Vivax Metrotech vLoc3 RTK-Pro, User Handbook Manual

Page 1: ...vLoc3 RTK Pro User Handbook English Edition Version 1 0 P N 4 04 000170 ...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...in some units similar to computers Generally they have a life of three to five years Under no circumstances should any attempt be made to charge these batteries Dispose of using your company s work practice environmental standards the prevailing laws or recognized best practice Always dispose of batteries responsibly 5 General Rules regarding Disposal of Batteries Never disassemble a battery or ba...

Page 4: ......

Page 5: ...ce 7 2 4 14 Satellite Information 7 2 4 15 Transmitter Link 7 2 4 16 Transmitter Control 7 2 4 17 Bluetooth Pairing Optional Feature 7 2 4 18 Cloud 8 2 4 19 GPS RTK Source 8 2 4 20 New Survey 8 2 4 21 Regulatory Labels 8 2 4 22 Self Test 8 2 5 Self Test 8 2 6 Warnings 9 2 6 1 Signal Overload 9 2 6 2 Shallow Cable 9 2 6 3 Swing Alert 9 2 6 4 Overhead cable 9 2 7 Setting up the vLoc3 RTK Pro mapping...

Page 6: ... 4 2 2 3 Locator Firmware update 40 4 2 3 Toolbar 40 4 2 4 Feature tabs 41 4 2 5 Data Logging 41 4 2 6 Splash Screen 42 4 2 7 Frequencies Page 43 4 2 8 Menu Settings 43 4 2 9 Cloud Internet RTK settings 44 4 2 10 Advanced Features 45 4 2 10 1 Supervisor Lockouts 45 5 Loc3 Series Transmitters 46 5 1 Loc3 Series Transmitter Overview 46 5 1 1 Display 46 5 1 2 Pushbuttons 47 5 1 3 Information Pushbutt...

Page 7: ... Analogue A frame Fault Finding Accessory 58 6 3 Using the vLoc3 RTK Pro Remote Antenna 61 6 4 Using the SD Signal with the Remote Antenna to help trace a particular cable 63 7 Accessories Options 66 7 1 A frame 66 7 2 Clamps 66 7 3 vLoc3 MLA Marker Locator Adapter 66 8 Glossary 67 ...

Page 8: ......

Page 9: ...hen requesting product support They can be found as follows for reference only 1 1 1 1 Model Serial Number NOTE The transmitter Model Serial Number can also be found on the bottom of the transmitter between the battery tray and the plastic housing Software Revision Numbers of the receiver or transmitter is displayed on the LCD during the startup sequence They also can be found in the About section...

Page 10: ...atinSales vxmt com Central South America and the Caribbean Vivax Metrotech SAS Technoparc 1 allée du Moulin Berger 69130 Ecully France Tel 33 0 4 72 53 03 03 Fax 33 0 4 72 53 03 13 Website www vivax metrotech fr Email SalesFR vxmt com Vivax Metrotech Ltd Unit 1 B C Polden Business Centre Bristol Road Bridgwater Somerset TA6 4AW UK Tel 44 0 1793 822679 Website www vivax metrotech com Email SalesUK ...

Page 11: ...lkaline batteries 6 Alkaline battery holder 7 Power cable for charger one of supplied based on geographical location 8 User manual 9 Softshell hard carry case 1 2 9 3 4 6 7 8 10 5 1 Pushbutton keypad display 6 Mini USB port for data transfer and software updates 2 Model number Serial number 7 Battery compartment cover 3 Battery retaining cover 8 Accessory socket and charging point 4 AA Alkaline Ba...

Page 12: ...ect the charger to the mains and switch on The LED indicator on the charger will illuminate red until the batteries are fully charged at which time the LED will change to green WARNING Rechargeable batteries are supplied with a mains or 12V DC charger These are specific to the batteries Only use the charger that is appropriate for the batteries in the product If in doubt call the Vivax Metrotech c...

Page 13: ...e user s preference and is described later in the manual Otherwise the start up screen will default to the one below Access to the User Menu is via the i button Press and hold down the button until the menu appears Menu About Speaker Volume Sound Configuration Backlight Frequency Classic Locate Locate Perspective Auto Menu Language Imperial Metric Continuous Information Auto Power Off Warnings GPS...

Page 14: ...high backlight setting will affect battery life Or select Auto which automatically sets backlight depending on ambient light levels 2 4 5 Frequency Use the enter key to enter the Frequency sub menu Scroll up and down the table using the and keys The table contains all available frequency options To simplify the operation of the unit select only the frequencies applicable to your application To do ...

Page 15: ...s relating to Shallow cable Overload Overhead cable and Signal Overload Scroll down to the relevant warning and use the return button to select or de select 2 4 13 GPS Source Press the Enter key to select either Internal or Bluetooth For the vLoc3 RTK Pro this is typically set to internal 2 4 14 Satellite Information Press the enter button to reveal all satellite information 2 4 15 Transmitter Lin...

Page 16: ...21 Regulatory Labels Enter this option to display all relevant FCC and IC regulatory labels 2 4 22 Self Test Pressing the enter key will initiate a series of self tests If any of the tests fail repeat the test in a more interference free site i e away from fluorescent lights power signal sources etc If the unit continues to fail the unit should be returned to Vivax Metrotech Corporation or one of ...

Page 17: ...line try to keep it vertical This will improve accuracy 2 6 4 Overhead cable This indicates that the signal is mainly radiating from above This is usually caused by the signal traveling along overhead cables The warning symbols are accompanied by an audible sound and a vibration in the handle unless configured otherwise See MyLocator3 Warnings can also be switched off in the User Set up Menu 2 7 S...

Page 18: ...set up that are required before the cm accuracy GNSS can be used 1 SIM set up 2 RTK connections with MyLocator3 3 Cloud VMMAP based data logging SIM Set up Data is received and transmitted from the vLoc3 via a cellular network of your choice Have a nano size data enabled SIM card ready Remove the cover by unscrewing the two retaining screws The SIM card slot is positioned between two micro USB soc...

Page 19: ...ows you to set the cloud settings A Screen similar to the one below will be shown Network apn should be adjusted to the Access Point Name for your chosen Mobile network be sure not to add any spaces before or after the APN If you do not have the APN it should be possible to do a quick web search on APN settings for a mobile network NTRIP settings should match your preferred NTRIP caster settings I...

Page 20: ...ems in the about screen are Cellular SIM Ready Cellular Network the tick shows a data connection is made the LTE indicates a 4G LTE data connection is made This confirms the SIM card is detected and active Instead of showing O2 etc it will show your cellular provider GPS RTK Source Get RTK sources RTK source RTCM status RTCM count None No Network 0 If the Cellular module is active this screen will...

Page 21: ...TK base station GPS position the larger this is the greater GPS positional errors will be RTK ref age shows how old the last RTK base station position received from the NTRIP caster is this should be updated every 10 seconds with a good data connection Cloud VMMap based data logging To use the VMMap data logging facility an account needs to be set up and each locator needs to be registered with th...

Page 22: ...d by the VXMT VMMAP Cloud server will be displayed The five lines starting at the bottom of the screen show the AT commands these are used to aid debugging and should be ignored Cloud Cloud Status Region Server Received When there are logs to send to the Cloud the Cloud Status will show Connecting Requesting Region Server Region Server Received as the vLoc3 RTK uses its serial number to understand...

Page 23: ...logs are sent to the Cloud Subsequent logs generated in the same survey will just be sent to the Cloud as above without the need to request the region request authentication or request a survey ID If a new survey is started and new logs are taken a new survey ID will be requested before the logs in the new survey are sent to the Cloud Using the vLoc3 RTK Pro A note on battery consumption The vLoc3...

Page 24: ...ow 50mA 69 9 4G 2 1 3 8 7 5 6 4 1 Antenna configuration meter response described later in the manual 5 Bluetooth status If Transmitter link is fitted this icon will replace blue tooth icon as they are mutually exclusive 2 This icon is shown in this position when the sonde locate screen is selected 6 GPS status see below for further explanation 3 Signal Current Depth to the target line can also be ...

Page 25: ...on treat all data and measurements with caution 5 Signal Direction forward back arrows only active with Signal Direction frequencies 6 Compass line direction indicator turns blue when aligned with target line 7 Left Right direction to target line indicators 8 Frequency selection flashing frequency indicates frequency selection is not valid for this screen Choose another frequency Tip When in a loc...

Page 26: ...king an area for buried lines 2 9 Classic Locating Modes Response The vLoc3 RTK Pro receiver has an array of six antennas and these can be toggled through different configurations modes to provide different responses to the signals radiating from buried utilities The modes are 2 9 1 Peak Response Mode Two horizontal antennas provide a Peak or maximum signal response over the center of the buried l...

Page 27: ... affected by distorted fields All other functions are the same as the Null mode 2 9 5 Peak with Arrows Response Mode The peak with arrows mode operates in the same way as the peak mode It gives the largest meter deflection when directly over the line However the left right indication arrows are also displayed The arrows indicate the direction to move the receiver to locate the position of the buri...

Page 28: ...to the internal memory This is explained in detail in the Datalogging section IMPORTANT When locating a cable or pipe Line depth and current measurements should only be taken with the bottom of the receiver standing on the ground and directly in line with the target line Unless the Omni direction mode is selected in which case orientation is not important The accuracy of depth and current readings...

Page 29: ...target 7 Cross section view that shows vectors to target Using the Vector screen 1 Apply the signal to the target line in the usual way and select the vector screen by using long presses on the return button until the desired screen appears 2 Position the locator within the approximate position of the target line Use the plan view to help guide you towards the target line You can imagine that the ...

Page 30: ...iew screen shows a picture as if you were viewing the line from above ground When the red line is in the center and pointing forward backward then you are directly over the line and pointing in the direction of the line 14 5 4 3 2 1 12 9mA 32 8kHz 4G 5 14 5 12 9mA 32 8kHz 4G 1 Depth and current readings 2 Frequency selected 3 Target line 4 Lines of confidence closer these are to the target line in...

Page 31: ...tion relating to the information screen is described in a previous section Information Pushbutton Depth Current Transverse Plot Screen The Transverse Plot screen is used to analyze the field shape at a particular location This enables the user to get a better feel for the reliability of the data gathered Two plots are generated simultaneously Peak response Null response In non distorted fields the...

Page 32: ...pe or cable the signals are re radiated It is these re radiated signals that can be detected by the Radio mode Power signals are created by mains power running in the supply cables These signals are 50 or 60Hz depending on the country For instance the UK is a 50Hz power but the USA will have 60Hz When electrical power is distributed throughout the network some of the power finds its way back to th...

Page 33: ...ss feature is not available for the Power or Radio modes NOTE Note that there will be no sound from the speaker until the meter reading is above approximately 10 of full scale 4 Keeping the vLoc3 RTK Pro vertical walk across the area to be checked keeping the orientation so that the blade is in line with the direction of walking See diagram above If using the Onmi Peak mode the orientation of the ...

Page 34: ...e benefit unlike passive detecting the operator is in control of the signals and therefore can be more specific about what line is detected That is to say active signals can be used for line tracing Also passive signals are not always present on a line so using active signals ensures more lines are detected Choosing the correct frequency will depend on the application but as a general rule select ...

Page 35: ...ith water If still an issue try connecting to a manhole cover surround Avoid connecting to fence railings as these may create return signal currents along with the fencing that will interfere with the locating signal Always start with low output and increase the output if the received signal is not strong enough Setting the output to high when it is not required may result in some of the signal bl...

Page 36: ...ounds or a grounding bus exists ensure that you place the clamp around the target line and not to the ground bus or other grounds This will help focus the applied signal to the target line Clamp Extension Rod A useful accessory to the clamp is the extension rod The extension rod is fitted with a 10mm threaded male stud This male thread screws into the handle of the signal clamp to extend the dista...

Page 37: ...gnal clamp connected the transmitter will automatically start to radiate a signal around the transmitter These signals will penetrate the ground and couple onto buried lines The signal will then travel along the line which can be detected with the vLoc3 RTK Pro locator Applying an induction signal to a line Remove any connections from the output connector Switch on the transmitter and place it ove...

Page 38: ...r and select a desired locate frequency matching the transmitter setting Note that the screen will now show the addition of a compass line direction indicator In the presence of a locate signal the compass will align itself parallel to the line being located This ensures that the operator is aware of the direction of the line 69 1 640Hz 25dB 4G Hold the locator vertically and rotate it on its axis...

Page 39: ...s being radiate from the buried line Once a response is found then trace and pinpoint the line and mark Searching an area in this way is generally but not exclusively done in the Peak mode using passive locating 3 6 Searching sweeping an Area in the Omni Peak Mode Searching an area with Omni antennas is very similar to the above except that it is only necessary to sweep an area in one direction Th...

Page 40: ... feature is useful for confirming that the detected signal is radiating from the correct line In the event the signal is bleeding off onto other services these signals will generally be less than that of the originating signal However care should be taken as the signal current will gradually reduce over the length of the line but watching for a sudden drop in current over distance should indicate ...

Page 41: ...eing distorted by other radiated fields Locate the cable first in the Peak mode and then in the Null mode or use the left righty arrows The two locations should indicate that the cable is in the same place If they do not the signal field is distorted and the depth and current measurement may be inaccurate 2 1 3 1 Null Position 2 True Position 3 Peak Position Measure the depth of the buried line by...

Page 42: ...peak a large peak a small peak with two Nulls between the peaks The sonde is located under the center of the large peak The vLoc3 RTK Pro detects the presence of the two Null signals and also the position of the main Large Peak It uses this information to provide a reliable and efficient method of sonde location Method 1 Insert the activated sonde into the pipeline Push the sonde about 10 12 Feet ...

Page 43: ...l line walk toward the arrow 11 A Sonde icon will soon appear Keeping the locator vertical carry on walking toward the Sonde until it is positioned on the crosshairs The locator is now directly over the Sonde The arrow will flip forward and back as the position is crossed 82 9 22dB 32 8kHz 4G 12 Note that when directly over the Sonde it may be necessary to confirm the position of the Sonde left to...

Page 44: ...tomatically after every self test Warnings Alarms are also automatically recorded To store a record first locate a point of interest When taking readings that are recorded in the log or sent to the cloud there is an extra action to be taken The locator can provide cm mapping accuracy For technical reasons the GNSS antenna is positioned slightly ahead of the locator This displacement is compensated...

Page 45: ...tion is fitted This can be checked on the Status bar there should be a black Bluetooth icon If it is grey or not visible the module is not fitted and this option is not available Also note that it cannot be fitted if the transmitter Link option is fitted These two options are mutually exclusive Method Switch on the external device Switch on the vLoc3 RTK Pro and enter the User setup menu by a long...

Page 46: ... earth application to your computer This is a free application which can be found at http www google com 4 2 1 MyLocator3 This section describes the user operation of the MyLocator3 PC application MyLocator3 is a desktop PC application that is capable of downloading code and configuring the vLoc3 RTK Pro series of locators The first part of this document Basic Operation describes usage not requiri...

Page 47: ...sures the configuration setting of the locator is automatically uploaded to the MyLocator3 app when the locator is connected 4 2 2 2 Application Update Every time the MyLocator3 Application is started its version number is checked against the latest version available on the Vivax Metrotech server and the user is notified if an update is available as shown below This feature will only be available ...

Page 48: ...e user to install older versions of firmware stored on the computer although it is advised that only the latest version of firmware is used 4 2 3 Toolbar The vLoc3 RTK Pro locator can be configured so that features can be switched on or off This enables the user to tailor the instrument to meet the needs of their application while keeping the user interface uncluttered The toolbar at the top of th...

Page 49: ...n the data log can be configured before exporting The parameters that can be set are Distance units Date format Time format i e UTC or local time Files may be exported saved locally as csv bin kml shp files and examined later The default filename is based on the serial number of the connected locator but can be changed during the saving process Tip If it is only required to export a portion of the...

Page 50: ... image height is greater than the LCD height then the image can be re positioned vertically by clicking and dragging the left mouse button anywhere on the image To insert your own startup screen first click on the Open button Then browse your files to select the picture required as the start up screen The application is compatible with file formats jpg bmp png and gif The start up screen will be d...

Page 51: ...ol over which menu items appear on the locator and also the initial setting of the menu item when the locator is first used after configuration The menu items with a right pointing arrow can be expanded to reveal further sub menu items If the On Menu item is ticked then the item will appear on the locator menu The item displayed in the Setting column will be the initial locator setting after confi...

Page 52: ...e for your chosen Mobile network be sure not to add any spaces before or after the APN If you do not have the APN it should be possible to do a quick web search APN settings for mobile network NTRIP settings should match your preferred NTRIP caster settings If you have subscribed to an RTK provider they will give you your Caster address caster port Username and password Click on the Icon on the to...

Page 53: ...ons for the Splash Screen page Frequencies page and Menu Settings page will change color to green This color indicates the page is unlocked The Splash Screen page Frequencies page and Menu Settings page can each be individually locked by double clicking on their page tab icon If a page is locked then it can only be accessed by a user with an appropriate security dongle This will prevent unauthoriz...

Page 54: ...ttery tray 6 Mini USB lead 5 1 1 Display 1 2 5 6 7 8 3 4 8 19 kHz 1 0 2 mA 9 1 Mode Indication Icon 6 Output setting 2 High Voltage Warning output is enabled for high voltage 7 Digital readout mA volts ohms 3 Frequency Being Transmitted 8 Units mA volts ohms 4 Loudspeaker Level 9 Blinking icon Tx Link is not paired Solid icon Tx Link is active and linked to the transmitter 5 Battery Status Externa...

Page 55: ...as the default and volts or ohms when selected NOTE The number of i button presses and available sub menus will vary with the mode the transmitter is 5 1 4 Connections Block 1 2 3 4 FUSE 1 Output connection 2 Output protection 1 6A 250V Fuse 3 Loudspeaker 4 Battery charging socket DC input All the connections made to the transmitter are made at the connection block except for a USB socket which is...

Page 56: ...vailable Internal Charger Socket WARNING Charging socket The one pin plug internal charger socket is used for power in from charger to charge rechargeable batteries NOTE The rechargeable pack cannot be charged from a 12V DC source WARNING Only use a charger supplied by Vivax Metrotech Corp Using non approved chargers may result in damage to the equipment or overheating explosion The battery condit...

Page 57: ...w instructions detailed in the General Safety Care Information section of this document which also describes battery disposal Only use the battery charger supplied Using an unapproved charger may damage the battery pack and could cause overheating Two chargers are available Standard mains charger Optional 12V vehicle charger To charge the rechargeable batteries pack can be connected to the transmi...

Page 58: ... connection or clamp connection The Induction mode is only available from 8kHz and above Induction frequencies are available based on the user selection See section 5 4 2 for information relating to Most Used Frequencies Frequency Selection Feature for adding and removing frequency from the favorite frequencies list NOTE For accurate location and depth measurement the locator receiver should be us...

Page 59: ...ise way to apply the locating signal It is generally used when it is not possible to access the conductor to make a direct connection but there is sufficient access to place the clamp around the cable or when it is not safe to make a direct connection because the target cable is carrying electricity The clamp is a specialized inductive device sometimes known as a toroid or coupler All clamps are o...

Page 60: ...supply the requested current the bar will turn black If the bar does not turn black improving the ground connections or wetting the ground where the earth stake is positioned may help However it may not be able to achieve the current setting requested because the impedance of the line is too high for this setting If this happens it is best to select a lower setting that has a black bar this will e...

Page 61: ...t of frequencies available with the central one in a box Frequency Menu SD USA FF Low FF High 3 Pressing the or pushbuttons you can scroll up or down through the available frequencies 4 Once the wanted frequency is inside the box press f pushbutton to select or deselect the frequency An x will appear in the box for a selected frequency Frequency Menu SD USA FF Low FF High 5 After selecting the fre...

Page 62: ...An x symbol will appear indicating that multi frequency mode is activated Press f pushbutton again to go in Multi Frequency Setup screen to choose the frequencies Volume Voltage Resistance Multi Frequency LCD Contrast Bluetooth Menu Frequency Menu Use the and pushbuttons to scroll through the available frequencies and bring the desired frequency in the first box Multi Freq Setup 32 8kHz 83 1kHz 20...

Page 63: ...option then press the F key to start the process The display will show the message WAIT until the setup is complete An ID number will now be displayed at the bottom of the screen for identification purposes R E C E I V E R L I N K D I S A B L E B A C K 2 1 9 0 2 1 5 0 0 3 1 The transmitter is now waiting to connect to a receiver Either press the I button or use the and keys to highlight BACK then ...

Page 64: ... established From the main menu select Transmitter Control option that will become visible when the two devices are linked Menu Imp Metric Continuous info GPS source Bluetooth Pairing Transmitter Link Transmitter Control Meter Off Internal A screen similar to this should be seen Transmitter link status Connected 40 Transmitter Control 640 Hz 100 mA From this screen if the link status shows Connect...

Page 65: ...are linked changing the Receiver Frequency will automatically result in a similar change to the Transmitter frequency so there is no need to re enter the menu screen to change the Transmitter frequency remotely The Frequency indicator will flash when resetting or if an invalid frequency is requested If the Tx Rx Radio link is not being used make sure the receiver s link is set to Disabled on both ...

Page 66: ...l applied to the faulty conductor from a Vivax Metrotech compatible transmitter Fault finding requires a non standard signal 8kHz FF or FF fault find signal but ensure the Rx and Tx settings are matched To detect a damaged section the line should be isolated and have all ground bonding removed This will ensure that the ground fault is not masked by deliberate bonding to ground The A frame cannot d...

Page 67: ...A frame is positioned over the line and continue placing the A frame in the ground every two or three paces If necessary use long presses of the M pushbutton to enter the locate screen allowing the user to confirm the position of the target line Use a long press of the M pushbutton to scroll through the screens to re enter the A frame mode 20 dB 8KFF 4G Log 6 26 dB 8KFF Log 6 4G Note that the A fr...

Page 68: ...ible when the A fame is connected Make sure the A frame is located in the desired position with the pins firmly inserted in the ground 4G 20 dB 8KFF Log 6 To record data press the button The soft key on the display will momentarily go green indicating that the data is stored and the Log number will increment The data log can also be deleted from the Info screen From the A frame screen press and ho...

Page 69: ...arget cable and shares an equal amount with other cross bonded cables 3 When using the signal clamp it is best if both ends of the target cable are grounded Apply the clamp below the ground point Applying the clamp above the ground point will prevent the signal finding the return path through the ground so this is not advised 4 If it is not possible to use a transmitter signal clamp and you have c...

Page 70: ...a is a useful tool to help trace cables However it should not be used as positive identification before an unused cable is cut Always follow company procedures when cutting disused or isolated cables TIP The remote stethoscope antenna can be used to help trace disused and isolated cables This process can be further enhanced if the cable is isolated and is of twisted cable construction Method 1 Con...

Page 71: ...ing the station ground may result in multiple signals as the signal will return along commonly bonded cables 2 Select an SD signal from the transmitter either SD USA or SD EUR 3 Connect the remote antenna accessory to the locator and place it on the red lead of the transmitter with the arrow pointing away from the transmitter and with the flats of the antenna along the line of the cable 4 Select t...

Page 72: ...able at the location of the interest Identifying a cable Having confirmed the antenna is synchronized with the receiver proceed to the location the cable is to be identified Place the antenna on each of the suspected cables in turn ensuring the correct orientation ie the arrow on the antenna pointing away from the transmitter Note the signal strength on each cable and also which arrow is illuminat...

Page 73: ...he cable keeping the arrow on the antenna pointing forwards On the incorrect cable the signal level will be small and steady On the correct target cable the signal will rise and fall in sympathy with the twist in the cable Also if on the target cable at alternate peaks the arrows will switch from forward to backward pointing WARNING The remote stethoscope antenna is a useful tool to help trace cab...

Page 74: ...heath or internal conductor to become in contact with the ground 7 2 Clamps An accessory used to apply the transmitter signal to an insulated line removing the need to connect the transmitter signal directly to a conductor or cable sheath Available in 2 inch 50mm 4 inch 100mm and 5 inch sizes An 18 inch 45cm flexible version is also available 7 3 vLoc3 MLA Marker Locator Adapter The plug in adapte...

Page 75: ...nd LF VLF radio Passive signals A wide range of signals that radiate from buried pipes or cables These signals come from a variety of sources in the environment and couple to the buried overhead lines Typical examples 50 60Hz and LF VLF radio Peak Maximum response to a buried line Pinpoint Using a receiver to identify the exact position of a buried line Response The indication that the receiver gi...

Page 76: ... Notes Vivax Metrotech Corporation 3251 Olcott Street Santa Clara CA 95054 USA Toll Free 800 446 3392 Phone 1 408 734 1400 Website www vivax metrotech com ...

Page 77: ......

Page 78: ......