Geokon GeoNet 8900 Series Instruction Manual

Product Tutorial

Installing GeoNet Wireless
Data Hosting Systems

Topics Covered in this Tutorial
Initial Setup
Power Up
Device Mounting & Network Considerations
Connecting Sensors to Nodes
Commissioning a Cellular Gateway Supervisor

Network
►A collection of GeoNet devices communicating via radio signals
►Minimum requirements for a working network: 1 “Node” ,
1 “Supervisor” , a PC with “Agent software” installed
Node
►Collects data from external sensors (piezometers, strain gauges, etc.)
and internal sensors (battery, signal strength, etc.)
►Forwards collected data to the Supervisor
►Will forward data from other Nodes to the Supervisor as necessary
Supervisor
►Controls the network (sets time, changes modes, etc.)
►Central collection point for all data obtained by the network
►Contains internal sensors for battery, signal strength, etc.
Important Terms

Agent software
►Used for network configuration and data collection
►Data can be viewed as a chart or exported for use in other data
management applications
►Visit GEOKON.com/software to download
LED indicators
►Red and green LEDs that indicate the status of the device
►A key printed below the indicators explains the various light codes
Status Button
►Press to have the LED indicators display the device status
►Used to activate or restart “Deployment mode” on the Supervisor
Important Terms (Continued)

Deployment mode
►Must be used when making changes to a network
(adding Nodes, changing batteries, resetting a device, etc.)
►Indicated by the LEDs on the Supervisor flashing every 10-15
seconds
►Automatically activated when Supervisor is powered
►Active for 60 minutes by default
(Can be changed using Agent software)
►Can be reactivated/reset by pressing the status button on
the Supervisor
(May take up to 6 minutes to take effect)
Important Terms (Continued)

GEOKON Provided
►#3 Philips head screwdriver
►Small flat head screwdriver
►Antenna for each device (Not required for Cellular Gateway
Supervisors)
►Two D-cell batteries for each device (Not required for Cellular
Gateway Supervisors)
►Desiccant packs
►Mini USB to standard USB cable (Required for Supervisors without
cellular capability)
►USB to RS-232 adaptor (Required for RS-232 Supervisors without
cellular capability)
Items Required for Installation

Customer Provided
►Mounting hardware
(screws, U-bolts, hose clamps, etc.)
►Materials to create a suitable earth ground
(A 6-foot copper rod and 12 AWG or larger copper wire
are recommended; these items can be purchased from
GEOKON)
►Portable PC with Agent software installed
(Required on installation site when using a Supervisor
that does not have cellular capability)
Items Required for Installation

For ease of setup GEOKON recommends the following:
Perform the installation in the designated order
(Skipping steps or performing them out of order, could
complicate the installation of the network)
All network components should be in close proximity to one
another during the initial setup
Make sure all components have joined the network before
moving them to their final locations
Getting Started

Initial Setup

Complete the following for all
devices in the network:
1. Remove the cap from the
antenna mount
2. Position the antenna on the
mount
3. Thread the antenna onto the
mount by rotating it clockwise
until finger tight
Attach the Antennae
Do not cross thread the antenna. Cellular Gateway Supervisor
antennae have an O-ring which must be flush with the enclosure

Complete the following for all devices
in the network:
1. Using a Phillips head screwdriver,
loosen the cover screws by turning
them counterclockwise
2. Remove the cover
Remove the Covers

All GeoNet devices are set to operate on the same channel at
the factory
Channels only need to be set if multiple networks will be
operating within radio range of one another
Networks within radio range of one another must be set to
different channels
Up to 12 networks can operate in the same area, by utilizing a
different channel for each network
Setting Channels

To set the channel, move the
channel dipswitches to one of
the 12 valid settings shown
GeoNet Devices will only
communicate with others that
have been set to the same
channel, therefore,
ALL DEVICES in a network
must be set to the same
channel
Setting Channels (Continued)

Power Up

1. Plug the AC adaptor, or other
external power source, into
the 9-24V DC power jack
(Cellular Gateways must have
an external power source)
2. Move the power switch to
BATTERY or 9-24V based on
the table below
Powering a Cellular Gateway
Supervisor
Geographical Zone
Power Source Temperate Sub Polar
Mains / Solar with External Battery Battery 9-24V
Solar, NO External Battery N/A

1. Align the positive (+) side of
the D cell batteries with the
left side of the battery holder
2. Push the batteries straight
down into the holder
3. Move the battery selector
switch to “ALKALINE” or
“LITHIUM” depending on the
type of batteries installed
Powering a Supervisor without
Cellular Capability

On power up, the green LED
on the side of the enclosure
will flash twice
(May take several seconds to
occur)
The LEDs will not flash again
until at least one Node has
joined the network, or the
status button is pressed
Powering the Supervisor
All Models

1. Place the supplied desiccant packs
inside the enclosure
2. Make sure the cover gasket and the
mating ridge on the enclosure are
clean, and that the gasket is
properly seated inside the groove
3. Place the cover on the unit, making
sure the orientation is correct
4. Tighten the cover screws a little at a
time, working in a diagonal pattern
5. Check that the cover has closed
tightly and evenly
Close the Supervisor

Data will not be collected until
the network time has been set
using Agent software
1. Connect the Supervisor to a
computer using the factory
supplied USB cable (and RS-
232 adaptor if required)
2. Use Agent software to set the
network time
(For more information,
refer to the Agent tutorial, or
refer to the Agent instruction
manual)
Setting the Network Time
(Not Necessary for Cellular Gateway Supervisors)