Placer Gold Series

The Trimble Placer line of GPS receivers has a proven track record of exceptional reliability and longevity. Continuing the Trimble tradition of high performance and robust GPS receivers for mission critical application—and replacing the Placer 450—are two state-of-the-art Trimble models: Placer Gold APU and Placer Gold Dead Reckoning Unit Plus.

Trimble Placer Gold models are equipped with two independent, configurable RS232 serial ports (both of which may be used with an RS232 to USB 2.0 adapter), user selectable interface protocols and user selectable port speeds (bps). Both ports are available for TAIP and NMEA GPS outputs. The Radio port is available with a PPP protocol to interface with specific Motorola radios. This data allows dispatchers or managers to schedule automatic vehicle location reports based on time and/or distance traveled.

Electrical Specifications

• Voltage: +8.5 to 32 V DC
• Power consumption: 55 mA @ 13.8 V DC typical
• Output supply voltage: 5.0 V DC typical, 170 mA max on pin-9 of serial ports
• Odometer input:
  • 6.1V DC Minimum High (digital)
  • 5.9V Maximum Low (digital)
  • ±1.0 V DC min (analog)
  • fmax: 400 Hz
• Reverse input:
  • 4.1 V DC minimum high
  • 3.2 V DC maximum low
• Ignition input:
  • 3.6 V DC minimum high
  • 1.4 V DC maximum low
  • 1 mA maximum off current

I/O Ports

• Two RS232C compatible communication ports that may be connected to external devices
• One port provides a DE-9 female DCE connection, one provides a DE-9 female DTE connection
• Individually configurable for baud rates between 110 and 115.2K
• Support NMEA and TAIP protocols
• MDT port 4800 baud NMEA
• Radio port 9600 TAIP
• PPP support over RS232 on the Radio port
• IP capable radio may be interfaced to the port to allow wireless transmission of TAIP messages to an AVL server
• TAIP messages encapsulated in UDP packets and sent to a configurable destination IP address and port

Physical Specifications

• Size: 3.1 in W x 1.8 in H x 6.0 in D (79 mm x 46 mm x 152 mm)
• Weight: 11 oz. (312 g)
• Case: Sheet metal, gold anodized, extruded metal, gold anodized

GPS Specifications

• General: L1 (1575.42 MHz) frequency, C/A Code, 12 Channel
• Update Rate: NMEA @ 1 Hz; TAIP configurable (1 Hz maximum)
• Accuracy:
  • Position: 2.5 m CEP (50%) w/o SA
  • Velocity: 0.1 m/sec
  • PPS ±500 ns
• Acquisition:
  • Reacquisition: 1 sec
  • Hot start: 15 sec (90%)
  • Warm start: 45 sec (90%)
  • Cold start: 140 sec (90%)
• Tracking sensitivity: (C/N). 30 dB min
• Maximum velocity: 126 m/s

Gyro

• Startup drift: ±0.8 deg/s (1 s to 15 minutes)
• Temperature drift: 6 deg/s max
• Temperature drift gradient: ±1.0 (deg/s)/8 °C

Environmental Specifications

• Operating temperature: -40 °C to +80 °C
• Storage temperature: -55 °C to +85 °C
• Humidity: 20-95% RH
• Vibration: <3 G rms
• Note: MIL STD 810 F, -20 °C to +70 °C, Random vibration 3 axis, 10 Hz to 500 Hz, 0.0005 to 0.005 G2/Hz
• FCC Part 15 Class B: Radiated emission
• ISO7637-2: Electrical transient conduction along supply lines

Support Notes

• Application Note: RDI and EDACS networks [pdf]

  This document explains the RDI and EDACS networks

• Firmware Update Instructions [pdf]

  Note: These instructions are already included with the Placer Firmware releases, but may be downloaded separately here.

• DR Calibration Instructions for Placer 455DR [pdf]

  Note: These instructions are already included with the DR Calibration utility, but may be downloaded separately here.

• Application Note: 455DR [pdf]

Downloads

• Placer Gold DRU APU Firmware 1.08 [ZIP]

• Placer GPS 455 TAIP Firmware 2.50 [.exe]

• Placer GPS 455 MAP27 Firmware 2.50 [.exe]

• Placer GPS 450 TAIP Firmware 2.50 [.exe]

• Placer GPS 450 MAP27 Firmware 2.50 [.exe]

• DR Utility 1.4 [.exe]

  This compressed file contains all the files and documentation needed to calibrate the Placer GPS 455DR's gyroscope and odometer. This utility version is compatible only with firmware version 2.30 and later.

• GPSSK [.exe]

  Optional DOS-based utility for setting up and diagnosing your mobile unit.