Geokon 8800 Assembly instructions

Troubleshooting Tips & Procedures
Model 8800
GeoNet Wireless Acquisition System
No part of this instruction manual may be reproduced, by any means, without the written consent of Geokon, Inc.
The information contained herein is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Geokon, Inc. assumes no responsibility for
errors, omissions, or misinterpretation. The information herein is subject to change without notification.
Copyright © 2016-2018 by Geokon, Inc.
(REV C, 03/08/2018)

Warranty Statement
Geokon, Inc. warrants its products to be free of defects in materials and workmanship, under
normal use and service for a period of 13 months from date of purchase. If the unit should
malfunction, it must be returned to the factory for evaluation, freight prepaid. Upon examination
by Geokon, if the unit is found to be defective, it will be repaired or replaced at no charge.
However, the WARRANTY is VOID if the unit shows evidence of having been tampered with
or shows evidence of being damaged as a result of excessive corrosion or current, heat, moisture
or vibration, improper specification, misapplication, misuse or other operating conditions outside
of Geokon's control. Components which wear or which are damaged by misuse are not
warranted. This includes fuses and batteries.
Geokon manufactures scientific instruments whose misuse is potentially dangerous. The
instruments are intended to be installed and used only by qualified personnel. There are no
warranties except as stated herein. There are no other warranties, expressed or implied, including
but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and of fitness for a particular
purpose. Geokon, Inc. is not responsible for any damages or losses caused to other equipment,
whether direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential which the purchaser may experience
as a result of the installation or use of the product. The buyer's sole remedy for any breach of this
agreement by Geokon, Inc. or any breach of any warranty by Geokon, Inc. shall not exceed the
purchase price paid by the purchaser to Geokon, Inc. for the unit or units, or equipment directly
affected by such breach. Under no circumstances will Geokon reimburse the claimant for loss
incurred in removing and/or reinstalling equipment.
Every precaution for accuracy has been taken in the preparation of manuals and/or software,
however, Geokon, Inc. neither assumes responsibility for any omissions or errors that may
appear nor assumes liability for any damages or losses that result from the use of the products in
accordance with the information contained in the manual or software.

TABLE of CONTENTS
1. DEVICE ORIENTATION ........................................................................................................................................ 1
2.TIPS .................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3. PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 SOFT RESET............................................................................................................................................................ 2
3.2 HARD RESET........................................................................................................................................................... 2
3.3 CHANGE CHANNEL .................................................................................................................................................. 2
3.4 STARTING A NETWORK ............................................................................................................................................. 2
3.5 PUTTING NETWORK INTO DEPLOY MODE..................................................................................................................... 3
3.6 PUTTING NETWORK INTO NORMAL MODE ................................................................................................................... 3
3.7 ADDING A NODE TO AN EXISTING NETWORK ................................................................................................................ 3
3.8 NODE LIGHTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
3.9 LIGHT CODES UNRELATED TO NORMAL OPERATION ....................................................................................................... 4
3.9.1 Green Light On for One Second then Off for One Second........................................................................... 4
3.9.2 Green Light Flashing Quickly (Twice per Second) ....................................................................................... 4
3.9.3 Green and Red Light Alternating................................................................................................................ 4
3.10 NODE WILL NOT JOIN NETWORK ............................................................................................................................. 4
3.11 NO DATA FROM NODE........................................................................................................................................... 4
3.12 SOME DATA PRESENT (E.G., BATTERY/SIGNAL STRENGTH)BUT NO VIBRATING WIRE SENSOR DATA AVAILABLE...................... 4
3.13 DIFFICULTY WITH FIRMWARE UPGRADE ..................................................................................................................... 5

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1. DEVICE ORIENTATION
Devices are typically mounted so that the antenna is on the top of the unit, and the cable
entries are on the bottom; as seen in the picture below. Attach the units to the mounting
surface by utilizing the mounting plate. The mounting plate is designed to be used with
hardware such as U-Bolts, hose clamps, bolts, screws, etc. (Mounting hardware is not
included.)
2.TIPS
Avoid cycling power on a supervisor in a working network. The supervisor synchronizes all
the nodes on a regular basis; when it is removed from the network the nodes start searching
for it and consume more power. If necessary, put the network in deploy first, then cycle the
supervisor. Reasons for cycling power on a supervisor:
1) Changing the batteries.
2) Moving the network to a new installation.
Build networks by starting with nodes closest to the supervisor and moving outward.
Changing “deploy period” with the Agent software requires exiting and re-entering deploy
mode on the supervisor for the change to take effect.
It may be necessary to stop the automatic download of data temporarily via the checkbox to
change the scan rate of a network.
The gages and charts (not including “live view”) in the Agent program are static. The
information in these screens will only refresh upon entering the screen. If more data has been
collected while viewing the screen, leave the screen and return. This will update the gage or
chart with the latest information.
Hover the cursor over the gages in the device list to bring up the tooltip showing the most
recent data and the time it was collected.

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3. PROCEDURES
3.1 Soft Reset
Hold down the status button on the device for 10 seconds, until red and green LEDs turn on,
then release.
3.2 Hard Reset
1) Remove batteries
2) Press the status button and ensure no LEDs light up
3) Replace batteries
3.3 Change Channel
Change switch setting when batteries are out of unit.
-Or-
Change switch setting and then reset node.
3.4 Starting a Network
1) Set channel select switches to desired channel.
2) Power up the supervisor.
3) Power up a node in close proximity.
4) The network is established if within 20-30 seconds one of the following occurs:
•Red light activates every 10 seconds on the supervisor.
•Green light activates every 10 seconds on the node.
•Both sets of lights flash at the same time.
5) Start GeoNet Agent software.
6) Create a new network.
7) Enter address of supervisor.
8) Press “get network settings”.
9) Communication with the supervisor is good if the serial number of the supervisor appears in
Serial Number textbox.
10)Press “set network time”, current time will appear in textbox.

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11)Change deploy period and scan rate as desired.
12)Press “save” in Network Settings.
Network is deployed. You may now add nodes just by turning them on within radio range.
3.5 Putting Network into Deploy Mode
All devices are in deploy mode when turned on. There is no need to press the status button after
power up. If a light is flashing on the supervisor every 10 seconds, the network is already in
deploy mode. To activate deploy mode:
1) Press the status button on the supervisor, observe a green LED flash.
2) Wait 3-6 minutes, observe a flash every 10 seconds.
3.6 Putting Network into Normal Mode
Networks will time out and switch to normal mode after the deploy period has expired without a
new node being added to the network. Adding a new node restarts the deploy period timer. If no
lights are flashing on the supervisor for more than 10 seconds, the network is already in normal
mode. To activate normal mode:
1) Press the status button on the supervisor, observe a red LED flash.
2) Wait 10-20 seconds, observe flashing stops.
3.7 Adding a Node to an Existing Network
1) Put network in deploy mode.
2) Turn on the node within radio range.
3) The node will flash lights every 10 seconds to indicate signal strength once it syncs.
3.8 Node Lights
Nodes that have joined a network use their lights to indicate the presence and strength of signal.
Pressing the status button “turns on” the lights for 10 minutes, after which time they will stop to
conserve power. Upon pressing the status button and observing a green flash, the node will
display lights for 10 minutes. Observing a red light will mean the lights are turned off, press
again to enable.

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3.9 Light Codes Unrelated to Normal Operation
3.9.1 Green Light On for One Second then Off for One Second
Bootloader is activated.
1) Remove batteries
2) Change channel switches to a valid setting
3) Reinsert batteries
3.9.2 Green Light Flashing Quickly (Twice per Second)
This is a known issue. Update the network firmware to version 160816 or later
3.9.3 Green and Red Light Alternating
Device malfunction, contact Geokon.
3.10 Node Will Not Join Network
1) Ensure network is in deploy mode; a light on the supervisor should flash every 10 seconds.
2) Ensure channel is the same as the rest of the network.
3) Restart node closer to other nodes or supervisor to establish link and then move back to
desired location while using lights to observe signal strength.
3.11 No Data From Node
1) Be sure node is powered.
2) With network in deploy mode, observe either red and green or green lights every 10 seconds
on the node.
3) Make sure network time is set.
3.12 Some Data Present (e.g., Battery/Signal Strength) but No Vibrating Wire
Sensor Data Available
1) Check the sensor wire connections to the node terminal if so equipped.
2) If the node has been operating without a sensor connected, it will stop trying to read a sensor
after five failed scans. Set the network time or change the scan rate to re-enable the node.
3) Check the sensor with an independent measurement device, like a GK-404 or GK-405.

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3.13 Difficulty with Firmware Upgrade
Make sure the green light is flashing on and off in one second intervals.
The multicolored upgrade ribbon cable must be used on all units with the exception of the
RS-232 version supervisor.
Updates should be done using the Geokon provided USB to RS232 adapter, part number
8001-7. Other adapters and native serial ports have been unreliable.
Make sure the batteries are fresh.