Acoustic Research Ngara User manual

Ngara
User Manual
25-7cd7566

Ngara
User Manual
Revision History
Revision Date Author(s) Description
7cd7566 2019-02-18 Juan Aguero Add Noise Cloud owchart
d0547e7 2018-12-05 Juan Aguero Update for V12.2 operation
f071bc2 2018-09-14 Juan Aguero Add missing section label
d4141bf 2018-09-14 Juan Aguero Add new warning screens
c9a308b 2018-09-12 Juan Aguero As released for V12.1 rmware
8d68c33 2018-09-07 Juan Aguero Update reference specications
f0185aa 2018-09-07 Juan Aguero Update remote host operation
301deda 2018-09-06 Juan Aguero Add Noise Cloud and Email sections
1b99182 2018-09-05 Juan Aguero Move specications to end of manual
d73e30a 2018-09-04 Juan Aguero Update Nosie Cloud image
296b171 2018-09-04 Juan Aguero Update for V12.1 rmware
834b25f 2018-04-18 Juan Aguero Move images to images folder
d3798ae 2018-03-05 Juan Aguero Add application history
15aafc7 2018-03-05 Juan Aguero Merge branch ’master’ of git.lab:ngara/logger.wiki
2117605 2018-03-05 Juan Aguero Update to format and spelling
4cb3b86 2018-03-05 Juan Aguero Add header information
fbfc9db 2018-03-05 Juan Aguero Update Manual
1530610 2018-03-05 lucky jaiswal Update Manual Issue 35
e8089b5 2017-12-12 Juan Aguero Add temperature calibration information
25bc0c9 2017-12-11 Aaron Skeates-Udy Update manual factory default time weighting fast.
10aa48c 2017-12-11 Aaron Skeates-Udy Update manual factory default options.
5e93bd0 2017-11-07 Juan Aguero Move to general root directory structure
9cebcfa 2017-06-20 Juan Aguero added local operation page
c71de3a 2017-06-20 Juan Aguero added general description page
6efa461 2017-06-20 Juan Aguero adding user manual to wiki
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 2 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 8
1.1 Overview.................................................. 8
2 General Description 9
2.1 WeatherProofCase............................................ 9
2.2 12VDCBattery.............................................. 9
2.3 Ngara ................................................... 9
2.3.1 EnclosureBack .......................................... 10
2.3.2 EnclosureFront .......................................... 10
2.3.3 EnclosureTop........................................... 11
2.4 Microphone ................................................ 11
2.4.1 MountingOptions......................................... 11
3 Functions 13
3.1 StandaloneLogger............................................. 13
3.1.1 StorageHandling ......................................... 13
3.1.2 StoragePower........................................... 13
3.1.3 SessionDirectory ......................................... 14
3.1.4 DataUsage ............................................ 16
3.2 NoiseCloud ................................................ 17
3.2.1 Communication .......................................... 17
3.2.2 ModemPower........................................... 17
3.2.3 OperationSettings ........................................ 18
3.2.4 DataUsage ............................................ 18
3.2.5 Troubleshooting.......................................... 18
3.3 Email.................................................... 20
3.3.1 Communication .......................................... 20
3.3.2 PowerSaving ........................................... 20
3.3.3 Format............................................... 20
3.4 IndustrialNoiseMonitor.......................................... 21
3.4.1 AdditionalData .......................................... 21
3.4.2 DataUsage ............................................ 22
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 3 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
4 Local Operation 23
4.1 AvailableUserInterface.......................................... 23
4.2 PoweringtheUnit............................................. 23
4.3 MenuStructure .............................................. 23
4.4 Conguration Menu Item (Menu 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.4.1 IdleTimeout............................................ 24
4.4.2 AncillariesTimeout ........................................ 24
4.4.3 Network .............................................. 24
4.4.4 TimeandDate .......................................... 27
4.4.5 SystemCalibration ........................................ 27
4.4.6 TemperatureCalibration ..................................... 28
4.4.7 USBPower ............................................ 28
4.4.8 KeepAlive............................................. 29
4.4.9 FactoryDefault .......................................... 29
4.4.10 Exit ................................................ 30
4.5 LoggingMenuItem(Menu2)....................................... 30
4.5.1 StartSession............................................ 30
4.5.2 StopSession............................................ 31
4.5.3 TakeRef.............................................. 31
4.5.4 ChangeDisk ........................................... 32
4.5.5 WAVSetup ............................................ 32
4.5.6 TimeWeightingSetup ...................................... 32
4.5.7 TriggerSetup ........................................... 33
4.5.8 BandPassSetup ......................................... 33
4.5.9 FlushLogs............................................. 34
4.5.10 Exit ................................................ 34
4.6 StatusMenuItem(Menu3) ....................................... 34
4.6.1 ShowStatus............................................ 35
4.6.2 LiveSPL.............................................. 35
4.6.3 MaxSPL.............................................. 35
4.6.4 Short Leq .............................................. 35
4.6.5 Long Leq .............................................. 36
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 4 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
4.6.6 RMSDetection .......................................... 36
4.6.7 FilteredSPL............................................ 36
4.6.8 Exit ................................................ 36
4.7 DiskMenuItem(Menu4) ........................................ 37
4.7.1 DiskStatus ............................................ 37
4.7.2 ListSessions............................................ 37
4.7.3 DiskSize.............................................. 37
4.7.4 DiskFree ............................................. 37
4.7.5 FormatDisk............................................ 38
4.7.6 Exit ................................................ 38
4.8 NoiseCloudMenuItem(Menu5) .................................... 38
4.8.1 Start................................................ 38
4.8.2 Stop ................................................ 38
4.8.3 Percentiles............................................. 39
4.8.4 UploadPeriod........................................... 39
4.8.5 Exit ................................................ 40
4.9 StatusandIdleScreen........................................... 40
5 Remote Operation 42
5.1 InstallationofHostSoftware ....................................... 42
5.2 MainScreen................................................ 43
5.3 Linkingtoalogger ............................................ 43
5.3.1 TheResultGroup......................................... 44
5.3.2 TheStatusGroup......................................... 44
5.3.3 The General Information Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.4 ChangingLoggerConguration...................................... 45
5.4.1 General Logger Conguration Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5.4.2 WaveFileCongurationTab ................................... 46
5.4.3 TriggerCongurationTab..................................... 46
5.4.4 AlarmClockTab ......................................... 54
5.4.5 AUXOutputTab ......................................... 54
5.4.6 UDPOutputTab ......................................... 55
5.4.7 Advanced Conguration Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 5 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
5.4.8 NoiseCloudConguration .................................... 57
5.4.9 EmailTab ............................................. 57
5.5 LoggerTime................................................ 58
5.6 SystemCalibration............................................. 59
5.7 LoggerReboot............................................... 60
5.8 LoggerShutdown ............................................. 60
5.9 LoggerControl............................................... 61
5.9.1 StartingSession.......................................... 61
5.9.2 StoppingaSession ........................................ 62
5.9.3 TakingaReferenceLevel ..................................... 62
5.9.4 ChangingDisk........................................... 63
5.10DiskOperations .............................................. 64
5.10.1 DetailStorageMediaView .................................... 64
5.10.2 DownloadingsessionData .................................... 65
5.10.3 Remotely Formatting a USB Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
5.10.4 Performing Statistical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
5.10.5 Re-constitution of wave le data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
5.10.6 ReformattingaUSBDevice.................................... 68
6 Network Conguration Options 69
6.1 Communication .............................................. 69
6.2 ConnectiontoPC ............................................. 69
6.3 ConnectiontoaNetwork ......................................... 70
6.4 Connectionto3G/4G ........................................... 70
7 Reference Specications 72
7.1 ApplicableStandards ........................................... 72
7.2 AcousticReferenceConditions ...................................... 72
7.3 Environmental Reference Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
7.4 Adjustments to Indicated Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
7.5 ExtremeInputs .............................................. 73
7.6 Nominal A-Weighted Sound Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
7.7 Microphone ................................................ 73
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 6 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
7.7.1 FrequencyResponse........................................ 73
7.7.2 DirectionalResponse ....................................... 74
7.7.3 ThermalCharacteristics...................................... 74
7.7.4 HumidityCharacteristics ..................................... 75
7.7.5 Reduction of Wind Noise by Windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
7.7.6 Specications ........................................... 76
7.8 FilterResponses.............................................. 76
8 Application Change Log 80
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 7 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
1 Introduction
This document provides a description of the functions provided by the Ngara logger platform. All displays, user tools,
facilities and capabilities are described herein.
1.1 Overview
The Ngara Sound Acquisition System oers full measurement exibility, simultaneously producing the following
acoustic measurements –
• Fast or Slow SPL-A
• Fast or Slow SPL-C
• Leq-A
• Leq-C
In addition to the above measurements the Ngara platform is able to store raw audio data to a USB storage device,
capable of post processing the majority of your acoustic needs. All of this is achieved in a low power 12-volt
environment.
Simple control and conguration of Ngara can be accomplished through the on-board Liquid Crystal display (LCD)
and push-button interface. More advanced control functions are made available through the remote host software.
This may include:
• Alarm Control
• Triggering Conguration
• Auxiliary Output Conguration
• Email Alerts
• Noise Cloud Interface
The logged data is saved as a formatted list of Sound Pressure Level measurements in a Comma Separated Variable
(CSV) le. Samples are stored at 100ms intervals. The data gathered is capable of being post processed to produce
any required statistical representation of the data obtained.
Both CSV le data and audio data are split into 1-hour long les. A new le is created every hour, on the hour, with
each logging session stored into separate directories.
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 8 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
2 General Description
Ngara is a Class 1 instrument (IEC 61672.3:2006), consisting of the following components –
• Weather proof case
• 12V DC Battery
• Ngara Instrument
• Microphone & Pre-Amplier
2.1 Weather Proof Case
Ngara is housed in a rugged weatherproof case. To open the case, unclip the two latches at the front of the case.
When closing the weatherproof case, ensure the microphone lead is carefully guided through the cut out provided.
To attach the microphone post, simply screw the base of the post into the mounting found on the lid. On the outside
of each latch, a reinforced hole is provided to allow for security measures such as padlocks and chains.
Failure to carefully guide the cable through the cut out provided will cause irreparable internal damage
to the microphone cable.
2.2 12V DC Battery
Ngara can be congured to operate using two dierent sized batteries. The congurable battery sizes include –
•24Ahr – Allows for up to a maximum of 2 weeks of continual CSV data only logging, and up to 1 week worth
of CSV and WAV le data recording.
•12Ahr – Allows for up to a maximum of 1 week of continual CSV data only logging
The above gures are a guide only and assume -
• The use of a fully charged battery
• There is enough available disk space
Current battery status can be viewed using the LCD or the Remote Host application.
Battery discharge rate is not linear. Battery voltage will drop faster as the stored capacity decreases.
2.3 Ngara
The electronics can be housed within either a Silver (V1) or Black (V2) aluminium enclosure. The unit is classied
as per Group X for susceptibility to radio frequency elds and has been tested to AS/NZS CISPR 22, and is approved
for connection to any network.
There are no user serviceable parts inside the enclosure.
The electronic circuitry contains many calibration settings that are essential for Ngara to operate correctly.
Opening the enclosure will void the unit’s calibration and warranty.
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 9 of 80

Ngara
User Manual
2.3.1 Enclosure Back
The back of the enclosure contains the following connections –
• Aux connector (4-pin)
• Ethernet communications port (RJ-45)
This port can be used to connect to a Local Area Network (LAN) to provide a communications link to Ngara
• USB ports (2x USB ports)
The USB ports allow the connection of a single storage device
• 12V Output Connector
Provided as standard on Ngara Black systems
Data will be lost if the storage device is removed during a logging session.
Please refer to Section 4.5.4 for details on ensuring there is no data loss.
Figure 1: Back Enclosure
2.3.2 Enclosure Front
The front of the enclosure is provided with the following connector –
• Microphone Connector
Inserting the plug and screwing it in until rm connects the microphone lead to Ngara
Figure 2: Front Enclosure
Over tightening can lead to internal board damage
Version — 25-7cd7566 Page — 10 of 80