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Decoder V1 Comparison

Core Changes

Cellular

  • Swapping of the cellular modem from LTE Cat-M1/NB-IoT to regular LTE Cat1
    • Allows for proper worldwide connectivity vs areas with selective rollout
    • Includes a better GNSS module for quicker acquisition
    • It has built-in antenna diversity, allowing for an average theoretical 8dB gain in signal strength
    • After testing, this antenna configuration is exceptional
  • Changed LTE antennas
    • Highest-performing antennas on the market (in a specific capacity)
    • Two (2x) on-board antennas with alternatively polarised positions (right angle to one another).
    • Supports cellular diversity, allowing for much better reception & performance
    • Internal circuitry to ensure the best orientation/connection of internal antennas
    • Has two external antenna connections. This allows for superior external antenna configurations if needed using cellular diversity.

Power

  • New batteries
    • Previous battery capacity at 30Wh, now are 91.2Wh (1s2p 4000mAh -> 2s2p 6000mAh)
    • Device Life until Battery Capacity Falls below 70%: Decoder v2 Battery Capacity
    • Batteries are replaceable in new designs. Allowing device longevity to be maintained.
  • New fuel gauge/battery monitoring chip/circuitry
    • It is much more accurate, with compensation for cells over their lifetime
    • I will always provide a precise estimate of battery capacity
    • Significantly increased protections/safety features
    • It prevents batteries from ever fully draining in hardware, with no risk of damaging them
  • New charging stage
    • Designed for up to 60W input at 98% efficiency
    • New input voltage range, 3V - 26V
    • Due to the new charging/fuel gauge/battery configuration, passive POE power can now be sourced from internal battery sources.
  • Significantly improved power management
    • The unit selectively powers down sections of itself when they are not needed, saving significant amounts of battery power.

HF Variant

  • Removal of SAE mat port in favour of a more robust connection
    • Supplies power to any connected device / allows being reverse-powered
    • It still carries the same RF signal

New UHF Variant

Improved wake-up circuitry allows the unit to be reliably in a deep sleep when not needed. Timing support (UHF & RF) Achieved through externally attached CNC’ed aluminium enclosure UHF has 8 ports, with passive cooling. Various LEDs indicate the state of each port. RF has 1 port, with 2 LEDs for power and data indication. New Wireless Area Network functionality (WAN) (LoRa???) Achieved through ultra-long range low-frequency radios Allows for ‘backhaul’ communication between units and other local wireless devices Let units sync their time automatically in GNSS / Cellular denied environments Allows for parsing of timing data and events (configured triggers, server messages, etc) between each unit. Individual units can act as termination nodes for this network, either connected over cellular or ethernet. Future support for wireless race start guns, camera triggers, light flashes etc. Future support for LoRaWAN devices, namely GNSS-based LoRa trackers. Onboard ‘basic’ antenna, but optional external antenna for long-range communication Updated indication interface A few more colours to allow greater granularity of internal state Extremely granular control over brightness, gamma corrected to human eyes and sunlight High-precision ambient light detection, calibrated to human analogs New Real Time Clock (RTC) Internal crystal is now temperature-controlled and calibrated. Previously, it had a 75ppm crystal. Now it has a 1ppm. 39.5 minutes of error over a year, to only 31 seconds Or 13.3 seconds of error over a weekend, to only 173 milliseconds This only improves with re-syncing with GNSS Upgraded internal memory storage From 8MB to 32MB, 4x storage space. 174,762 -> 699,048 IDs 52,254 -> 209,016 Participants Changed GNSS antenna - Better reception/performance Changed ethernet chip - Smaller, lower power