AccuGrade For Wheel Tractor-Scrapers Caterpillar

Machine Radio

Usage:

613G DBE

CR Series Data Radio

The CR series radio has connections for the antenna on the top, an electrical connector on the bottom, and a LED on the front. Refer to Table 1 for the states of the LED.

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Table 1
LED Status	Description
LED Off	No Power
LED On Solid	The radio has power, but is not synchronized with the base station.
1 Hz flashing LED	The radio has power. The radio is synchronized and receiving data.
Irregular flashing LED	The radio has power. The radio is synchronized, but the data is incomplete.

TC900C Data Radio

The TC900C data radio has two LED indicators in a single package next to the harness connector. The behavior of these LED indicators will indicate the status of the data radio.

The meaning of activity of the LED indicators is given in Table 2.

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Table 2
TC900C LED Indicators Activity
Orange LED Indicator	Green LED Indicator	Status
Off	Off	No power or dead battery (less than 10.5 VDC)
On	Off	The radio is powered and it is operational, but is not synchronized.
On	On	The radio has synchronized to the network and is transmitting, receiving or repeating.
On	Two short flashes, followed by a pause	Hardware error 1
On	Four short flashes, followed by a pause	Unknown error
On	Two one second flashes, followed by a pause	Low power
On	Continuous flashing	High temperature
Off	Four short flashes, followed by a pause	FATAL - Data overload
Off	Two one second flashes, followed by a pause	FATAL - Very low power
Off	Continuous flashing	FATAL - High temperature shutdown

TC450 Data Radio

The TC450 data radio has two LED indicators in a single package next to the harness connector. The behavior of these LED indicators will indicate the status of the data radio.

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Table 3
TC450 LED Indicator Activity
Orange LED Indicator	Green LED Indicator	Status
Off	Off	No power or dead battery (less than 10.5 VDC)
On	Off	The radio is powered and it is operational, but is not synchronized.
On	On	The radio has synchronized to the network and is transmitting, receiving or repeating.
On	Two short flashes, followed by a pause	Hardware error 1
On	Four short flashes, followed by a pause	Unknown error
On	Two one second flashes, followed by a pause	Low power
On	Continuous flashing	High temperature
Off	Four short flashes, followed by a pause	FATAL - Data overload
Off	Two one second flashes, followed by a pause	FATAL - Very low power
Off	Continuous flashing	FATAL - High temperature shutdown

Machine Radio Network Synchronization

The machine radio does not synchronize to the network.

Probable Causes

The base radio and the machine radio are on a different network.
No power to the base radio.
The transmitter on the base radio has failed.
The radio is out of the range of the base radio.
External jamming or interference.
The base radio and the rover radio are not compatible.

Problem Isolation

Use the "Machine Radio Configuration" menu in order to verify that the machine radio is configured to operate on the same "network number" as the base radio.

Verify that there is power to the base radio. The TC series or CR series 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 indicators may still be illuminated and the base radio will continue to be powered, but the transmission of data will stop.

Verify that the rover radio is within the range of the base radio. Use the following sources of information in order to verify the coverage area of the radio: AccuGrade System and AccuGrade Office. If necessary, use a radio repeater to improve the coverage area of the radio.

Jamming can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio or a cell phone tower.

Verify that both the base and rover radios are operating on the same frequency. The TC450 radio looks similar to the TC900C radio. The TC450 radio has a larger antenna, different labels, and a different part number.

In unusual instances there can be a failure of the transmit portion of the base radio. It may be possible to configure the base radio as a machine (rover) radio and also configure a machine (rover) radio as the base radio.
Note: The CR series radio can not be used as a 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 configured to the same network.
The machine radio is configured as a base radio (and is not actually synchronized another radio).

Problem Isolation

Ensure that power is removed from your base radio.

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

Verify that the radio is configured as a rover. Cycle the power to the radio, note whether the radio synchronizes or not. If the radio does synchronize (to a base radio other than your base station radio), consider changing the network settings for all on-site radios.

Intermittent Machine Radio Synchronization

Machine radio synchronization to the network is intermittent.

Probable Causes

Near the outer limit of reception range of the base radio.
External jamming or interference.
Someone else is transmitting on the same network setting.
Move the base station closer to the work area.

Problem Isolation

Move the machine closer to the base radio or add a radio repeater in order to add coverage. Use the following sources of information in order to verify the coverage area of the radio: AccuGrade System and AccuGrade Office.

Jamming can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio, or a cell phone tower.

Machine Radio On Network But Not Receiving Corrections

The 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

The base radio is powered and the network settings between the base radio and the machine radio are correct but any or all of the following conditions may exist:
1. The base GPS receiver is not plugged into the radio.
1. There is a port setting mismatch between the base radio and the base GPS receiver.
1. There is a configuration problem with the base GPS receiver and it is sending correction information out the wrong port.
1. The radio port settings are incorrect in the AccuGrade System.
1. Multiple message codes are being broadcast from the base (that is, CMR+ and RTCM). The message codes are being interleaved.

Problem Isolation

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

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

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

Machine Radio Does Not Receive Corrections

The machine radio does not receive corrections.

Probable Causes

The base radio and the machine radio are on a different frequency.
Wireless Data Rate (WDR) mismatch between the base radio and the machine radio.
No power to the base radio.
A transmitter failure has occurred at the base radio.
Out of the range of the base radio.
External jamming or interference.
Radio type mismatch between the base radio and rover radio.
Baud rate mismatch between the GPS receiver and either the base radio or the rover radio.
Base GPS receiver is not correctly configured to output corrections.

Problem Isolation

Use the "Machine Radio Configuration" menu in order to verify that the machine radio is configured to operate on the same frequency as the base radio.

Verify that the "Wireless Mode" (WDR) settings are identical for all radios in the network.

Verify that there is power to the base radio.

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

Jamming can occur if the rover radio is in close proximity to a powerful transmitter such as another radio or a cell phone tower.

Verify that both the base and rover radios are operating on the same band. The TC900C radio looks similar to the TC450 radio. The TC450 radio has a larger antenna, different labels, and a different part number. The frequency band should be marked on the label of the radio.

In unusual 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) on TC series radios and also reconfigure a machine (rover) radio as the base radio.

Machine Radio Receives Data When No Power Is Supplied

The machine radio seems to receive data (that is, the green light remains on a TC series radio or a steady yellow flashing LED on the CR series radio) even if power is removed from the base radio.

Probable Causes

Another base radio is nearby and configured to the same frequency.
The machine radio is configured as a base radio and is not actually receiving information. This only applies to TC series radios.

Problem Isolation (TC Series only)

Ensure that power is removed from your base radio.

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

Verify that the radio is configured as a rover. Cycle the power to the radio, note whether the radio synchronizes or not. If it does synchronize (to a base radio other than your base station radio), consider changing the network settings for all the on-site radios.

Machine Radio Reception Is Intermittent

Machine radio reception is intermittent.

Probable Causes

Near the outer limit of reception range of the base radio.
External jamming or interference.
Network configuration issue.
Someone else is transmitting on the same network setting.
Damaged radio cable.

Problem Isolation

Move the machine closer to the base radio or add a repeater to add coverage. Use the following sources of information in order to verify the coverage area for the radio: AccuGrade System and AccuGrade Office.