Hobo Rxw-rptr series User manual

HOBO® RX Wireless Sensor Network

HOBO RXW Repeater (RXW-RPTR-xxx) Manual

22249-2

The HOBO RXW Repeater is designed to work with the HOBO RX Wireless Sensor Network in

which data is transmitted wirelessly from sensor motes across the network to the RX3000 station

and then uploaded to HOBOlink® web-based software. The repeater is ideal when there is an

obstruction between motes and the station or for extending the transmission range of motes in

the network. With HOBOlink, you can monitor the network, view graphs, set up alarms, download

data, and more.

Specifications

perating Temperature

Range

-25° to 60°C (-13° to 140°F) with rechargeable batteries

-40 to 70°C (-40 to 158°F) with lithium batteries

Radio Power 12.6 mW (+11 dBm) non-adjustable

Transmission Range At least 304.8 m (1,000 ft) line of sight at 1.8 m (6 ft) from the ground,

457.2 m (1,500 ft) typical

Wireless Data Standard IEEE 802.15.4

Radio Operating

Frequencies

RXW-RPTR-900: 904–924 MHz

RXW-RPTR-868: 866.5 MHz

RXW-RPTR-922: 916–924 MHz

Modulation Employed OQPSK (Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying)

Data Rate Up to 250 kbps, non-adjustable

Duty Cycle <1%

Maximum Number of

Motes

50 motes per one RX Wireless Sensor Network

Battery Type/

Power Source

Two AA 1.2V rechargeable NiMH batteries, powered by built-in solar panel or

two AA 1.5 V lithium batteries for operating conditions of -40 to 70°C (-40 to

158°F)

Battery Life With NiMH batteries: Typical 3–5 years when operated in the temperature

range -20° to 40°C (-4°F to 104°F) and positioned toward the sun (see

Deployment and Mounting), operation outside this range will reduce the

battery service life

With lithium batteries: 1 year, typical use

Dimensions 16.2 x 8.59 x 4.14 cm (6.38 x 3.38 x 1.63 inches)

Weight 219 g (7.74 oz)

Materials PCPBT, silicone rubber seal

Environmental Rating IP67

ompliance Marks RXW-RPTR-900: See last page

RXW-RPTR-868: The CE Marking identifies this product as

complying with all relevant directives in the European Union (EU).

RXW-RPTR-922: See last page

Components and Operation

Repeater Closed, Front Repeater Closed, Back

Repeater Opened

Mounting

Tab

Solar Panel Latch

HOBO RXW Repeater

Models:

•RXW-RPTR-900 (US)

•RXW-RPTR-868 (Europe)

•RXW-RPTR-922

(Australia/NZ)

Items Included:

•Cable ties

Solar Panel Cable

Button

USB Port

Battery Holder

Eyelet

LCD Screen

Antenna

LED

Ground Wire

Port

LED

HOBO RXW Repeater (RXW-RPTR-xxx) Manual

1-800-LOGGERS 2 www.onsetcomp.com

Mounting Tab: Use the tabs at the top and bottom of the

repeater to mount it (see Deploying and Mounting).

Solar Panel: Position the solar panel towards the sun to charge

the repeater batteries (see Deploying and Mounting).

Eyelet: Use this eyelet to attach a 3/16 inch padlock to the

repeater for security.

Latch: Use the two latches to open and close the repeater door.

Ground Wire Port: Use this port to connect a ground wire (see

Deploying and Mounting).

Antenna: This is the built-in antenna for the radio

communications across the RX Wireless Sensor Network.

Solar Panel Cable: This cable connects the built-in solar panel

to the repeater circuitry.

LEDs: The blue LED to the left of the LCD screen blinks at 4

seconds during normal operation. It blinks more frequently

when initially joining a network. If the mote is not currently

part of a network, the blue LED will be off. If the LED is on and

not blinking, there is a problem with the mote. Contact

Technical Support at www.onsetcomp.com/support/contact.

The yellow-green LED to the upper right of the batteries only

blinks during the process of joining a network.

Battery Holder: The location where the rechargeable AA

batteries are installed as shown (see Battery Information).

USB Port: Use this port to connect to the repeater to a

computer via USB cable if you need to update the firmware

(see Updating Repeater Firmware).

Button: Push this button for 1 second to illuminate the LCD or 3

seconds for the repeater to search for an RX Wireless Sensor

Network to join (see Adding the Repeater to the RX Wireless

Sensor Network).

LCD Screen: The repeater is equipped with an LCD screen that

displays details about the current status. This example shows all

symbols illuminated on the LCD screen followed by definitions

of each symbol in the table.

LCD Symbol Description

The battery indicator shows the approximate

battery charge remaining.

This is a signal strength indicator. The more bars,

the stronger the signal between motes. This icon

will blink when you press the button on the

repeater to search for a network to join (see

Adding the Mote to the RX Wireless Sensor

Network for details).

This indicates that the repeater is not part of a

network. See Adding the Repeater to the RX

Wireless Sensor Network for details on how to add

it to the network.

This indicates a problem with the sensor itself (the

mote is operational). Check the sensor and make

any adjustments to it as needed. Contact Onset

Technical Support if the problem persists.

Adding the Repeater to the RX Wireless Sensor

Network

The repeater must join an RX Wireless Sensor Network before it

can begin transmitting data. This requires accessing the RX3000

Station and the repeater at the same time so it is

recommended that you complete these steps before deploying

the repeater.

Important: If you have not configured the RX3000 Station with

the RXW Manager, follow the instructions in the RX3000 Quick

Start before continuing.

To add a repeater to the RX Wireless Sensor Network:

1. If the LCD is blank on the RX3000 station, press any button

to wake it up.

2. Press the Select button once (which shows the number of

smart sensors installed) and then press it again once if the

HOBO RXW Manager is installed in the left slot (module 1)

or twice if it is installed on the right slot (module 2).

3. Press the Search button (the magnifying glass). The

magnifying glass icon will blink while the RX3000 is in search

mode.

4. Open the repeater door and install the batteries if you have

not already done so.

5. Press the button on the repeater for 3 seconds. The signal

strength icon will flash and then cycle.

Press this button to view the module

where the RXW Manager is installed

Press this button so the station is ready

to have motes join the network

Press this button for 3

seconds for the repeater

to join the network

HOBO RXW Repeater (RXW-RPTR-xxx) Manual

1-800-LOGGERS 3 www.onsetcomp.com

6. Watch the LCD on the repeater. The signal strength icon

and the LEDs will quickly blink while the repeater searches

for the wireless network. Once it has found the network,

the icon will stop blinking and the signal strength bars will

slowly cycle from left to right. As the repeater completes its

registration process with the network, the “x” icon to the

right of the signal strength icon will flash and the yellow-

green LED will stop blinking. Once the registration is

complete, the signal strength bars will stop cycling and

remain solid and the channel count on the RX3000 LCD will

be updated by 1 to represent the battery channel in the

repeater. This process may take up to five minutes.

7. Press the Search button (the magnifying glass) on the

RX3000 Station to stop searching for motes.

Use HOBOlink to monitor repeater status. See the HOBOlink

Help for details on how to check mote status, add the mote to a

map, and more.

Deployment and Mounting

When to Use a Repeater

•Motes cannot transmit data to each other if there is an

obstruction between them, such as a hill or mountain in

the example diagram below on the left. If there is an

obstruction in the path of two sensor motes or between a

sensor mote and the RXW Manager, then use a repeater

mounted on the obstruction between the two as shown in

the diagram below on the right.

•Data logged by a wireless sensor must travel or “hop”

across the wireless network from one mote to the next

until it ultimately reaches the RXW Manager at the RX3000

station. To make sure the data can successfully travel

across the network, the sensor mote should not be more

than five hops away from a repeater or manager. Use a

repeater if your network has more than five motes in any

direction.

•If the distance between two motes is greater than the

recommended transmission range of 304.8–457.2 m

(1,000–1,500 feet), then you will need to add a repeater

between them.

•If the signal between two motes is weak (consistently one

bar on the LCD) even though the motes are within the

recommended transmission range, add a repeater

between them.

Mounting and Positioning the Repeater

•Use cable ties to mount the repeater via the holes on the

mounting tabs.

•Avoid mounting the repeater near metal, which can cause

interference with the signal.

•Position the repeater towards the sun, making sure the

solar panel is oriented so that it receives optimal sunlight

throughout each season. It may be necessary to

periodically adjust the repeater position as the path of the

sunlight changes throughout the year or if tree and leaf

growth alters the amount of sunlight reaching the solar

panel.

•Make sure the repeater door is closed, with both latches

fully locked to ensure a watertight seal.

•Consider using a 3/16 inch padlock to restrict access to the

repeater. With the repeater door closed, hook a padlock

through the eyelet on the right side of the door and lock it.

•The RX Wireless Sensor Network can support a maximum

of 50 motes.

•Use a #4-40 screw to attach a ground wire to the port on

the back of the repeater if you are deploying it in a

location where lightning is a concern.

•Make sure the repeater remains in a vertical position once

it is placed in its deployment location for optimal network

communications.

Maintenance

The repeater is designed for outdoor use, but should be

inspected periodically. When inspecting the repeater, do the

following:

•Verify the repeater is free of visible damage or cracks.

•Make sure the repeater is clean. Wipe off any dust or

grime with a damp cloth.

•Wipe off any water before opening the repeater.

•Make sure the interior seal is intact and the latches are

fully locked when the repeater door is closed.

Updating Repeater Firmware

If a new firmware version is available for the repeater, use

HOBOlink to download the file to your computer. Connect the

repeater to the computer with a USB cable (open the repeater

door and use the USB port to the right of the LCD). The

repeater appears as a new storage device in the computer’s file

storage manager. Copy the downloaded firmware file to the

new storage device (the repeater). After the file is copied, eject

the storage device from the computer and disconnect the cable

from the repeater. The file will be installed automatically on the

repeater. Note to Mac® users: A message may appear

indicating the disk has not ejected properly. The repeater is

operational and you can ignore the message.

Press this button again to

stop searching for motes

HOBO RXW Repeater (RXW-RPTR-xxx) Manual

1-800-LOGGERS 4 www.onsetcomp.com

Battery Information

The mote uses two 1.2 V rechargeable NiMH batteries, charged

by the built-in solar panel. The quality and quantity of solar

light can affect whether the battery is sufficiently charged to

last through the night and cloudy periods. Make sure the mote

is placed in a location that will receive several hours of sunlight

each day. If the mote does not receive enough sunlight to

recharge the batteries, the battery life is estimated at 3–4

months. When batteries are regularly recharged, expected

battery life is estimated at 3–5 years. Battery life varies based

on the ambient temperature where the mote is deployed, the

logging interval, the number of tripped alarms, and other

factors. Deployments in extremely cold or hot temperatures

can impact battery life. Estimates are not guaranteed due to

uncertainties in initial battery conditions and operating

environment.

Mote operation will stop when battery voltage drops to 1.8 V.

Mote operation will return if the battery recharges to 2.3 V. If

the batteries are unable to be recharged, replace them with

fresh rechargeable batteries.

To replace rechargeable batteries:

1. Open the mote door.

2. Remove the old batteries and install the new ones

observing polarity.

3. Make sure the solar panel cable is plugged in.

You can use two 1.5 V lithium batteries (HWSB-LI) for operation

at the extreme ends of the mote operating range. Lithium

battery life is an estimated at 1 year, but varies based on the

ambient temperature where the mote is deployed, the logging

interval, the number of tripped alarms, and other factors.

Estimates are not guaranteed due to uncertainties in initial

battery conditions and operating environment. When using

lithium batteries, you must disconnect the solar panel cable

because the batteries will not be recharged.

To install lithium batteries:

1. Open the mote door.

2. Remove any old batteries and install the new ones

observing polarity.

3. Push in the side tab of the solar panel cable connector and

pull the connector out of the cable port.

4. Place the connector in the slot on the inside of the mote

door. Make sure the solar panel cables are tucked inside the

door so that they do not interfere with the interior seal

when the mote is closed.

WARNING: Do not cut open, incinerate, heat above 85°C

(185°F), or recharge the batteries. The batteries may explode if

the logger is exposed to extreme heat or conditions that could

damage or destroy the battery cases. Do not mix battery types,

either by chemistry or age; batteries may rupture or explode.

Do not dispose of the logger or batteries in fire. Do not expose

the contents of the batteries to water. Dispose of the batteries

according to local regulations.

Store the solar

panel connector

here when using

lithium batteries

Make sure

solar panel

cable is

installed

when using

rechargeable

batteries

HOBO RXW Repeater (RXW-RPTR-xxx) Manual

1-800-LOGGERS (564-4377) • 508-759-9500

www.onsetcomp.com/support/contact

trademarks of Onset Computer Corporation. Mac is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. All other trademarks

are the property of their respective companies.

22249-2

Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide

reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and

used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a

particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user

is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:

•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

•Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver

•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected

•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device

must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

Industry Canada Statements

This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and

(2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Avis de conformité pour l’Industrie Canada

Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1)

l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le

fonctionnement.

To comply with FCC and Industry Canada RF radiation exposure limits for general population, the logger must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least 20cm from