GSat Solar Smart Ranching
the GSatRancher is the best choice for intelligent ranch and range management, allowing cattle producers to spend less time driving, riding, and roaming vast grazing areas looking for their animals, and more time working on the hundreds of other things that make ranching a full-time effort.
GSatSolar Series User Manual v1 (2.05 MB) – PDF
GSatRancher Flyer (3.75 MB) – PDF
Overview & RESOURCES
User Guide Download Information
GSatSolar Series User Manual v1 (2.05 MB) – PDF
GSatRancher Flyer (3.75 MB) – PDF
The GSatSolar/GSatRancher is a Satellite transmitter designed to send GPS location data to a network of low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. The received data is then delivered to a telematics platform or other processor to visualize and utilize the data. The GSatSolar/GSatRancher is powered by a battery.
The GSatSolar/GSatRancher features a solar charging circuit that allows battery charging from the built in solar panel. The GSatSolar/GSatRancher contains a satellite transmitter, GPS receiver, motion sensor, Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver, solar charger, and antennas for each of the radio subsystems.
Theory of Operation
Because the satellite position is constantly changing, commercial IoT devices on the ground will transmit (with no knowledge of any of the satellites locations) and the transmission may be received by one or more satellites. These satellites will then relay the message to the nearest satellite gateway. Once received by the satellite gateway, the message will be delivered to the gateway where redundant messages are discarded and the data from the message is sent to the telematics platform.
There are brief periods of time where there is no satellite in range of the commercial IoT transmitters due to obstructions and/or satellite coverage geometry. Since the GSatSolar/GSatRancher has no way of knowing if a transmitted message has been successfully received, the GSatSolar/GSatRancher is designed to send multiple (redundant) transmissions for each message sent.
The number of redundant transmissions per message is 3. This means that each message sent by the GSatSolar/GSatRancher will be transmitted 3 times. Each transmission will contain the exact same data payload. The redundant transmissions of each message will be sent on a randomized interval with a configurable maximum and minimum duration. The default re-transmission configuration occurs between 5 to 10 minutes apart for each even randomized distribution. The transmission sequence for a single-packet message using 3 redundant transmissions is shown below.
For normal conditions where the transmitter has an open view of the sky, this will result in a better than 99% chance that the message will be received.
GSatRancher Mounting Options.
Ear Tag
NOTE: The Crimping Tool is not included with the Ear Tag kit. The crimping tool (Allflex Universal Total Tagger or compatible) can be purchased locally or via 4Tags online shop.
NOTE: The Male Pin is not included with the Ear Tag kit. The male pin can be used from any compatible tag and is considered consumable. To move the tag between animals, cut the male pin and replace it with a new male pin.
Components of the ear tag
1. Male Pin: Pin for piercing the ear
2. Mounting Strap
3. Female Socket: Must be mounted in Mounting Strap #2
Tools necessary for installation
1. Crimping Tool
a. Allflex Universal Total Tagger
b. (or) Most universal taggers will work
2. GSatRancher
3. GSatRacher Ear Tag Mount (3 parts)
Installation Instructions
NOTE: Application site must be free of foreign debris prior to placement of tags on the animal. Free Air Space is critical for proper healing and retention. Inspect placement after tagging to ensure there is sufficient space between the ear and the tag.
1. To load, depress the spring clip and insert the female tag. Ensure that the raised portion of the tag is placed in the open portion of the jaws.
2. Slip the male tag completely onto the blunt applicator pin. Squeeze the jaws together lightly to ensure the male shaft is in line with the female portion.
3. Dip the jaws of the applicator holding the tag into an antiseptic or disinfectant solution.
4. The tag should be placed vertically, in the middle of the ear, between the two cartilage ribs and 2/3 from the outside edge of the ear, 1/3 from the head. (Application too deep in the ear is not recommended).
5. The female portion of the tag should be on the outside of the ear with a tag application.
Strap/Collar
Insert a nylon strap through the rails on the top and bottom side of GSatRancher as shown in the diagram.
A second option is to use two nylon straps and use one nylon strap for each side in a U shape.
If you are using the strap design for an application that will exert a large amount of force on the strap, it is recommended to use a stronger strap and/or collar, and riveting the smaller strap to the larger strap to increase the strength.
Functional States.
Over the GSatSolar’s/GSatRancher’s lifetime, it transitions through the following states.
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 GSatSolar/GSatRancher drops to when the internal battery voltage is low (below 3.6 volts). The default is 24 hours (one transmission per day).
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 minimum amount of sunlight may be required for the solar panel to begin charging the battery, in order to enter the activating mode. If sunlight is not available (cloudy day), the device can be commanded to enter the activating mode via the mobile application.
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 “pause” if the battery level drops below 3.4 volts and resume after it has had some time to charge.
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. The retry cycle is an edge case exception in operation.
Once the unit obtains a GPS fix, it calculates its expiration date, based on the lifetime previously programmed, and enters operational mode.
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.
Tracking Modes.
The GSatSolar series supports 3 tracking modes, which are detailed below.
Accelerometer: the GSatSolar/GSatRancher contains a built in accelerometer which can be used to detect motion to trigger position transmissions instead of a timer based transmission cycle.
Tracking reports are simply sent based on the defined interval between position transmissions. This mode does not use the accelerometer. The exact timing of transmissions are purposely somewhat randomized to guarantee successful transmission slots to the satellite network therefore over the lifetime of a unit, you will see the exact transmission time shift slightly per transmission.
In this mode, tracking reports are not sent when the device is not moving, and when the device is moving, tracking reports are sent based on the programmed reporting rate. The expected behavior is to receive no data if the device is not moving, except for the health reports.
NOTE: This mode is not recommended for most applications as it consumes significantly more battery power vs simply increasing the reporting rate of the device. Please discuss with your account manager prior to utilizing this mode to verify it fits your application.
To combine intelligent motion based tracking with reduced position transmissions, this mode is ideal for assets that move while stationary. For example, a docked vessel on water will trigger the motion based tracking interval, but the vessel has not actually moved. This mode enables the GPS when motion is detected to verify whether the asset has actually moved, prior to transmitting. When multiple track points with similar GPS coordinates are detected, tracking will go into standby mode. While in standby mode the GSatSolar/GSatRancher will not send track messages, but it will continue to attain your GPS coordinates at the same rate as your track mode. Once the GSatSolar/GSatRancher has determined movement over a 200m distance, tracking will resume normally.
Health Status Message.
The Health Status Message reports the current settings and condition of the device. The message generation interval is configurable from 1-30 days, with a default interval of 30 days. One message per month is generated at no charge, shorter intervals are charged according to the device plan.
NOTE: One message per month minimum, cannot be set to zero. The device health check message length is 2 packets (18 bytes).
Health Status Message Content:
● Number of Bursts per Message
● Battery Condition: Battery OK / Battery LOW
● GPS Status: GPS system OK / Fault
● Transmitter Status: Transmitter OK / Fault
● FW Version: Major FW / Minor FW / Patch FW Version
● Number of GPS Fails: Count of failed GPS attempts since last health message
● Number of Transmissions: Number of transmissions since last health message
● Mean GPS Fix Time: Mean time to get a GPS Fix since last health message
● Board Status: Board not reset since last health message / Board was reset since last health message
Technical Specifications.
● GSatSolar temperature range -20 to +65°C
● GSatSolar functional temperature range -20 to +65°C
● Battery charging temperature range -10 to +55°C
● Standby current: 30-40uA
● Battery current drain
● Standby current: 30-40uA
● GPS on current: 50-60mA
● Transmitter on current: 500mA max @ 3.7V
● Satellite RF output: +24.5dBm
● Supported Frequencies: 1611.25MHz, 1616.25MHz, or 1618.75MHz
● GPS/Satellite antenna gain +1.06 dBi
● Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): 0dBm TX power / -69dBm RX sensitivity
● Bluetooth antenna gain: -1.09 dBi
The GSatSolar/GSatRancher is configured at the factory to cut off charging at temperatures below -10°C and above 65°C.
Battery Chemistry: Lithium Polymer
Battery Capacity: 153mAh
Battery Lithium Content: 0.054 grams
| Battery Specifications | Min | Typical | Max | Unit |
| Rated Capacity @ 4.2V | 153 | mAh | ||
| Normal Voltage | 3.7 | V | ||
| Maximum Charge Voltage | 4.2 | V | ||
| Maximum Discharge Voltage | 3.0 | V | ||
| Charging Current – Standard Charge | 0.2 | C | ||
| Charging Current – Rapid Charge | 1.0 | C | ||
| Charging Time – Standard Charge | 5.5 | 6.5 | hours | |
| Charging Time – Rapid Charge | 1.5 | 2.5 | hours | |
| Maximum Charging Current | 1.0 | C | ||
| Discharge Temperature – Standard Discharge @ 0.2C | -20 | +80 | oC | |
| Discharge Temperature – Rapid Discharge @ 1.0C | -20 | +60 | oC | |
| Cell Impedance (4.2V AC @ 1khz) | 255 | mOhm | ||
| Cell Dimensions | (thickness) 4.0 | (width) 14.0 | (height) 30.0 | mm |
The ST100 battery performance heavily depends on the amount of GPS and Satellite Transmitter usage. Below are some examples of battery performance for select battery sizes and track modes.
| Reporting Rate | Expected Battery Life (without charging the battery) |
| 30 minute | 1.5 days |
| 60 minute | 3 days |
| 240 minute | 10 days |
| 720 minute | 19 days |
| 1440 minute | 28 days |
NOTE: The data gathered above represents messages with a size of 1 data packet.
Solar panels will generate about 10 to 25% of their normal power output on a cloudy day.
Solar panels not oriented towards the sun will generate significantly less power. Orientation of the solar panel towards the sky will greatly increase reliable reporting rates during poor weather conditions or other obstructions during the lifetime of the unit.
Solar Panel Power: 125 mW
Charging Time:
● 5 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge from a dead battery
● 3 hours of direct daily sunlight to keep fully charged at 30 minute reporting rate
Chipset: ZOE-M8
Receiver type: 72-channel
● GPS/QZSS L1 C/A
● GLONASS L10F
● BeiDou B1I
● Galileo E1B/C SBAS L1 C/A: WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN
Accuracy: 2.0 m CEP
Acquisition
● Cold starts: 26 s
● Aided starts: 2 s
● Reacquisition: 1 s Sensitivity
● Tracking & Nav: –167 dBm
● Cold starts: –148 dBm
● Hot starts: –157 dBm
Anti jamming
Active CW detection and removal
Onboard SAW band pass filter
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