Tenetics, llc Ceres User manual

Who we are

Tenetics is committed to bringing precision agriculture technology to

small and medium-sized farms. Our Ceres wireless products help you

monitor and manage your farm from your computer or smart-phone.

Ceres is designed for agriculture:

•Easy installation

•Maintenance free

•Long wireless range

•Wide operating temperature

•Rugged outdoor reliability

Ceres (Demeter) was the Greek and

Roman goddess of agriculture.

“Cereal” comes from her name.

Tenetics is located in suburban Maryland. For more information about

Ceres products, please contact us or visit our website.

Phone: 301-970-9700

Email: ceres@tenetics.com

Web: https://www.tenetics.com

Tenetics, LLC

10630 Little Patuxent Pkwy

Columbia, MD 21044

Ceres® Wi-Fi

Gateway

TENETICS, LLC

Advanced Wireless Agriculture

Table of Contents

Getting Started/Overview ...........................................................................................1

Installation

Location/Mounting.......................................................................................3

Push-button Wi-Fi Connection ................................................................3

Advanced Wi-Fi Configuration.................................................................4

Pairing Sensors.................................................................................................................6

Remote Locations............................................................................................................7

Disconnecting....................................................................................................................7

Reset to Factory Defaults .............................................................................................7

Specifications ....................................................................................................................8

FCC Notice...........................................................................................................................9

FCC Notice

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.

This device and its antenna(s) must not be co-located or operating in

conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

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 or more 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 equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an

uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated

with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator and your body.

Contains FCC ID: 2AHMR-ESP12F

FCC WARNING: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party

responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the

equipment.

Specifications

Power

•Typical power consumption is less than ½ Watt

•USB mini-B power input

•Included power supply

◦Input: 100-240VAC 50/60 Hz input, UL listed

◦Output: 5vdc at up to 750mA

Physical

•4.5”x 5.0”x 1.3”

•-40 to +85C operating temperature range

•Indoor operation (standard)

•Outdoor weatherproof enclosure available (option)

Wireless

•Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n compliant (2.4GHz)

◦WPS push-button connection supported

◦WPA/WPA2 encryption supported

◦FCC, CE certified

•Ceres Long-Range Wireless:

◦Long range sub-GHz frequency band

◦Secure frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)

◦Advanced filtering against cellular and pager interference

◦RP-SMA antenna, 1.2dBi gain

Getting Started

Congratulations on selecting Ceres for your precision

agriculture. This manual will help you get your wireless

Gateway installed and running in less than 5 minutes.

Package Contents

Your Gateway package contains:

•Ceres Wi-Fi Gateway

•Ceres long range antenna

•AC Mains to USB power adapter

•USB A to mini-B power cable

Overview

The wireless Gateway is a part of the Ceres

farm management system (FMS). If you

haven’t already done so, you should start by

registering and setting up your farm here:

https://www.tenetics.com/CeresWeb

The Ceres gateway is an integral part of the FMS, connecting your long-

range wireless sensors and controls with the Ceres servers.

Each Ceres gateway supports up to 100 remote sensors and

controllers. A farm can have multiple Ceres gateways.

The Wi-Fi gateway contains two radio transceivers:

•A short-range 802.11 (Wi-Fi) transceiver connects to

the internet via your local network access point.

•A long-range transceiver that communicates with your

remote Ceres sensors and controllers.

Wi-Fi wireless range is typically 100-300 meters. Long-range

wireless varies with terrain and intervening obstacles, however

1-2 miles (2-3km) is typical for flat un-obstructed farms.

Transmissions from remote wireless sensors and controllers are

received by the gateway and stored in internal memory. The

gateway can store more than 10000 readings allowing use in

areas with limited or intermittent internet access.

The gateway periodically uses Wi-Fi to connect to the internet

and forward the received data to a secure database at a Tenetics

data center. The database is automatically maintained and

backed up so your data remains secure. The database makes

your data available any time via your smart-phone or computer.

Remote Locations

Where Wi-Fi networking is not available, the gateway can be used with a

Cellular Hotspot. Cellular hotspots provide Wi-Fi internet access via the

cellular telephone network. Ask your cellular carrier about supported

hotspots.

Due to the low power consumption of the Ceres Wi-Fi Gateway and

many hotspots, these devices can be solar powered for locations where

AC power is not available. Ask your Ceres dealer for details about Ceres

weatherproof enclosures and solar power options.

Disconnecting from a Network

To disconnect from a Wi-Fi network and forget the configured SSID/PSK:

press and hold the blue WIFI button for 10 seconds. When you release

the button, the gateway will disconnect from your access point and erase

the stored SSID/PSK. You can then repeat the Wi-Fi connection or

configuration steps to connect to a new Access Point.

Restoring Factory Defaults

To restore a gateway to its factory default settings:

1. Disconnect the USB cable (turn the gateway off)

2. Press and hold the blue WIFI button

3. Connect the USB cable (turns the gateway on)

4. Continue holding the WIFI button for 10 seconds

5. Release the WIFI button

NOTE: all configuration and settings will be erased including remote

device pairings, stored readings and network configurations.

Advanced Configuration

For special circumstances, the gateway hotspot provides access to

additional configuration settings under the System tab. Most users

should not change these settings unless directed by Tenetics technical

support. You can:

•change the gateway name

•set the time zone

•en/disable the long-range wireless receiver filter

•change the system password,

•load new firmware

Pairing Sensors and Controls

Once your gateway is connected to your Wi-Fi network, you are ready to

pair it with Ceres remote sensors, rain gauges, irrigation controllers, etc.

1. Place the gateway in pairing mode: press the yellow PAIR

button; the yellow LED will start blinking. The gateway will

remain in pairing mode for 2 minutes.

2. Open your remote device, make sure the battery is connected,

and press the PAIR button on the remote device (you may need

to do this twice). If pairing was successful, the orange LED on

the device will blink several times.

3. Replace the cap and deploy the device in your fields. For best

results, use the CeresDroid app to add each device to your farm.

CeresDroid automatically records the device’s GPS location and

lets you give it an easy-to-remember name. If CeresDroid is not

available, you can set names and locations using CeresWeb

NOTE: You cannot pair sensors until Wi-Fi configuration is complete.

Location/Mounting

The gateway can be wall mounted or placed on any flat surface. Pick an

indoor location as close to your fields as possible. The gateway should

be within 100-300m of your Wi-Fi Access Point/Router.

For wall mounting, use two 1/8” (#5) screws. If mounting to drywall,

use appropriate drywall anchors spaced 4.65” apart.

Once the location is chosen and the gateway is mounted, carefully thread

the provided antenna onto the gateway antenna connector until it stops

turning; DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN.

Pro Tips:

* Mount indoors away from wet locations

* The antenna should be vertical and as high as possible

* Don’t put the antenna near metal objects

* Locate the gateway where it has an unobstructed view of your fields

Push-button Wi-Fi Connection

1. Plug the AC power adapter into the wall and connect it to your

gateway using the supplied USB cable. The green USB/power

indicator will light.

2. Press and hold the WPS button on your Wi-Fi Access

Point/Router for several seconds to enable pairing new devices

(for the exact process, consult your Access Point manual).

Typically, a light on your Access Point will start blinking.

3. Press and release the WIFI button on your gateway. The blue

light will blink as the gateway connects to your access point.

After 10-60 seconds, the blue light will turn off if connected or

continue blinking if the connection failed; you can repeat the

steps above or try Advanced Wi-Fi configuration (see below).

4. Add the gateway to your farm using CeresWeb or CeresDroid.

Advanced Wi-Fi Configuration

The push-button connection process may not be appropriate if:

•Your access point does not support WPS push-button connect

•You want to customize your gateway configuration

In these cases, you can quickly configure the gateway using your laptop

or smart-phone:

1. Plug the power adapter into the wall and connect it to your

gateway using the supplied USB cable. The green USB/power

indicator will light.

2. The gateway creates a Wi-Fi hotspot that you can connect to

with your laptop or smart phone; connect to the network with

SSID CeresGateway_XXYYZZ.

3. When asked for the PSK (pre-shared key), enter the serial

number found on the bottom of your gateway.

4. Depending on your operating system, you may see a warning

that the connection does not provide internet access; this is

normal, you should accept this and continue.

5. Start your favorite web browser and go to http://ceres.com or

http://192.168.4.1

6. When asked to authenticate, login with username admin and

password admin

7. Under the WiFi Tab, configure the gateway to connect

to your Wi-Fi access point by entering the Access

Point’s SSID and pre-shared key (PSK) password.

8. Press the Connect button and the blue LED will start

blinking as the gateway connects to the access point.

When the connection is successful (10-60 seconds), the

blue light will turn off and the gateway will turn off its

hotspot.

You are now ready to start pairing Ceres devices (soil

sensors, rain gauges, irrigation controllers, etc.) with

your gateway.

NOTE: If after 60 seconds the blue light continues

blinking, the connection was not successful and you

should repeat steps 5-8.

Advanced Wi-Fi Configuration

The push-button connection process may not be appropriate if:

•Your access point does not support WPS push-button connect

•You want to customize your gateway configuration

In these cases, you can quickly configure the gateway using your laptop

or smart-phone:

1. Plug the power adapter into the wall and connect it to your

gateway using the supplied USB cable. The green USB/power

indicator will light.

2. The gateway creates a Wi-Fi hotspot that you can connect to

with your laptop or smart phone; connect to the network with

SSID CeresGateway_XXYYZZ.

3. When asked for the PSK (pre-shared key), enter the serial

number found on the bottom of your gateway.

4. Depending on your operating system, you may see a warning

that the connection does not provide internet access; this is

normal, you should accept this and continue.

5. Start your favorite web browser and go to http://ceres.com or

http://192.168.4.1

6. When asked to authenticate, login with username admin and

password admin

7. Under the WiFi Tab, configure the gateway to connect

to your Wi-Fi access point by entering the Access

Point’s SSID and pre-shared key (PSK) password.

8. Press the Connect button and the blue LED will start

blinking as the gateway connects to the access point.

When the connection is successful (10-60 seconds), the

blue light will turn off and the gateway will turn off its

hotspot.

You are now ready to start pairing Ceres devices (soil

sensors, rain gauges, irrigation controllers, etc.) with

your gateway.

NOTE: If after 60 seconds the blue light continues

blinking, the connection was not successful and you

should repeat steps 5-8.

Advanced Configuration

For special circumstances, the gateway hotspot provides access to

additional configuration settings under the System tab. Most users

should not change these settings unless directed by Tenetics technical

support. You can:

•change the gateway name

•set the time zone

•en/disable the long-range wireless receiver filter

•change the system password,

•load new firmware

Pairing Sensors and Controls

Once your gateway is connected to your Wi-Fi network, you are ready to

pair it with Ceres remote sensors, rain gauges, irrigation controllers, etc.

1. Place the gateway in pairing mode: press the yellow PAIR

button; the yellow LED will start blinking. The gateway will

remain in pairing mode for 2 minutes.

2. Open your remote device, make sure the battery is connected,

and press the PAIR button on the remote device (you may need

to do this twice). If pairing was successful, the orange LED on

the device will blink several times.

3. Replace the cap and deploy the device in your fields. For best

results, use the CeresDroid app to add each device to your farm.

CeresDroid automatically records the device’s GPS location and

lets you give it an easy-to-remember name. If CeresDroid is not

available, you can set names and locations using CeresWeb

NOTE: You cannot pair sensors until Wi-Fi configuration is complete.

Location/Mounting

The gateway can be wall mounted or placed on any flat surface. Pick an

indoor location as close to your fields as possible. The gateway should

be within 100-300m of your Wi-Fi Access Point/Router.

For wall mounting, use two 1/8” (#5) screws. If mounting to drywall,

use appropriate drywall anchors spaced 4.65” apart.

Once the location is chosen and the gateway is mounted, carefully thread

the provided antenna onto the gateway antenna connector until it stops

turning; DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN.

Pro Tips:

* Mount indoors away from wet locations

* The antenna should be vertical and as high as possible

* Don’t put the antenna near metal objects

* Locate the gateway where it has an unobstructed view of your fields

Push-button Wi-Fi Connection

1. Plug the AC power adapter into the wall and connect it to your

gateway using the supplied USB cable. The green USB/power

indicator will light.

2. Press and hold the WPS button on your Wi-Fi Access

Point/Router for several seconds to enable pairing new devices

(for the exact process, consult your Access Point manual).

Typically, a light on your Access Point will start blinking.

3. Press and release the WIFI button on your gateway. The blue

light will blink as the gateway connects to your access point.

After 10-60 seconds, the blue light will turn off if connected or

continue blinking if the connection failed; you can repeat the

steps above or try Advanced Wi-Fi configuration (see below).

4. Add the gateway to your farm using CeresWeb or CeresDroid.

Each Ceres gateway supports up to 100 remote sensors and

controllers. A farm can have multiple Ceres gateways.

The Wi-Fi gateway contains two radio transceivers:

•A short-range 802.11 (Wi-Fi) transceiver connects to

the internet via your local network access point.

•A long-range transceiver that communicates with your

remote Ceres sensors and controllers.

Wi-Fi wireless range is typically 100-300 meters. Long-range

wireless varies with terrain and intervening obstacles, however

1-2 miles (2-3km) is typical for flat un-obstructed farms.

Transmissions from remote wireless sensors and controllers are

received by the gateway and stored in internal memory. The

gateway can store more than 10000 readings allowing use in

areas with limited or intermittent internet access.

The gateway periodically uses Wi-Fi to connect to the internet

and forward the received data to a secure database at a Tenetics

data center. The database is automatically maintained and

backed up so your data remains secure. The database makes

your data available any time via your smart-phone or computer.

Remote Locations

Where Wi-Fi networking is not available, the gateway can be used with a

Cellular Hotspot. Cellular hotspots provide Wi-Fi internet access via the

cellular telephone network. Ask your cellular carrier about supported

hotspots.

Due to the low power consumption of the Ceres Wi-Fi Gateway and

many hotspots, these devices can be solar powered for locations where

AC power is not available. Ask your Ceres dealer for details about Ceres

weatherproof enclosures and solar power options.

Disconnecting from a Network

To disconnect from a Wi-Fi network and forget the configured SSID/PSK:

press and hold the blue WIFI button for 10 seconds. When you release

the button, the gateway will disconnect from your access point and erase

the stored SSID/PSK. You can then repeat the Wi-Fi connection or

configuration steps to connect to a new Access Point.

Restoring Factory Defaults

To restore a gateway to its factory default settings:

1. Disconnect the USB cable (turn the gateway off)

2. Press and hold the blue WIFI button

3. Connect the USB cable (turns the gateway on)

4. Continue holding the WIFI button for 10 seconds

5. Release the WIFI button

NOTE: all configuration and settings will be erased including remote

device pairings, stored readings and network configurations.

Specifications

Power

•Typical power consumption is less than ½ Watt

•USB mini-B power input

•Included power supply

◦Input: 100-240VAC 50/60 Hz input, UL listed

◦Output: 5vdc at up to 750mA

Physical

•4.5”x 5.0”x 1.3”

•-40 to +85C operating temperature range

•Indoor operation (standard)

•Outdoor weatherproof enclosure available (option)

Wireless

•Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n compliant (2.4GHz)

◦WPS push-button connection supported

◦WPA/WPA2 encryption supported

◦FCC, CE certified

•Ceres Long-Range Wireless:

◦Long range sub-GHz frequency band

◦Secure frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)

◦Advanced filtering against cellular and pager interference

◦RP-SMA antenna, 1.2dBi gain

Getting Started

Congratulations on selecting Ceres for your precision

agriculture. This manual will help you get your wireless

Gateway installed and running in less than 5 minutes.

Package Contents

Your Gateway package contains:

•Ceres Wi-Fi Gateway

•Ceres long range antenna

•AC Mains to USB power adapter

•USB A to mini-B power cable

Overview

The wireless Gateway is a part of the Ceres

farm management system (FMS). If you

haven’t already done so, you should start by

registering and setting up your farm here:

https://www.tenetics.com/CeresWeb

The Ceres gateway is an integral part of the FMS, connecting your long-

range wireless sensors and controls with the Ceres servers.