Determining the ROVL Version

This page helps you determine if you have a classic (serial only) ROVL system or an Ethernet-capable ROVL system.

Identifying the Topside Unit

ROVL Topside units have multiple appearances depending on when they were made and the hardware synchronization method. Two main methods are used to determine the system type, serial number label and connection cable.

Mk V Units (Ethernet-Enabled Topside and Deepside Unit)

All Mk V units are Ethernet Enabled.

Serial Number Label Method

All ROVL units ship with a serial number label. The label appearance has changed over the years, but one thing is constant: classic Mk II and Mk III units say "ROVL" on the label, and classic Mk II and Mk III Ethernet units say "ROVLe" on the label. As noted above, all Mk V units are Ethernet Enabled.

If the label is missing or illegible, try the connection cable method.

Connection Cable Method

If the serial number label is missing or illegible, check the type of cable that the factory installed on the Topside unit.

Serial-to-USB Cable (Classis/serial-only Topside Unit)

The serial-to-USB cable is about 6 meters long and has a serial-to-USB adapter molded onto the cable about 1.5 meters from the unit.

Chasing 4-Pin Disconnect (Classis/serial-only Topside Unit)

OEM units sold by Chasing have a disconnect cable with four electrical pin positions.

Four-Wire Pigtail (Classis/serial-only Topside Unit)

Topside units may have a 1.5-meter-long black cable having four wires with tinned ends. This is quite rare, and if you are looking at one in your hand, check to see that it is not actually a Deepside unit.

USB Cable (Ethernet-Enabled Topside Unit)

Topside units with a cable approximately 5-meters long, with a USB Type A plug, are Ethernet enabled but are being used as a USB-connected unit. Use the manual for the Ethernet ROV Locator, not the classic serial-only ROV Locator.

Ethernet Cable (Ethernet-Enabled Topside Unit)

If the Topside unit cable has an RJ-45 Ethernet plug on the end, it is an Ethernet enabled Topside unit. The cable ships in varying lengths.

Identifying the Deepside Unit

Refer to the drawings here and here to identify your Deepside unit.