Telonics Product Programmer

Introduction

Telonics Product Programmer (TPP) is a powerful software tool for configuring the data-collection parameters of Telonics transmitters. Until now, Telonics has programmed most transmitters in the factory. Telonics customers now have a way to customize their own transmitters quickly and interactively, even prior to delivery of the units. Telonics Product Programmer gives you the ability to modify specific aspects of your transmitter, including transmission intervals and sensor behavior. Some of the benefits include:

• Flexibility. Modify your configuration right up until deployment. Set up a pre-deployment test, transmission periods, sensor on and off times, and the type of sensor data to collect.
• Customization. Create a custom set of transmitter parameters specific to your application.
• Reliability. Predict satellite overpasses with the simulation features in Telonics Product Programmer to help ensure that you transmit only when a satellite is in range.
• Efficiency. Optimize your battery usage and data collection periods with automatic battery end-of-life estimates.

Available for Download

Download v2.35.1129, 2008.06.26 (TPP-Setup-2.35.1129.exe 7,221,248 bytes)

Download v1.09.0912, 2005.01.19 (TPP-Setup-1.09.0912.exe 2,048,563 bytes)

Features

Telonics Product Programmer is designed for ease of use. A simple point-and-click graphical user interface (GUI) allows you to configure your transmitter quickly. TPP provides printable reports detailing the predicted results of the schedules and options you specified. It also generates warnings and error messages to help you correct potential problems.

After starting Telonics Product Programmer, you select a product model from a list of Telonics products. TPP displays a report containing all of the information pertaining to that product. You can easily modify the settings listed in the report to suit your needs. These settings include:

Transmitter frequency Transmitter repetition periods Transmitter power level Transmitter schedule Argos message settings

Pre-deployment test duration Sensor schedules and options Custom battery information Battery thresholds

Once you have configured settings for your transmitter, you can save them to a file and create as many configurations as you desire. Programming your transmitter is as simple as connecting to it via a standard COM port and clicking a button. You can also retrieve the settings contained in your transmitter and view them in Telonics Product Programmer.

The simulation feature of the software graphically displays a chart of predicted satellite overpasses and allows you to set an appropriate transmission schedule. Telonics Product Programmer imports two-line element (TLE) files, which contain the satellite ephemeris data.

Another important feature of Telonics Product Programmer is the "timeline window," which provides a graphical representation of your customized transmitter and sensor schedules, expected battery life, and satellite overpasses. Use this feature to get an overview of the entire study duration.

The "histogram window" summarizes the daily satellite activity for a selectable number of days. This feature allows you to see which satellites are overhead at a certain time of day.

Purchasing TPP

When you purchase Telonics Product Programmer, you receive an authorization code that enables TPP support for specific Telonics product models. Listed below are the three authorization codes currently available for sale. TPP will not program models that you are not authorized or licensed to use. If you require TPP 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
TPP-ARGOS	Argos transmitters
TPP-GPS	GEN-4 GPS units
TPP	All models

Configuring Argos Services

If you plan on using Telonics Data Converter (TDC) to convert your data, you must use 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

Intel® Pentium® II 300 MHz or higher
Microsoft Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista
Available COM port
At least 30 MB available hard disk space
CD-ROM drive
Video card capable of 800x600 resolution

2008.06.26 What's new in version 2.35.1129?

1. Supports new models.
2. Better support for PCs connected to multiple monitors.
3. Updates estimated battery life and operational range of TAV-2617 model.
4. Fixes a bug that had prevented Windows Vista users from modifying the customer section of the parameter file.

2008.06.05 What's new in version 2.34.1127?

1. Supports new models.
2. Fixes a bug that had caused TPP to use the wrong failsafe timeout after reading parameters from an async model.
3. Fixes a bug that could have caused TPP version 2.33.1119 to use an incorrect activity sensitivity for ST-26 models.
4. Adds a section to identify the customer.
5. Adds a separate battery-life estimate that does not utilize satellite predictions.

2008.05.14 What's new in version 2.33.1119?

1. Supports new models.
2. Combines activity and mortality sections.
3. Supports QFP data.
4. Supports a faster repetition rate during predeployment.
5. Fixes a bug that had prevented TPP from programming TMT-460 models.

2008.04.25 What's new in version 2.32.1116?

1. Renames the TAM-118 and TAM-119 models to TAM-2618 and TAM-2619.
2. Adds support for TGW-4680H model.

2008.04.21 What's new in version 2.31.1112?

1. Adjusts VHF battery-life estimates.
2. Reorders sections of the uGPSI-20 model.
3. Adds support for TGAV-4100, TAM-118, and TAM-119 models.
4. Supports new firmware.

2008.04.03 What's new in version 2.30.1108?

1. Fixed a bug that had prevented previous TPP version (2.29.1106) from programming units to transmit last-N dive profiles, last-N layer percentages, or last-N remote-analog values.

2008.04.02 What's new in version 2.29.1106?

1. Corrects uGPSI-20 battery-life estimates for high-power and low-power VHF transmissions.
2. Corrects TGW-4100 VHF battery-life estimates.
3. Supports ST-26 avian models.
4. Updates battery-life estimates for the TAV-2630 model.
5. Displays Argos transmission power in milliwatts instead of "low" or "high" levels.
6. Provides a simulator to estimate the amount of page data that is successfully uplinked to Argos.

2008.03.20 What's new in version 2.28.1104?

1. More responsive than previous TPP release (2.27.1101).
2. Corrects VHF battery-life estimates of uGPSI-20 models.
3. Identifies gaps between seasons.

2008.03.12 What's new in version 2.27.1101?

1. Improved display of "simple" seasons.
2. Updated header and footer on TPF printouts.
3. Better support for PCs connected to multiple monitors.
4. Improved detection of invalid configurations.
5. Fixes a bug that had caused some uGPSI-20 models to stay in mortality mode.

2008.02.28 What's new in version 2.26.1096?

1. Fixed a bug that had affected the VHF power levels (Low, Medium, High) on GPS models. This bug affected only version 2.25.1093.

2008.02.27 What's new in version 2.25.1093?

1. Updated battery-life estimates for avian transmitters and GPS models.
2. Supports digital-input persistence on TAS-150 and TCB-620 models.
3. Simplified VHF power levels (Low, Medium, High) on GPS models.
4. Improved simulator section with more-descriptive warnings.
5. Clarified terminology in the activity and mortality sections.

2008.01.29 What's new in version 2.24.1087?

1. Fixed a bug that had prevented the previous TPP version (2.23.1085) from using the mortality sensor of the A-3610 model.

2008.01.17 What's new in version 2.23.1085?

1. Corrected battery-life estimates for ST-21 models.
2. Added support for uGPSI-20 models.
3. Added digital-input persistence.
4. Added the ability to disable GPS prediction after failing to receive a sucessful fix.
5. Added a horizontal-error field that estimates the accuracy of the GPS position.
6. Added support for underwater data to A-3610 model.

2007.12.19 What's new in version 2.22.1080?

1. Added the ST-21-200A model.
2. Improved reliability of communicating with the unit.

2007.11.12 What's new in version 2.21.1072?

1. Added support for ST-26 models. Previous version (2.20.1070) does not support these models.
2. Fixed a bug that had prevented previous versions of TPP from removing program files during uninstallation.
3. Marked the NOAA-12 satellite as decommissioned.
4. Removed the predeploy-after-reboot option from models that do not use this option.

2007.11.08 What's new in version 2.20.1070?

1. Added support for ST-26 models.

2007.08.07 What's new in version 2.19.1058?

1. Supports MetOp-A satellite.
2. Prevents users from disabling partial-page transmissions on the uGPSI-18.

2007.07.18 What's new in version 2.18.1052?

1. Supports the TMT-480 model.
2. Programs units to use any Argos frequency between 401.630 and 401.680 MHz instead of using a limited set of predefined channels.
3. Supports 3 digital inputs on the TAS-150, TGS-5, and TCB-620 transmitters.
4. Improved feedback when updating ephemeris.
5. Supports motion detection on the TCB-620 transmitter.

2007.06.20 What's new in version 2.17.1048?

1. Added the TCB-620 model.

2007.05.31 What's new in version 2.16.1045?

1. Added the following new models: ST-20-200T, ST-20-200V, and ST-20-SA.

2007.05.14 What's new in version 2.15.1041?

1. Supports TPFs with up to 32 layers.
2. Removed the ability to download datalogs.
3. Simplified parameters in the units section of the ST-20-200A transmitter.
4. Improved responsiveness in the timeline and schedule windows.
5. Reorganized VHF parameters for the uGPSI-18.
6. Supports new uGPSI-18 firmware.
7. Improved window for selecting/changing models.

2007.03.23 What's new in version 2.14.1019?

1. Added a simplified option for estimating the battery life of units with custom batteries.
2. Added support for units that use an improved communication protocol. Previous versions of TPP cannot communicate with these newer units. (Previous TPP versions issue the following error message when trying to communicate with these units: "The unit didn't give the proper response to a message from the PC.")

2007.02.14 What's new in version 2.13.1017?

1. Added support for Windows Vista.
2. Fixed a memory leak and memory-management problem that caused TPP to crash.
3. Prevented units from behaving erratically under corrupt parameters.

2007.01.30 What's new in version 2.12.1016?

1. Fixed a bug that affected parameter timestamps.
2. Fixed a bug that prevented TPP from downloading parameter files from certain models.
3. Added the LPT-125 model.

2007.01.26 What's new in version 2.11.1015?

1. Streamlined interface for viewing satellite activity (Argos Predictor).
2. The graphical view of a schedule and the timeline window display individual satellites.
3. Added a histogram window to view satellite activity for the time of day.
4. Improved scrolling and zooming within the timeline window.
5. Improved error detection.
6. Fixed numerous bugs that affected satellite prediction and battery-life estimates.
7. Fixed TPP so that it clears parameter timestamps after you change the file.
8. Improved the saving mechanism so that you are prompted to save only when you have actually changed the parameter file.
9. Added simulator support for dual-battery units.
10. Added an option to predict satellite passes for the estimated battery life.
11. The simulator now provides optimistic and conservative estimates.
12. Added support for new "ST-20-200L" transmitter.
13. Eliminated parameters that were not necessary for a particular model (e.g. underwater parameters for a terrestrial unit).
14. Improved user interface for enabling/disabling sections.

2006.10.19 What's new in version 2.10.1005?

1. Provides improved error checking and reporting of two-line-element satellite files
2. Adds support for a new format of two-line-element satellite files
3. Identifies decommissioned satellites in the "argos satellite window"

2006.07.27 What's new in version 2.10.0991?

1. Adds support for new A-118 and A-119 transmitters
2. Fixes bug in battery-life calculation for transmitters sending exactly 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, or 224 bits in each Argos message.

2006.06.09 What's new in version 2.08.0979?

1. Improved support for TGS-5 transmitter
2. Added new Argos message formats for GPS headings and speeds

2006.05.19 What's new in version 2.07.0977?

1. Adds "Last N fix times" to the data available for Argos transmissions
2. Adds various new features for TGS-5 transmitter

2006.03.06 What's new in version 2.06.0967?

1. Improves datalog downloading reliability
2. Permits activity-measurement interval of "disabled"

2005.09.23 What's new in version 2.04.0956?

1. Adds support for new TGS-5 transmitter
2. Allows Windows 2000/XP to search inside *.TPF files

2005.08.01 What's new in version 2.03.0947?

1. Prevents user from activating onboard satellite prediction without providing satellite ephemeris
2. Allows user to configure Argos message to contain multiple fixed-data fields of the same type
3. Treats one-bit activity counter as orientation/tip switch

2005.05.05 What's new in version 2.02.0933?

1. Improved battery-life estimations for new GPS Argos transmitters

2005.03.24 What's new in version 2.01.0924?

1. Added support for new GPS Argos transmitters
2. Reorganized information in the windows to make creating parameter files easier
3. Eliminated support for the RM-2000 in order to simplify TPP (RM-2000 users should use the previous version of TPP)
4. Improved battery-life estimations

2005.01.19 What's new in version 1.09.0912?

1. Improved battery-life estimations
2. Added a warning about battery-life estimations to the report

2005.01.10 What's new in version 1.08.0901?

1. Added support for the A-3710 product model
2. Improved battery-life estimations

2004.12.06 What's new in version 1.07.0897?

1. Added support for the ST-20-200A product model

2004.11.17 What's new in version 1.06.0894?

1. Added support for newer versions of several product models

2004.11.02 What's new in version 1.05.0886?

1. The predeployment period can now be 5 minutes
2. Added more warning messages
3. Improved communication with units on Windows XP
4. Improved battery-life estimations

What's new in version 1.04.0007?

1. Added the TAV-2430 product model.
2. Modified the TAS-100 product model to hide the saltwater section, the pressure section, and the saltwater/pressure schedule.
3. Added the TAS-150 product model.
4. Modified the TAS-200 product model to not hide the mortality section.
5. Added the TAS-250 product model.

What's new in version 1.04.0006?

1. Fixed a bug that caused tpp to crash on Windows XP sometimes when saving information to the registry when tpp shuts down.

What's new in version 1.04.0005?

1. Improved error checking and reporting of two-line-element satellite files.

What's new in version 1.04.0004?

1. Added the TAS-200 product model.

What's new in version 1.04.0003?

1. Improved battery-life simulation for pressure units.
2. Added the TCT-21070 product model.
3. Added the Argos control panel.
4. Added new depth formats and new dive-counter formats.
5. Improved help.
6. Changed depth formats from 0 through 3515 meters to 0 through 4095 meters, and changed the conversion factor for converting pressure to depth from 3515 meters equals 5000 PSI to 3408 meters equals 5000 PSI.
7. Added the EIDS message format to the RM-2000 product model.

What's new in version 1.04.0001?

1. Added hyperlinks to TPP to make it easier for a new user to figure out how to run the program.
2. Modified the scheduler to not allow an on period's update period to be greater than the on period's duration.

What's new in version 1.04.0000?

1. Bug fix: TPP would crash if the user sent parameters that enable the remote-analog sensor.
2. Removed the pressure section from the A-210, A-410, A-1010, and A-2010 product models, and added four new product models that have pressure sensors: A-225, A-425, A-1025, and A-2025.
3. Added a License Agreement command to the help menu.
4. Added a feature to allow TPP to save a file to a directory that has security allowing the user to create files but not modify files.