Browse GPS tracker BCE FM Blue

Early trackers on the market of the CIS were only a few pieces, and the choice was quite simple, but now dozens of manufacturers produce many versions. Naturally, each new version has more advanced features, which makes the manufacturer more competitive in the market, and at the same time provides customers with more options.

So to understand these products competitive race producers is becoming increasingly difficult, lay out an overview of BCE FM Blue — controller from "Baltic car equipment" (BCE), a Lithuanian manufacturer of electronic equipment for cars.



FM Blue is a GPS/GSM device that allows you to monitor the moving and stationary objects. The package includes a Central unit, wires for connecting, external GPS and GSM antenna fuse 1A.

To determine the mode of operation of the device is quite convenient thanks to the led display. Another unique advantage of the BCE Blue is the complete lack of configuration of the connectors, since the programming of the parameters is performed via GPRS. If you are working with a large number of such controllers, each of them having IMEI numbers there is another barcode that allows you to quickly and without errors to produce the accounting devices, which is saving time.

From myself I will notice that when placing a Central block in the process of installation should take into account the small length of cable GPS & GSM antennas.

If it is quite prosaic to list technical characteristics of the device:
the

the
• Dimensions (HxWxD) — 26 x 80 x 55 mm.
the
• Weight is about 73 g.
the
• operating temperature Range operating/storage -40? to +85? C.
the
• supply Voltage 6-34, at least 10 In at startup.
the
• Current consumption: in active mode at 12V — less than 50 mA in standby mode —less than 8 mA.
the
• Protection from pulse to 120.
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• Registration of a power failure in the event log.
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• 4 digital inputs.
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• 1 x ADC — 0-16 V, 11 bits.
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• 2 x ADC — 0-36 V, 11 bits.
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• 2 digital outputs.
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• CAN interface J1939 (FMS), J1979 (OBDII).
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• 1-WIRE interface.
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• RS-232/RS485 interface.
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• the Ability to connect an external battery (Pb, 12V).

Initially disappointed by the lack of built-in battery. But later it turned out that in this model, it was provided by the manufacturers, as widely used in most devices on the market of Li-Ion or NiMh battery has a very narrow temperature range, which is particularly noticeable at temperatures below zero. Also these batteries have a limited number of cycles charge/discharge. Thus, the use of acid external battery is a conscious choice of manufacturers, primarily due to their affordable prices, lack of capacity limits, as well as a wide temperature range.

As a GSM module is one of the smallest in the world of modules, Quad-band GSM/GPRS module Telit GE 865-QUAD. Despite its size, the module has extended temperature range from -40°C to +85°C and are known for their reliability and stability. GPS receiver module from a Swiss company U-Blox, and well-proven in the market.




GPS-modules NEO-6x, technology u-blox 6, are characterized by small dimensions and low power consumption, so that these characteristics are important I agree, I think everyone who works with m2m technology. Built-in low noise amplifier LNA is designed for use with both active and passive antenna. It is also very interesting to show the Kick Start mode, which allows you to implement "cold start" when the signal is weak. The best result when testing about 30 seconds — the device has shown in open area.
Another liked the ability to customize the device, that would be every 20-30 minutes it automatically connected to the satellite to download the actual data.

The obvious plus is the presence of microcontroller ATxmega256A3, which acts as a liaison between the GPS receiver, modem and peripheral devices, as well as the presence of the SIM card holder Amphenol with gold-plated contacts.




Pleased and antenna connectors FAKRA. Connectors of different colors and with locks, so to get confused when connecting very difficult. The main connector Molex Micro-Fit, provides both electric and mechanical connection and seems to be very reliable.




Micro-Fit and FAKRA very convenient to seal, it means that installers will not lose a lot of time on this operation, which I think is also a plus.

The device has 4 digital inputs. Each of them can be used as a pulse counter and as a frequency meter. And although the measured frequency must not exceed 3 kHz, the manufacturers declare that if necessary it can be increased up to 12-15 kHz. Believe so I have not yet had the opportunity.

Is device and 3 analog inputs (1 input to 16 V and 2 inputs up to 36 V). The ADC gives an error of about 1.5%. In the device 2 outputs (no minus) and one output with a stable positive voltage. It can be useful to nourish an additional device, but the same pin is used to connect the backup power source, so that two functions at the same time exercise does not work, a pity, it would be convenient. All the outputs are controlled via SMS or GPRS.
Also the device can be used to connect the fuel level sensors (currently up to 2 sensors RS-232 or up to 4 sensors via RS-485).

Here are the protocols supported by BCE FM Blue:
the

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• J1939 (CAN-interface) — all known FMS for trucks.
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• J1708 (RS-485 interface) is the predecessor of J1939. Useful if You want to see the data on fuel trucks Renault and Volvo. Note: support for this Protocol will be implemented in one of the next firmware versions.
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• OBD2 (CAN-interface) — diagnostic Protocol cars (allows to obtain data on engine speed, coolant temperature, necessity of diagnostics of the engine, fuel pressure, air temperature, and other diagnostic information).

And interface 1-Wire (driver identification, the possibility of connecting temperature sensors and humidity). Of course, the number of supported protocols impressed, not often seen on the market.

Very relevant was a convenient sleep mode. First, you can specify criteria for transition into sleep mode and Wake-up (vibration, external power supply, ignition or any other digital input). And secondly, you can control the GPS and GSM modules in sleep mode.

In addition to GPS data, the device gives the information received from the GSM towers, including the distance to the tower. So the fact of moving the car can be locked even if the GPS is not working. But if to accumulate a database of towers, it will be possible thus even to determine the location of the device discounted to the error, of course.

The device transmits about 50 diagnostic code (information on the external current and voltage; changing the state and error when connecting to the GSM network, GPRS or the server, status of GSM-modem, etc.), which in different situations can be very useful.

The manufacturer also provided an XML export settings already configured sensors to objects of Wialon tracking system. Everyone will be able to choose the sensor in accordance with the requirements of their business decisions.


Of course nice was evidence that compared to devices such as Teltonika FM4200 or Ruptela FM Рго3А, the device gives a 50 percent savings on turpike, not nearly ostpa in the settings and the number of passed parameters.

It was convenient, BCE Configuration Manager – web-serves to account and the configuration of ALL controllers. It can be used to implement adding new devices, changing firmware parameters and settings for each tracker, as well as to create and edit a list of operators to retransmit data and so on.



The idea is to change all the settings is done using GPRS that allows you to simply insert the sim card into the module and plug it into the car, all other settings the service will execute automatically. Even BCE Configuration Manager allows you to create groups of objects and change settings for them automatically, as well as to create other users and delegate part of the rights.

All configurations can be edited independently in two modes: Simple mode and Advance mode.
Good to use Simple mode, which is obviously intended for those who are accustomed to rearrange the checkboxes and moving sliders. And of course this mode can only be changed by 20% parameters, but they are used in 80% of decisions for implementation of all standard functions, input monitoring and CAN enough.




Advance Mode is more appropriate for programmers or very advanced users, complicated to use, but can provide full access to the settings of the trackers.



In the concept of the configuration of the equipment ALL had to investigate further. The work is based on two key concepts: events and functions.



Events are:
the

the
• Unmanaged (for example, setting the roaming mode on your SIM card, the loss of GSM signal, time synchronization, etc.) — these events occur regardless of settings, and are associated only with the signal quality and/or other external circumstances.

Conventionally managed (disabling the GPS antenna, the trigger inputs on the device, the connection priority of the GSM operator) — these events are dependent on physical actions in relation to the device and its inputs. the

• Managed functions (vibration and movement, Overspeed, setting the GPRS connection, weak GPS signal, generator car etc.) — these events depend on the hardware configuration and trigger when the value of some internal changing of the parameter agrees with the value or level that was set in the settings (in this case, these values and criteria to control the settings of special functions).

List of the most useful events:
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• on the modem device;
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• defined movement of the vehicle (conditions are set the corresponding function);
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• disconnect the GPS antenna;
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• weak GPS signal (the conditions are configured in the respective functions);
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• plugged a GSM signal (over 80% signal);
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• roaming mode the SIM card;
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• set GPRS;
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• created TCP socket (connected to server);
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• fixed the speed limit (the limit is set the corresponding function);
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• SIM card works for the priority operator (less expensive, for example, and the priority list of operators you can create and quickly edit in the web interface);
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• collected the required amount of data to send (set the corresponding function, so you can configure settings so that the size of the package to send always meet the conditions of detail on the tariff plan of a GSM operator).
All events are discrete values.

features:
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the
• All functions have their values.

function Values can depend on the set of events (various combinations thereof). the

• dependence of the function values from the events: ‘true’, ‘false’, ‘don't care’.

function Values can be constant and do not depend on events. the

• depending on conditions (set of events) can have multiple values of the function.
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• part of the functions intended for control of events (i.e. to change the state of the event under certain conditions, and other events)

Full list of settings and features list does not make sense, but some of the most useful of them:

an Example set of values of a function the collection of points in time:
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• 30 minute Parking, SIM card on a home network;
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• 1 hour — Parking, roaming;
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• 1 minute — motion, the SIM card's home network;
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• 5 minutes — movement, roaming, connection to the priority operator;
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• 10 minutes — movement, roaming, connection to the priority operator.

In the device memory may store a prioritized list of operators and the connection to GSM network is carried out in accordance with this list, that is, the higher the operator in the list, the more priority.

an Example set of values of the function responsible for the availability and the amount of data that captures the device:
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• GPS + LLS — in the Parking lot.
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• GPS + CAN bus (OBD) + LLS — in motion.

the
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• GPS with the engine off.
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• GPS + reading frequency of inputs + LLS — with the engine running.

You can specify which options CAN and OBD will be formed under certain criteria or their combinations.

an Example set of values of a function that opens a GPRS session:
the
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• 10 minutes — movement, the SIM card's home network.
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• 20 minutes — movement, roaming, connection to the priority operator.
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• 40 minutes — movement roaming, absence of connection to the priority operator.
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• 1 hour — Parking, roaming, connection to the priority operator.
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• 4 hour — Parking, roaming, connection to the priority operator.
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• 5 minutes — movement, roaming, amount of data packet data equal to the amount of detail.
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• 30 seconds — SIM card in the home network, the GPS antenna is disconnected.

In the end, you can use different events and their combinations to control the frequency of data collection and schedule is sent to the server. It is possible to establish an Internet connection not only in time but also in accordance with other conditions.

And here's the specific tracks of movement:





Minsk - Nice. Temperature is +32 and the crazy extremes of humidity. In the end no one loss companion for the entire route.



Detailed track within Minsk. Everything works perfectly.




The classic route Minsk-Moscow – no loss of connection or hangs on the entire route.

In the end, I can say that the device is very functional and flexible in use. And of course, pleasantly surprised by the low price in combination with the economical flow of traffic and enhanced functionality.

Article based on information from habrahabr.ru