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RM85 Technical Support - page 2
How do I download data if the RM85 is not listed in my software ?
What do I do if I am having difficulty downloading data ?
Why is the data scrambled when observed in software ?
What do I do if there is water in the RM85 or EPIB ?
Why does the NiMH battery pack not hold its charge ?
How do I download data if the RM85 is not listed in my software?
If your download software does not directly offer support for the RM85, e.g. Geoplot 3.0, but does include the RM15 then it is possible to download using this route, providing GPS data has not been logged - see section 4-10(4) of the manual. If you are writing your own software then consult Appendix C in the manual for data format details.
What do I do if I am having difficulty downloading the data?
Ensure you are using the correct download cable. This will normally be the USB cable provided but if you are using an RS232 cable ensure it is labelled 'RM85 Data Dump Cable'. If you are using an alternative RS232 cable (e.g. RM15, FM36) then ensure Handshake is set to 'Off' - see 4-10(5).
If using the USB cable then ensure the driver has been installed first (see 4-10). If the driver is not installed then you will not be able to download data. You will need to install the driver for each USB port in turn.
Ensure the USB cable is plugged into both the RM85 and the computer and the RM85 is switched on - the RM85 will only become available as a COM port when connected and switched on.
Ensure the COM port setting in your software for download matches the port allocated to the RM85 by Windows - this may be different for each USB port, though you can make them all the same by using the 'Advanced' tab in Device Manager.
If you are using an RS232 cable with RS232-USB adapter then ensure the COM port setting in your software for download matches the port allocated to the adapter - this may be different for each USB port, though you can make them all the same by using the 'Advanced' tab in Device Manager.
If you are using an RS232 cable plugged directly into a serial port on the computer ensure the port is enabled - you may need to inspect the BIOS settings to confirm this. Please note that making incorrect changes to the system bios may prevent your PC from booting so consult your system documentation very carefully before doing so.
Why is the data scrambled when observed in the software?
When downloading data the settings for Mapping must match on the instrument and software. Otherwise data may be allocated incorrectly.
If you are downloading Parallel Twin data into Geoplot where the number of readings in the x and y direction is different then please note there is a bug in some versions of the software which can cause banding in the second half of the survey. This can occur if Sample and Traverse Interval are different or the grid width and length are different. Regardless of which version of Geoplot you have there are ways around the problem so you can successfully download data. Please see 5-11(9) and 7-2(4). All versions of Geoplot 3.0 have this bug but versions of Geoplot 4.0 later than Beta Build 834 do not have this problem.
If using an RS232-USB adapter and RS232 cable then you must exit from the download software after dumping in order to clear the computers buffer prior to the next download. For example, if you come to dump data and see the message "Receiving data…" instead of the normal "Waiting for data…", even though you have not yet pressed DUMP on the instrument, this is a sure sign that data is still left in the computers buffer. If you do not exit your software at this stage and continue downloading, the data will be scrambled.
What do I do if there is water in the RM85 or EPIB?
If you have been working in extremely heavy or driving rain and water has entered the electronics housings then you should not use the instrument until it has dried out thoroughly. Remove the lids and leave the instruments in a warm dry environment for at least 24 hours, preferably longer. Take great care not to damage internal wiring if you remove the lid.. If water is present in sufficient quantities that you need to tip it out, an environmental seal may have been damaged and the instrument ideally requires servicing. Once dried out you could continue to use the instrument temporarily, providing weather conditions have improved, and then have a servicing performed after the survey.
Why does the NiMH battery pack not hold its charge?
The NiMH battery pack can be recharged up to approximately 600 times. After this number of recharges it will start to lose its ability to retain charge and will need replacing.
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