Telonics Data Converter

Introduction

Telonics Data Converter (TDC) converts raw data from Telonics transmitting subsystems into data reports formatted as comma-separated values (CSV). TDC generates report data using standard engineering units and associates it with the time of its acquisition. You can review TDC reports in any spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, and you can also use your own custom software to process reports electronically. In addition to generating standard CSV reports, TDC also creates files compatible with Google Earth so that you can map transmitter locations interactively. Telonics Data Converter even maintains a list of your transmitters and their data-conversion settings so you can generate new data reports efficiently throughout your study. TDC supports Telonics' current family of Argos transmitters and newest Gen4 GPS units.

Telonics Data Converter can convert raw data and create reports from the following sources:

• Argos files in Full DS format (.ds)
• Datalog files (.tdf)
• Uplink Receiver log files
• An Uplink Receiver directly connected to the PC

In addition to converting raw data, TDC also performs the following tasks:

• Log messages from a connected uplink receiver
• Download the parameters (TPF) from a transmitter
• Download the datalog memory (TDF) from a transmitter
• Erase the datalog from a transmitter

Telonics Data Converter works in concert with Telonics Product Programmer (TPP) to provide you with complete control over your transmitters and your data. TDC retrieves all required data-conversion settings for your transmitters from the TPP Parameter File(s) used to program them. Any programming changes you make using TPP become available to TDC directly through the parameter files.

Available for Download

There are two ways to download and install Telonics Data Converter. Most users should use the online installation, since it is faster and easier to install. To use the online installation, you must be connected to the Internet when you run the setup program. If you need to install TDC on a computer that does not have Internet access, you should download and burn the CD image. You can then use this CD to install TDC without an Internet connection. Remember, a Telonics license permits you to run TDC on only one computer at any given time. Concurrent use of the program on more than one computer is not permitted unless you purchase multiple licenses.

Download v1.37, 2010.05.07 (setup-TDCv1.37.exe 10,071,264 bytes) - Online Installation (Recommended)

CD Image for v1.37 (TDC1.37.iso 38,203,392 bytes) - Offline Installation

Telonics Data Converter requires an authorization code for complete functionality. Without an authorization code, TDC operates in demonstration mode. Demonstration mode prevents you from generating reports, logging uplink messages, and communicating with your transmitters. You may install and evaluate TDC before purchasing a license and corresponding authorization code. TDC will assume complete functionality when you enter your authorization code in the Help->About window. If you would like to see reports that TDC generated, you may download the following sample reports:

Sample Report for Argos Transmitter

Sample Report for GPS Transmitter

Sample File for Google Earth

Purchasing TDC

When you purchase Telonics Data Converter, you receive an authorization code that enables TDC support for specific Telonics product models. Listed below are the three authorization codes currently available for sale. TDC will not convert data for models that you are not authorized or licensed to use. If you require TDC support for additional Telonics product models, you must purchase an additional authorization code or upgrade to the authorization code that supports all models. However, you won't need to download or install additional software. Please contact Telonics for pricing.

Authorization Code	Supported Models
TDC-ARGOS	Argos transmitters
TDC-GPS	Gen4 GPS units
TDC-ALL	All models

Screenshots

Configuring Argos Services

Telonics Data Converter requires specific Argos processing options. Before your deployment begins, please contact Argos and request the following settings for your Argos Technical File:

• 32 8-bit sensors for Argos IDs less than 32768; 31 8-bit sensors for all other Argos IDs (including new IDs).
• Message length is variable, so length should not be checked.
• Decimal/A1 (recommended) or Hexadecimal/A2 formatting.

Telonics recommends that you use ArgosDirect (formerly known as Argos Automated Distribution Service or ADS) to receive your data. When you contact Argos, please request ArgosDirect service with the following settings:

• Select the "DS" data format, which includes all validated locations and all messages collected by all satellites.
• Select the "Attached text file (.txt)" output format.
• You may optionally choose to have your data "compressed".
• Do not request data encryption.
• Select email as your delivery option and specify an email address.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 98 or newer (Windows Me/2000/XP/Vista) with Internet Explorer version 5.5 or newer
Display: 800 x 600 or greater, 256 colors or more
RAM: 32 MB available; large data conversions require more memory
Ports: At least one standard serial port for downloading datalog memory or communicating with an uplink receiver

2010.05.07 What's new in version 1.37?

1. Supports TAM-2638 and TAM-2639 models.

2010.04.20 What's new in version 1.36?

1. Supports several new models.
2. Supports new firmware.
3. Adds a column for maximum dive depth to the reports.

2010.02.02 What's new in version 1.35?

1. Adds a new message format for compressed activity counters.
2. Leaves the acquisition time for failed fixes blank.
3. Fixes a bug that had caused previous TDC versions to crash when the user changes the preferred TPF directory.

2010.01.14 What's new in version 1.34?

1. Fixes a bug that had caused the previous TDC version to display errors when converting datalogs for Argos transmitters.

2009.12.22 What's new in version 1.33?

1. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to crash when the user initially sets the TPF directory.
2. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to delete the wrong satellite when processing QFP data with an unhealthy satellite.
3. Handles DS data containing duplicate/overlapping messages.
4. Supports Argos DS data with 6-digit decimal IDs (leading 0s or IDs > 100000).
5. Adds help instructions on using multiple TPFs in batch mode.
6. Includes navigation links on each page of the help system.
7. Adds detailed column descriptions for underwater and layer percentages to the help system.

2009.09.28 What's new in version 1.32?

1. Adds message times, repetition counts, and satellite names to the report.
2. Generates reports as read-only files.
3. Provides improved support for processing the same DS data multiple times.
4. Fixes a bug that had prevented the last version of TDC from generating reports from a directly connected uplink.
5. Marks pages as invalid when the activity count exceeds the maximum value possible during an update period.
6. Adds a new authorization code to support all models.

2009.08.14 What's new in version 1.31?

1. Fixes a bug that had prevented TDC from converting some datalog files that include multiple parameter sets.

2009.08.04 What's new in version 1.30?

1. Supports new marine models with pressure sensors.
2. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to calculate the wrong profile-point interval.
3. Filters unhealthy satellites when generating QFP locations.
4. Fixes a bug that had caused the times associated with QFP locations to be off by 15 seconds.
5. Provides better support for DS files that contain Argos messages from unsupported transmitters.
6. Provides improved support for datalog files that include multiple parameter sets.
7. Fixes a bug that had prevented TDC from clearing out datalog results after the user selects a new file from Windows Explorer.

2009.04.09 What's new in version 1.29?

1. Fixes a bug that had occasionally caused TDC to determine the incorrect acquisition time for last-N data.
2. Hides the fix-attempt column when TDC is unable to determine the status of any GPS fixes.
3. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to show the wrong acquisition times for failed fixes.
4. Supports the LPT-145 model.
5. Determines the acquisition times of compressed predeployment data from transmitters that have firmware newer than 2009.02.26.
6. Provides a redesigned user interface to simplify the process of downloading and converting log memory.

2009.02.06 What's new in version 1.28?

1. Provides connection instructions and pictures in the help system.
2. Help system includes Excel instructions for international users.
3. Provides better support for improperly formatted DS data.
4. TDC logs errors about the format of source data during batch processing.
5. Fix-attempt column of datalog reports indicates whether a fix is a 2D or 3D fix.
6. Supports new models and new version of TPP.

2008.10.27 What's new in version 1.27?

1. Adds supports for Google Earth.
2. Fixes a bug that had prevented the user from printing the help system.

2008.10.01 What's new in version 1.26?

1. Adds a batch feature that extracts a list of units from a TPF.
2. Supports new models and firmware.

2008.09.08 What's new in version 1.25?

1. Fixes a bug that had caused the append feature to exclude some predeployment data.
2. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to omit some predeployment data from condensed reports.
3. Fixes a bug that had caused the batch mode to omit columns and data from reports.
4. Batch processing supports unique filenames, overwrite, and append modes.

2008.08.22 What's new in version 1.24?

1. Supports TGE-400s and TGE-401s with temperature sensors.
2. Supports TGW-4784 model.
3. Downloads and converts data from new uGPSI-20s firmware.
4. Removes duplicate QFP rows from condensed reports.
5. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to stop converting QFP data after encountering a solution with invalid coordinates (e.g. altitude < -535m).

2008.06.26 What's new in version 1.23?

1. Fixes a bug that had prevented TDC from working properly when Windows is set to use a decimal comma instead of a decimal point to represent numbers.
2. Fixes a bug that had prevented the previous release of TDC (1.22) from converting uplink messages from units with 28-bit IDs.
3. Supports new models.

2008.06.05 What's new in version 1.22?

1. Improved QFP conversions include more resolved positions.
2. Gives better error messages during QFP conversions.
3. Supports new models.
4. Supports the DS-A format.

2008.05.14 What's new in version 1.21?

1. Adds support for converting QFP data.
2. Supports new models.
3. Converts datalog records from predeployment.
4. Fixes a bug that had affected the move-files feature.

2008.04.23 What's new in version 1.20?

1. Fixes a bug that had prevented some users from erasing datalogs.
2. Fixes a bug that had caused TDC to display an error during some datalog conversions.
3. Supports new version of TPP and new models.

2008.03.12 What's new in version 1.19?

1. Includes horizontal-error estimates in datalog reports.
2. Supports new version of TPP and new models.

2008.01.29 What's new in version 1.18?

1. Added support for uGPSI-20 models.
2. Added support for Unix-style DS files.
3. Added support for the GPS Horizontal Error field.

2007.12.19 What's new in version 1.17?

1. Added support for ST-26 and TAV-2627 models.
2. Added the ability to view generated reports by clicking on the filename in the results column.
3. Increased the reliability of datalog downloads.
4. Improved support for converting uplink data from units with 28-bit Argos IDs.

2007.08.16 What's new in version 1.16?

1. Fixed the feature that allows users to append data to an existing report. Versions 1.10-1.15 overwrite the existing report instead of appending to the existing report.

2007.08.07 What's new in version 1.15?

1. Improved error reporting for dive and remote-analog data.
2. Supports parameters that define up to 32 layers.
3. Converts last-N data that has CRC errors.

2007.07.18 What's new in version 1.14?

1. Supports parameters from new version of TPP.
2. Converts data from TSUR-400 uplink receivers programmed with new firmware.
3. Converts uplink data from units that transmit on any frequency between 401.630 and 401.680 MHz.
4. Improved display for converting messages from a connected uplink receiver.

2007.06.01 What's new in version 1.13?

1. Supports parameters from new version of TPP.

2007.05.14 What's new in version 1.12?

1. Added support for units programmed by TPP version 2.15.

2007.04.23 What's new in version 1.11?

1. Fixed a bug that omitted UTM coordinates from certain GPS reports.

2007.04.19 What's new in version 1.10?

1. Fixed a bug that affected TGS-5 datalog conversions.
2. Faster parameter and datalog downloads (reduced download time by 60%).
3. Included Argos position fixes in the generated reports.
4. Omits blank columns from CSV reports.
5. Added support for the latest Argos transmitters (ST-2X family).

2007.02.23 What's new in version 1.00?

1. Initial release of TDC