uWave Max hydroacoustic modem

Name: uWave Max
Brand: UCNL

Communication range of up to 3000 m

Underwater Communication and Navigation Laboratory

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Data transmission

uWave Max

uWave Max provides digital hydroacoustic communication between 254 subscribers: in code mode, transparent channel mode, or packet mode with logical addressing and guaranteed delivery. Extremely small size, low power consumption and ease of use make the uWave family of modems a solution for controlling autonomous underwater devices and transmitting data in size- and weight-sensitive applications.

The device lets you: transmit data in transparent channel mode (simply connect the modem to a serial port); request the depth, temperature and supply voltage of remote uWave family modems, with simultaneous measurement of the signal propagation time (and hence the distance to them); transmit data in packet mode with guaranteed delivery (ALO — At-least-once) and delivery notification; and measure its own immersion depth, water temperature and supply voltage.

Devices in the uWave family use a simple NMEA-like configuration protocol, and the supplied open-source uWaveLib (.NET) and uWave ALibs (Arduino) libraries make it as simple and fast as possible to integrate the modems into custom solutions.

Differences from the base uWave version: maximum communication range increased to 3000 m (when working with another uWave Max, uWave Max OEM or uWave USBL; with standard uWave modems the range is 1000 m). The monoblock design is patented (patent RU2659299C1).

Extremely small size and weight
Can be used in wireless underwater sensor networks
Communication range of up to 3000 m
Reliable data transmission at speeds of up to 634 bit/s
Code division of subscribers
Signal propagation time measurement
Highly reliable digital hydroacoustic communication
Low power consumption (Rx/Tx) 0.33/15 W
Open interface protocol
Built-in pressure/temperature sensor
Packet mode with guaranteed delivery (ALO — At-least-once)
Patented monoblock design

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Documentation

DIMENSIONS (Ø x h)

64 x 62 mm

WEIGHT (dry)

0.36 kg

DEPTH RATING

300 m

MAX. ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION RANGE¹

3000 m

PAYLOAD DATA RATE²

78/156/314/634 bps

POWER CONSUMPTION Rx/Tx

0.33/15 W

SUPPLY VOLTAGE³

5 .. 12 V

DATA LINES VOLTAGE

0 .. 3.3 V

DATA LINES OUTPUT IMPEDANCE

1 kOhm

CARRIER

20050 Hz

MAX. ACOUSTIC SOURCE LEVEL (in band)

175 dB re 1 μPa @ 1 m

BIT ERROR RATE

10-6

SNR⁴

-2 dB

MAX. RELATIVE VELOCITY

+/- 1 m/s

STARTUP TIME

100 msec

WORKING TEMPERATURE RANGE

-5 .. 50 °C

PAIRING INTERFACE⁵

UART 9600 bps

PAIRING PROTOCOL

NMEA 0183 PUWV

CABLE LENGTH⁵

0.5 m

CABLE DIAMETER

5 mm

SUBSCRIBER SEPARATION SCHEME²

20 code channels

TRANSMITTER BUFFER SIZE

127 bytes

COMMAND MODE

16 preset messages (9 for user applications)

SIGNAL PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT RESOLUTION⁶

0.0001 sec

PACKET MODE

254 addresses with delivery notification, broadcast messages, packet size up to 64 bytes

DEPTH SENSOR RESOLUTION (local)⁷

0.01 m

DEPTH SENSOR RESOLUTION (remote)⁷

0.1 m

A parameter that determines the maximum range at which a signal can be received, based on the electro-acoustic parameters of the transmitter and receiver, the spatial decrease in sound energy intensity, attenuation in the medium and the acoustic noise level, in the 78 bps speed mode. The range applies when working with another uWave Max, uWave Max OEM or uWave USBL; the maximum range with standard uWave modems is 1000 m.
The 78 bps speed mode is used by default. This mode provides the maximum range, reliability and number of code channels. Different speed modes are not compatible with each other; the mode is changed by reflashing the modem firmware.
The maximum output power is achieved only with a 12 V supply. The device has built-in overvoltage protection of the amplifier circuit: at voltages above 12.8–13 V the power amplifier does not turn on, so data transmission is not possible.
The value was obtained without taking multipath propagation into account, in a static laboratory experiment.
Can be changed on special request.
Given this value, the distance measurement resolution at a sound speed of 1500 m/s is 0.15 m.
A modem equipped with a depth sensor can transmit depth readings locally, via the cable to the control system, and remotely, on request from another modem.