Features
Functional States
Over the GSatRancher’s lifetime, it transitions through the following states
Pre Operational State
Note that these states are defined by events that have occurred prior to the device becoming fully operational.
Configuration Mode: This describes the state in which the unit is shipped. No operational profile and no lifetime have been programmed into it. The unit’s solar panel has not been uncovered and the battery has not been allowed to charge. The VAR transitions the unit to be staged for activation mode by setting a lifetime and a profile into the unit, as described in the section below.
Staged for Activation: The device is considered to be in staged for activation mode when the following things have been programmed.
- Device Lifetime: This is automatically selected at the time of activation based on the device and airtime plan selected
- Reporting Rate / Profile: This is set using the activation portal and selection of an airtime plan, which subsequently is used to set and sync a profile to the device.
- Low battery report rate: This is the report rate the GSatRancher Series drops to when the internal battery voltage is low (below 3.6 volts). The default is 24 hours (one transmission per day).
Activating Mode
After the unit has switched to “Staged for Activation” mode, the unit enters the “Activating” mode when it detects that the unit is in sunlight and the battery is charging which is defined as a positive current flow into the battery for 5 consecutive minutes.
Note!
A marginal amount of sunlight is required for the solar panel to begin charging the battery and start the activation process. If the sun is not bright enough (cloudy day), the device can be commanded to enter operation mode by using the mobile application and clicking "Skip Activation".
Once charging of the battery is detected, the unit will attempt to obtain a GPS fix. If the fix is not obtained within the GPS timeout, the unit will sleep for 5 minutes and try again. This cycle will continue until a fix is successfully obtained. This cycle will restart if the battery level drops below 3.4 volts or 25 percent, and resume after it has charged again.
Note!
If charging for 5 consecutive minutes is detected, the likelihood is extremely high that the unit is outside, and the GPS fix will be obtained on the first attempt.
Once the unit obtains a GPS fix, it calculates its expiration date, based on the lifetime previously programmed, and enters operational mode.
Operational Modes
These are the modes the unit may be in after completing the “activating mode” described above.
- Normal operation: Battery above 3.6 volts. The unit is in normal operation executing its track profile.
- Low battery operation: Battery between 3.6 and 3.4 volts. The unit will execute a track profile, but at the reduced “low battery” rate.
- Extreme low battery suspend: Battery below 3.4 volts. The unit will completely suspend operation, entering a “hibernate” state to allow the battery to charge.