User's Manual

Atlas PT Technical Manual

5. Configuring the Atlas SM

5.1 Overview

The RS-232 serial port on the unit is used to send and receive data over the air, as well

as to configure the RF modem. In normal operation, the user sends serial data into the

TxD pin of the user port, and this data is transmitted over the air. Received data from

another RF modem is output to the user via the RxD pin of the user port. This is the

default operating condition of the RF modem. No special characters, hardware control

lines, or timing is required to operate the RV-M7 modem.

If the ATLAS PT is configured as a Personal Locator (GPS 8 mode), the serial port need

not be connected to anything. The internal GPS will initiate the transmissions of

position and status.

There is also a Command Mode used to program and configure the Atlas SM. In the

Command Mode, the ATLAS PT modem accepts commands via the serial port TxD pin.

The commands can be used to change certain internal parameters of the ATLAS PT

modem as well as to read-out the current configuration and diagnostic statistics.

The ATLAS PT also supports Raveon’s Wireless Modem Exchange (WMX) protocol for

commanding and messaging. WMX is ideal for fully automated control and tighter

integration. For more information, see the WMX Protocol Description document and the

Raveon Tech Note “Rapid Radio Configuration using WMX”.

5.2 Command Mode

The ATLAS PT modem may be put into a Command Mode, by entering a sequence of

three plus characters +++. To keep the ATLAS PT modem from unintentionally entering

the Command Mode because of the +++ pattern occurring in a stream of data entering

the modem, there must be a pause in the data stream before the +++ as well as a

pause after the +++ is sent. If either pause is missing, the modem will not enter the

command mode.

Using serial communications software such as HyperTerminal, send the 3-character

command sequence +++.

When the ATLAS PT modem first enters the Command Mode, it sends the phrase RV-

M7-SM out it serial port, and then an OK sequence. The OK sequence is a sequence of

4 characters:

“O”, “K”, <CR>, and <LF>characters (<CR> = ASCII 0D, <LF>= ASCII 0A)

Note that the internal power-management function may turn the product off to save

power. The LEDs on the unit will continue to blink, but all internal circuits are off. This

only happens if the TXRATE is greater than 60 seconds. The Power LED will blink at a

4-second rate if the radio is off. When the radio powers on, it will send an OK.

To ensure the internal radio is on, and able to be put into Command Mode, you may

turn the unit off, and then back on.