User Manual
6HDIORRU6\VWHPV,QF_LQIR#VHDIORRUV\VWHPVFRP_
HydroLite-TM Plus(Single Frequency) Portable
Bluetooth Echologger
HydroLite-TM PLUS
Page 1
Seafloor Systems, Inc. | [email protected] | +1(530) 677-1019
Getting StartedGetting Started
Overview
The HydroLite-TM™ Plus Developed to meet requirements for the U.S.ArmyTactical Dive Teams,
the rugged, wireless Hydrolite-TM™ looks and feels like your traditional survey instrument. The
system also outputs a water temperature measurement with every depth measurement made.
Software for the "front end" of the Echologger is available to run on a wide range of devices from
Pocket PCs, to the full range of desktop and tablet systems running the Windows operating
system. Additionally, the Echologger is directly compatible with most traditional land survey
acquisition software.
Table 1: Kit Components
1
2
3
4
Part Number Description Quantity
1 Survey poles 3
2 Triangle Mounting Bracket 1
3 TM Echologger 1
4 TM Echogram 1
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SetupSetup
Connection: EU400
1. Connect the device to a PC via USB port (Plug and pay)
Just in case a PC needs a driver to recognize the USB device, it can be downloaded on the link
below. USB driver for FTDI
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
For Windows7
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM%202.08.24%20WHQL%20Certified.zip
2. Connect a power supply (8~75VDC) to the device, then the device to a PC via a “RS232/RS485
to USB” converter
Connection: ECT400 / ECS400
GUI software program
3. Run an up-to-date control software “Echologger Control
Program” (Ver. 3.0)
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Setup Continued
4. (2) Find a serial (COM) port where the device is connected
- Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers. (Windows 7)
5. Select the serial port found and set the port speed. Same procedure applies for GPS. (If no GPS is
connected, select “None”)
Revised 11/18/2021
-Click to select a folder where data is to be saved
-File name is automatically generated based with date / time
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Setup Continued
6. Press “Connect” to get the device connected
- When successfully connected, data will be shown in the summary
window. (If GPS is not connected, “GPS Data” will be empty)
Revised 11/18/2021
* Note!!
Default Baud-rate is 115200. If Baud-rate has to be changed, it can be done only on
a command line i.e., in a terminal program (Hyper terminal etc.) with a procedure below
a. Connect the device to a PC (& power supply)
b. Run a terminal program. (i.e. "Tera term" or "Hyper terminal" etc.)
c. Select a correct COM port and set an appropriate baud-rate
d. Terminal program will show data as the device started work immediately
e. Press the "space bar" to stop
f. Type "#info" to check current parameters
g. Type the command for change parameters (for 921,600 baud, type #speed 921,600)
èThis means the baud rate of the device set at 921,600.
h. Match the same baud rate at the terminal program under Serial Port (baud rate of the
program). Otherwise communication error will be resulted in with strange font letters as
below
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Setup Continued
Revised 11/18/2021
i.. Run Echologger GUI and select the changed Baud-rate to the same baud rate set on #speed.
!!!!When an error message “device not connected” is shown on the GUI program, check both
Serial Port Number and Serial Port Speed!!!!
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Setup Continued
7. Setup parameters
Revised 11/18/2021
-Range, m
: Range in meters
-Tx Length, μsec
: Set transmitted pulse length in microseconds. (Up to 100 μsec)
-Interval, sec
: Interval (repetition rate) between pulses in seconds. (From 0.1 to 3600
(1 hour))
-Deadzone, mm
: Near field zone where detection is ignored
-Offset, mm
: Offset the position of device in millimeter
-Altimeter threshold, %
: Altimeter threshold in % of Full
Scale
-Gain, dB
: Analog gain of amplifier in dB.
-Sound speed, m/s
: Speed of sound in the medium
(type in)
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Setup Continued
Revised 11/18/2021
- Output mode
: Select output data format (See Output mode section)
* Note:
-After selecting parameters or changing them, press “Apply” to make them
effective
-To use a set of pre-recorded parameters on the device, click “Re-read
parameters”)
<Recommended settings for Maximum Range versus Interval accordingly to
baud rate> Baud Rate: 115200 bps (F/W Rev.2.1, Rev.2.5)
Altimeter Mode
Interval (sec) Maximum Range (m)
0.1 10
0.2 40
0.25 80
0.3 100
Echosounder Mode
Interval (sec) Maximum Range (m)
0.1 ---
0.2 1
0.25 2
0.5 8
1 20
2 80
2.5 100
Baud Rate: 921600 bps (F/W Rev.2.5)
Altimeter Mode
Interval (sec) Maximum Range (m)
0.1 15
0.2 40
0.25 100
0.3 100
Echosounder Mode
Interval (sec) Maximum Range (m)
0.1 2
0.2 10
0.25 15
0.5 30
1 100
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Setup Continued
8. Main window shows echo signal in time domain
Revised 11/18/2021
- Data Scale.
: Echo signal can be change dB or linear scale
- Data Output
: Show max or mean amplitude on the screen
-Range
: Selectable range to be shown only on the screen (not on the
raw data)
-Color Palette
: Select color schemes
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Setup Continued
9. Playback saved data
Revised 11/18/2021
- Select input data file
: Select a saved file (.log) to playback
-STOP: Stop playing
-PLAY: Play again after paused
-PAUSE: Play paused
-STEP: Shows each ping of data when
pressing it
-REPLAY: Replay from start
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FAQ
How to set up parameters to avoiding false altitude
Revised 11/18/2021
In order to have a real Altitude at appx. 6.0m (2)
èIncrease Deadzone to ~500mm in order to avoid the first peak (1)
èOr increase Altimeter Threshold (yellow dotted line)
so that the threshold can meet the real peak (2) first, not peak (1)
The rules of thumb are,
-Set the Deadzone big enough to avoid initial reverberation (1)
-In Altimeter modes (Simple, NMEA, PSA-916) increase the Gain, so that the Echo signal
can be big enough (saturated). This will help to keep the Echo signal amplitude minimizing
fluctuation. But also watch other unwanted reflections amplified by this Gain.
-The Threshold should be as small as possible. But it should be more than the unwanted
signals, otherwise false values will be calculated from these unwanted reflections, not from
the bottom of the water. This is when users feel the altitude values from the device are not
accurate, but this is a matter of setting optimal parameters using Echogram at Echosounder
mode (not at Altimeter mode)
*Example of settings – Altimeter mode for altitude measurement
ECT400, ECS400, EU400 (450kHz):
Tx Length: 100 µsec
Deadzone: 300 mm
Threshold: 10%
Gain: +10 dB
Offset : +35 mm (when altitude from the front face of the transducer is required) Speed of
sound :1,480 m/s (fresh water at 20degC)
Make the most of the Echogram, where real-time echo signal is shown. The
altitude is determined where the threshold meets the first echo-signal. For accurate
altitude data appropriate Threshold, Dead zone and Gain have to be chosen.
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FAQ
10. Echologger commands
Control commands are used when managing the device manually through
terminal programs (Hyper Terminal, Tera Term Pro etc.) or when custom-made
interface is needed
Revised 11/18/2021
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FAQ
Revised 11/18/2021
Command Sample of input/output Comments
#range #range 10000
<ENTER> or
>#range <ENTER>
>Input Value:
10000<ENTER>
>ok.
Set range in mm, from 1000
mm to 100000 mm
#interval #interval
0.5<ENTER> or
># interval <ENTER>
>Input Value:
0.5<ENTER>
>ok.
Pulse repetition rate.
Set interval between
pulses (pings) in seconds.
From 0.1 to 3600 seconds
#threshold #threshold 10<ENTER> Set altimeter threshold in %%
of Full Scale (maximum
amplitude of echo signal)
#offset #offset 0<ENTER> Set offset of output altitude
in mm
#deadzone #deadzone 200<ENTER> Set minimal deadzone in mm.
#txlength #txlength 20<ENTER> Set transmitted pulse length
in microseconds. Max. value
100 uks.
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FAQ
Revised 11/18/2021
#output #output 1<ENTER> Set Output mode.
1- Altimeter Simple
2- Echosounder
3- Altimeter NMEA
4- Echosounder Fixed 200 Samples
5- Echosounder Fixed 500 Samples
6- Echosounder Fixed 1000 Samples
#gain #gain 3<ENTER> Set analog gain of preampli-
fier in dB.
#tvgmode #tvgmode 1<ENTER> Set TVG mode
(Time Variable
Gain).
Only for debugging.
Default value: 1.
#tvgs #tvgs 1<ENTER> Set slope TVG curve.
Only for debugging.
Default value: 1.
#speed #speed 4800<ENTER> Set serial port speed in
bods. User can set:
-4800
-9600
-19200
-38400
-57600
-115200
-230400
-460800
-921600
#nmeadbt #nmeadbt 1<ENTER> $GPDBT message
enable - 1, disable - 0
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FAQ
Revised 11/18/2021
#nmeadpt #nmeadpt 1<ENTER> $GPDPT message
enable - 1, disable - 0
#nmeamtw #nmeamtw 1<ENTER> $GPMTW message enable
-1, disable - 0
#nmeaxdr #nmeaxdr 1<ENTER> $GPXDR message enable - 1,
disable - 0
#nmeaema #nmeaema 1<ENTER> $GPEMA message
enable - 1, disable - 0
#sound #sound 1500<ENTER> Set sound speed in water.
#help
or
#info
#help <ENTER>
Info
-----------------------------------------------
Ultrasonic Echo Sounder ECHOLOGGER EU400 USB Type TVG2
Made by EofE Ultrasonics Co., LTD(C)
Version 1.0 Jan 20 2012 16:14:34
Device ID: 0201 EU400 USB Type TVG2
Specification:
Show device state and
information about
parameters and commands.
450000 Hz
100m
20~100 uks
* Tx Frequency
* Work Max Range
* Tx Length
* Speed of Sound 1500 mps
Water Temperature [Celsius]: 19.02°C
Commands:
-----------------------------------------------
(goto Work Mode)
-#help
-#go
-#default (set default Settings)
Device ID: 0210 Echologger 450000 Hz EU400 USB Type TVG2
[ 3000 mm ] 1000 ~ 100000
[ 1.00 sec ] 0.1 ~ 100000
[ 10 % ] 0 ~ 100%
[ 0 mm ] -+1000
[ 300 mm ] 0 ~ 1000
[ 20 uks ] 10 ~ 100
[ 1500 mps ] mps
[ 4 ] 1, 2, 3…
[ 1 ] 0, 1, 2, 3
[ 0.0 dB ] -30 ~ +30
[ 1.00 ] 0.1 ~ 10
-#range
-#interval
-#threshold
-#offset
-#deadzone
-#txlength
-#sound
-#output
-#tvgmode
-#gain
-#tvgs
-#speed [ 115200 ] 4800 ~ 921600
Page 15
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FAQ
Revised 11/18/2021
#go #go<ENTER> Start send pulses and
receive echo signal
#default <ENTER> Set default values:
-range: 10000mm
-interval: 1 sec
-deadzone: 300 mm
-offset: 0mm
-threshold: 10%
-txlength 20 uks
-gain 0 dB
-tvgmode: 1
-tvg slope 1
-output mode:
NMEA
6. Synchronization
Change the parameters for synchronization is only available from a terminal program
(1) Start a terminal program and set a correct port information (Com No. and baud rate)
(2) Switch on Echosounder by supplying power. After initialization, the device will start work
and send data strings
(3) Press "space bar" to stop sending data, not it is ready to control
(4) Type "#info" and find out device ID
(5) Command "#syncextern" to select internal sync mode (0), or external sync mode (1)
: At internal sync mode "#syncextern = 0” (default setting), device will transmit sync
pulses
(Duration~1ms, Amplitude~4.5V)
(6) Command "#syncoutpol" to set polarity of transmit pulse
: "0": inverting pulse or "1" (default setting): positive pulse
(7) Command "#syncextmod" to define triggering edge for external
sync mode : "0": Falling or "1"; Rising (default setting)
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FAQ
Revised 11/18/2021
(8) After selecting all parameters, enter "#go" to start
7. Trouble shooting (known issues)
Page 17
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FAQ
Revised 11/18/2021
(1) Parameters cannot be changed
: At RS485 interface, if interval between pings is to small (especially at long range),
interruption from a controller (PC) such as changing parameters may not work. RS485 is
half duplex so that commands from the controller can be transmitted to the device during
the gap between each data transmission. (refer to max range vs interval table) In order to
recognize commands coming from the PC, the device should have enough time between
pings. First, the device should be stopped. At terminal program, press ‘space bar’ several
times VERY FAST so that device stops (means collecting data stops). At the GUI
software, press "Apply" several times VERY FAST until device stops receiving data.
Once the device stops, now it can receive commands. New parameters with appropriate
Range, Interval can be set in both terminal program or in GUI, then start the device with a
command ‘#go’ or ‘Apply’.
(2) Cannot connect the device to a controller (PC). Checking at terminal program some
strange characters are shown (@RS485)
: TX+ / TX- wires connected in opposite
/
