Onset HOBOnode User manual

OnsetComputerCorporation
User’s Guide DRAFT - 2 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Contacting Onset
For support, please contact the company that you bought the products from: Onset
Computer Corporation or an Onset Authorized Dealer.
Onset Computer Corporation
470 MacArthur Blvd.
Bourne, MA 02532
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 3450
Pocasset, MA 02559-3450
Phone: 1-800-LOGGERS (1-800-564-4377) or 508-759-9500
Fax: [phone]
Hours of Operation: 8AM to 5PM ET, Monday through Friday
E-mail: [email protected]
Main Onset Web site: www.onsetcomp.com
Copyrights and Trademarks
© 2009 Onset Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Onset, HOBO, and HOBOware are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Onset Computer Corporation for its data logger
products and configuration/interface software. Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Document #: MAN-HOBOnode-UG
Part#: D-12473-A

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 3 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Contents
Chapter One:About the HOBOnode System ..............6
Overview ............................................................................................ 6
Benefits .................................................................................... 6
Uses......................................................................................... 6
Standards ................................................................................. 6
Components .............................................................................. 6
Battery Options.......................................................................... 7
Accessories ............................................................................... 7
Theory of Operation ............................................................................. 8
Standard................................................................................... 8
Communications Protocol ............................................................ 8
Network ID................................................................................ 8
Packets..................................................................................... 8
Lost Node ................................................................................. 8
Sending Commands.................................................................... 9
Maximum Endpoints ................................................................... 9
HOBOnode Viewer Utility System Requirements.......................................10
Topologies .........................................................................................11
HOBOnode Viewer...............................................................................12
Chapter Two:Setup and Test ....................................13
Summary of Setup Tasks .....................................................................13
Running the HOBOnode Viewer Configuration Wizard ...............................14
Insert HOBOnode Receiver into Base......................................................16
Setting Up the HOBOnode Receiver........................................................17
Connect the HOBOnode Receiver to a Computer ............................17
Set HOBOnode Network ID for Receiver........................................18
Activating HOBOnodes .........................................................................19
Setup and Activate HOBOnode Repeaters ...............................................20
Linking Nodes to the HOBOnode Receiver ...............................................27
Adding Labels to Nodes........................................................................28
Configuring Alarms..............................................................................29
Verify Proper Operation........................................................................30
View Node Information...............................................................30

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 4 - HOBOnode Wireless System
View Plots ................................................................................30
Chapter Three:Deploying the System.......................31
Guidelines..........................................................................................32
Line of Sight Restrictions ............................................................32
Chapter Four:Monitoring Your System .....................33
Viewing Device Status................................................................33
Chapter Five:Working with Data ..............................34
Viewing Data ......................................................................................34
Exporting Data ...................................................................................35
Chapter Six:View Options.........................................36
HOBOnode Network Tab .............................................................36
Plot by Node Tab.......................................................................38
Plot by Measurement Tab ...........................................................39
Data Search Tab .......................................................................40
Chapter Seven:Maintenance.....................................41
De-activating a HOBOnode ...................................................................41
Moving a HOBOnode............................................................................41
Installing Lithium Batteries ...................................................................42
Chapter Eight:Troubleshooting ................................43
Viewing Receiver Status .............................................................43
Viewing Network Statistics..........................................................43
Problems/Resolutions.................................................................45
Chapter Nine:HOBOnode Viewer Reference .............46
File Menu .................................................................................46
Network Menu ....................................................................................47
Plotting Menu .....................................................................................49
View Menu .........................................................................................50
Chapter Ten:Specifications.......................................52
Chapter Eleven:Compliance......................................54

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 5 - HOBOnode Wireless System
FCC Part 15 Compliance .......................................................................54
FCC Compliance ........................................................................54
Canada ....................................................................................54
FCC Declaration of Conformity.....................................................54
Maximum Allowed Antenna Gain..................................................54

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 6 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Chapter One: About the HOBOnode System
Overview
The HOBOnode wireless sensors are easy to deploy and move. There are no cables to run
through crops or building walls, you are not limited by cable length limits, and there is less
chance for loosing measurements from cable damage.
Benefits
•Solar recharging - can run for multiple years without having to replace batteries
•Real-time graphs
•Alarms sent to your e-mail account
•Data can be exported for use in other programs.
•Repeaters allow communication to sensors that are miles away
•Research-grade reliability and accuracy
•Small size makes them especially easy to deploy
•Operating range
Uses
The HOBOnode wireless system is ideal for:
•Crop and Irrigation Management
•Ag Research
•Ecology
•Greenhouse Management
•Building Management (outside temperature)
•Landscape Management
Standards
The HOBOnode Wireless System uses the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless data standard, in the 2.4
GHz ISM band, which is approved for worldwide use.
Components
The following components make up a HOBOnode Wireless System:
•W-TMB HOBOnode wireless temperature sensor
•W-SMC HOBOnode wireless soil moisture sensor
•W- RCVR-USB HOBOnode Receiver
•W-REPEATER HOBOnode Repeater (Optional)
•HOBOnode Viewer software – free download

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 7 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Battery Options
The HOBOnodes and HOBOnode Repeaters are shipped with re-chargeable Alkaline
batteries. You can also use Onset-supplied Lithium batteries for increased operating
temperature range (-40 C).
Accessories
•Lithium AAA - 2-pack (Part# HRB-LI-AAA)
•USB active extension cable – 16’ (Part# CABLE-USB-EXT)
•USB Extension Cable
•2-meter Tri-pod
•Replacement Batteries
•Guy Wire Kit

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 8 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Theory of Operation
Standard
The radio technology used for the HOBOnode Wireless System is a 802.15.4 radio running
in the 2.4Ghz spectrum. This is an ISM band technology and is legal to use in almost all
countries. The underlying communications protocol running on this radio technology is
Onset proprietary. This choice was made to both maximize battery life and minimize cost.
Communications Protocol
The HOBOnode Wireless System uses a time slot based communications protocol. The
system views time in 1/4 second per time slot with 1 minute before the timeslots repeat. All
HOBOnodes measure at the same timeslot, so even though your data reports arrive when
the device’s timeslot is active, the measurement time for all devices is common.
Network ID
Because it is possible to have more than on HOBOnode Network running in the same area it
is important that unique network IDs are assigned so that the networks can co-exist
peacefully. A unique network ID consists of two elements. The first element is an RF
channel; the second is a Unique ID (any number from 0 to 4095).
If two HOBOnode Networks are being configured, it is best to select different channels for
them to use. Although they can share a channel, there is a potential for interference. New
HOBOnodes and HOBOnode Repeaters come from the factory with a blank network ID. Once
a device is linked to a HOBOnode Receiver it will only respond to that HOBOnode Receiver.
The network ID can be cleared from a device if you need to change it.
Packets
In the simplest exchange, a HOBOnode is connected directly to a HOBOnode Receiver. In
this case, the HOBOnode will send a packet of up to 128 bytes to the Receiver. The
HOBOnode Receiver receives and verifies the packets validity (unique network ID, CRC et.),
sends a Reply packet to the device, and forwards the packet to HOBOnode Viewer (host
software).
This is made slightly more complicated by having a HOBOnode Repeater or a line of
HOBOnode Repeaters between a HOBOnode and the Receiver. It is essentially the same
operation as above except it is repeated on each hop. You can only chain HOBOnode
Repeaters to a depth of 4 hops. This is because there is only 1/4 second to get the packet
and reply done between all the devices in the chain. For reliability purposes, packet/ reply
exchanges are retried between nodes.
Lost Node
A device becomes lost when it has not had a successful packet/reply exchange 4 times in a
row. By default, the HOBOnode Receiver will automatically search for lost nodes every 4
minutes.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 9 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Sending Commands
Commands sent to devices must be carried in the reply packet generated in the
packet/reply exchange. This means a command can only move down 1 hop in the network
each minute. So, a command to a device that is 4 hops down in the network may take up to
4 minutes to reach the device. The main commands are Start Manual Search, Stop Manual
Search and Auto Search.
Maximum Endpoints
There is a limit of 50 endpoints (HOBOnodes plus HOBOnode Repeaters) per system. This is
to preserve the battery life of the HOBOnode Repeaters. Many wireless systems suffer from
having to have repeaters on wall power. The Onset system does not require this due to
reasonable system limitations coupled with a design that took battery life into account.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 10 - HOBOnode Wireless System
HOBOnode Viewer Utility System Requirements
Operating Systems
•Windows XP SP2 or SP3
•Windows Vista
•Microsoft .NET 3.5
Minimum HW
•Pentium3 CPU 2Ghz or greater
•1 Gigabyte of RAM or greater
•100 Megabytes free disk space
•USB Full Speed Port
•Direct Internet access for alarms

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 11 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Topologies
The following illustration shows a sample deployment of a HOBOnode Wireless System.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 12 - HOBOnode Wireless System
HOBOnode Viewer
The illustration below shows the HOBOnode Viewer main window. For more details on
windows and functionality, see HOBOnode Viewer Reference.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 13 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Chapter Two: Setup and Test
You should setup your system and verify proper operation in the office before you deploy
any components in the field.
Summary of Setup Tasks
1. Download Onset’s HOBOnode Viewer Utility software.
Use HOBOnode Viewer to setup your HOBOnode network and monitor your
HOBOnodes. The HOBOnode Viewer is only supported for Windows®.
NOTE: HOBOnode Viewer requires Microsoft .NET Framework (version 3.5) installed.
To determine if you have this installed on your PC, go to Start > Control Panel >
Add or Remove Programs and see if it is in the list of currently installed programs.
HOBOnode Viewer and Microsoft .NET Framework can be downloaded from the
following location:
http://www.onsetcomp.com/support/software_utilities
Follow the prompts to install the .NET software. You will have to restart your
computer after the installation is complete.
2. Run the HOBOnode Viewer Utility Setup Wizard.
3. Connect the HOBOnode Receiver to the computer.
Connect the receiver to the base PC. Put the receiver into the base and place on a
desk. Make sure the antenna is pointing upward.
4. Setup the HOBOnode Receiver.
5. Set the HOBOnode Network ID of the HOBOnode Receiver.
6. Activate HOBOnodes
7. Activate and Setup HOBOnode Repeaters.
8. Link nodes to the HOBOnode Receiver.
9. Set Labels.
10. Configure Alarms.
11. Verify Proper Operation.
12. Deploy Components.
13. Re-link HOBOnodes and HOBOnode Repeaters
Note on Installing HOBOnode Viewer on Windows Vista®
To install HOBOnode Viewer on a PC running Windows Vista, right-click on the installer and
select Run as administrator.
For Vista Home, to run the application, right-click on the HOBOnode Viewer Utility.exe and
select Run as administrator.
For Vista Pro, you can run the application as in Vista Home, or you can disable User Access
Controls from the Control Panel > Security Center.

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Running the HOBOnode Viewer Configuration Wizard
1. Run the HOBOnode Viewer Utility Wizard and follow the prompts.
2. In the General Information pane, make sure you select your desired units.
3. Click Next to proceed.
The Alarm/Email Configuration dialog appears.

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4. Configure Alarms/E-mail
If you want to configure alarm notifications, enter the information in the
Alarm/Email Configuration window. Enter the Email Addresses for any accounts
that you want to receive alarm notifications. To have a text message sent to your
cell phone, enter the e-mail address of your cell phone number (see your cell
provider for format).
If you want to enable authentication, check the use Authentication box and enter a
Username and Password.
If you are unsure of values for Server Address or Port, contact your IT Administrator
or your internet service provider (ISP).
You can skip this step for now by checking the Skip and configure later box. To
configure alarm notification later, go to File > Setup to re-run the Setup Wizard.
5. Click Next to proceed.
The Complete Setup dialog appears.
6. If you want HOBOnode Viewer to launch each time you start your computer, check
the Run at start-up box.
7. Click Finish to complete the installation.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 16 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Insert HOBOnode Receiver into Base
1. Slide the front end of the Receiver into the base first (the end with the antenna).
2. Slide the Receiver all the way into the base until the tab on the cap meets the
groove in the base.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 17 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Setting Up the HOBOnode Receiver
Connect the HOBOnode Receiver to a Computer
Connect the HOBOnode Receiver to a PC. A 16’ extension cable is available for purchase
(Part#: CABLE-USB-EXT). You can connect up to 5 extension cables for a total of 80’.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you do not plug the HOBOnode Receiver into a USB port that may
be shut down due to your power settings. Onset recommends that you do not enable
options such as “Hibernation”, or “Shut Down” on your computer. If you use a USB port on
your monitor, do not enable the shut down option on your monitor. If the HOBOnode
Receiver is without power for more than 3 days, you will need to perform a manual search
to re-link to HOBOnodes and HOBOnode Repeaters.
When the Receiver has connected, the Receiver information will appear in the Device Table
and the Receiver icon will appear in the Configuration Tree. This may take up to 2 minutes.

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Set HOBOnode Network ID for Receiver
Before you activate HOBOnodes, you should set the HOBOnode Network ID for the
HOBOnode Receiver to make your HOBOnode Network unique from any other HOBOnode or
wireless networks that may be in the area.
NOTE: This is for your HOBOnode network only. If there is another wireless network in the
area, choose and RF Channel different than RF Channels already in use (RF Channels only
apply to 802.15.4 devices).
1. Right-click on the Receiver icon in the Network Tree.
2. Select Send Command > Set Network ID.
3. In the Set Network ID window, select an RF Channel (11-25) and Unique Id (0-
4095) to make your network unique from any others that may be in the area.
If you experience any connection problems, try assigning a different RF Channel.
If you are setting up more than one HOBOnode network, use unique RF Channels for
each.
4. Click OK.

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User’s Guide DRAFT - 19 - HOBOnode Wireless System
Activating HOBOnodes
You must activate your HOBOnodes so that they can be linked to the HOBOnode Receiver.
Once you have activated a HOBOnode (or HOBOnode Repeater), you will not have to
reactivate it unless you deactivate it or you change the Network ID of the HOBOnode
Receiver.
NOTE: If you are replacing the Alkaline batteries with Onset-supplied Lithium batteries, see
Installing Lithium Batteries in the Maintenance section.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Remove the HOBOnode from the base.
1. Remove the rubber spacer from the groove between the case and the cap.
2. Remove the cap on the case by twisting it counterclockwise and slide the PC board
partially out of the case.
NOTE: If the desiccant pack falls out when you remove the cap make sure you
replace it.
3. Locate the brown Set/Clear button on the board and hold it down for 2 seconds.
The 3 LEDs will flash briefly to indicate that the device is activated.
4. Slide the PC board back into the case and turn the cap clockwise to secure.
When sliding the PC board into the case, align the edge of the board with the
grooves in the side of the case so that the board slides all the way back into position.
5. Re-install the rubber spacer, aligning the tab with the ridge on the top of the case.

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Setup and Activate HOBOnode Repeaters
NOTE: If you are replacing the Alkaline batteries with Onset-supplied Lithium batteries, see
Installing Lithium Batteries in the Maintenance section.
Activating HOBOnode Repeaters
You must activate your HOBOnode Repeater(s) so that they can be linked to the HOBOnode
Receiver. Once you have activated a HOBOnode Repeater (or HOBOnode), you will not have
to reactivate it unless you deactivate it or you change the Network ID of the HOBOnode
Receiver
1. The cover is not attached when the unit is shipped. Remove the rubber bands and
remove the cover. Before you permanently attach the cover, you should grease it
2. Remove the desiccant pouch.
3. Push and hold the Set/Clear button for 2 seconds.
The 3 LEDs will flash briefly to indicate that the device is activated.
4. Remove the desiccant pack from the pouch, and place the desiccant pack inside the
case, under the PC board.