple message codes are being broadcast from the base. The codes include CMR+ and RTCM. The message codes are being interleaved.

Problem Isolation

1. Verify that the base GPS receiver and the base radio are connected securely.

2. Verify that the base station radio and the base GPS receiver have the identical port settings.

3. At the base station: under "Base Config.", confirm that only one message code is being sent to the TC900C radio. For example, "RTCM Out/Off".

TC450C and CR4xx Data Radio

The TC450C data radio has two LED indicator lights in a single package next to the harness connector. The behavior of these LED indicators indicates the status of the data radio. Table 2 lists the patterns of the LED indicators and the status that is associated with the pattern.

The CR4xx data radio has a single LED on the front of the radio. Table 3 lists the LED states.

Machine Radio does not Receive Corrections

The machine radio does not receive corrections.

Probable Causes

• There is a Wireless Data Rate (WDR) mismatch between the base radio and the machine radio.

• There is a baud rate mismatch between the GPS receiver and either the base radio or the rover radio.

• There is a frequency mismatch between the base radio and the machine radio.

• The base GPS receiver is not correctly configured to output corrections.

• There is radio type mismatch between the base radio and rover radio.

• There is external jamming or some other type of interference.

• The machine is out of the range of the base radio.

• The transmitter at the base radio has failed.

• There is no power to the base radio.

Problem Isolation

1. Use the "Machine Radio Configuration" option, found under the "Installation" menu in order to verify that the machine radio is configured to operate on the same frequency as the base radio. Refer to Systems Operation, "Installation Menu" for additional information.

2. Verify that the Wireless Mode settings are identical for all radios in the network. Use MCGFlash in order to verify the Wireless Data Rate (WDR).

   Note: MCGFlash is available in AccuGrade Office under "Tools". MCGFlash is also available on SISWeb under "Downloads / Additional Downloads". Refer to Special Instruction, REHS2585, "MCGFlash v3.1 User Guide" for additional information.

3. Verify that there is power to the base radio.

4. Verify that the rover radio is within range of the base radio. Use a repeater if necessary.

5. Jamming can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio or microwave/cellular tower.

6. Verify that the base radio is compatible with the TC450C or CR4xx radio. The radio must be a compatible Trimble or Pacific Crest radio that is broadcasting in the same frequency band and set to the same frequency as the rover radio.

7. In rare instances there can be a failure of the transmit portion of the base radio. It is possible to reconfigure the base radio as a machine (rover) radio and also to reconfigure a machine TC450C radio as a base radio. It is not possible to configure a CR4xx radio as a base radio.

Machine Radio Receives Data when No Power is Supplied

The machine radio seems to receive data (that is, the TC450C green light remains on or the CR4xx light blinks at 1 Hz) even if power is removed from the base radio.

Probable Causes

• The TC450C machine radio is incorrectly configured as a base radio. The radio is not actually receiving any data.

• Another base radio is nearby and is configured to the same frequency.

Note: The CR4xx radio is not configurable as a base radio, and this probable cause does not apply.

Problem Isolation

1. Ensure that the power is removed from your base radio.

2. Cycle the power to the rover radio. Observe the lights. On the bottom of the TC450C radio, if the orange (power) and green (data) LED indicator lights illuminate immediately upon power applications, the radio is probably configured as a base radio and not as a rover radio. If the orange LED indicator light illuminates first followed by the green LED indicator light (typically 10 to 30 seconds to synchronize) the radio is probably configured as a rover.

   Note: The CR series radios are not configurable as base station radios.

3. With the radio configured as a rover, cycle the power to the radio again. Note whether the radio synchronizes. This is indicated on the TC450C by a solid orange and solid green light. This is indicated on the CR4xx radio by the light flashing at 1 Hz. If the radio does synchronize to a base radio other than your base station radio, then change the frequency for all on-site radios to avoid interference from another base station.

Machine Radio Reception is Intermittent

Machine radio reception is intermittent.

Probable Causes

• The machine is near the outer limit of the reception range of the base radio.

• There is external jamming or some other type of interference.

• Someone else is transmitting on the same network setting.

• There is an issue with the network configuration.

• The radio cable is damaged.

Problem Isolation

1. Move the machine closer to the base radio or add a repeater to add coverage. Verify coverage with the AccuGrade System software.

2. "Jamming" can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio or microwave/cellular tower.

3. Verify the network configuration. Verify that the base station radio is configured for the appropriate number of repeaters.

4. Check the radio cable for wear points and crush points. Test the radio with a different cable.

Machine Drops Into Low Accuracy (GPS)

The machine seems to drop into low accuracy (GPS) for a few seconds every fifteen minutes.

Probable Causes

• The base radio is broadcasting its call sign.

Note: In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission requires that U.S. licensed users transmit the call sign of the user every fifteen minutes.