Application Note #M0002

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Application Note

#M0002

To: _{GPS/Cellular Messenger}

Resellers and Users

Date: _{October 15, 1996} From: _{Bob Fultz}

Subject:

How to access the Total Air Time Used for Cellular Calls

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND ... 2

2. EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ... 2

3. SETTING UP THE EQUIPMENT... 2

3.1. PREPARING YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER... 2

3.2. STARTING MICROSOFT TERMINAL... 2

3.3. TERMINAL SETTINGS... 3

3.4. TERMINAL PROGRAM FUNCTION KEYS... 4

3.5. PREPARING THE MESSENGER... 4

3.6. POWERING THE MESSENGER... 5

3.7. ACCESSING THE HANDSET MAIN MENU... 5

4. DISPLAYING THE AIRTIME USED... 6

5. CLEARING THE TIMER FOR NEW BILLING PERIOD ... 6

6. EXITING THE TERMINAL PROGRAM ... 7

7. THE TRIMBLE FTP SITE ... 8

7.1. HOW TO GET TO IT... 8

7.2. WHAT YOU WILL FIND... 8

7.3. HOW TO GET TO THE MESSENGER FIRMWARE FILES... 8

7.4. HOW TO GET THE MESSENGER DOCUMENTATION... 8

7.5. HOW TO GET THE MESSENGER UTILITIES... 9

Trimble Navigation Limited 645 North Mary Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086

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Application Note

#M0002

1. Background

The GPS/Cellular Messenger tracks the total cellular air time used each time there is. You can use this information to estimate your cellular phone charges.

This application note illustrates how you can get the total airtime used for Cellular calls.

2. Equipment and Software Requirements

You need:

• A Personal computer with Microsoft Windows 3.1, one available serial communications port.

• Serial cable 9 pin straight through (M-F).

• AIRTIME.TRM, terminal file for Windows Terminal program. This file contains the function key descriptions and commands issued to the Messenger to access the desired information. You can obtain this file from the FTP site.

• Optionally, if the Messenger is not installed in a vehicle, it will require a separate power source of 11-16 Volts DC delivering a minimum of 1.6 Amps.

3. Setting up the Equipment

3.1. Preparing Your Personal Computer

Switch on power to the personal computer and launch Microsoft Windows 3.1.

3.2. Starting Microsoft Terminal

Use the Windows Terminal program (found in the Accessories folder--shown below) to communicate with the Messenger. At this point, start Terminal by double clicking on the Terminal icon.

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3.3. Terminal Settings

The file, AIRTIME.TRM, contains the proper communication settings for communicating with the Messenger for this application. We recommend copying this file to the C:\Windows directory. To load the settings in AIRTIME.TRM,

select the File | Open menu item

in the Terminal program to open the AIRTIME.TRM file, as shown below. If the file, AIRTIME.TRM, is on the disk in drive a:, precede the filename with an a:.

AIRTIME.TRM configures the Terminal program to communicate with the Messenger via COM1, its function keys and the commands associated with each key, as shown below.

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Application Note

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If the Messenger is not connected via COM1, use the Connector option under the

Settings |

Communications

menu item to change the COM port, as shown below.

Microsoft Terminal will not function properly unless it is zoomed to full screen, accomplished by clicking on the up arrow in the upper right hand corner of the Terminal window.

3.4. Terminal Program Function Keys

The AIRTIME.TRM file contains details about the function keys which have been provided to expedite the collection of the airtime used and the clearing of the timer. The following function keys are provided:

• Link to Messenger

• Airtime Used

• Clear Timer

• Main Menu

3.5. Preparing the Messenger

Disconnect the power to the Messenger by turning the ignition. Disconnect the handset from the Straight Through Plug (STP) RJ45 to RJ45 adapter. Connect the Messenger’s DB9 serial port connector on the power and I/O cable harness to a serial port on the personal computer. You can use 9-pin M to F straight-through extension cable to connect the personal computer to the Messenger. Switch on the power to the Messenger.

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3.6. Powering the Messenger

If the Messenger being queried is not installed in a vehicle, it will require a separate power source of 11-16 Volts DC delivering a minimum of 1.6 Amps.

When the Messenger powers up, the following message appears on the Terminal display, the top two lines appear first, followed by the second two line after approximately a 5 second delay.

NOTE: The numbers listed in the display above may not exactly match your display.

3.7. Accessing the Handset Main Menu

To link to the Messenger select the “Link to Messenger” function key by positioning the cursor, using the mouse, and clicking the key. The handset main menu is displayed:

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4. Displaying the Airtime Used

To display the airtime used since you last cleared the timer, select the “Airtime Used” function by clicking the key. The time is displayed under the title ‘User’ and is in the format: hh:mm:ss where hh = hours, mm= minutes and ss = seconds. To return to the main menu select the “Main Menu” key.

The total airtime used value is an accumulative figure of the total number of calls received by the Messenger and the calls that were initiated from the Messenger. After you have recorded the value you can either select the Main Menu function key and exit, or alternatively you can clear the timer and start it over again.

5. Clearing the Timer for New Billing Period

To clear the timer for the next billing period, select the function “Clear Timer” by clicking the key. This clears the timer and resets it to 00:00:00. The screen shown below is a transient screen and appears as the function is being executed. On completion of the operation the main menu is displayed.

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6. Exiting the Terminal Program

Prior to exiting from the Terminal program you should follow these steps to ensure that the Messenger’s Cellular Phone system is properly shut down before switching off power to the Messenger:

• Display the Main Menu, by selecting the “Main Menu’ function key.

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To exit from the Terminal program

select the File | Exit menu item

in the Terminal program.

7. The Trimble FTP Site

7.1. How to get to it

ftp.trimble.com\pub\tracking\messenger

7.2. What you will find

The ftp.trimble.com\pub\tracking area uses product name to group the information, as follows: ...\00index.txt = what each sub-dir contains available

...\message = FTP signon message ...\fleetvis = Product: FleetVision

...\placer = Products: Placer GPS 450/455/455DR

...\messenger = Product: Messenger ***This is the one you want*** ...\general = General information that applies to all products

Under each product, you will find some or all of the following topics: ...\00index.txt = what each sub-dir contains

...\message = FTP signon message

...\faq = Contains frequently asked questions

...\doc = Contains docs, including manuals & application notes ...\software = Contains software/firmware updates and patches ...\util = Contains program utilities

...\demo = Contains demonstration programs, if any are available

7.3. How to get to the Messenger Firmware Files

The GPS/Cellular Messenger firmware files are at: ftp.trimble.com\pub\tracking\messenger\software

This directory contains a list of self extracting zip files containing the latest firmware releases.

7.4. How to get the Messenger Documentation

The GPS/Cellular Messenger documentation files are at: ftp.trimble.com\pub\tracking\messenger\doc

This directory contains a list of self extracting zip files containing manuals, release notes, applications notes etc.

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7.5. How to get the Messenger Utilities

The GPS/Cellular Messenger utilities are at: ftp.trimble.com\pub\tracking\messenger\util

Here you'll find the Messenger Wizards, the Data Logging download programs and the terminal files such as MESSNGR.TRM, MENU8800.TRM & MENU8801.TRM.