Operation: Part 2

Follow Avatar Anthony Caplin
Updated : Created :
In this article

Transmitter Power Output

The transmitter supports several power output modes to help you select the optimal settings for your requirements whilst helping to prolong battery life.

Adjusting Power Output

NOTE: On iLOC enabled models, you can adjust the transmitter’s power output remotely using the locator.

To adjust the power output:

  1. Press the or keys to increase or decrease power output.

Boost (Tx-10(B) only)

Boost allows the Tx-10 transmitter to output its maximum output power. Boost mode can be set to operate for a specified period of time.

To configure boost:

  1. Press the key to enter the menu.
  2. Scroll to the BOOST menu using the or keys.
  3. Press the key to enter the BOOST menu.
  4. Set the BOOST duration using the or keys. You can choose 5, 10, 15 and 20 minute periods or ON for continuous operation.
  5. Press the key to accept your changes and exit the BOOST menu.
  6. Press the key to exit the menu.

To enable Boost:

  1. First configure the boost duration using the procedure above.
  2. Press and hold the key until BOOST appears on the transmitter LCD.
  3. The transmitter will automatically exit boost mode after the selected duration.

To disable Boost:

1 Press the key to disable boost.

Transmitter Eco Mode

When using alkaline D-Cells in Tx-5(B) and Tx-10(B) transmitter models you can extend the effective use of the batteries by enabling Eco mode.

In Eco mode the power output of the transmitter reduces when the batteries can no longer provide the required output power.

When Eco mode is active and the power output has been reduced, the display alternates between ‘POWER‘ and the current output power level.

The transmitter will emit three beeps every time the power is reduced. It will then continue emitting two beeps each minute whilst it operates at a reduced power level.

To enable or disable Eco mode

  1. Press the key to enter the menu.
  2. Scroll to the BATT menu using the or keys and enter it by pressing the key.
  3. Scroll through the battery options using the or until ALK is displayed. Press the key.
  4. Use the or until ECO is displayed and press the key to enable Eco Mode. Or
  5. Select NORM and press the key to disable Eco mode.
  1. Press the key to exit the menu.

Measure Mode

The transmitter has the capability of providing impedance measurements by determining the resultant impedance across the crocodile clips of the Direct Connection lead while connected to the utility. These measurements can be useful when assessing sheath fault severity. It is also possible to measure potential voltage that may be present on utilities to warn of potentially dangerous or harmful voltages present.

In measure mode the measurement is derived from an AC signal applied to the utility from the transmitter.

Impedance & Voltage Measurements

  1. Connect the Direct Connection leads to the utility and switch on the transmitter.
  2. Hold down the key until MEAS is displayed and the measuring icon is activated.

The transmitter display will now indicate the voltage level measured across the connection leads.

3. Press the key once and the display will indicate the impedance measured across the connection leads.

The measurement icon will display the following symbols:
Impedance and voltage measurements

4. To exit MEAS mode hold down the key until the display reverts back to the normal operating screen.

Impedance measurements using active frequency

  1. Connect the Direct Connection lead to the utility and switch on the transmitter.
  2. Select the preferred frequency and output the signal.
  3. Press the key once and the display will indicate the impedance measured across the connection leads and also the output power of the transmitter.
  4. Press the key once to return to the normal operating screen.

CALSafe™

CALSafe enabled RD8000 locator models (logging and GPS units only) are equipped with a system which does disables them once they are beyond the expected service / calibration date.

When the unit is within 30 days from the service due date the unit will display at startup the number of days left. The locator will stop functioning on the service due date.

You can edit the CALSafe service due date or disable this function using the RD Manager PC software. Refer to its operation manual for further information.

 

Automatic Logging

RD8000 logging and GPS locator models offer a powerful data logging system which records all the instrument’s critical parameters (including GPS position, if available) and warnings in its internal memory every second.

The automatic logging system is always active and cannot be disabled. Its memory is capable of storing at least 1 years of normal usage data – based on 4 hours operation per day, 5 days per week and 20 days per month.

Logs can be retrieved using the RD Manager PC application for usage analysis and survey validation. Refer to the RD Manager operation manual for further information.

Click on the link below to view the RD Manager Operation Manual

radiodetection\rdmanageropmanual

GPS

The RD8000 locator can be paired to an external GPS module or use its internal GPS module (GPS models only) to be able to detect and store its latitude, longitude and accurate UTC time alongside its location data using SurveyCERT or the automatic logging system (GPS and logging models only).

The presence of GPS data allows for the data to be mapped easily and to export and save the information directly into GIS systems.

GPS menu

To enter the GPS menu:

  1. Press the key to enter the menu.
  2. Scroll to the GPS menu using the or keys.
  3. Press the key to enter the GPS menu There are 5 options:
  • RESET: Select YES to reset the internal GPS (GPS models only).
  • INT: Select this to use the internal GPS if present.
  • EXT: Select this to use the GPS from a compatible paired device.
  • OFF: Select this to switch off the internal GPS module and save battery.
  • SBAS: Select this to switch ON or OFF SBAS (Satellite-based augmentation systems) mode.

In this mode the GPS can improve its accuracy (North America only).

Note: When SBAS is ON the GPS system will take longer to lock.

  • EXT: Select this to exit the GPS menu
  • Press the key to accept your changes and exit the GPS menu.
  • Press the key to exit the menu.

Internal GPS

RD8000 GPS models have an internal GPS module.

When internal GPS is enabled, it will automatically try to “lock” onto a number of GPS satellites as soon as the RD8000 unit is turned on.

The time required for the GPS module to lock onto the GPS system varies depending on how long it has passed since the last time it was used and on the presence of any obstacles (like high buildings, trees, etc.) that may affect the line of sight to the sky.

If the unit has not been used for several days the time to first fix may take up to several minutes.

The RD8000 locator display provides a number of icons indicating the presence of an internal and active GPS and when this has locked to the GPS system, the quality of the signal received or numbers of satellites received.

The accuracy of the GPS module is affected by the number of satellites received and best accuracy is only reached when the signal quality is at its maximum.

GPS Icons

The LCD GPS operation icons provide visual information about the status of the internal GPS module:

GPS status and satellites in view