Pathfinder DVL Guide
April
2018
EAR-Controlled Technology Subject to Restrictions Contained on the Cover Page.
Page 95
If a valid command is entered that produces output data, the Pathfinder executes the command, displays
the output data, and then redisplays the “>” prompt. Some examples of commands that produce output
data are ? (help menus), CS (start pinging), PS (system configuration data), and PA (run built-in tests).
If the command is not valid, the Pathfinder responds with an error message similar to the following.
>BPA<CR> [input]
>BPA ERR: Bad command parameters!<CR><LF> [Pathfinder response]
>
After correctly entering all the commands for the application, send the CK to save the setup and then a CS
command to begin the data collection cycle.
Data Output Processing
After the Pathfinder completes a data collection cycle, it sends a block of data called a data ensemble
through the serial communication lines. A data ensemble consists of the data collected, processed, and
averaged during the ensemble interval (see
). A data ensemble can contain
header, leader, velocity, correlation magnitude, echo intensity, percent good, and status data.
Pathfinder output data can be in either hexadecimal-ASCII (Hex-ASCII) or binary format (set by
). The Hex-ASCII mode is useful when using a terminal to communicate with, and view data
from the Pathfinder. The binary mode is useful for high-speed communication with a computer program.
Do not use the binary mode to view data on a terminal because the terminal could interpret some binary
data as control codes.
Most of Teledyne RD Instruments’ software supports binary PD0 Output Data Format.
When data collection begins, the Pathfinder uses the settings last entered (user settings) or the factory-
default settings. The same settings are used for the entire deployment. If the user setting are saved (see
) then the Pathfinder will always use the user settings until a factory default is re-
called, or use the last entered settings, if any, or until power is turned off. The following three rules apply
for setting-up the Pathfinder:
1.
The last entered command of a particular command takes precedence,
2.
The last entered commands will be kept in volatile memory until power is shutdown (only CK will
keep these in non-volatile memory, see
).
3.
The user can recall the factory default-settings at any time (see
).
The Pathfinder will continue to be configured from volatile memory until it receives a CR-command or
until the volatile memory loses its backup power. If the Pathfinder receives a CR0 it will load into volatile
memory the command set last stored in non-volatile memory (semi-permanent user settings) through the
CK-command. If the Pathfinder receives a CR1, it will load into volatile memory the factory default com-
mand set stored in ROM (permanent or factory settings).
Command Summary
gives a summary of the Pathfinder input commands, their format, default setting, whether the
Pathfinder will follow the command change if sent while pinging, and a brief description of the parame-
ters they control. Commands that start with the # sign are considered “expert” commands. Commands
sent while pinging will be used on the next ensemble after the one during which they are received.
When newer firmware versions are released, some commands may be modified or added.
Read the README file on the upgrade disk or check TRDI’s web site for the latest changes.