Remote Site Manager User s Guide

Transcription

1 Remote Site Manager User s Guide Chapter 1 Introduction...1 Features...1 System requirements...1 Installation...2 Software overview...2 Quick start...4 Chapter 2 Setting up remote site profiles...11 What is a remote site profile?...11 How to create a remote site profile...11 Setting up FTP/ with auto-readout...16 Editing a profile...20 Deleting a profile...20 Chapter 3 Communicating with the logger...21 Connecting...21 Checking status...25 Launching...27 Reading out data...30 Disconnecting...32 Chapter 4 Auto-readout...35 Starting auto-readout...35 Deactivating auto-readout...38 Auto-readout of multiple loggers...39 Removing a logger from the auto-readout schedule...39 Auto-readout log...39 Chapter 5 Working with files...43 Viewing logger data...43 Remote Site Manager file management...45 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting...47 Part #: MAN-RSM DOC #: 7303-E

2 Contact Information For support, please contact the company that you bought the products from: Onset Computer Corporation or an Onset Authorized Dealer. Onset Computer Corporation 470 MacArthur Blvd. Bourne, MA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3450 Pocasset, MA Phone: LOGGERS ( ) or Fax: Hours of Operation: 8AM and 5PM Eastern Time Main Onset Web site: FTP site: ftp.onsetcomp.com If you purchased the products through an Onset Authorized Dealer, you can also refer to for support information. WARNING Electrical hazard. If using the HOBO Weather Station or Micro Station logger with the Remote Modem or Radio Modem, make sure the logger is grounded to reduce the chance of damage from electrical storms and activity. WARNING Electrical hazard. If using the HOBO Weather Station or Micro Station logger with a weatherproof communications cable, make sure the logger is grounded to reduce the chance of damage to any devices attached, such as the computer Onset Computer Corporation, all rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Part #: MAN-RSM, Doc #: 7303-E Onset, HOBO, BoxCar, and HandCar are registered trademarks or trademarks of Onset Computer Corporation. LabVIEW is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. ii Remote Site Manager User s Guide

3 Software License Agreement IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: THIS IS A LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND ONSET COMPUTER CORPORATION. BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT, YOU ARE AGREEING UNCONDITIONALLY TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT, EVEN IF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT IS DEEMED A MODIFICATION OF ANY PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENT OR CONTRACT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT, DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT TO THE PLACE YOU PURCHASED IT FOR A FULL REFUND. 1. For the purposes of this License Agreement, Software or Software Product refers to the computer software and associated media, printed materials, and online or electronic documentation, including any and all executable files, tutorials, help files, utilities, and other files that accompany this product. The Software Product is owned by Onset Computer Corporation and is protected by United States copyright laws, international copyright treaties, and all other applicable national laws. Title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in and to the software shall remain with Onset Computer Corporation. The Software Product is licensed, not sold. There is no transfer to you of any title to or ownership of the Software, and this license shall not be construed as a sale of any right in the Software. You may not make additional copies of the software, except as provided for in paragraph number 2 below. 2. Grant of License. This Onset license agreement grants you to install and use one copy of the enclosed version Software Product on a single computer. The primary user of the computer on which the Software Product is installed may make a second copy for his or her exclusive use on a portable computer and/or home computer. 3. Other Restrictions. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Software Product or make any attempt to discover the source code to the Software Product. Except as expressly permitted in this License Agreement or with written permission from Onset Computer Corporation, the Software may not be used, copied, redistributed, retransmitted, published, sold, rented, leased, marketed, sublicensed, assigned, transferred, altered, or modified. The Software Product is licensed as a single product and its component parts may not be separated for use on more than one computer. 4. Support. Support for the Software Product is provided by the company from which you purchased it. 5. Liability. Other than as permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Onset Computer Corp. or its suppliers be liable for any direct or indirect damages whatsoever, arising out of the use, or inability to use this Software Product. In any case, Onset Computer Corporation and its supplier s entire liability is limited to the amount actually paid by you for the Software Product. Remote Site Manager User s Guide iii

4 iv Remote Site Manager User s Guide

5 Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction The Remote Site Manager is software that allows you to launch and read out HOBO Weather Station and Micro Station data loggers remotely. This chapter covers: Features of the Remote Site Manager System requirements How to install the software An overview of the software Quick start to using the Remote Site Manager with a Radio Modem, Remote Modem, or direct connection Features With the Remote Site Manager, you can: Launch, read out, and check the status of remote Weather Stations and Micro Stations from your computer Schedule automatic readouts of the logger so you always have the latest data Automatically send newly downloaded data via or to an FTP site Communicate with a logger wirelessly, via a land line modem, or via a COM port (different hardware is required for each communication method) System requirements To install the Remote Site Manager, your computer must meet the following requirements: Pentium II 200 MHz or higher with at least 40 MB free disk space and 64 MB RAM Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home or Professional (administrator privileges required on Windows 2000 and Windows XP for installing and using the software) You will also need the following hardware depending on the method used to communicate with the logger: Wireless Radio Modem connected to an H21 logger (H Micro Station also requires Micro Station Adapter Cable, Part # CABLE-HWS-F) Radio Modem Base Station connected to a PC within the specified range as defined in the Radio Modem Operation Manual Optional Yagi Antenna Kit Remote Site Manager User s Guide 1

6 Chapter 1: Introduction Available COM port on the PC Land line modem Hayes Compatible 33 to 56K modem (external or internal) Analog telephone line at the computer Remote Modem (Part # C-001) connected to an H21 logger (H Micro Station also requires Micro Station Adapter Cable, Part # CABLE-HWS-F) and dedicated analog telephone line COM port Available COM port on the PC PC Interface cable; 1.8 m (6 feet) cable (Part # CABLE-PC-3.5) is provided with the software or use the optional 2 m (6.6 feet) or 17 m (56 feet) communication cable with weatherproof connectors (Part # CABLE-HWS2 and CABLE-HWS17 respectively) to extend the cable length; (H Micro Station also requires Micro Station Adapter Cable, Part # CABLE-HWS-F) If you will be configuring the software to send data via or FTP, the computer must have internet access via an intranet, cable modem, DSL, or a dial-up connection that does not require SMTP authentication or require you to log onto an online network. For more details, see FTP/ on page 16. Installation Note: Administrator privileges are required for installing and using the software on Windows 2000 and Windows XP. To install the software: 1. Insert CD in drive. From My Computer or Windows Explorer, double-click the CD drive icon and then double-click setup.exe. Or, from the Start menu, select Run, and then type setup.exe and click OK. 2. Follow the instructions on the screen. When prompted for a directory to install the software, accept the default directory to install the software or select your own. 3. The first time you open the software, you will be prompted to install LabVIEW runtime program component. Follow the instructions on the screen. This runtime program is required for Remote Site Manager and must be installed to use the software. Software overview To open the software, from the Start menu, select Programs, Onset Applications, Remote Site Manager. This opens the Remote Site Manager main window. 2 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

7 Chapter 1: Introduction Remote Site Manager main window This is an example of the Remote Site Manager main window. Menu bar Click this button to connect to remote loggers, check the status, launch, or read out data Activate or deactivate the auto-readout schedule (the schedule is inactive in this example) Status bar Click this button to create, edit, or delete remote site profiles, and to configure the auto-readout schedule Remote Connection window Clicking the Contact Remote Site button in the main Remote Site Manager window opens the following Remote Connection window. From here, you can launch a logger, check its status, and read it out. For more details, refer to Chapter 3. Menu bar Tool bar Connection status bar Status window, which shows the current state of the logger and current readings for the sensors Remote Site Manager User s Guide 3

8 Chapter 1: Introduction Remote Profiles window Clicking the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button in the main Remote Site Manager window opens the following Remote Profiles window, where you can create new remote site profiles, edit, copy, and delete profiles, and set up auto-readout schedules within profiles. Refer to Chapter 2 for more details on working with profiles. Quick start This section provides a quick overview on how to set up a Remote Modem (Part # C-001), Radio Modem (Part # C-002 and C-003), or a local port direct connection with Remote Site Manager, and then launch and read out a logger. Refer to the Remote Modem User s Guide or the Radio Modem Operation Manual for detailed instructions on setting up modems. Refer to the HOBO Weather Station User s Guide or the HOBO Micro Station User s Guide for information on configuration and using a logger. 1. Insert the batteries into the modem and connect the modem. Radio Modem: If you haven t already configured the Radio Modem with an address, channel and sleep time, then connect the modem to the computer only using the 3.5 mm stereo jack serial PC interface cable and do not connect it to the logger yet. If you have configured the modem already, then skip to the next step. Remote Modem: Connect the modem to the logger. If you are connecting to a Micro Station, you will need a Micro Station Adapter Cable (CABLE-HWS-F). Plug the modem into an analog phone line. 2. If you are not using a modem, connect the logger to an open COM port on the computer using the 3.5 mm stereo jack PC interface cable. 3. From the Start menu, select Programs, Onset Applications, Remote Site Manager to open the software. 4 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

9 Chapter 1: Introduction 4. Click the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button. 5. Click the Add Site tab to create a new remote site profile. Click the Add Site tab 6. Select a Connection Route: Land Line Modem, Radio Modem, or Local Port. 7. Type a name for the profile, 10 characters maximum. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 5

10 Chapter 1: Introduction 8. Complete the appropriate fields based on the connection route you selected. If you selected: Enter the following information: Land Line Modem 1. In the Phone Number field, type the phone number for the line connected to the Remote Modem. Use this format: If it is a long distance call, be sure to add 1 and the area code at the beginning: Click the checkbox to disable call waiting if that feature is available on the phone line connected to your computer. The default code to disable call waiting is *70; type a different code if necessary. 3. Click the checkbox to dial for an outside line if required to dial out from your PC. The default number is 9 for an outside line; type a different number if necessary. Radio Modem 1. If you haven t already configured the channel, address, and sleep time, make sure the Radio Modem, not the Base Station, is connected to a COM port on the PC using the PC interface cable. Select this COM port from the drop-down list and click the Remote Module Configuration button. If you ve already assigned a channel, address and sleep time for this modem, then skip the steps in this table. 2. To configure the Radio Modem, either accept the default numbers assigned to the channel, address, and sleep time or enter your own. For more details on configuring the Radio Modem, see How to create a Remote Site Profile on beginning on page Click OK. The numbers are added to the profile. Disconnect the PC cable from both the computer and the Radio Modem. Attach the Radio Modem to the logger. 4. Connect the antenna to the Base Station. 5. Plug the power adapter into the power jack on the Radio Modem Base Station, and then plug it into an electrical outlet. 6. Connect one end of the Base Station serial cable to the Serial Port on the Radio Modem Base Station. Connect the other end into the same COM port on the computer you used to configure the Radio Modem. 7. Turn on the power on the Radio Modem Base Station. 8. Connect the weatherproof communications cable that is built into the Radio Modem to the logger. To connect to a Weather Station, remove the protective cap on the right side of the logger enclosure and plug the communications cable into the connector. To connect to a Micro Station, plug the communications cable into the Micro Station Adapter Cable (Part # CABLE-HWS-F) attached to the logger. Local Port Select the COM port where the PC interface cable is plugged in. 9. Click OK. You will not be configuring auto-readout in this quick start. For information on autoreadout, see Chapter 4. 6 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

11 Chapter 1: Introduction 10. The profile you just created is added to the list of Remote Sites. Select the profile and click the Connect button. Click to Connect 11. The Remote Connection window automatically opens and displays messages while the connection to the logger is made. Once the connection is made, the logger status is displayed. 12. Select the Logger menu, and click Launch. 13. If the logger IS NOT currently logging, the following message appears. Click Do Not Launch to remain in the Logger Status screen, or click Launch to continue to the Launch screen. If the logger IS currently logging, the following warning appears. Click Do Not Launch to remain in the Logger Status screen, or click Launch to stop the logger and continue to the Launch screen. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 7

12 Chapter 1: Introduction 14. In the Launch screen, enter the following information: In the Description field, type a brief description for the test launch. Select a brief logging interval for testing purposes (such as 5 or 10 seconds). Select Start Logging Now. Click Start once you re ready to launch the logger 15. Click Start in the Launch screen. This launches the logger. You will then see an updated status in the Logger Status tab, indicating the logger is launched and logging data at the interval you selected. 16. From the Logger menu, select Readout. 8 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

13 Chapter 1: Introduction 17. The following message prompts you to either continue logging while offloading data or stop logging before offloading data. Click either Continue Logging or Stop Logging. You should stop logging at this point so that you don t drain the logger batteries if this was just a quick test, or you selected a fast logging interval (less than one minute). 18. Save the file. The description you entered in the launch screen will be the default file name. Accept the default file name or type in a new one, select a directory where you want to save the file, and then click Save. 19. Click the Disconnect icon on the toolbar or the Disconnect Now (conserve battery power) button on the Logger Status tab when you re done. It is important to disconnect as soon as possible to save modem and logger battery power. If you need to reconnect to the logger, simply select the profile from the Site Profile list from the toolbar and then click the Telephone icon. Note that after you disconnect, the Logger Status window remains open displaying the status from the last connection. Site Profile list 20. Open the text (.txt) file in Notepad or WordPad, or import it into a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel. Open the datafile (.dtf) in BoxCar Pro 4.3 or higher to analyze the logged data. By default, files are saved to the directory where the Remote Site Manager is installed (C:\Program Files\Onset Computer Corporation\HOBO Weather Station\RSM) unless you selected a different directory. You ve completed the quick start. Refer to the other chapters in this user s guide to learn more about remote site profiles, communicating with the logger, configuring auto-readout schedules, and more. For Remote Site Manager User s Guide 9

14 Chapter 1: Introduction details on how to set up a schedule for routinely reading out the logger or how to send downloaded data to others via or FTP, see the Setting Up FTP/ with Autoreadout section on page 16. For assembling, mounting, and deploying the Radio Modem or Remote Modem, refer to the instructions in their user s guides. 10 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

15 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles Chapter 2 Setting up remote site profiles This chapter explains how to create and use remote site profiles. Specifically, it explains: The definition of a remote site profile How to create a remote site profile How to configure auto-readout, FTP, and settings in a remote site profile How to edit and delete a remote site profile What is a remote site profile? A remote site profile is a record that defines how the Remote Site Manager communicates with a deployed logger. At its most basic level, a remote site profile consists of: A name The method you are using to connect to the logger (land line modem, radio modem, or local port) The details for the connection method (phone number, port number, channel and/or address) The remote site profile is also used to configure the auto-readout schedule, which allows data to be offloaded automatically on a specific schedule. In the auto-readout schedule, you can specify: The frequency of the auto-readout Where the files offloaded during auto-readout are stored FTP and settings if you want to automatically transfer data offloaded during auto-readout Remote site profiles are required if you are using a land line modem to communicate with the logger or if you wish to set up an auto-readout schedule. A remote site profile is not required if you are using the local port or a Radio Modem to connect to the logger and you are not using auto-readout. How to create a remote site profile This section explains how to create a basic site profile without auto-readout and then how to configure auto-readout settings. Creating a basic remote site profile without auto-readout settings To create a basic remote site profile: 1. Click the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button in the main Remote Site Manager window. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 11

16 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles 2. Click the Add Site tab in the Remote Profiles window. 3. In the Connection Route field, click the arrows to choose how you will be communicating with the logger: land line modem, radio modem, or local port. 4. In the Name field, type a name for the profile. Use an identifiable name if you are setting up more than one profile because later you may need to select the profile name from a list of others when connecting to the logger. The name must be 10 characters or less. 5. Enter the details based on the connection route you selected. If you selected: Do the following: Land Line Modem Connect the logger to a Remote Modem as described in the Remote Modem User s Guide. The Remote Modem must in turn be connected to a phone line. Set up a profile using Land Line Modem as the Connection Route as described on page 11. Radio Modem First, configure the channel and address for the Radio Modem. These are the identification numbers the software uses to communicate with each Radio Modem. 1. Connect the Radio Modem (not the Base Station) to a COM port using the PC interface cable. 2. Click the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button on the main Remote Site Manager screen. 3. Add a new site or edit an existing site and choose Radio Modem as the Connection Route. Select the correct COM port. 4. Click the Remote Module Configuration button. 5. A message reminds you to connect the Radio Modem to the computer 12 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

17 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles and select the correct COM port. Click Continue. 6. The software searches for the Radio Modem (also called remote module). Once the Radio Modem is found, the default channel, module address, and sleep time is displayed. Either accept the default numbers assigned to the channel and address or enter your own. The channel can be any number from 1 to 7. The Module Address can be any number from 1 to If you will be configuring more than one Radio Modem, but less than seven: Each modem should have a different channel number and any module address. This will prevent multiple modems with the same channel from powering up when a given modem on that channel is contacted and will maximize battery life. If you will be configuring more than seven Radio Modems: Modems that share a channel address must have different module addresses, and again you should spread out the Radio Modems across as many channels as possible to maximize battery life. Every modem that is on the same channel gets powered up whenever any one modem on that channel is contacted. Sleep time is used to optimize the radio modem s battery life. Selecting a sleep time of 16 seconds will allow the radio modem to use a lowpower sleep mode, but adds a delay in waking up the Radio Modem to receive communication. It is recommended that you accept the default sleep time (16 seconds) unless you are using a DC adapter with your radio modem. 7. Click OK. The channel, module address, and sleep time is set and a successful configuration is reported. Second, set up the hardware. 1. Remove the Radio Modem from the COM port. 2. Connect the Radio Modem Base Station to the same COM port you used to configure the Radio Modem channel and address. 3. Plug the AC Adapter for the Radio Modem Base Station into an electrical outlet and the other end to the base station. 4. Connect the Radio Modem to the logger as described in the Radio Modem User s Guide. Local Port Connect the PC interface cable provided with BoxCar Pro to an open COM port. Then, insert the other end of the cable into the stereo jack on the logger. Note: You can optionally extend the cable via a 2 m (Part # CABLE-HWS2) or 17 m (Part # CABLE-HWS17) communications cable. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 13

18 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles 6. In the Location field, type a description (up to 10 characters) of where the logger is located (for example, East Field, Gold Mine, or Maui ). 7. Click OK. For details on completing the Auto-Readout Schedule panel on the Add Site tab, see the next section. The new remote site profile is added to the Remote Sites tab. Connect to the logger using the new profile by clicking the Connect button. For more details on connecting to a logger, launching, and reading out, see Chapter 3. Configuring auto-readout in a remote site profile Remote site profiles are not only used to establish how you will be connecting to the logger, but they are also used to configure auto-readout, which automatically reads out (offloads) the logger on a schedule you specify and optionally sends the offloaded files via FTP, , or both. To set up auto-readout in a remote site profile: 1. In the main Remote Site Manager window, click the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button. 2. Either create a new profile and enter all required fields, or select a profile from the Remote Sites list and click Edit. 3. Check the Utilize schedule box in the Auto-Readout Schedule panel of the Add Sites tab. This activates the other fields in the panel. Note: Checking the Utilize schedule box does not activate the schedule itself; it only configures the current profile for auto-readout. You will have to manually activate auto-readout in the main Remote Site Manager screen when you re ready. For more details, see Chapter Remote Site Manager User s Guide

19 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles 4. In the Retrieve new data every field, select how often you want to read out the logger. Choose either a predefined frequency or select Custom and then type in the frequency. Auto-readout frequency guidelines: It is recommended that you select a frequency of at least two hours if you are using the remote or radio modem. This will help to avoid quickly draining the modem batteries. For more details on expected battery life based on auto-readout frequencies, see the Remote Modem User s Guide or Radio Modem User s Guide. Choose a frequency that is greater than the logging interval (if the logger interval is set for every 30 minutes, do not choose an auto-readout frequency of every 15 minutes). 5. In the Start time field, choose either Immediate or Custom and then select the date and time. The start time is the time the first auto-readout will take place. If you choose Immediate, the first auto-readout will take place as soon as you activate the auto-readout schedule in the main Remote Site Manager screen. If you choose a specific date and time, the first readout will take place when your computer clock reaches that date and time (assuming you have activated the auto-readout schedule in the main window). After the first auto-readout, each subsequent readout will take place at the frequency entered in the Retrieve new data every field. 6. By default, the auto-readout files will be saved to C:\Program Files\Onset Computer Corporation\HOBO Weather Station\RSM. You can either accept this default location or specify your own directory and file name. Use the folder button to navigate to the directory or type in the directory and file name. 7. Click OK (instructions on setting up and FTP are in the next section). Remote Site Manager User s Guide 15

20 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles 8. The profile is updated on the Remote Sites tab. 9. After you click the Done button, the profile will appear in the Auto-Readout Schedule in the main Remote Site Manager screen after a short delay. To activate auto-readout, check the Activate box. For more details on auto-readout, see Chapter 4. Setting up FTP/ with auto-readout In the auto-readout schedule, you can configure Remote Site Manager to automatically send downloaded data via FTP or . This means that when the auto-readout schedule is active, the results are not only saved to your computer, but they are also sent to an FTP site, to other people via , or both. This requires Internet access on your computer. Note about Internet access requirements Remote Site Manager will work with most intranet, cable modem, and DSL connections to the Internet. It will also work with a classic dial-up connection, which is a connection that does not require logging onto an online network. Important: Remote Site Manager does not support systems that require SMTP authentication, user authentication, or browser-based . Make sure that you use the server from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and that it does not require authentication. Some servers, such as Verizon, Hotmail, and Yahoo, require SMTP authentication or user authentication and will not send messages from Remote Site Manager. Remote Site Manager will not work with dial-up connections that require you to log onto an online network before surfing the web, such as MSN, NetZero, and AOL. There is one exception. You can use any dial-up service, including MSN, NetZero, and AOL, if you meet these three requirements: You have a dial-up connection with unlimited Internet access You are connecting to the logger via PC interface cable You have a dedicated phone line for dialing up, or don t mind the phone line being used for long periods 16 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

21 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles To set up FTP, , or both: 1. Click the Set up and FTP Data Transfers button on the Add Site tab on the Remote Profiles window. This opens the and FTP Setup window. 2. Click the arrows to select how you want to send the auto-readout data : via only, FTP only, or both FTP and . To set up FTP: Note: If you are using FTP through a business or school, contact the network administrator for details on what to enter in the following fields. 1. In the FTP Address field, type the address for the FTP site where you want to transfer the files. (example: ftp.abc.ftpsite.com) 2. In the Remote Directory field, type the location on the FTP site where the files should be saved (example: public_html/modem data). Note: The information in this field is case-sensitive; be sure to match the exact spelling and capitalization in use on the site. 3. In the FTP Username field, type the username needed to log on to the FTP site. 4. In the FTP Password field, type the password needed to access the FTP site. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 17

22 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles To set up 1. In the Outgoing (SMTP) Server field enter the name of your provider s outgoing mail server (the server responsible for sending your s). This server may be referred to by name (such as smtp.abc.com) or by IP address ( ). If you are setting this up within a business or school, contact your account administrator for the server name. If you are using through an internet/ provider, visit the provider s web site and look for the server name, or check within your client. See the important note in the beginning of this section on page 16 for details on the type of servers Remote Site Manager supports. 2. In the Return Address field, type the address you want to use as the sent from name for messages sent with auto-readout (example jsmith@abc.com). Typically, this would be your address. Important: Make sure the address you choose uses the SMTP server you specified. 3. In the Recipient(s) field, type the addresses for each of the people you want to receive auto-readout data, including yourself. Separate each address with a comma. At least one recipient address is required in this field (example: jsmith@acme.com,mjones@acme.com). 4. In the Rate field, enter how often you want the auto-readouts sent to the recipients. The default is 1, which means every time a file is successfully saved during auto-readout, it is also sent via . If you enter 2, the data will only be ed every other auto-readout. If you enter 3, the data will be ed every third readout, and so on. Dial up Internet access If you are accessing the Internet by dialing up through your computer modem, you will also need to configure Dial-up Internet Access in order to use the /ftp feature. Important: This option is not available for all Internet providers. See the note about Internet access on page 16. To set up dial up Internet access: 1. Check the Dial-up box. 18 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

23 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles 2. In the Dial-up Adapter field, type the name of the Dial-up Adapter. Look this up in the Control Panel, double-click Network and Dial-up Connections (on some operating systems this might be called Dial-up Networking instead). Enter the same name in Dial-up Adapter field as listed for the Dial-up icon, which in this example is Dial-up Connection. The name listed here must match the name entered in the Dial-up Adapter field 3. In the Dial-up Username field, type the username needed to access your internet account. 4. In the Dial-up Password field, type the password needed to access your internet account. Important: If your computer is configured to automatically receive Windows updates, you will need to disable it to use auto-readout. In the Control Panel, double-click Automatic Updates and turn off the update feature. Once you re finished setting up , FTP, and/or dial-up Internet access, click OK to return to the Add Sites tab. Click OK again to close the profile. Note: If you are using dial-up Internet access, it may take several minutes to transfer text and XML files. BoxCar Pro (.dtf) files and interpolated XML files are smaller and take less time to transfer. See Working with XML files on page 44. Important note about dial-up access and If you access the Internet via dial-up and are unable to receive from Remote Site Manager, it is likely because your provider s SMTP server requires a second level of authentication, which is a verification of your username and password. Typically, Internet providers only require authentication once you first sign on. However, some providers require authentication a second time when you access your . At the time of printing, Verizon.net is one provider that requires a second authentication. Remote Site Manager does not support the second authentication from the SMTP server. One solution to this issue is to request that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) turn off SMTP authentication for your dial-up account. The ISP should be willing to do this as the second, authentication-based username and password for is normally disabled for dial-up accounts. Another solution is to sign up for basic dial-up services that do not require SMTP authentication. At the time of printing, EarthLink is one national ISP that offers dial-up services without SMTP authentication. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 19

24 Chapter 2: Setting up remote site profiles Editing a profile To make changes to a site profile: 1. Click the Set Up Remote Sites Profile button in the main Remote Site Manager window. 2. On the Remote Sites tab, select the site profile that you want to change and click the Edit button. 3. Make your changes and then click OK. Deleting a profile To delete a profile: 1. Click the Set Up Remote Sites Profile button in the main screen. 2. Select the site profile that you want to delete and click the Delete button. 3. A message confirms whether you are sure you want to delete the profile. 4. Click Yes if you re sure, or No if you want to cancel. If you click Yes, the profile is deleted and then removed from the Remote Sites tab. 20 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

25 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger Chapter 3 Communicating with the logger This chapter explains the process of communicating with the logger via land line modem, Radio Modem, and local port. Specifically, it covers how to: Connect Get the status Launch Read out Disconnect Connecting Before connecting, make sure you have configured the logger for use with the Radio Modem or Remote Modem as described in the How to create a site profile section beginning on page Connect to the logger one of two ways. Connect via the Remote Sites tab: 1. Click the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button from the main Remote Site Manager window. 2. On the Remote Sites tab, select the profile you wish to use and click the Connect button. This opens the Remote Connection window, where the connection process takes place. Connect via the Remote Connection window: 1. Click the Contact Remote Site button on the main Remote Site Manager screen. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 21

26 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger 2. From the Site Profile list, select the profile you wish to use to connect (or choose Local Port or Wireless Port if you want to connect to the logger directly instead of using a profile). 3. Click the connect icon on the toolbar. 2. Once you ve clicked the Connect button in the Remote Profiles window or the Connect icon in the Remote Connection window, one of the following sequences will begin depending on the connection route being used. For this connection: Land Line Modem (Remote Modem) The following takes place: 1. The computer modem will initialize and then dial out to the phone number listed in the profile. The Modem Status window displays a messaging indicating the number being dialed, as shown below. 2. Once the computer modem contacts the Remote Modem, the computer will establish a link to the Remote Modem and then contact the logger. Tips for land line modem (Remote Modem) connection: If the computer modem gets a busy signal when attempting to call the Remote Modem, the modem status will display a BUSY message and then the modem will automatically disconnect. If the computer modem does not get an answer when it calls the Remote Modem within 90 seconds, the modem status will display a 90 Second Timeout message and then the modem will automatically 22 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

27 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger For this connection: Radio Modem The following takes place: disconnect. Note: If a connection cannot be established, it could mean that there was a bad connection or that the modem batteries are depleted and need to be replaced. If you have the volume turned up on your modem, listen for the number of rings before the Remote Modem answers the call. Two or three rings indicate that the primary battery power is in use. Four or five rings indicate that the Remote Modem battery level is low or it is using backup battery power. See the Remote Modem User s Guide for more information about primary and backup power. You can adjust modem settings by selecting Preferences from the File menu in the main Remote Site Manager screen. In the Preferences window, you may select tone or pulse dialing, set the modem to wait for a dial tone before calling, add a modem initialization string if necessary, adjust the modem volume, and manually select the modem port if the software does not automatically detect it. Note about the modem initialization string: It is recommended that you do not use the initialization string unless absolutely necessary because it may cause problems with logger communications and readouts. If the modem initialization string is used, you must follow these guidelines. All commands in the string must be compatible with the modem used to call out. Do NOT place an AT anywhere in the string; the software automatically appends an AT to the beginning of the string for you. If using multiple commands, simply type them in with no spaces between them. Any command in the modem initialization string overrides all other settings in the preferences. For example, if the modem speaker volume is set to high, and M0L0 is entered into the initialization string, the modem speaker will actually be turned off. M0 turns the speaker off, and L0 sets the speaker to the lowest possible volume. If you are connecting to the logger via a profile that you set up, the software will set a transmit address and then establish a wireless link and automatically connect. If you selected Wireless Port from the Site Profile list on the Remote Connection toolbar, you will be prompted for a COM port. Select the appropriate port and click OK. Then, select the correct channel and module address for the Radio Modem and click OK. Important: These numbers must match the numbers previously assigned to the Radio Modem during remote module configuration. You cannot enter different numbers at this point and reassign them to the Radio Modem. Tips for Radio Modem connection The Radio Modem base station must be connected to the correct COM port as set in the site profile or selected from the Choose Port screen. The logger must be connected to the Radio Modem. The Radio Modem must be within range of the base station, factoring in distance, interference, and antennas in use and their orientation. If Remote Site Manager User s Guide 23

28 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger For this connection: Local Port The following takes place: in doubt, move it closer and verify operation at a close range before deploying it at the desired location. When the batteries are low, a warning message occurs during the connection process. If you have not selected a COM port, you will be prompted to choose a port. Select the appropriate port and click OK. The connection process goes very quickly via the local port. 3. Once the connection to the logger is established, the software will then retrieve information from the logger and display the status. While you are connected to the logger, the light on the toolbar will be green (it is red when not connected) and a Connected message appears in the Remote Connection window. To help minimize connection time and to conserve battery power in Remote and Radio Modems, the Remote Site Manager displays a disconnect countdown after two minutes of inactivity as shown below. You will then have 30 seconds to either click Stay Connected or Disconnect Now. If you do not select either choice, the software will automatically disconnect once the countdown is complete. 24 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

29 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger Checking status Immediately after a successful connection, the status window is displayed. The logger status is also displayed after every launch and read out. Click the Hide button to hide the logger status window. Then, from the Window menu, select Status Window or click the Get Status icon on the toolbar to show the status again. Note: The items in the status window do not automatically update. For current status, you must click the Get status icon on the toolbar or the Refresh button on the Status window. Logger status tab The following information is reported on the Logger Status tab: The profile you are using to connect to the logger (Logger 1 in this example) The type of logger (Model), serial number, and part number. The deployment number for the current launch (21 in this example) The total memory capacity for the logger (512 k); this does not represent the memory currently available Remote Site Manager User s Guide 25

30 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger The description that was entered for this deployment when the logger was launched ( northeast field in this example) The current status of the logger. There are four status messages displayed: 1. Launched and logging data every <logging interval>. 2. Ready to be launched. 3. Launched and will start logging at a specific date and time. 3. Launched and waiting for button start (if connected via local port only) Remaining logger battery capacity. If alkaline batteries are in use, the remaining capacity is displayed as a percentage from 0 to 100. If lithium batteries are in use, the capacity is displayed as good or bad. For more information on logger batteries, see Launch screen details on page 28. The current remote battery power in use, either primary or backup power for a Remote Modem, or good or low for a Radio Modem. Refer to the Remote Modem User s Guide and Radio Modem Operation Manual for details on power information. Sensor status tab Click the Sensor Status tab to display the current readings for each of the sensors currently plugged into the logger. You can switch between Metric and U.S. units for the sensors in the status window. Check the Retrieved at time and date to see the last time the current readings were retrieved (this does not indicate the logging frequency). To update the current readings, click the Refresh button. If the logger has not started logging, you can add or remove sensors. Click the Add Sensor(s) button, which appears when the logger is not logging, to update the list of attached sensors when adding or removing sensors. 26 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

31 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger Launching Once connected to the logger, you can launch it with the parameters you choose. To launch the logger: 1. From the Logger menu, select Launch or click the Launch icon on the toolbar. 2. If the logger is NOT currently logging: the following message appears. Click Do Not Launch to remain in the Logger Status screen, or click Launch to continue to the Launch screen. If the logger IS currently logging: the following warning appears. Click Do Not Launch to remain in the Logger Status screen, or click Launch to stop the logger and continue to the Launch screen. 3. Fill in the following information in the Launch screen (see Launch Screen Details on page 28 for details on all of the parameters you can set in the Launch screen) Enter a description Make sure battery type is correct Enter a logging interval, and sampling interval if appropriate Select a start mode Select whether to wrap around when full Check current readings of sensors Edit sensor locations Add deployment notes Remote Site Manager User s Guide 27

32 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger 4. Click Start in the Launch screen. This launches the logger. After the launch, you will then see an updated status in the Logger Status indicating one of the following: The logger is launched and logging at the interval you selected (if you chose Start Logging Now) The logger is delayed until a specified date and time (if you selected Delayed Start) The logger is launched and waiting for button start (if you selected Button Start, which is available for local port connections only) The logger is ready to be launched (if you selected Save Settings in Logger for Later Launch or clicked Cancel in the Launch screen) 5. Click Disconnect when you are done. Note that after you disconnect, the logger status window remains open displaying the status from the last connection (unless you hid the status window). Launch screen details The Logger Information section of the Launch screen displays the logger name, serial number, part number, and memory capacity. It also displays: Launch screen component Deployment Description Description The number of times the logger has been launched, including the current deployment. Every time the logger is launched this number increases by one. Type a description of the deployment (up to 40 characters). By default, the last description entered will appear in this field. The description name is also the default filename during a manual readout (auto-readout uses the name set in the remote site profile instead of the description entered here). 28 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

33 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger Launch screen component Battery Description This gauge displays the remaining battery capacity in the logger. For alkaline batteries, the gauge displays the percentage of capacity remaining. For lithium batteries, the gauge displays a status of either good or bad. See the HOBO Weather Station User s Guide or HOBO Micro Station User s Guide for more details. Be sure to select the appropriate battery type (lithium or alkaline) when launching the logger. Otherwise, the logger battery status will not be accurately reflected in the logger status window. Logging Interval This indicates how often the logger will record data (for example, every 30 minutes, hour, etc.) from all connected sensors. The minimum logging interval is 1 second and the maximum is 18 hours. Use either the predefined logging intervals or select Custom and define your own interval in the following format: HH:MM:SS. Keep in mind that the faster the logger interval, the more quickly the batteries will be depleted, particularly if there are several sensors attached. Duration This field displays approximately how long the logger will collect data based on the memory size, the logging interval, and the number of sensors currently connected. The duration is listed in number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds as long as Wrap Around When Full (explained later) is not selected. Battery life may limit duration before the memory is full. If Wrap Around When Full is selected, the duration is listed as continuous logging. Sampling Interval The sampling interval sets how often some sensors will take measurements. When this interval is selected, measurements are retrieved from the sensors at the specified sampling interval and are averaged together and then recorded as one data point at the logging interval. Note that the individual data points that comprise the average are not saved; only the final, averaged data point is saved. If you have at least one sensor that supports measurement averaging, set the sampling interval to one of the predefined settings. Valid sampling intervals are between 1 second and 4 minutes. The sampling interval must be less than or equal to the logging interval. Important: Sampling rates shorter than 1 minute will reduce the logger s battery life. Sampling intervals of 1 second will deplete the logger s battery in two to four weeks. If you do not have any sensors that support measurement averaging, set the sampling interval to Off as there will be no benefit and using it will increase battery consumption. Start Logging Now Date/Time Delayed Start Check the sensor s manual to determine if your sensor supports measurement averaging. Select this option if you want to start recording measurements as soon as you are finished configuring the logger. With this option selected, the system will begin logging data for all attached sensors once you click the Start button on the Launch screen. The software displays the date and time according to the computer. Upon launch, the logger s clock is set in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is determined from your computer s clock. The logger also records your computer s time zone and daylight savings time settings, which are used to display data in local time upon offload. UTC, colloquially known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), is the time based on atomic clocks that is broadcast by government radio stations. The web site is one resource for accurate time settings based on UTC. Before launching the logger, make sure your computer s clock is set to the correct date and time, and the time zone and daylight savings time preferences are correct in the Date/Time Control Panel. Select this option to postpone the launch until an exact date and time. Type the desired date and start time in the specified fields. You can add sensors to the logger any time before the specified start time. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 29

34 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger Launch screen component Button Start (Available for Local Port only) Save Settings in Logger for Later Launch Wrap Around When Full Sensor Information Deployment Notes Description This option is only available if you are connecting via local port. Once you re ready to begin logging, press the button on the logger for 1 second. You can add a sensor any time before you press the Start Logging button. Note: Make sure the total number of sensors you add does not exceed the 15-channel limit described in Sensor Information below. Select this option when you want to save the current settings for a future launch, but not start the launch immediately. Any customizations, such as descriptions and deployment notes, will be saved. This is useful if you will be launching the logger at a later time with HandCar software. When this box is checked, new data will overwrite the oldest data in the logger sequentially one sample at a time when the memory is full. The logger will continue logging indefinitely until the logger is either offloaded and stopped or the battery fails. If this box is not checked, the logger will stop logging when the memory is full and preserve acquired data. Use this section to verify that the correct sensors are connected and working properly. Select either English or Metric to change the current units displayed. Click Add Sensors if you want to update the readings, or if you insert/remove sensors and want to update the list. For sensors with more than one data channel (such as temp/rh), both channels are displayed. For each sensor, the serial number, location, property, value, and unit is displayed. Location is a descriptive field you can use to help differentiate between sensors and record where a sensor was placed. Click the word <edit> for the sensor whose location you wish to change, and then type in a new location name up to 35 characters. Note: The HOBO Weather Station logger supports up to 15 channels. Use the deployment notes section to enter information about the system setup at the time of launch, or any other specific notes you want to record. There is a 2000 character maximum (about one page of text). Deployment notes are stored in the logger and saved in the datafile (.dtf) only, which is the BoxCar Pro compatible file. To view the Deployment Notes in BoxCar Pro, open the View Details window (from the Window menu, select View Details) and then scroll to the Deployment Notes folder. Reading out data You can manually read out (also called offload or download) data from a logger at any time, whether it is currently logging or not. The readout process described in this section is different than the automatic readout process used with the auto-readout schedule. For information on auto-readout, see Chapter 4. To read out data: 1. Connect to the logger via a land line modem, Radio Modem, or local port. 2. Once connected, from the Logger menu, select Readout or click the Readout icon on the toolbar. 3. The following message prompts you to either continue logging while reading out the logger or stop logging before reading out data. Click either Continue Logging or Stop Logging. 30 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

35 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger 4. You are prompted for a file name. The description you entered in the launch screen will be the default file name. Accept the default file name and directory or type in a new file name and navigate to a different directory. Click Save. Important: The Remote Site Manager keeps track of whether you ve already read out the logger during the current launch. New data may simply be added to existing files created by a previous readout of the current deployment. Otherwise you will be prompted to make sure you want to overwrite an existing file with the same name. For complete details on how the Remote Site Manager saves files, refer to the File Management section later in this chapter. 5. The data is then offloaded from the logger. While the readout sequence is taking place, a message indicates the downloading progress. This can last from a few seconds to several minutes depending on how much data was recorded by the logger and when the last readout took place. For example, a full logger that has never been read out may take up to 20 minutes to offload. 6. Once the readout is finished, the data is converted to the file types selected in the Preferences screen: BoxCar Pro.dtf files, tab-delimited.txt files, and/or.xml files. This conversion always takes place to keep the master files stored by Remote Site Manager current. This may take several minutes. For long conversions, the connection may automatically time out to save batteries in the remote logger and modem. If the connection is still live after the conversion, the logger status is updated in this screen. If you opted to continue logging, the status will indicate the logger is launched and logging data at the interval you specified. If you chose to stop logging, the status will indicate the logger is ready to be launched. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 31

36 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger 7. Click the Disconnect icon on the toolbar or the Disconnect Now (conserve battery power) button on the status window. Note that after you disconnect, the logger status window remains open displaying the status from the last connection (unless you hid the status window). 8. Open the text (.txt) file in Notepad or WordPad, or import the text file into a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel. Open the datafile (.dtf) in BoxCar Pro 4.3 or higher to analyze the logged data. By default, files are saved to the directory where the Remote Site Manager is installed (C:\Program Files\Onset Computer Corporation\HOBO Weather Station) unless you selected a different directory. For additional details on viewing files and file management, see Chapter 5. Readout preferences (data formatting) Data can be saved three ways: BoxCar Pro.dtf files, tab-delimited.txt files, and XML files. Data can also be saved in either U.S. or Metric units. To change the readout preferences: 1. Select the File menu in the main Remote Site Manager screen and select Preferences. 2. Select at least one format: BoxCar Pro, Tab Delimited, and/or XML. 3. Select either Metric or U.S for the Readout Units. Note: this is only necessary if you have selected text or XML as one of your readout formats. BoxCar Pro allows you to switch between Metric and U.S. units each time you open the datafile. 4. Click OK. Note: These changes affect both manual readouts and auto-readouts. For information on Advanced XML Formatting, see Working with XML files on page 44. Disconnecting When you are done launching, reading out, and/or checking the logger status, there are several ways to end your connection with the logger: Click the Disconnect icon on the toolbar 32 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

37 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger Click the Disconnect Now (conserve battery power) button on the Logger Status tab Click the Done button on the toolbar If you don t disconnect, a countdown appears after two minutes of inactivity indicating you will be automatically disconnected after 30 seconds. Although this countdown appears regardless of the connection method, it is primarily designed to help prevent draining the Remote Modem and Radio Modem batteries by remaining connected inadvertently. When the countdown appears, you can click Stay Connected if you aren t finished working with the logger, or click Disconnect Now to disconnect immediately. If you don t click anything, the connection will automatically end in 30 seconds. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 33

38 Chapter 3: Communicating with the logger 34 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

39 Chapter 4: Auto-readout Chapter 4 Auto-readout Auto-readout allows you to automatically offload logger data on a schedule that you specify. This chapter explains how to: Start the auto-readout schedule Deactivate the auto-readout schedule Use auto-readout with multiple loggers Remove a logger from the auto-readout schedule Check the auto-readout log Starting auto-readout Before you can activate the auto-readout schedule, you must first set up a remote site profile, which stores information about how you connect to the logger and the auto-readout settings, including the frequency of the auto-readout, when the first auto-readout should begin, where auto-readout files are saved, and any FTP or settings. For complete details on setting up a remote site profile with auto-readout settings, see Chapter 2. After you ve set up a remote site profile to utilize the auto-readout schedule: 1. Give the remote site profile a few seconds to appear in the auto-readout list on the main Remote Site Manager screen. 2. Once the profile appears in the list, select the Activate box, which activates the auto-readout schedule. If you set up the remote site profile to have an immediate start time, the first autoreadout takes place as soon as you click the Activate checkbox. Otherwise, the first auto-readout begins at the start time you entered in the remote site profile. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 35

40 Chapter 4: Auto-readout 3. After clicking the Activate checkbox, check the Status field at the right of the Remote Site Manager main screen to see the progress of the auto-readout. The Remote Site Manager will contact the logger, check the battery source and report a low battery if necessary, and then read out the logger. If an error is reported in the Status field, check the auto-readout log for details on the failure (see Auto-readout log on page 39). Once the readout is complete, it will automatically disconnect. 4. After the readout is complete, check the Successes column, which tallies successful versus total auto-readouts. You can check the auto-readout log for further details about the success or failure of the readout (see Auto-Readout Log on page 39). If the auto-readout was a success and you ve configured FTP and settings in the remote site profile, then the files should have also been sent to the FTP and/or addresses you specified. If the Successes Column displays the message Check Logger, it could mean the logger is not connected or not logging (because it is full, wasn t launched, or is in delay or button start mode). 5. Open the text (.txt) file in Notepad or WordPad, import it into a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, or open the datafile (.dtf) in BoxCar Pro 4.3 or higher to analyze the logged data. The files were saved to the location you selected in the remote site profile. (Click Set Up Remote Site Profiles, select the profile and click the Edit tab to check the directory and file name if you can t remember it). For additional details on viewing files and file management, see Chapter 5. The second auto-readout may take place sooner than the regularly scheduled interval, but subsequent readouts will take place at the regularly scheduled interval, unless there was a failed readout and you have configured the software to automatically reconnect after a failed readout (see the next section). If you want the readout to occur at specific times, be sure to set the desired start time in the profile. Important: When auto-readout is activated, you must: Keep the Remote Site Manager software open and Leave your computer on. If there is a power failure or your computer is turned off, you will need to restart the Remote Site Manager and activate the auto-readout schedule again. Note for Windows 98 dial-up users: If you see a Dial-up Connection window during auto-readout and FTP transfer, select the Save password and Connect automatically checkboxes as shown below. These two settings must be selected for auto-readout to continue without a prompt (otherwise you will be asked to select a dial-up connection every time auto-readout runs). 36 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

41 Chapter 4: Auto-readout Running in background You can set up the software to run in the background so that it doesn t take up space on the desktop or Windows taskbar while auto-readout is activated. From the Operate menu in the main Remote Site Manager screen, select Run in Background (SysTray). This will add the following icon to the system tray portion of the taskbar. Note: This selection is not available while a readout is in progress. Remote Site Manager icon; software running in background Reconnecting after failed readouts If a failure occurs during auto-readout, you can configure Remote Site Manager to either try connecting again automatically or waiting until the next regularly scheduled auto-readout. To configure an automatic reconnect after a failed auto-readout: 1. From the File menu, select Preferences in the main Remote Site Manager screen 2. In the Preferences screen, clear the checkmark in the Do NOT reconnect after failed readouts box. 3. Select how many minutes Remote Site Manager should wait between reconnect attempts after a failed readout (failed readouts can occur if the computer is unable to establish a connection with the logger, such as when the modem gets a busy signal), and the maximum number of attempts if a failed readout occurs. By default, the Time between reconnect attempts after failed readouts is set to 5 minutes, and the Maximum # of Attempts is set to 3. This means instead of waiting for its next regularly scheduled auto-readout time after a failure, auto-readout will try to connect again in five minutes, a maximum of 3 times. Once the readout is successful, however, it will resume with the next regularly scheduled time. You can also check the Do NOT reconnect after failed readouts box if you do not want auto-readout to try reconnecting after failed readout attempts. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 37

42 Chapter 4: Auto-readout 4. Click OK when done. Readout preferences (data formatting) Data can be saved three ways: BoxCar Pro.dtf files, tab-delimited.txt files, and XML files. Data can also be saved in either U.S. or Metric units. To change the readout preferences: 1. Select the File menu in the main Remote Site Manager screen and select Preferences. 2. Select at least one format: BoxCar Pro, Tab Delimited, and/or XML. 3. Select either Metric or U.S for the Readout Units. Note: this is only necessary if you have selected text or XML as one of your readout formats. BoxCar Pro allows you to switch between Metric and U.S. units each time you open the datafile. 4. Click OK. Note: These changes affect both manual readouts and auto-readouts. Deactivating auto-readout You can deactivate the auto-readout schedule at any time by clearing the Activate box on the main Remote Site Manager screen. This switches the auto-readout schedule back to inactive: 38 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

43 Chapter 4: Auto-readout Note: If you clear the Activate box while an auto-readout is in progress, you must wait until any ongoing tasks are complete before the schedule becomes inactive. Auto-readout of multiple loggers The auto-readout schedule can include more than one remote site profile. Use the auto-readout schedule to contact multiple remote loggers, each with its own readout frequency. The procedure to set up auto-readout of multiple loggers is the same as the procedure for one logger described in the Starting Auto-readout section earlier in this chapter: 1. Set up each of the remote site profiles as described in Chapter Make sure each profile appears in the auto-readout schedule on the main Remote Site Manager screen. 3. Click the Activate box to activate the auto-readout schedule. 4. The first auto-readout for each profile will take place at the start time you designated for each when you set up the profile. After that, each auto-readout will occur at the regularly scheduled next readout time indicated on the schedule. When multiple profiles are set up in the schedule with the same auto-readout frequency, the Remote Site Manager will continue down the list and read out each logger, even if the scheduled readout time has passed. It will not return to the top of the list until all the scheduled readouts have been completed. Removing a logger from the auto-readout schedule To remove a logger from the auto-readout schedule, you must edit the logger s remote site profile. 1. Click the Set Up Remote Site Profiles button in the main Remote Site Manager screen. 2. On the Remote Sites tab, select the profile you wish to remove from the auto-readout schedule and click the Edit button. 3. Click the Utilize Schedule checkbox to clear the checkmark. This disables the auto-readout settings you have configured. All settings, however, are saved if you want to add the profile back to the auto-readout schedule in the future. 4. Click OK. 5. Back in the Remote Sites tab, click Done. 6. After a few seconds, the profile is removed from the auto-readout schedule. Any scheduled readouts for other loggers will take place normally. To add the logger back to the auto-readout schedule, repeat the steps above, clicking the Utilize Schedule checkbox in step 3 to enable the auto-readout settings again. Auto-readout log The auto-readout log keeps a record of all attempted auto-readouts, both successful and failed. Use the auto-readout log to check on auto-readouts that took place while you were away from your computer or to identify why a failure occurred. To access the auto-readout log: 1. From the File menu in the main Remote Site Manager screen, select Open/Export Log. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 39

44 Chapter 4: Auto-readout 2. Logs are sorted by month, and the current month is displayed automatically. Select a different month if desired. The log shows the following information: Date and time of the auto-readout Name of the remote site profile used for the readout Connection route (phone number, wireless COM port, or COM port used) Connection status (Connected, Timeout, Port failure) Logger communication (OK or Failure) Modem battery level (NA, Primary Power, Backup Power) Logger battery level (NA, a Percentage, or Good/Bad) Readout status (Success, Not Logging, Delay Mode, Button Mode, or NA) if NA see Logger communication status (NA, Not set up, Sent, Not Sent, or Error) FTP status (NA, Not set up, Sent, or Error) To export the auto-readout log to a text file: 1. From the File menu in the main Remote Site Manager screen, select Open/Export Log. 2. Select the month you wish to export. 3. Click the Export button. 4. If there are multiple months and you only want to export one, click the Single File Export button and select the appropriate month. If the Single File Export button is not visible, click the Multi- File Export button and then choose Single File Export) 40 Remote Site Manager User s Guide

45 Chapter 4: Auto-readout If there are multiple months that you want to export, click the Multi-File Export button (if this is not visible, click the Single File Export button and then choose Multi-File Export). Select the dates of the first and last months you want to export. All logs, including the ones selected and in between, will be exported. If there is only one log, only one choice is available. 5. Select the directory (target folder) where you want to save the logs. By default, this is C:\Program Files\Onset Computer Corporation\HOBO Weather Station\RSM if you accepted the default directory during installation. Click the folder icon to browse to another directory or type the complete directory path. 6. Click Export. Note: This Export function exports the auto-readout logs only and it does not export any measurement data. 7. A message indicates that the export is successful and where to find the files. Click OK when done viewing the export results. Exported auto-readout logs are saved to text files, which you can open in Notepad or WordPad, or import into a spreadsheet application, such as Microsoft Excel, allowing you to better analyze the data. Remote Site Manager User s Guide 41