Rockwell Trooper GPS HNV-600

& HNV-960

© Brooke Clarke 2012

HNV-600
    Background
    Description
    Photos
HNV-960
    Description
    Connectors
    Photos
Related
Links

HNV-600

Background

This is another of the Rockwell family of GPS receivers that includes the PLGR and DAGR.

Description

1992 and 1993 date codes.  One IC socket.

Batteries

The battery pack holds 6 AA batteries in two rows of 3 each so it's almost 7" long and fits on the back. 

This is unusual since most military GPS receivers use two batteries.  The main battery powers the receiver while it's operating and the backup battery holds the satellite data while the receiver is off.  When off there typically is no power drain from the main battery.  When the main battery is changed the data is not lost.  The Trimble Trimpacks use an internal memory backup battery that maintains the RAM (works very much like a core memory).

Maybe this receiver has an internal battery or some way of retaining the satellite data while the battery pack is removed and reloaded with AA batteries.

The cap on the battery pack is awkward to use.  It takes a lot of turns with a nickel to loosen the screw holding the cap on.  When installing the cap it warps because of the pressure on the batteries (can see it in the photos).

DOA

It was DOA so the next step will be to open it up to see if there's any connectors that may need cycling.  Note: The most common reason for this problem is oxidized electrical joints and just opening and reseating the connector may solve the problem.

When the Agilent E3817A lab bench power supply is connected and just after connecting the positive clip straddling the two + pins and the negative clip on the - pin the receiver draws about 25 ma at 9 volts.  But pressing the POWER button does not turn it on.

Photos

Click on photos to see a larger version.  If your cursor is a (+) then click again for even larger. 


Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600

Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600

Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600

Rockwell
                    Trooper GPS HNV-600

Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600

Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600
Looks like hand saw used to make notch for ant. coax

Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600


Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600


Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600
Rakon: 10.949297 MHz


Rockwell Trooper
                  GPS HNV-600

Rockwell
                Trooper GPS HNV-600

Rockwell
                Trooper GPS HNV-600
The joint between the two large boards seems to be intermittent and is the cause of the DOA.
After the receiver has been powered on for a few minutes it turns itself off, maybe that's normal.

HNV-960

Description

This is about the same size as a hand held GPS receiver, but has  no front panel.  The idea is that it can be used to integrate GPS functionality with other equipment.  For example a GPS can be connected to a radio so that every time the radio is keyed it also sends it's location using encryption.  Anything (tank, airplane, &Etc.) can have it's position added to a data bus so all it's components know not only where they are but also the precise time and velocity.  PVT stands for Position, Velocity and Time and are the key outputs of GPS).

The flat surface is for mounting and the curved surface is for the built-inAeroAntenna Technology AT575 (Fig 4 below).  This antenna family is used by the PLGR and DAGR receivers for L1 only operation and considering the vintage of this receiver and that antenna I'd guess this is an L1 only receiver like the PLGR.

There is a board only version of the DAGR called the GB-GRAM that allows integrating GPS into other equipment.  So the HNV-960 probably has some nickname for doing the same sort of thing, but this includes the antenna and backup battery.  There's two jacks, one has 5 sockets and the other has 6 sockets.  That's unusual since power connectors are typically plugs.


If you have any literature on this unit please let me know.

Connectors

External

5 socket Lemo
Wire colors: wht/vio, wht, gry, vio, blu
Because DC power is on the other connector this is probably data I/O and timing.

7 socket Lemo
Wire colors: Grn, Wht, Red, red, blk, blk, org
both red wires are connected to each other.  (DC input power) 
both black wires are connected to each other and ground.
Green and White may be on/off or other power control lines.
The Orange wire is connected to J2 on a pin that next to the pin used for the backup battery so may be related to that?

Internal

The main board has:
J1 Coax connector for antenna input (& maybe DC power to antenna).

J2 2x40 surface mount header used for connecting the two external connectors and based on the GB-GRAM it has options for different uses of the that would be given different nomenclature (HNV-961, &Etc.)
In Fig 6 below on the back side of the mother board just below where the 2x40 header you can see three brown wires going to what's probably a transistor that's wired to one of the pins (but not connected to either external connector, maybe for some test function or a function not used in the HNV-960.

J3  2x15 header - maybe for internal programming (JTAG?)

The backup battery has it's wires soldered directly to the main board, probably for reliability reasons.

Photos

Fig 1
Rockwell HNV-690
                  GPS receiver
Fig 2
Rockwell HNV-690
                  GPS receiver
Fig 3
Rockwell HNV-690
                  GPS receiver
Fig 4
Rockwell HNV-690
                  GPS receiver
Fig 5
Rockwell HNV-690
                  GPS receiver
Fig 6
Rockwell HNV-690
                  GPS receiver


Related

Navigation
PSN-8 VSN-8 GPS receiver
PSN-9 GPS receiver
PSN-10 SLGR GPS receiver
PSN-11 PLGR GPS receiver
PSN-13 DAGR GPS receiver
PLGR GPS receivers
DAGR GPS receivers
Trimpack & other Trimble GPS receivers
Thunderbolt Trimble timing GPS receiver
Ashtech Z12 GPS Receiver
Stanford Telecom 5001A Single Satellite GPS Signal Generator
Northern Telecon GPS Satellite Simulator STR2760
4-Way GPS Signal Splitter using Cable TV Parts
GPS & Satellite Navigation Patents
Motorola GPS Receivers
MX 4102 Transit Satellite Navigator & MX 4200 Differential GPS receiver
Quantic Q-5200/SM Timing GPS Receiver
URN-502 Vehicle Mount GPS Receiver System

Links

Donated by Mike Murphy

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page created 20 Apr 2012.