Adding a GPS input to a Funke TRT800H Transponder for ADS-B Out in my MTO Sport

Software levels

The TRT800H transponder software version must be 5.2 or above to add a GPS input. The software version is shown on
the screen when you switch it on. The software version can also be seen on the back of the transponder.

Parts ordered from Amazon.com:

GPS Receiver – GlobalSat BR-355 S4 (the 5V serial version) 12V to 5V DC Converter and Voltage Regulator

DB9 Breakout Connector USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Converter Cable

Other parts used:

Inline fuse holder, 5x20mm AGC fuse holder and 500mA quick blow fuse, 20-gauge wire, bullet connectors, and heat
shrink insulation, 12V 500mA AC adapter.
Preparing the GPS receiver

1. To avoid any interference with the compass, the magnetic base of the GPS antenna must be removed. Remove
the sticker and rubber cover from the back of the GPS antenna to expose the magnet. Gently lever the magnet
out with a small screwdriver. I filled the hole with some cardboard discs to make the back smooth and glued a
piece of Velcro to attach the GPS to the dash.

2. Cut the serial plug off the GPS receiver and strip back the cables and tin the ends. Solder the +5V out yellow
wire of the regulator to the red wire of the GPS. Solder the GND out black wire of the regulator to the black wire
of the GPS. Be sure to slip the heat shrink on each wire before soldering the connections. NOTE: if you buy a
different regulator, the color of the wires might be different.

3. Solder an inline fuse holder to the +12V input red wire of the regulator and insert a 500mA quick blow fuse.
Optimizing and testing the GPS receiver for the Funke transponder

1. Connect the green wire of the antenna (GPS TX) to pin 2 on the 9-pin serial connector

2. Connect the white wire (GPS RX) of the antenna to pin 3 on the 9-pin serial connector

3. Connect the ground wire (GPS ground) to pin 5 on the 9-pin serial connector

4. Connect the regulator input red wire, via the fuse, and black wire ground to a 12V power source. I used a
12V/500mA AC adapter.

5. Check that the Red LED is on. The LED will be solid while the GPS is acquiring its position and flashing 1/sec to
indicate a position has been acquired.

6. Connect the USB to Serial converter cable to a USB port on your computer
7. Next, start your favorite serial terminal program on a PC. I used the free “RealTerm” for Windows,
Using the “Port” tab, Set COM port: Use the PC device manager to find the comm port the converter cable is
using , Baud Rate 4800, Data Bits: 8, Parity: None, Stop Bit: 1, Flow Control: None and click the Change button.
If configured correctly, a constant stream of data will be seen in the capture window.

$GPGSV,3,1,12,26,54,049,22,03,46,237,20,31,20,066,08,27,18,147,17*75
$GPGSV,3,2,12,16,78,106,04,41,00,000,,07,49,294,,30,40,044,*77
$GPGSV,3,3,12,23,29,310,,14,20,120,,29,12,055,,06,09,169,*7F
$GPRMC,020047.053,A,3447.0098,N,09222.9716,W,0.74,271.74,211019,,,A*72
$GPGGA,020048.053,3447.0082,N,09222.9731,W,1,04,1.8,176.8,M,-28.9,M,,0000*64
$GPGSA,M,3,26,03,31,27,,,,,,,,,3.1,1.8,2.5*32
$GPRMC,020048.053,A,3447.0082,N,09222.9731,W,0.53,271.74,211019,,,A*76
$GPGGA,020049.000,3447.0068,N,09222.9740,W,1,04,1.8,178.6,M,-28.9,M,,0000*61
$GPGSA,M,3,26,03,31,27,,,,,,,,,3.1,1.8,2.5*32
$GPRMC,020049.000,A,3447.0068,N,09222.9740,W,1.29,260.79,211019,,,A*72
$GPGGA,020050.000,3447.0053,N,09222.9748,W,1,04,1.8,179.2,M,-28.9,M,,0000*6C
$GPGSA,M,3,26,03,31,27,,,,,,,,,3.1,1.8,2.5*32
$GPRMC,020050.000,A,3447.0053,N,09222.9748,W,1.02,260.79,211019,,,A*73
$GPGGA,020051.000,3447.0052,N,09222.9756,W,1,04,1.8,179.6,M,-28.9,M,,0000*67
$GPGSV,3,3,12,23,29,310,,14,20,120,,29,12,055,,06,09,169,*7F

8. The GPS receiver outputs several different message types but the TRT800H transponder only uses the $GPRMC
message so Funke recommends that only the $GPRMC message type be passed to the transponder. You can
limit the data output from the antenna to only $GPRMC messages by sending the following 3 commands:

$PSRF103,0,0,0,1*24

$PSRF103,2,0,0,1*26

$PSRF103,3,0,0,1*27

9. Each command is sent by using the “Send” tab in RealTerm. Type in each command, click the +CR and +LF boxes
and then send the command by clicking the “as ASCII” button
 After successfully sending all 3 commands, only the $GPRMC messages will show in the capture window

$GPRMC,022109.000,V,3447.0152,N,09222.9898,W,,,211019,,,N*6F
$GPRMC,022110.000,V,3447.0154,N,09222.9893,W,,,211019,,,N*6A
$GPRMC,022111.050,V,3447.0157,N,09222.9887,W,,,211019,,,N*68
$GPRMC,022112.050,V,3447.0159,N,09222.9882,W,,,211019,,,N*60
$GPRMC,022113.050,V,3447.0162,N,09222.9876,W,,,211019,,,N*62
$GPRMC,022114.050,V,3447.0164,N,09222.9871,W,,,211019,,,N*64
$GPRMC,022115.050,V,3447.0167,N,09222.9865,W,,,211019,,,N*63
$GPRMC,022116.049,V,3447.0169,N,09222.9860,W,,,211019,,,N*63
$GPRMC,022117.050,V,3447.0172,N,09222.9854,W,,,211019,,,N*67
$GPRMC,022119.051,V,3447.0152,N,09222.9836,W,,,211019,,,N*6E
$GPRMC,022120.000,V,3447.0155,N,09222.9826,W,,,211019,,,N*66
$GPRMC,022121.051,V,3447.0157,N,09222.9815,W,,,211019,,,N*61
$GPRMC,022122.050,V,3447.0160,N,09222.9804,W,,,211019,,,N*67

10. The assembly is now tested, optimized, and ready to connect to the aircraft.

Connecting the assembly to the aircraft.

1. Connect the fused +12V+ and GND regulator inputs to a suitable power source. I tapped the inputs to the
auxiliary power that feeds the 12V socket on the panel.

2. There is a gray cable on the transponder 15-pin connector.

 Connect the green wire from the antenna (GPS data out) to the brown wire from the transponder gray cable (pin
12-data in)

3. Make sure the antenna has a clear view of the satellites and switch on the aircraft power. The red LED should
turn on immediately. and then start flashing in a few minutes as it did during testing.

4. After testing, secure all parts in your aircraft with Zip ties.
Configuring the TRT800H transponder to use the GPS input

1. Turn the transponder on and set to STBY

2. Hold the ID button until it says ’ENTER SETUP’, this will take about 15 seconds

3. Press MODE button until “RS232: disabled” appears

 4. Change the option with the rotary knob until “GPS: NMEA” appears

5. Press MODE until exited

6. Turn the transponder off

Testing the TRT800H Transponder (The transponder must be turned off and back on to see any change in setup)

1. Make sure the LED on the antenna is blinking to show it’s capturing position data

2. Turn the transponder on and set to STBY

3. Hold the ID button until it says ’SHOW SETUP’, this will take about 7 seconds
4. Press MODE button until “RS232: NMEA, Baud: 4800, Pos. : xx.x -xx.x” appears
If you see coordinates on the Pos. line, you are good to go!!!

5. Press MODE button until exited from SHOW SETUP mode

6. Power off the transponder

7. DONE !