iGR
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iGR Files |
FAQ's |
1. Why do you (iGage)
bundle the receiver with an antenna and cables?
After many years of supplying repeater and
high-powered radios we have found that most antennas and cables
already deployed in the field have:
Bad bottom mounts which make poor
connection
Bad antenna cables, closed in carry case hinges, whipped in the
wind with broken conductors
Bad TNC (or BNC connectors with lossy adapters)
Missing antenna ends
1/4-wavelenth, unity gain antennas which require a substantial
ground plane to deploy
By supplying a great end-fed-dipole antenna
that does not require a ground plane, in known good
condition, we expect your experience with our radio solution will be
be exceptional, out of the box.
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2. Is the iGR supplied
antenna (iGA5) compatible with other NMO mounts?
No. Because the connection clip on NMO mounts
is unreliable for antennas that are setup and taken down daily we
direct connect the coax cable to the antenna. The iGA5 antenna is
NOT an NMO mount antenna. The antenna can not be disassembled at the
base, it can be unscrewed in the middle which makes it easier to
transport.
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3. Is the iGA5 supplied
antenna a good solution for other applications and radios?
Probably, the cable has a standard TNC
connector, the bandwidth is wide and the SWR is low:
![](images/iGA5_SWR.png)
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4. How long is the coax
cable on the iGA5 antenna?
5-meters (16.4 feet).
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5. Will the iGA whip
antenna work directly connected to the iGR radio?
![](../images/iGA_02.png)
Yes, it works great directly connected.
Because there is no coax loss when directly connected and the iGA
antenna has lots of gain you should limit the output power of the
radio to L-Low 5-watts or M-Medium 20-watts so you don't exceed your license's ERP.
Extended use at high power may melt the antenna as it is rated for
25-watts only.
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6. What formats are
supported by the iGR radio? The
following formats are narrowband compliant and suitable for use in
the USA:
Satel 9600 FEC ON, Satel 9600 FEC OFF,
Satel 19200 FEC ON, Satel 19200 FEC OFF
TT450S 4800, TrimTalk II 4800, TrimTalk3 9600
Transparent EOT 4800
Also, check out the [
User Manual ] for additional
information.
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7. Will the iGR connect
directly to a GPS instead of repeater use?
Yes, it has standard Tx Only and Duplex modes.
Your existing cable will probably work.
Because of the high number of satellites and
signals currently deployed in the space segment, if you plan to use
the radio with RTCM3.x or other non-highly compressed formats, there
may not be enough time to broadcast a correction message and
retransmit/repeat it in 1-second. For this reason, it is often more
desirable to use the external radio as a cable connected, external
transmit only radio.
We have reasonably priced cables available for
most common GNSS receivers [ see cables
]. Additional setup information is available [
here ].
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8. What is the
difference between the iGR radio and other Harxon eRadio variants?
The iGR radio has special firmware that
eliminates non-compliant modes and operation for use in the USA.
The iGR radio is supported, warranted and serviced by iGage Mapping
Corporation.
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9. Will my receiver be
able to directly control the iGR radio, changing frequencies and
modes? No. You will need to use
the front panel on the iGR to make changes.
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10. Does the iGR support
CSMA? Yes. It can be turned on and
off from the front panel. Most users should leave it ON. However,
because we expect some applications to have dedicated frequency
assignments it can be disabled.
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11. Is the iGR as
finicky about supply batteries as other radios?
No, and the iGR has a built in voltmeter so you
can tell the charge state of your battery.
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12. Is a programming
dongle required to modify frequencies and bandwidth?
No, However, a special, unique, secret, code is
required to modify the radio frequencies, channel bandwidth and
channel assignments. The code is available in a sealed envelope from
the factory and
allows a technician to modify frequency assignments. Every radio has
a different code.
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13. Is a FCC license required to operate the iGR?
Yes. Absolutely, an FCC license is
required! Checkout this American Surveyor [
article ] for additional
information.
We highly recommend that you use [
FIT
] for assistance in obtaining your license. They know exactly what
type of license you require and will take care of everything at a
very reasonable price.
There are no itinerant frequencies that the
iGR can operate on without a license.
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14. Will iGage program
the radio prior to shipment? Yes.
If you have a FCC license, we will program the radio with your
licensed frequencies prior to shipment. We will print out a
reference copy of your license and include it with the radio and we
will make a label with your FCC Call sign and put it on the front of
the radio.
If you do not have a FCC license, the radio
will ship with NO programmed frequencies. Your supervisor or radio
technician can setup the radio after you receive authorization from
the FCC. Check out Mark Silver's [
Blog post ] for additional
information.
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15. How far will the iGR
transmit? It depends:
No other users or interference on the
frequency
iGR's Radio antenna put 10' above ground level
Good Rover antenna
Clear line of sight (radio location elevated so that earth
curvature and trees don't block the signal)
Fully charged battery
FEC ON
We expect well over 25-miles.
If there is not clear line-of-sight or there
is another user or interference on the frequency then you might only
get a few miles, or less!
We do test the output power and the iGR is
comparable to other 35-watt radio solutions.
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16. 900 MHz?
No.
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17. Works with other
GNSS receiver brands? If the other
receiver uses 400 MHz UHF radios and supports Satel 9600 baud with
FEC ON or OFF the iGR will probably work great. Trimmark II / TT450
and Transparent EOT are also supported at both 9600 baud (25 KHz)
and 4800 baud (12.5 Khz).
Repeater operation probably won't be dependable with 4800 baud
protocols with multi-constellation receivers.
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18. Waterproof? Suitable
for outdoor use? Yes, the iGR can
be hung on a tripod in the rain for extended periods.
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19. Is free shipping
included? No.
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20. Does iGage supply or
recommend a specific battery?
iGage will not supply batteries. Purchase locally or on Amazon.
The User Manual has suggestions on how to choose an
appropriate battery.
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21. How many channels
can be stored in the radio at once?
32-channels, 000 through 031. |