Configuring the receiver using application files

An application file contains information for configuring a receiver. To configure a receiver using an application file, you need to create the application file, transfer it to the receiver and then apply the file’s settings. The GPS Configurator software does this automatically when you work with configuration files.

Overview

An application file is organized into records. Each record stores configuration information for a particular area of receiver operation. Application files can include the following records:

  • File storage

  • General controls

  • Serial port baud rate/format

  • Reference position

  • Logging rate

  • SV enable/disable

  • Output message

  • Antenna

  • Device control

  • Static/Kinematic

  • Input message

  • Projection and calibration files (DC file extension)

  • User-defined subgridded geoid

An application file does not have to contain all of these records. When you apply an application file, any option that is not included in the records in the file remains at its current setting. For example, if you apply an application file that only specifies the elevation mask to use, all other settings remain as they were before the application file was applied.

You can store up to 11 different application files in the receiver. You can apply an application file’s settings at the time it is transferred to the receiver, or at any time afterwards.

Special application files

The receiver has three special application files, which control important aspects of the receiver’s configuration.

Default application file

The default application file (Default.cfg) contains the original receiver configuration, and cannot be changed. This file configures the receiver after it is reset.

To reset the receiver, see Button and LED operations

Although you cannot change or delete the default application file, you can use a power up application file to override any or all of the default settings.

Current application file

The current application file (Current.cfg) reflects the current receiver configuration. When you change the receiver’s configuration, either in real time or by applying an application file, the current file changes to match the new configuration.

You cannot delete the current file or change it directly, but every change to the receiver’s current configuration is applied to the current file as well.

When you switch off the receiver and then turn it on again, all the settings from the current application file are applied, so you do not lose any changes that you have made. The only exceptions are the following logging parameters:

  • Logging rate

  • Position rate

  • Elevation mask

These parameters are always reset to the factory default values when the receiver is switched off.

Power Up application file

The power up application file (Power_up.cfg) is used to set the receiver to a specific configuration any time the unit is powered up.

In this file, you can specify that the receiver is reset to defaults before the power up settings are applied. This ensures that restarting the receiver always resets it to factory defaults before applying the power up application file.

Alternatively, you can specify that the power up settings are applied immediately after the current application file’s settings have been applied. Restarting the receiver results in a configuration that uses your default settings for the options you define in the power up file, but the current settings for all other options.

By default, there is no power_up application file on the receiver. To use a power up application file, you must create and save a power_up application file in the GPS Configurator software. If you save this file to disk, the file is called power_up.cfg. The extension .cfg is used, by convention, to identify application files on the office computer. When you transfer this file to the receiver, the file is saved on the receiver as power_up, and becomes the new power up file.

Applying application files

An application file’s settings do not affect the receiver’s configuration until you apply the application file. You can do this at the same time that you save the file. Alternatively, you can save the file on the computer or on the receiver, then open it later and apply its settings.

Storing application files

You can store application files that you create in the GPS Configurator software on the receiver and on the computer. For example, each file can represent a different user sharing the same receiver, or a particular mode of operation. Saving application files on your computer as well as in your receiver is optional, but it is useful because:

  • it gives you a permanent copy of the settings you have sent to a receiver, for audit purposes or for your own reference.

  • you can use the same file to configure multiple receivers identically.

  • you can use an existing application file as a template to create other application files with similar settings.

Naming application files

The application filename in the office computer and in the receiver are always the same. This makes it easier to recognize and keep track of your application files.

When you change the name of the application file in the receiver, this changes the application filename on your computer. When you transfer an application file from the receiver and save it to the computer, the system renames the file to match the internal receiver file. However, if you use Windows Explorer, for example, to change the .cfg filename on the computer, this does not change the internal receiver filename. This means that the GNSS receiver will not recognize the change to the filename on the computer.