Adcon A725 addSDI User manual

A725 addSDI
User Manual
SMART WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

Proprietary Notice:
The Adcon logo, addSDI™, addIT™, addWAVE™, addVANTAGE™, addVANTAGE Profes-
sional™ and AgroExpert™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Adcon Telemetry. All
other registered names used throughout this publication are trademarks of their respective own-
ers.
Neither the whole nor any part of the information contained in this publication may be repro-
duced in any material form except with the prior written permission of Adcon Telemetry.
This publication is intended only to assist the reader in the use of the product. Adcon Telemetry
shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of any information in this publica-
tion, or any error or omission in such information, or any incorrect use of the product.
Document Release 1.0, Dezember 2006
Copyright ©2003-2006 by Adcon Telemetry.
ADC NO
T E L E M E T R Y
ADCON TELEMETRY GMBH
I N K U S T R A S S E 2 4
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A U S T R I A
TEL: +43 | 2243 | 38280-0
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ADCON AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.

CHAPTER 1
About the A725 addSDI___________________________________________________3
Conventions _____________________________________________________________4
Opening the packages____________________________________________________5
Installing the RTU ________________________________________________________6
Field Installation_______________________________________________________7
More about the LED tool _______________________________________________8
Configuring an addSDI RTU in the addVANTAGE software__________________9
Maintaining and servicing the RTU__________________________________________9
The RTU battery_______________________________________________________9
Changing the battery ________________________________________________ 10
Understanding connectors_______________________________________________ 14
The POWER Connector ______________________________________________ 14
The SDI Connector __________________________________________________ 15
SDI-12 Sensor Connections ______________________________________________ 16
Self powered Sensor _________________________________________________ 17
Multiple Sensors connected to the SDI-12 Bus __________________________ 18
Communicating with the RTU ____________________________________________ 18
Serial communication protocol ___________________________________________ 19
General format of a command ________________________________________ 19
General format of an answer __________________________________________ 20
Using terminal commands _______________________________________________ 20
Returned errors list _____________________________________________________ 37
Command line interpreter ____________________________________________ 37
Device descriptors and storage handler ________________________________ 37
Real time clock ______________________________________________________ 37
Radio interface ______________________________________________________ 37
Specifications _________________________________________________________ 39

CHAPTER
2

CHAPTER 1
About the A725 addSDI
3
Chapter 1. Introduction
This manual explains the hardware aspects of Adcon’s A725
addSDI Remote Telemetry Units, including installation issues and
certain parameter configurations. The manual is divided as follows:
•"Introduction," which contains some general information and
document conventions.
•"Using the A725 RTU," which details the installation and use
of the Remote Telemetry Unit.
•"Specifications," which describes operating parameters for the
devices.
About the A725 addSDI
The A725 Remote Telemetry Unit—RTU (commercial trademark
addSDI™ ) is a low power, short range telemetry device, capable of
operating SDI-12 compatible sensors.
The frequency of operation is in the 432 to 470 MHz range, mak-
ing it compliant to most radio communication regulations in the
world. The output power is under 10 mW, while the modulation is
narrow band FM (12.5 or 25 kHz channel spacing).
Due to its construction, as well as to the software controlling it, the
power consumption is extremely low. The unit operates from a
built in 6.2 Volt rechargeable battery, which is charged either using
a solar panel or an external power supply adapter. A special con-
figuration may be implemented where no internal battery is used,
but the power is obtained exclusively over an external connector.
The SDI-12 bus is also powered by the internal 6.2 Volt battery,
therefore the attached SDI-12 sensors must be able to work within

CHAPTER 1
Introduction
4
a minimum voltage of 5.6V. This is lower than the official SDI-12
minimum operating voltage.
The A725 is a ruggedized unit, complying with the IP65 environ-
mental protection class (NEMA 4). It can easily be installed and it
integrates perfectly into an Adcon A733 network. Depending on
the terrain, it assures a reliable wireless connection to an A733
series device to distances up to 1000 meters, under favorable con-
ditions even more.
Conventions
Certain conventions apply in this document.
Italics
Indicate that the text is variable and must be substi-
tuted for something specific, as indicated in the expla-
nation. Italics can also be used to emphasize words as
words or letters as letters.
Bold Indicates special emphasis of the text. Also indicates
menu names and items in a window.
fixed font Indicates characters you must type or system mes-
sages.
FileSave Indicates menu selection. For example, select the File
menu, then the Save option.
Note Indicates information of interest. Notes appear after
the information they apply to.
CAUTION Indicates that you may get unexpected results if you
don’t follow the instructions. Cautions appear
before the information they apply to.
WARNING Indicates danger to yourself or damage to the device if
you don’t follow the instructions. Warnings appear
before the information they apply to.

5
Chapter 2. Using the addSDI
The A725 addSDI Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) is part of the A7xx
series. For testing purposes, you should have an A840 Telemetry
Gateway installed before you install the A725 RTU. For informa-
tion about installing the A840, refer to the Base Station, Telemetry
Gateway A840 and Wireless Modem A440 User Guide .
Opening the packages
The addSDI RTU package contains the A725 RTU, an antenna, and
a pipe clamp. If ordered, the following items come in separate
packaging:
• A solar panel and pipe clamp
• A set of aluminum poles
• A LED tool
• Sensors and cables, one box for each sensor.
Make sure you have received all the equipment and read through
the instructions that follow. Once you are sure to understand
them, you are ready to install your RTU.

CHAPTER 2
Using the addSDI
6
Figure 1 shows the front view of an addSDI RTU.
Figure 1. addSDI RTU
 WARNING Do not turn or manipulate the Gore Prevent element!
The unit’s IP65 environmental protection may be affected.
Installing the RTU
The following restrictions apply:
• In general the typical “line-of sight” distance over which the
RTU can communicate is 1 km (.6 miles). This is valid if both
the RTU and its partner device are mounted on a 3 m mast (9
ft.); the results may vary under different conditions, and you
can sometimes achieve greater distances, sometimes shorter.
SDI-12
Connector
To
Solar
Panel
Gore PreventTM

CHAPTER 2
Installing the RTU
7
• As with all wireless communication devices, the higher the
transmitter is installed, the better the communication will be.
Field Installation
Installing addSDI RTUs in the field is a fairly simple process. You
can perform a connectivity check with a LED tool. The LED tool is
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. LED Tool
Note: The LED tool is a blind plug to be connected to the POWER
connector.
Follow these steps to install an addSDI RTU in the field:
1. Review the installation area and choose the best site.
2. Perform a connectivity check using the LED tool:
a. Insert the LED tool into the POWER connector and wait
up to 10 seconds. If the unit connects to at least one
station (or a base station), it will light up the LED for
about 4 seconds.
b. Keep observing the LED tool and, after another several
seconds, the LED will blink one or more times (the
number of blinks indicates the number of stations it has
contacted).
3. Assemble the mast from the set of poles.
4. Drive the tipped aluminum pole vertically into the ground,
using a sledge hammer. Put the “pole pounder” cap on top
of the pole to protect it from damage while hammering it in.
How far you drive the pole into the ground depends on your
application and the soil. Sandy soils in windy areas might
require guy wires to secure the pole.
5. Using a pipe clamp, fasten the solar panel onto the aluminum
mast. Make sure that the panel is facing south (north if you are
located in the southern hemisphere) and is out of the way of
the addSDI RTU.

CHAPTER 2
Using the addSDI
8
Note: The solar panel can be mounted under or behind the
addSDI RTU, but be sure that the RTU does not shadow the
panel.
6. Fasten the addSDI RTU to the top of the mast using another
pipe clamp. Adcon recommends that you perform another
connectivity test, if you can, to check the positioning of the
device.
 WARNING If you turn the fastening screws too tight, you might
damage the plugs.
7. Attach the SDI-12 sensor to the SDI jack and the solar panel to
the POWER jack by turning the connectors fastening screws
clockwise until secured tightly.
8. Secure access cable of the SDI-12 cable to the pole with cable
ties. To protect it from damage don’t let it sit on the ground!
This completes the installation of your addSDI RTU. If the SDI-12
jack is left unused, use the attached cap, meant to protect it
against moisture and dust. Be sure to make a note of the following
information because you’ll need it when you configure the device
in the software:
• Serial number of each RTU
• Type and address of SDI-12 sensors connected to each RTU
 WARNING The SDI-12 sensor addresses must be set prior to
attaching the sensors to the SDI-12 bus. Be sure to use unique
addresses only! There is no way to resolve address conflicts once
the sensors are attached to the SDI-12 bus.
More about the LED tool
The LED tool allows you to rapidly check the status of an addSDI
RTU. After you insert the LED tool into the POWER connector, the
unit waits for up to two seconds and then sends a broadcast frame.
If a nearby station or receiver decodes the frame, it will answer—
this may take up to 10 seconds. When an answer is received, the
LED tool lights up for about 4 seconds. A few seconds later, the
LED will light up again one or several times - once per station/
receiver that answered to its broadcast frame.
After that the LED continuously blinks briefly in 0.5 second inter-
vals to indicate that the unit is alive and that the internal battery
has enough energy to operate. If the blinking interval lengthens to
2 seconds, the battery has become undercharged (that is, under

CHAPTER 2
Maintaining and servicing the RTU
9
5.6 volts but over 5.2 volts)—this is called the misery state. In this
state, an addSDI RTU reduces its activities to a minimum. The
radio unit is switched off, the sensor sampling ceases, and no data
is stored in the internal memory. Only the internal real-time clock is
maintained and the power management functions are performed.
If the battery level drops below 5.2 volts, the system switches off
completely, effectively decoupling itself from the battery in order
to protect it. In this case the LED tool stays permanently off. An
addSDI RTU in such a situation will restart only after connecting it
to an external power supply (even a solar panel under low light
conditions).
Note: New addSDI RTUs are delivered with their internal batteries
unformatted, meaning they are completely discharged, and
you should install them only on sunny days. The battery will
be fully charged after two consecutive sunny days, but you
should get an LED light-up after several minutes of charging
in the sunlight.
Configuring an addSDI RTU in the addVANTAGE software
To configure the addSDI RTU with an A840 Telemetry Gateway
and the addVANTAGE Pro software, check the Base Station,
Telemetry Gateway A840 and Wireless Modem A440 User Guide .
Maintaining and servicing the RTU
The A725 unit needs virtually no maintenance. It is waterproof and
designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions (-30 to
+70 °C, or -22 to 158 °F), high RH values, water, and other noncor-
rosive liquids. It conforms to the European protection class IP65.
This applies also to the connectors, as long as they are mated.
Don’t let unmated connectors on either the addSDI RTU or the
sensors be exposed to the environment for extended periods of
time.
The RTU battery
The internal NiMH rechargeable battery pack supplies 6.2 volts.
The internal electronics manage the battery charging/discharging
process, ensuring it a long life. This approach, coupled with a
remarkably low average consumption, allows an addSDI RTU to

CHAPTER 2
Using the addSDI
10
operate at least two weeks on a fully charged battery under the fol-
lowing conditions:
• The channel has moderate radio activity, with requests every
15 minutes.
• Sensor readings are stored in the internal memory every 15
minutes.
• The sensors do not drain excessive current (neither in sleep-
mode nor during measurement).
Table 1 shows the addSDI devices’ expected operating time on a
fully charged battery under various conditions..
Note: Radio activity means that one base station and between one
and three RTUs are active on the same operating frequency
as the addSDI remote station under test.
However, if for some reason (wear-out or accident) the battery
loses its capacity (noted in the software with repeated “Battery
low” messages), it must be replaced. Make sure, though, that the
problem is really due to the battery and not to a defective or dirty
solar panel.
Adcon highly recommends you to take good care of your solar
panels! Clean them frequently with a damp cloth. Rain droplets
might splash thin layers of soil onto the panels, wind and spraying
covers them with dust, birds tend to drop “things” onto them, thus
reducing their power output. Watch out for the surrounding vege-
tation! A solar panel, well exposed to the sun at the beginning of
the season, might be shadowed by growing vegetation as the sea-
son progresses.
Table 1. addSDI Device Operation Time
Radio
Activity
Average SDI-12
Sensor Current
Average
Consumption
(mA)
Estimated
Operation
(days)
No none 0.667 100
Yes none 0.833 80
Yes 1.1mA 1.8 37

CHAPTER 2
Maintaining and servicing the RTU
11
Changing the battery
If you have verified that the battery needs to be replaced, follow
these steps to do so:
1. Open the lid by unscrewing the four screws in the corners of
the addSDI RTU, then remove the lid as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Removing the addSDI Lid
2. The battery pack is connected to the electronics board by
means of a PCB connector. Remove the battery pack’s plug
from the PCB connector, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Unplugging the PCB Connector

CHAPTER 2
Using the addSDI
12
3. Unscrew the two screws of the metal cover that holds the
battery pack in place, then remove the cover. Figure 5 shows
the A725 battery pack inside the RTU.
Figure 5. A725 Battery Pack
4. Remove the battery pack and replace it with a new one
(obtainable from your Adcon dealer).
5. Put the metal cover back in place and secure it with the two
screws.
6. Replace the old cover seal with the new one, provided
together with your battery, as rubber gaskets tend to stiffen
and might not reseal properly. Place the rounded side of the
gasket into the groove and have the flat side showing!
7. Insert the battery plug into the PCB connector.
8. Mount the lid back, taking care that the rubber gasket sealing
the box is not out of place.
 WARNING Be sure to mount the rubber gasket properly, so that
the unit’s IP65 environmental protection is not affected. Don’t
clamp the battery cable between the lid and the case, as this might
damage the cable and shorten the unit. Watch for soil and dust on
the seal, as this might lead to water ingress!

13
Chapter 3. Performing Advanced
Functions
With the appropriate knowledge you can configure the addSDI
devices in the field by using a hyperterminal window. To configure
the RTU you need a special serial adapter cable (item 200.720.540;
not included with the RTU; available from your Adcon distributor).
 CAUTION Do not try to configure your addSDI devices if you are
not well familiar with the SDI-12 commands and bus architecture
—the unit may not communicate properly with the SDI-12 sensors
and/or with the remote measuring station or function with the
addVANTAGE software.
 WARNING Tampering with parameters for the addSDI devices
may void your warranty or damage the device. In general, the
commands described in this chapter are intended for technical
support staff and users with a great deal of experience in handling
advanced hard- and software.
In the system architecture, the base station and RTU are both con-
sidered to be nodes. The base station is called the master node, or
master , while the RTU is called the slave node, or slave .

CHAPTER 3
Performing Advanced Functions
14
Understanding connectors
The addSDI devices have cable attachments called connectors.
The connector type determines how the device communicates
with the sensors or the computer.
The POWER Connector
The RTU’s POWER connector, a 5-pin M9 jack, allows for:
• External charge supply (either a solar panel or an AC adapter)
if the internal rechargeable battery is used. (as in most cases).
• External power supply (battery or any DC source from 5.6 to
10 volts), with the internal battery removed
• Communication over a serial connection with 19200 baud
Figure 6 illustrates the connections available at the POWER con-
nector.
Figure 6. A725 POWER Connector (Top View)
 WARNING The serial line is 3-volt CMOS compatible; therefore,
the above mentioned adapter cable must be used to reach the RS-
232 levels (Adcon item number 200.720.540).
You might want to use the POWER connector with something
other than the standard configuration. For example, if you want to
connect an external battery to the RTU, disconnect the internal
battery and use the configuration shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7. A725 Wiring up an External Battery
RxD
TxD
Ground
Battery
1
2
3
4
5
Ext Power
1
2
3
4
5
Battery
(5.6 to 10 Volt) -
Short
+

CHAPTER 3
Understanding connectors
15
If you want to use the internal battery with a different power sup-
ply (charger) than the ones provided by Adcon (120 or 300mA
solar panels or the ACS110 charger), make sure to use the wiring
as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8. A725 Connection with External Power Supply
And if you want to use an external battery, charged by its own
solar panel, you need to disconnect the internal the internal bat-
tery and the Adcon solar panel and use the wiring as shown in
Figure 9.
Figure 9. A725 Connection with External Battery and Power Supply
The SDI Connector
The SDI connector is used to connect the addSWITCH A725 to an
SDI-12 Sensor bus (See Figure 10). The connector used is a female
5 pin SWITCHCRAFT jack (EN3P5F, the counterpart is the
EN3C5M).
The A725 comes with a 1m cable with flying ends. A standard
cable clamp can be used to connect the sensors. It is up to the
user to protect this cable clamp for outdoor usage. Please contact
your local Adcon dealer for special SDI-12 wiring boxes.
1
2
3
4
5
Charger
(9 to 10 Volt,
+
-
Short
100 to 300 mA)
+
1
2
3
4
5
Charger
(must fit the
+
-
Short
Battery
(5.6 to 10 Volt)
Battery) -

CHAPTER 3
Performing Advanced Functions
16
Figure 10. The SDI-12 Connector
If you do not use an SDI-12 sensor with the proper cable already
mounted, but will connect it to the SDI bus through a wiring box, it
is absolutely crucial to obey the following instructions: first identify
the function of each of the sensors cables. Then connect them to
the wiring box in exactly the folloing order: First connect SDI-GND.
Then connect SDI-POWER (only if a sensor receives its power sup-
ply from the RTU) and last connect SDI-DATA. Else you might
cause the SDI-12 bus to perform unexpectedly!
 CAUTION Some SDI-12 sensors have a rather high startup current,
which prevents operation with our low power addSDI RTU. Always
check your SDI-12 sensor’s peak current draw upon start-up! This is
of particular importance when connecting more than one sensor to
the SDI-12 bus - while one sensor might still operate flawlessly with
your RTU, two might draw too much current and cause the RTU to
shut off the bus. This will occurr when the total power draw on the
SDI-12 bus goes beyond 500mA. In case of doubt or questions
please consult your sensor supplier or your Adcon dealer.
Note: Please see also SDI-12 spec for additional wiring and setup
information.
To enable the SDI-12 bus operation, a jumper must be installed
between GND (Pin 1) and SDI-Sense (Pin 2). This jumper is factory
installed in the connector of the standard 1m cable, which comes
with your addSDI RTU.
Note: When the SDI-12 bus is not used, please disconnect the SDI
connector and the solar panel from your addSDI. The RTU
will then switch to a power save mode.
1
2SDI−DATA
SDI−GND
34
5
SDI−Sense
SDI−POWER
green
yellow
GND gray

CHAPTER 3
SDI-12 Sensor Connections
17
SDI-12 Sensor Connections
Sensor powered by RTU
To connect a single SDI-12 sensor, that does not have it’s own
power supply, follow the wiring scheme as shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11. Single Sensor Connection, sensor is powered by the RTU
Note: In this configuration, the RTU powers the SDI-12 sensor. The
sensor must be capable of working with a supply voltage as
low as 5.6V.
 WARNING Check the minimum supply voltage of your sensor
BEFORE installing it! This information should be available from
your sensor supplier.
Self powered Sensor
Sensors with an integrated power supply must be connected fol-
lowing the wiring scheme in Figure 12.
Jumper
Detection
SDI−DATA
SDI−GND
POWER
SDI−12 SENSOR
1
2SDI−DATA
SDI−GND
34
5
SDI−Sense
SDI−POWER
GND
gray
yellow
green

CHAPTER 3
Performing Advanced Functions
18
Figure 12. Single Sensor Connection, for sensor with internal battery
pack
Multiple Sensors connected to the SDI-12 bus
Multiple sensors can be connected to the SDI-12 bus as long as
the following conditions are met:
• the maximum total (!) current consumption (500mA) is not
exceeded
• the maximum number of sensor values (20) is not exceeded
• all sensors have unique addresses
 WARNING If two sensors with identical addresses are connected
to the same bus, communication with these sensors is not possible.
Note: The factory default address of most SDI-12 sensors is usually
0. Please use an appropriate tool, usually delivered by the
sensor manufacturer, to change the address. The A725
addSDI RTU is not capable of changing addresses of SDI-12
sensors.
The sensors can be connected in a star, daisy chain or mixed topol-
ogy. Self powered and RTU powered sensors can also be mixed.
See Figure 13 for details.
Jumper
Detection
SDI−DATA
SDI−GND
1
2SDI−DATA
SDI−GND
34
5
SDI−Sense
SDI−POWER
GND
gray
yellow
green
self powered
SDI−12 SENSOR