U-center - Orolia

GPS evaluation softwareUser GuideAbstractThis document leads you through the efficient use of the u-centerevaluation software, the powerful and easy to use tool from u-bloxfor evaluating and testing GPS/GNSS positioning chips and modules.www.u-blox.comlocate, communicate, accelerateu-center

u-center - User GuideDocument InformationTitleu-centerSubtitleGPS evaluation softwareDocument typeUser GuideDocument numberGPS-SW-08007-CDocument statusDocument status informationObjectiveThis document contains target values. Revised and supplementary data will be publishedSpecificationlater.AdvanceThis document contains data based on early testing. Revised and supplementary data willInformationbe published later.This document contains data from product verification. Revised and supplementary dataPreliminarymay be published later.ReleasedThis document contains the final product specification.This software uses parts of source code developed by other companies or groups.JPG and JPEG graphics import filter:Copyright the Independent JPEG Group's softwarePNG graphics import filter:Copyright 1998-2000 Glenn Randers-Pehrson,Copyright (c) 1996, 1997 Andreas Dilger,Copyright 1995, 1996 Guy Eric Schalnat, Group 42, Inc.TIFF graphics import filter:Copyright 1988-1997 Sam Leffler,Copyright 1991-1997 Silicon Graphics, Inc.Docking views:Copyright 1998, 1999 by Cristi PoseaPerl Compatible Regular Expressions:Copyright 1997-2003 by University of CambridgeMicrosoft Foundation Class MFC4.2:Copyright Microsoft CorporationAll trademarks mentioned in this document are property of their respective owners.This document and the use of any information contained therein, is subject to the acceptance of the u-blox terms and conditions. Theycan be downloaded from www.u-blox.com.u-blox makes no warranties based on the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and reserves the right to makechanges to specifications and product descriptions at any time without notice.u-blox reserves all rights to this document and the information contained herein. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties withoutexpress permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2012, u-blox AG.GPS-SW-08007-CPage 2 of 60

u-center - User GuidePrefaceOverviewu-center is u-blox’ powerful GPS evaluation and visualization tool which can be downloaded free-of-charge fromour website (www.u-blox.com). This User Guide provides a description of the features of this software. It allowsend users to assess and test u-blox GPS/GNSS positioning chips and modules for navigation and positioningperformance.The purpose of u-center is to enable users to:Conduct performance tests on u-blox and other GPS devices.Configure u-blox GPS/GNSS positioning chips and modules.Access and download Firmware updates.Test the added performance provided by u-blox’ free AssistNow A-GPS service.Using this guideThis guide assumes, the user has basic computer skills and is familiar with the Windows Graphical User Interface(GUI) and GPS/GNSS receiver environments.The following symbols are used to highlight important information:An index finger points out key information pertaining to integration and performance.A warning symbol indicates actions that could negatively impact or damage the receiver.Technical supportIf you have questions about installing or using u-center please:Read this user’s guide carefully.Check our homepage (http://www.u-blox.com) to ensure that your GPS/GNSS device, firmware and theu-center software are the latest versions.Refer to our web based information service and database of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).Worldwide WebOur website (www.u-blox.com) is a rich pool of information. Product information, technical documents andhelpful FAQ can be accessed 24h a day.By e-mailIf you have technical problems or cannot find the required information in the provided documents, contact thenearest of the Technical Support offices by email. Use our service pool email addresses rather than any personalemail address of our staff. This makes sure that your request is processed as soon as possible. You will find thecontact details at the end of the document.Helpful information when contacting technical supportWhen contacting Technical Support please have the following information ready:Receiver type (e.g. LEA-6H), firmware version (e.g. V7.03), and u-center release (e.g. u-center 7.0)Receiver configuration and short description of the applicationYour complete contact detailsGPS-SW-08007-CPrefacePage 3 of 60

u-center - User GuideContentsPreface . 3Overview . 3Using this guide . 3Technical support . 3Contents. 41Features . 62Getting started . 732.1General information about displayed values . 72.2Connecting a GPS/GNSS device to the PC . 72.32.4Installing u-center . 7Configuring the serial connection . 82.4.1COM-Port. 82.4.2Baud rate . 8Concept and philosophy . 103.1Color and satellite coding scheme . 113.2Operating modes . 133.2.1Online mode . 1343.2.2Stop mode . 133.2.33.2.4Record mode . 13Player mode . 143.2.5Database limitation . 143.2.6Relations between modes . 15Menu structure . 164.1Main frame . 164.24.3Menu bar . 17File menu and standard tool bar . 184.4Edit menu . 194.5View menu and views tool bar . 194.5.1Packet console. 194.5.2Binary console . 204.5.34.5.4Text console . 21Messages view . 244.5.5Configuration view . 264.5.64.5.7Statistic view . 27Table view . 274.5.8Google Earth . 294.5.9Map view . 30GPS-SW-08007-CContentsPage 4 of 60

u-center - User Guide4.5.104.5.11Chart view. 37Histogram view . 404.5.12Camera view . 424.5.134.5.14Deviation map . 43Sky view . 444.6Receiver menu and receiver toolbar . 454.74.8Action toolbar and menu . 45AssistNow Offline toolbar and menu . 454.9Player menu and player toolbar . 464.104.11View menu: docking windows . 47Tools menu . 484.11.1Firmware update (u-blox 6 and u-blox 5) . 484.11.24.11.3Firmware Update (ANTARIS 4) . 49Dump receiver diagnostics . 504.11.4GPS configuration . 514.11.54.11.6Hotkeys . 52Preferences. 524.125Windows menu. 52How To. 535.1Change parameters (baud rate) . 535.2Save parameters to receiver non-volatile memory (BBR/Flash). 545.2.15.2.26Saving parameters with UBX-CFG-CFG . 54Saving parameters with GPS configuration . 545.3Recording/playing a log file . 555.45.5Conduct sensitivity tests . 56Read/write configuration files . 565.6Set GNSS system configuration . 565.7Activating PPP (EVK-6PPP only) . 57Troubleshooting . 58Related documents. 59Revision history . 59Contact . 60GPS-SW-08007-CContentsPage 5 of 60

u-center - User Guide1 Featuresu-center evaluation software provides system integrators and end users with a quick and simple way to interfacewith u-blox GPS/GNSS chipsets, modules and boards. It enables easy evaluation, performance testing,development and debugging of GPS/GNSS positioning chips and modules. u-center allows easy connection to ublox products and provides a suite of features to view, log, and analyze performance. The features include:Support for u-blox’ receivers using u-blox positioning technology. u-center can communicate with thesereceivers using either the UBX protocol, or the NMEA-0183 standard protocol.Support for receivers that utilize standard NMEA strings.u-center presents all the information collected during the operation of the GPS/GNSS device. All aspects ofGPS/GNSS data (position, velocity, time, satellite tracking, etc.) can be monitored and logged under varioustest scenarios for the evaluation of a receiver. u-center software allows analysis of the collected data in orderto investigate performance issues such as accuracy, road test position and trajectory, satellite tracking, timeto first fix, etc. All processed data can be captured in ASCII format and ported into popular spreadsheets forcreating additional plots and statistics.Camera View: photographic data can be stored in the log file together with the navigation data and later bereplayed in the application.Export data files to Google Earth and Google Maps.Supports AssistNow Online and AssistNow Offline.Data recording and playback function.Structural and graphical data visualization in realtime.Cut and paste export to standard PC application software.Docking views (real-time cockpit instruments):Satellite constellation, compass, clock, altimeter, speedometer, GPS and satellite information views.Download firmware updates into GPS/GNSS positioning chips and modulesGPS-SW-08007-CFeaturesPage 6 of 60

u-center - User Guide2 Getting started2.1 General information about displayed valuesLongitude and latitude are displayed according to the datum selected in the GPS/GNSS device (usually: WGS84).Time is displayed with reference to UTCElevation is displayed with reference to either MSL (Height above mean sea level or Orthometric Height) orto HAE (Height above WGS-84-Ellipsoid). The reference is controlled by the GPS configuration.2.2 Connecting a GPS/GNSS device to the PCThis section assumes that you have purchased a u-blox Evaluation Kit. Should you try to connect a GPS/GNSSdevice to a PC without using the EvalKit, make sure you use appropriate RS-232 level shifters. Connect a serialcable between a communications port (COM-port) of a PC and the EvalKit.2.3 Installing u-centerThe installation program guides you through the necessary steps for a successful program installation.u-center uses dynamic link libraries (DLL). The installation program will automatically install therequired DLL’s into the u-center program directory. Should you try to copy a u-centerinstallation from one location to another after the installation, make sure you copy the DLL filesas well.After a successful installation, u-center will start up as shown in Figure 1:Figure 1: Start displayGPS-SW-08007-CGetting startedPage 7 of 60

u-center - User Guide2.4 Configuring the serial connectionu-center stores the serial settings and uses the last configuration when started. When u-center is started for thefirst time, the COM port needs to be initialized. This is typically done in the Receiver Tool Bar (Figure 2).Figure 2: Receiver tool barConnect/Disconnect-Button with COM-Port selection arrowBaudrate-Button with baud rate selection arrowAutobauding-buttonu-center only supports the COM-Settings listed below. All u-blox GPS/GNSS positioning chips andmodules are pre-configured this way.Parity: NoneData Bits: 8Stop Bits: 1Flow Control: none2.4.1 COM-PortPress the arrow in the Connect/Disconnect-Button and select the used COM-Port2.4.2 Baud rate2.4.2.1Manual selectionDoes not apply to USB.The baud rate can be manually set or automatically detected by using the autobaudingfeature. Press the arrow in the Baud rate-Button to manually select the baud rate.As soon as u-center is synchronized to the device, the Connect/Disconnect-Button on theReceiver Tool Bar changes color to green (Figure 3) and the display shows information aboutthe satellite constellation, signal to noise ratio, time etc (Figure 5). If the baud rate foru-center and the device are not set to the same value, the “Communication Information”icon changes to red. Refer to section 4 for further information.Figure 3: COM-Port and Baud rate successfully detectedGPS-SW-08007-CGetting startedPage 8 of 60

u-center - User Guide2.4.2.2 Autobaudingu-center support autobauding. If frequent break errors are detected, u-center will lower the baud rate, in case offraming errors, the baud rate is increased until no further errors are detected.Figure 4 Autobauding buttonSome serial cards or adapters frequently generate errors. The u-center autobauding may notwork reliably in this case. If you experience frequent errors, please set the baud rate manually.If the device is working correctly, the display will show information about the satellite constellation, signal tonoise ratio, time, etc (Figure 5)Figure 5: Start Display after a successful connectionGPS-SW-08007-CGetting startedPage 9 of 60

u-center - User Guide3 Concept and phi

Configure u-blox GPS/GNSS positioning chips and modules. Access and download Firmware updates. Test the added performance provided by u-blox’ free AssistNow A-GPS service. Using this guide This g