See ASIMET MODULE OPERATIONS document for instructions
on how to hook up the comms link to your PC and RS-485 adapter.
Refer to Latest Version Information for
reference info on latest firmware version numbers.
NOTE: this module uses the VOSHPS type of sensor front-end. All PRC modules built after 1 Oct 98 will use this sensor front-end. Also reference the VOSHPS Front-End Module Command Set document.
Note: commands sent are indicated in BOLD, responses in normal text. <crlf> represents ASCII carriage return and line feed; <crlfetx> represents ASCII carriage return, line feed, ETX (03h).
Command Description
A Address acknowledge
- returns address of module, terminated by <crlfetx>
- e.g. #PRC01A PRC01<crlfetx>
- NOTE: PRC01 is the default address of the PRC module; it
may be changed by the 'U' command but any failure of
EEPROM will result in the use of the default address. In
the event of EEPROM failure, a message is sent to the RS-
232 console port on startup. In addition, use of
defaults is reported in the 'L' command.
B Output both calibrated and raw values
- outputs both calibrated and raw data values, as follows:
PRC : counts<crlfetx>
- example: #PRC01B 26.31 : 38265<crlfetx>
- PRC is precipitation level in mm; raw values are 16-bit
counts.
- C language format: "%7.2f : %7u\r\n\x03"
C Output calibrated data
- outputs calibrated value, in mm, as follows:
PRC Level in mm<crlfetx>
- example: #PRC01C 35.24<crlfetx>
- C language format: "%7.1f\r\n\x03"
D Set RT clock date/time: 'YYYY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS'
- on module startup, the date and time are initialized from
the battery-backed RTC on the DS87C530 chip. The 'D' command
accepts a fixed format string of exactly 19 characters
representing date and time. For example, sending the
following command:
#PRC01D2000/01/18 10:35:15
will set the date to 18 January 2000 at 10:35:15 AM.
- the module returns <crlfetx> in acknowledgement.
- the time will be set at the instant that the last digit is
sent; thus you may enter the module address, command and
first 16 characters of the date and time, and finally
enter the 19th character in sync with your reference
clock. The current date and time may be determined using
the 'L' command.
F PCMCIA card access (only if FLASH card installed)
- there are 5 'F' commands available for accessing the
4 or 8 megabyte FLASH memory card used for data
storage. These commands allow reading the card contents
via the RS-485 command link, storing EEPROM contents for
archival purposes, and FLASH card erasure.
- the lowest 128 kilobyte block of the FLASH card is
reserved for system information. As of the current
revision (VOSPRC53 v3.1), only stored EEPROM contents
reside here, beginning at byte 257 (100h) and continuing
for 1024 bytes (4FFh). The rest of the 128 kilobyte
block reads as all FFh. This block may be erased without
affecting data stored in the rest of the FLASH card.
FB - Read any 512 byte block, hex
- any 512 byte block from 1 to 8192 may be chosen as the
starting block. Block 1 is the default starting point.
- blocks are formatted as 32 bytes (64 ASCII characters) of
HEX-ASCII per line by 16 lines per 512 byte block.
- example (default start block - note EEPROM info stored by
'FS'):
#PRC01FB
Start block # [1] -> (hit ENTER here for default)
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF57484F492F47454F464600FFFFFFFFFF4D4B3100FFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF30303100FFFFFFFF31354D415239350041495200FFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF53422D324100FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF2D00FFFFFFFFFFFF
2D00FFFFFFFFFFFF47454F464600FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF5454384250520000
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF312E3100FFFFFFFF30344150523935002D00FFFFFFFFFFFF
2D00FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF2D00FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
4E4F2043414C00FF425052303100FFFF25372E326600FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
- to read the next block, hit ENTER.
- to quit, hit X followed by ENTER.
- Note 1: Blocks 1, 2, and 3 contain the 1024 bytes of
EEPROM image, if written by the 'FS' command below. The
EEPROM image begins at the middle of block 1 and ends in
the middle of block 3.
- Note 2: The first DATA record is written at block 257
(above the first 128 Kbyte reserved system info area at
card physical address 20000h).
FR - Read data record, formatted
- any 256 byte record from 1 to 15872 may be chosen as the
starting record. Record 1 is the default starting point.
- records are formatted as 1 line of date and time followed
by 60 minutes of PRC readings in mm sent as 10 lines of 6
minutes each. Readings occur on the minute, beginning
with minute 0 and ending at minute 59, with the record
written to the FLASH card at 59 minutes, 01 seconds of
each hour.
- example (default start record):
#PRC01FR
Start record # ->
2000/01/09 09:59:00
21.53 21.50 21.50 21.53 21.53 21.50
21.50 21.50 21.45 21.42 21.45 21.45
21.55 21.53 21.55 21.55 21.55 21.45
21.55 21.58 21.55 21.60 21.53 21.55
21.53 21.50 21.45 21.53 21.58 21.60
21.62 21.60 21.55 21.50 21.53 21.48
21.58 21.58 21.50 21.48 21.48 21.53
21.45 21.48 21.50 21.50 21.48 21.45
21.50 21.42 21.40 21.38 21.42 21.45
21.45 21.45 21.40 21.38 21.38 21.33
- to read the next record, hit ENTER.
- to quit, hit X followed by ENTER.
- Note 1: values of ??? indicates no reading was available
from the VOSHPS for that minute; each minute's data is
placed at a fixed location in the storage array
corresponding to the minute when the data was acquired.
Values of Na indicates an unused portion of the FLASH
card has been accessed. This value corresponds to the
all FFh condition of the erased FLASH card.
- Note 2: The first data record is written at block 257
(above the first 128 Kbyte reserved system info area at
card physical address 20000h). Using the 'FB' command
above and selecting block 257 as the start block, you may
inspect the packed binary format of the data at record 1.
Since each block is 512 bytes long, you will see data
from 1 records at a time.
- See FLASH Record Format for FLASH card internal storage format.
FS - Store EEPROM constants
- on startup, 1024 bytes of the EEPROM are read into system
RAM and mapped onto a data structure of miscellaneous
system information and calibration constants. This area
of system RAM may be modified using the 'U' command, and
the EEPROM may then be re-written with the modified
information. As an additional backup for possible data
processing use later, this information may also be
written out, in binary format, to the system/info area of
the FLASH memory card.
- example: #PRC01FS System info written to PCMCIA<crlfetx>
- NOTE: The system/info area must be erased prior to each
use of the 'FS' command.
- the system area may be read in HEX-ASCII format by reading
blocks 1, 2, and 3 with the 'FB' command above, or as
part of the binary dump of the entire FLASH card using
the 'XMODE' command below.
- See FLASH Record Format for FLASH card internal storage format.
FE - Erase entire card (Y/N)
- use ONLY if you wish to erase the entire FLASH card. This
command takes several seconds to complete. After each
128 Kbyte block erase, a dot (.) is sent, followed by a
"Cleared" message when done.
- upon entry, you are prompted "Do you really want to erase?
Y/[N]" The default response is NO; in fact any response
other than uppercase Y will abort with
"Aborting<crlfetx>".
- example:
#PRC01FE Do you really want to erase? Y/[N]<crlf>
Y Erasing Flash Card................................<crlf>
Cleared<crlfetx>
- upon completion, the next hour record will be written at
record 1.
FI - Erase system/info area (Y/N)
- this command allows erasure of the system area ONLY, and
in particular, the EEPROM info stored with the 'FS'
command above. The data area will NOT be erased by this
command.
- upon entry, you are prompted "Do you really want to erase
system info? Y/[N]" The default response is NO; in fact
any response other than uppercase Y will abort with
"Aborting<crlfetx>"
- example:
#PRC01FI Do you really want to erase system info? Y/[N]<crlf>
Y Erasing...System info cleared<crlfetx>
H Help
- #PRC01H - a multiple line response with text similar to
the first line of each command description in this
document as the help line, with each line terminated
<crlf> and final line terminated <crlfetx>, as follows:
Firmware VOSPRC53 V3.1
Module clock 2.4576 Mhz
A - Address acknowledge
B - Output both raw and cal
C - Output calibrated data
D - Set RT clock date/time: 'YY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS'
F - PCMCIA card access
FB - Read any block, hex
FR - Read data record, formatted
FS - Store EEPROM constants
FE - Erase entire card (Y/N)
FI - Erase system/info area (Y/N)
H - Display Help message
I - Report ID information
L - Report ID, serial #, cal info, etc.
P - Enter polled test mode
R - Output raw data
T - Enter test mode
U - Update EEPROM constants - password 'OK'
XMODE - XMODEM Dump PCMCIA card via console
Note: 'F' and 'XMODE' not present unless FLASH card is
installed.
I Report ID information
- #PRC01I - displays the text information stored in EEPROM,
with headers as follows, each line terminated in crlf:
MODADR: ( 5 bytes text) module address
MODMFG: (16 bytes text) module manufacturer
MODMOD: (16 bytes text) model number
MODSER: ( 8 bytes text) serial number
MODDAT: ( 8 bytes text) manufacture date
SENMFG: (16 bytes text) sensor manufacturer
SENMOD: (16 bytes text) model number
SENSER: ( 8 bytes text) serial number
SENDAT: ( 8 bytes text) manufacture date
SFTMFG: (16 bytes text) program origin
SFTNAM: (16 bytes text) program name
SFTREV: ( 8 bytes text) serial number
SFTDAT: ( 8 bytes text) revision date
CALFAC: (16 bytes text) calibration facility
CALPER: (16 bytes text) calibration technician
CALDAT: ( 8 bytes text) calibration date
DATFRM: (64 bytes text) calibrated data output format
DATDES: (64 bytes text) calibrated data description
DATUNI: (64 bytes text) calibrated data units
RAWFRM: (64 bytes text) raw data output format
RAWDES: (64 bytes text) raw data description
RAWUNI: (64 bytes text) raw data units
- the last scan sent is terminated by <crlfetx>.
- NOTE: this information resides in EEPROM. Most items are
completed at time of manufacturing test, but may be modified
using the 'U'pdate command. Only module address is necessary
for correct module operation.
L Report ID, serial #, cal info, etc.
- the 'L' command provides miscellaneous status information
about the module in a multi-line response. The number of
lines in the response may vary depending upon the EEPROM and
PCMCIA card status. Normally, after an initial <crlf>,
8 lines of info are provided, as follows:
#PRC01L<crlf>
module id from EEPROM<crlf>
module serial number from EEPROM<crlf>
firmware name and version number from program EPROM<crlf>
crystal frequency from EPROM
calibration date from EEPROM<crlf>
current date and time<crlf>
PRC cal constants A, B, C, D
PCMCIA card installed - PCMCIA card status<crlf>
PCMCIA card 1 hour records used, available<crlfetx>
- example normal response (8 lines plus initial <crlf>):
PRC01
001
VOSPRC53 v3.1
2.4576 Mhz
NO CAL
99/04/10 11:23:35
PRC: 0.00000e+00 2.40000e-02 0.00000e+00 0.00000e+00
EDI Intel-compatible 8MB PCMCIA CARD present - CARD OK!
Records used: 125; available: 7811
- the last line is terminated by <crlfetx>.
- NOTE 1: after initial startup, cal constants (which reside in
the VOSHPS sensor front-end) will not be displayed. The message
"Use 'Q'uery command to get constants from VOSHPS front end" will
be displayed. See 'Q' command below.
- NOTE 2: if an Intel Type 2+ 4MB PCMCIA card is installed, the
card present line will display:
Intel Type 2+ 4MB PCMCIA CARD present - CARD OK!
- NOTE 3: if no PCMCIA card present, the last two lines will be
replaced by "No PCMCIA card installed" message.
P Enter polled test mode
- responds with individual scans of data (see 'T' command
below for 2 possible command response formats (depending on TFLAG value).
Followed by <crlf> terminator only. Upon receipt of any character
except ESC, another scan of PRC data is sent. For example, if TFLAG = 0:
#PRC01P 38065 : 24.62<crlfetx>
send <cr> (or other character)
38065 : 24.62<crlf>
send <cr> (or other character)
38065 : 24.62<crlf>
.
.
- the command terminates on receipt of an ASCII ESC (1Bh)
character. The last scan sent is terminated by <crlfetx>.
Q Query command retrieves cal constants from VOSHPS sensor front-end.
- this command will take several seconds to execute; it must
power up the VOSHPS board, wait for VOSHPS initialization, then
request a set of cal constants.
- the message "Requesting cal constants - " will be displayed
immediately. After the above noted delays, the message "OK!"
will be appended if successful, "FAILED!" if not successful.
- example: #PRC01Q Requesting cal constants - OK!
R Output raw value
- outputs raw data values, as follows:
counts<crlfetx>
- example: #PRC01R 38075<crlfetx>
- C language format: "%7u\r\n\x03"
T Enter test mode
- responds with continuous scans of data in 2 possible formats,
depending on the setting of the TFLAG under 'Software Information'
in the UOK command ->
1> for TFLAG = 1 -> Level in mm, raw counts, followed by <crlf> terminator only.
(this is the 'B' command response format).
For example:
#PRC01T 24.75: 38075<crlf>
24.75 : 38075<crlf>
24.75 : 38075<crlf>
.
2> for TFLAG = 0 -> Raw counts : Level in mm, followed by <crlf> terminator only.
(NOTE: this is NOT the 'B' command response format).
For example:
#PRC01T 38075 : 24.75<crlf>
38075 : 24.75<crlf>
38075 : 24.75<crlf>
.
- the command terminates on receipt of an ASCII ESC (1Bh)
character. The last scan sent is terminated by <crlfetx>.
U Update EEPROM contents
- enters the update mode after confirmation of 'OK'
password. New EEPROM values may be entered in this mode.
- upon initial entry, you must send the letters OK after the
command or the command is ignored, e.g. #PRC01UOK. Upon
receipt of the correct password, a set of prompts will be
issued to allow entry of new module address, module
manufacturer's info, sensor info, software info,
calibration facility info, raw and calibrated output
format info, VOSHPS calibration constants,
display entire info area, and exit with or without
update.
- the '0' choice for 'Exit without update' leaves the module
RAM and EEPROM in its original state.
- the '4' choice for 'Software Information' now includes 2 parameters
related to operation. The 'ONTIME' value may be set from 1 to 30
seconds of front-end board ON time. This allows for precipitation
gauge output stabilization before a reading is taken. The 'TFLAG'
parameter determines the order of cal/raw data output in the 'T'
command. A 1 sets for cal/raw order (normal ASIMET 'B' command
output format), a 0 sets for raw/cal order (as in older Precip
software versions).
- the '8' choice for 'Enter VOSHPS cal constants' passes commands
through the PRC C51 logger board to the VOSHPS sensor front-end
board vis RS-485. There are some startup delays while the VOSHPS
is powered up, as well as some half-duplex comms delays. After
selecting '8' from the menu, it will take several seconds to get
the 'OK' prompt from the VOSHPS (if it fails to respond, try again
after the menu re-displays). At the OK prompt, you may read existing
or write new cal constants only. Unrecognized commands will result in
a 'Bad command' response. If you get stuck, enter 'Q' to quit VOSHPS
update without making any changes. For complete details on the
VOSHPS EEPROM Update command, see the document
"VOSHPS Front-End Module Command Set".
- all responses to prompts must be terminated with <cr>.
The final response from the module upon exit is <crlfetx>.
NOTE 1: Upon completion, the newly updated module address
will not take effect until the next reset or power-up.
XMODE XMODEM Dump PCMCIA card via console in RS232 mode only;
(only if FLASH card installed)
The following description assumes PCPLUS for terminal software,
but any terminal program capable of XMODEM transfer should work.
On entry, the module will prompt:
Set terminal speed for 38400 then hit any key
After setting speed and hitting a key, you will see:
XMODEM Send Function
Waiting for start...
Start a transfer (PgDn in PCPLUS) - on completion, you will see:
Sent 89 blocks - done
Restore terminal speed to 9600 then hit any key
After resetting speed to 9600 baud and hitting a key, the module
will send a "\r\n"
Ignore occasional gibberish when changing baud rates!
Note: Only data record portion of FLASH card is dumped via
XMODEM; See FLASH Record Format.
Revision history: