Test Screen

ClockWatch Cell Sync allows you to test to see if the program is able to communicate with the CDMA receiver’s data port through the computer’s serial port.  After the connection to the receiver is opened, the test screen shows the raw data coming from the receiver and displays the information parsed from the raw data.

The CDMA test screen is useful in verifying that
 1) Receiver is working, 

 2) the cabling is correct, and,
 3) there is a CDMA transmitter in range.

Data Window
Shows the raw data coming from the when the connection to the CDMA receiver is open.

Send field:  send a command to the CDMA. After connection is made commands can be sent to the CDMA to query for information.

Read Delay:  To slow down the test screens sampling rate of the CDMA, slide the control to the right.

Time: time from the CDMA

Date: date from the CDMA

Status: Current CDMA status when connection is open. Status message include “OPENING PORT”,  “AWAITING VALIDATION”, “reading”, etc.

Signal: Shows the relative signal strength of the cell signal.

Signal Strength Chart

Bar Value:
Shows a map of current signal level. Shows Green when level reading is made, red when no reception.

Chart box: Shows signal level readings.

Y Axis – signal (0-100 scale)

X Axis – successive readings over time

Receiver Setup

 The Setup screen lets you configure the CDMA  receiver to work with the Cell Sync software.

Model Number:  Choose the model number of the CDMA receiver connected to the serial port. 

Serial Port: Select the number of the serial port (or COM port) connected to the CDMA.

Time Request String: Character or string to send to CDMA receiver to get time string.

Minimum Time change: Enter the number of milliseconds for the smallest time change the clock will be set for. This value should be set slightly above the accuracy of the CDMA receiver. Set the value high enough so that the clock will not be changed constantly by a small value.

Initialization Strings: the initialization strings are optional strings that are sent to the CDMA each time ClockWatch starts and before the first time setting is made. The strings can be used to configure the CDMA  receiver. Both strings are optional.

Handshaking Options
Handshaking refers to the internal communications protocol implemented in the computer hardware by which data is transferred from the communications port to the CDMA. 

DSR pulse: Determines whether to have Cell Sync wait for a pulse on the DSR line before making a time fix.

DTR Enable: Determines whether to enable the Data Terminal Ready (DTR) line during communications.

Handshaking Type: A handshaking protocol is used so data is not lost when it arrives at the communications port.

Baud Rate: Baud rate in bits per second  

Run Time Options 

The CDMA Options tab in ClockWatch allows the user to set how often the Computer’s clock is updated from the receiver.

Enable CDMA as time base

Checks to use broadcast as a time source. This will cause ClockWatch to set the operating system time to the CDMA time at the interval specified. Note that when  enabled Cell Sync will access the receiver at the interval specified independent of the timeserver settings selected  (Manual, Periodic, Auto etc)

Sync Time

It allows you to specify the Refresh time in minutes, the number of minutes between CDMA time readings.

Use Internet as a backup when CDMA is unavailable – connect to an Internet timeserver when CDMA is unavailable. Cell Sync will get the time from an backup external timeserver using the settings  in the Timeserver tab for which timeserver to use and how to connect to it. Use the warning settings to determine when the backup timeserver should be contacted.

Don't Ever Set the Clock Back
When checked it will allow the computer clock to be set ahead but never back in time. Intended to accommodate certain applications that rely on a precise chronological order, such as video monitoring or certain database transactions. It should be noted that the vast majority of computer clocks run slow and not fast, making the exercising of this option infrequent.

Activity Logging
Logging allows you to create a permanent record of all time settings made through the CDMA.

 When selected, the logging of time settings is to the named file. The log shows the results of each reading, regardless if the clock is changed or not. When logging is enabled, the status of each attempt is also shown in the timeserver log window (bottom of 3 windows) on the main ClockWatch screen.

Sample Setting Log file:

Synchronization Log          12/2/2005 10:01:06 AM
Date     Time      Difference Accuracy Status Server
-----    ----      ---------- -------- ------ ------
05-12-02 10:20:01  -.008      0.0       12    CDMA
05-12-02 10:22:02  -.012      0.0       13     M?00 2000 000 00:00 02
05-12-02 10:23:02  -.048      0.0        5     12/2/2005,16:23:02 
05-12-02 10:24:02  -.004      0.0        5     12/2/2005,16:24:02 
05-12-02 10:25:02  -.010      0.0        5     12/2/2005,16:25:02 
05-12-02 10:26:02  -.077      1.7        0     12/2/2005,16:26:02 

 

The setting log is a record of all setting activity between the CDMA receiver and Cell Sync.  Explanation of log file columns and status values.

• Multitech MTCBA-C-N1 
• Multitech MTCBA-C-N2
• Multitech MTCBA-C-N3 
   

For more information

Questions?