SatPulse supports the NebulasIV series of high precision modules (UM980, UM981, UM982 and UM960) from Unicore. Unicore’s standard precision modules, such as the UM620, use a completely different protocol and are not supported; nor is the UT986 timing receiver, which also uses a different protocol. The vendor name used with the --vendor option and vendor key is unicore.

The Unicore protocol is similar to the NovAtel OEM6/OEM7 protocol. It treats periodic data, which it calls logs, differently from configuration: the logs have a dual ASCII/binary syntax, whereas configuration uses line-oriented ASCII commands.

For these modules, SatPulse supports:

  • decoding of the ASCII and binary packet formats used for logs (packet format tags are UNCA and UNCB)
  • conversion of logs into the SatPulse device-independent data model
  • high-level configuration
  • low-level configuration
    • message files for configuration that high-level configuration does not cover
    • a unicore response pattern in message files, for correlation of responses
  • conversion of raw observation (OBSVM) logs into RINEX

These modules also have an undocumented capability for emitting NovAtel OEM6/OEM7 compatible logs, and SatPulse supports this as well. There are some minor implementation differences in these logs between Unicore and NovAtel: for example, Unicore uses a different number for the IONUTC log. The vendor must be specified to enable correct handling of these Unicore differences.

SatPulse has been tested with the UM980, UM982 and UM960.

Supported logs

SatPulse decodes the following logs. The log name is given without the A or B suffix that selects the ASCII or binary form; the number is the message number used by the binary form. The use is described in terms of the SatPulse device-independent data model; decode only means the log is decoded but does not contribute to the model. The last column says whether high-level configuration can automatically enable output of the log.

Log Number Used for Automatically enabled
RECTIME 102 UTC time, TAI time yes
GPSUTC 19 leap second yes
GALUTC 20 leap second yes
BD3UTC 22 leap second yes
BDSUTC 2012 leap second no
BESTNAV 2118 geodetic position, geodetic velocity, solution quality yes
BESTNAVXYZ 240 ECEF position, ECEF velocity, solution quality yes
PPPNAV 1026 geodetic position, solution quality no
SATSINFO 2124 satellites yes
BESTSAT 1041 satellite usage yes
STADOP 954 solution quality yes
OBSVM 12 raw observations yes
PPSSTATUS 9000 decode only no
VERSION 37 receiver identification no