INSTALLATION

MANUAL
RF RECEIVER
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INDEX:
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION………………………………………………………………………………………… pag. 3

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION……………………………………………………………………………………….. pag. 4

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW GAIN ANTENNA 169 MHz………..…………………………………………….. pag. 5

CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH GAIN ANTENNA HARMATTAN 169 MHz……..……………………….…….. pag. 5

HOW TO INSTALL THE ANTENNA……………………………………………………………………………...... pag. 6

LED DIAGNOSTICS FUNCTIONING…...………………………………………………………………………….. pag. 8

DIPSWITCH SETTINGS...…………………………………………………………………………………………… pag. 8

AVAILABLE COMMANDS………………………………………………………………………………………….. pag.11

ORDER CODE………………………………………………………………………………………………………… pag.11

REVISION INDEX
DATE REVISION NUMBER DESCRIPTION
19-07-13 0 FIRST VERSION

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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The RF Receiver device allows to receive:
• Wireless probes model XMT-SI-RF 169,4 MHz
• TPC Theft Protection Cover Sensor 434 MHz

The same product, depending on the settings, can be used also as a receiver. This is useful in those cases of
critical conditions due to the distance rather than the infrastructures present.

The RF Receiver has independent serial RS232 and RS485 available, which allows to manage two different
controllers at the same time.

Power Supply 12-24V

RF Module 169MHZ 1
RF Module 434MHz 1
Serial RS232 su DB9 (parallel to the terminals) 1
Serial RS232 on terminals (parallel to DB9) 1
Serial RS485 1
Antenna 169,4 MHz 1
Antenna 434 MHz 1
LED Diagnostics TX-RX 4
LED Diagnostics functioning 4
Repeater/Receiver functionality SI
Power supply 220Vac Optional
Antenna Harmattan 169,4MHz 1
Dipswitch functions programming 4 ways

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ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

WIRING RS485
Power supply
White terminal GND……… 4
Red terminal +Vcc……….. 1

Data RS485
Blue Data RS485 A………. 3
Brown Data RS485 B...…… 2

WIRING RS232
On terminals

Power supply
White terminal GND……… 4
Red terminal +Vcc……….. 1

Data RS232
Tx Out……………………… 6
Rx In………………………...
GND………………………...
7
5
CONNECTOR ANTENNA
169,4MHz 434MHz

CONNECTOR
RS232 DB9 DCE
Tx Out……………………… 2
Rx In………………………... 3
GND………………………... 5

7
6
5
4
3
2
1

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CHARACTERISTICS OF
LOW GAIN 169 MHz ANTENNA
ELECTRICAL

Frequency range: 162-174 MHz

Impedance: 50 Ω
V.S.W.R.: < 2,1 : 1
Max power: 10 W
Irradiation: Omnidirectional
Gain: -1 dBi

MECHANICAL

Dimensions (approximately): Ø 14x99 mm

Connection: BNC male
Operating temperature range: -40° / +80°C
Weight: 0,050 kg
Radome material: Thermoplastic polymer
Radiating element material: Copper clad steel

CHARACTERISTICS OF
HIGH GAIN HARMATTAN 169 MHz ANTENNA
ELECTRICAL

Frequency range:
(V.S.W.R. < 2 : 1) 162-174 MHz
Impedance: 50 Ω
V.S.W.R. at 169 Mhz: <2:1
Max power: 15 W
Polarization: Linear
Irradiation: Omnidirectional
Gain at 169 MHz: 2,1 dBi

MECHANICAL

Dimensions (approximately): 830 x 150 x 85 mm

Connection: BNC male
Operating temperature range: -40° / +80°C
Weight: 0,250 kg
Radiating element material: Whip made of steel and brass,
overprinted and covered with
thermoretractable sheath.
Accessories: Bracket for pole mounting [from
Ø min.40mm to max. 60 mm]

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HOW TO INSTALL THE ANTENNA

Each antenna has its own radiation diagram.

The radiation diagram indicates which are the

directions into the space under which the
antenna is able to transmit the signal with major
efficacy.

The diagram shown on the right is related to the

antenna mounted on the probe and that
mounted on the receiver.

In order to have an excellent reception without

losing the signal the antenna must be oriented
so that the two diagrams, one of the receiving
antenna and the transmitting antenna, are
oriented in the same way.
For example it’s not possible to put the
receiving antenna horizontally if all transmitters
are vertically, as it would have almost total loss
of signal as well as a different polarization
(horizontal instead of vertical).

As shown from the radiation diagram, the

antenna does not transmit from its peak, but
transmits through its side, the same applies to
the reception. So the transmitting and receiving
antennas must always be kept parallel between
them.

If it becomes necessary to insert the antenna of a probe under the asphalt horizontally, the receiver also must have
the antenna put horizontally and must be kept parallel between them.

Unless the antennas are not near to the receiver (in this case the signal is strong even if the polarization of the
antennas are different) it is not recommended to put antennas with different polarization, as it would cause a signal
loss of some of them.

Wireless probes are working with battery using a low frequency for the data transmission.
The bandwidth used is 169.4 MHz narrow canalization of 12.5 KHz.
This particular band allows to have low attenuations due to obstacles or surrounding land, as the transmission
occurs underground.
This transmission must not be confused with the wi-fi which uses higher frequencies,1.2-2.4GHz, which would not
have the minimum opportunity to get out of the manhole.
If the antennas were placed outdoor, the transmission would arrive easily to 1 km. For usage at service stations
where the antennas are placed underground (integrated into the probe head) the distance of transmission in
normal condition is 100-200 mt.
Normal conditions are those which do not require the existence of a Faraday cage that avoid the output of the radio
signal.
For example it is considered a Faraday cage a manhole entirely made of iron, a reinforced concrete square with
welded mesh.
Cannot be considered Faraday cage, a standard manhole with iron or cast iron leadcover, a manhole of bricks, an
asphalt square, vehicles parked on manhole covers.

Below please find a table that can be considered as a guideline to value whether you can install wireless probes in
order to have a signal guaranteed to the receiver.

Obviously you can install repeaters and, where possible, put the antenna of the probe outside the manhole in case
of a situation of highly attenuated signal.

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TOPIC INFORMATION NEEDED Notes to be filled in by the

installer to allow prior
verification of feasibility
Environment Depot or service station
Manhole Type of material
Type of manhole material (iron, cast iron,
composite, ..)
Depth of the manhole
Riser installation or with sliding connection
Carriageable or isolated
Possibility to park over
Normally empty and clean or water-filled
Distance from Minimum and maximum distance from the
the receiver receiver in meters
The tanks are located in one area or in different
areas
Number of tanks
Among the tanks and the receiver there are
permanent obstructions, of what kind
Among the tanks and the receiver there are NOT
permanent obstacles, what kind and how long
they can stay there
Floor Type of material
Indicate presence of welded net
Repeater If a repeater is needed, the presence of external
power supply.
Possibility to install the antenna on a pole or wall
Tank Buried, diameter
Aerial, height
Antenna Possibility to install on the pole or wall but NOT in
front of a metal surface

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LED DIAGNOSTICS FUNCTIONING

On startup DL2 refers to RUN, must flash and indicates that the board is
working properly.

DL8: wired on RX line of the 169,4MHz module, flashing indicates that a

valid frame has been received by the module and transmitted to the
microprocessor.

DL9: wired on TX line of the 169,4MHz module, flashing indicates that a

valid frame has been sent to the module in order to be transmitted.

Information about the probes registered and received:

DL4 refers to the units, flashes from 0 to 9
DL1 refers to the tens, flashes from 0 to 6
For example if 16 probes have been registered there will be 1 flash for DL1
and 6 flashes for DL4.

DL3:
if switched off DL1 and DL4 refer to received probe 169 side
if switched on DL1 and DL4 refer to received TPC 434 MHz side

DIPSWITCH SETTINGS
Refers to the DIPSWITCH setting in binary combination.
Please refer to the table below:

SETTING DIPSW1 DIPSW2 DIPSW3 DIPSW4

0 OFF OFF OFF OFF
1 (default) ON OFF OFF OFF
2 OFF ON OFF OFF
3 ON ON OFF OFF
4 OFF OFF ON OFF
5 ON OFF ON OFF
6 OFF ON ON OFF
7 ON ON ON OFF
8 OFF OFF OFF ON
9 ON OFF OFF ON
10 OFF ON OFF ON
11 ON ON OFF ON
12 OFF OFF ON ON
13 ON OFF ON ON
14 OFF ON ON ON
15 ON ON ON ON

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Setting 1:
Normal functioning, answers through the new protocol both on RS485 and RS232.

Example:
D) M03744+chr(13)
R) 03744N0=+250=00129.37=00031.00=082+chr(10)+chr(13)
Probe address: 03744
Probe status: (0 = OK) in case of error status=1
Temperature: +25,0 C°
Product level: 129,37 mm
Water level: 31,00 mm

Setting 2:
Normal functioning, answers through the old protocol both on RS485 and RS232.

Example:
D) M03744+chr(13)
R) 03744=0=+250=01294=0031=237+chr(10)+chr(13)
Probe address: 03744
Probe status: (0 = OK) in case of error status=1
Temperature: +25,0 C°
Product level: 129,4 mm
Water level: 31,00 mm

Setting 3:
Inside the receiver 10.000 is added to the wireless probe address, answers through the new protocol both on
RS485 and RS232.
Please use this setting in case two receivers have been installed to have a major coverage. The two receivers must
be connected in parallel on line RS485, one of them must work with this setting because if a probe is received from
both receivers the console has to get information only by one of them in order to avoid conflicts on the transmission
bus.
Then configure the console with the probe address or with the probe address +10.000 in order to receive the
message from the receiver that has the major success on receipt.

Example:
If the wireless probe has address 03744, it is necessary to query the receiver adding 10.000
D) M13744+chr(13)
R) 13744N0=+250=00129.37=00031.00=083+chr(10)+chr(13)
Probe address: 03744
Probe status: (0 = OK) in case of error status=1
Temperature: +25,0 C°
Product level: 129,37 mm
Water level: 31,00 mm

Setting 4:
Inside the receiver 10.000 is added to the wireless probe address, answers through the old protocol both on RS485
and RS232.
Please use this setting in case two receivers have been installed in to have a major coverage. The two receivers
must be connected in parallel on line RS485, one of them must work with this setting because if a probe is received
from both receivers the console has to get information only by one of them in order to avoid conflicts on the
transmission bus.
Then configure the console with the probe address or with the probe address +10.000 in order to receive the
message from the receiver that has the major success on receipt.

Example:
If the wireless probe has address 03744, it is necessary to query the receiver adding 10.000
D) M03744+chr(13)
R) 03744=0=+250=01294=0031=237+chr(10)+chr(13)
Probe address: 03744

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Probe status: (0 = OK) in case of error status=1

Temperature: +25,0 C°
Product level: 129,4 mm
Water level: 31,00 mm

Setting 8:

Repeater mode, everything received on the radio channel is immediately retransmitted always on the radio
channel. Transmission always done with frame recognition: the receiver wait a silence of at least 20ms on the radio
channel in order to determine the end of a transmission and proceed with the retransmission.
Answers with the new protocol both on RS485 and RS232.

Setting 15:
ByPass functioning, can be used only during the test of the system. Everything received on the radio channel is
retransmitted on RS232 as a character. Does not reply to any command.

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AVAILABLE COMMANDS
Command M
Ask for the measure, see previous examples.

Command D
Ask for the diagnostics

Example:
D) D14832+chr(13)
R) 14832D105=00000118=00006721=00000118=001=005=200=015=048=113=078=045=100=071=197
Probe address: 14832
Window of the signal: 105
Packets transmitted by the probe: 118
Counter of packets of the probe: 6721 (shows how long the probe has been switched on)
Packets received by the receiver: 118
Number of floats: 1
Transmission channel: 5
Signal power: 200
Operating mode: 15
Level of the local signal: -48 dB
Level of the local noise: -113 dB
Tension of the receiver: 78/21.1=3,7V (value transmitted to be divided by 21,1)
Level of the probe signal: -45 dB
Level of the probe noise: -100 dB
Tension of the receiver: 71/21.1=3,4V (value transmitted to be divided by 21,1)

Command V
Ask for the version.

Command C
Ask for the list of all the registered probes.

Example:
D) D14832+chr(13)
R)
03746N0=+290=00105.68=00028.64=102
03967N0=+290=00092.30=00016.32=093
03745N0=+290=00090.78=00015.47=102
03962N0=+280=00090.57=00015.61=095
14832N0=+260=00254.01=00000.00=069

ORDER CODE
When you place your order please use the following order codes:

POWER SUPPLY 24V

RECEIVER WITH LOW GAIN ANTENNA: RIC-RF
RECEIVER WITH HIGH GAIN HARMATTAN ANTENNA: RIC-RF-HARM

POWER SUPPLY 220Vac

RECEIVER WITH LOW GAIN ANTENNA: RIC-RF-220
RECEIVER WITH HIGH GAIN HARMATTAN ANTENNA: RIC-RF-HARM-220

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START italiana S.r.l.

Via Pola 6
20813 Bovisio Masciago MB
Tel: +39 0362/1581465
Fax: +39 0362/1581464

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