WatchDog Data Shuttle 3679 User manual

Data Shuttle
PRODUCT MANUAL
Item # 3679
®

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This manual will familiarize you with the features and
operation of your new WatchDog Data Shuttle. Please read this
manual thoroughly before using your instrument. For customer
support, or to place an order, call
Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
[phone] or [phone]
between 7:30 am and 5:30 p.m. CST
FAX at [phone],
E-Mail at [email protected].
www.specmeters.com
Spectrum Technologies, Inc
12360 S. Industrial Dr. East
General Overview 3
Shuttle Operation 4
Battery Replacement 8
Specifications 9
Trouble Shooting 10
Warranty 11
Contents

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General Overview
Thank you for purchasing the WatchDog Data Shuttle.
This manual describes how to use your shuttle, in
conjunction with SpecWare sofware, to easily and
conveniently retrieve data from your remotely located
WatchDog dataloggers.
The WatchDog shuttle performs the following 3
functions:
1. Offloads data from loggers in the field
2. Checks battery status and alerts user if the logger
battery needs to be replaced
3. Relaunches the logger and resets the logger’s time to
that of the shuttle

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Shuttle Operation
Retrieving data from your remote WatchDog data
loggers is a 3-step process.
Step 1: Launch WatchDog Shuttle
Before the shuttle can offload data from the remote
dataloggers, it must be launched. Before launching the
shuttle, confirm that the LCD reads “OFF” (see Trou-
bleshooting,p. 10). When the shuttle is launched, all
previously saved data is cleared from memory and the
current date and time are transferred to it from the
computer. The launch sequence is initiated by select-
ing the Launch WatchDog option from the Logger
menu or by clicking the Launch WatchDog Logger
button on the SpecWare toolbar. From the Launch
Options screen, click on the Start button. From the
Launch Options screen, you can also check the battery
status of the shuttle. It is recommended that the battery
be changed when the battery level reaches 25%. After
the shuttle is launched, the LCD screen will read “ON”.
Caution: To work properly, the shuttle must offload
the data logger(s) and/or weather station(s) within 45
days of being launched.
Step 2: Offloading data and relaunching remote
loggers with the WatchDog Data Shuttle.
First, confirm that the data logger is running before at-
tempting to download (This will aid in troubleshooting
if there is a problem offloading the logger). This can
be done by checking the flashing red LED light for
WatchDog 100 series loggers or by observing an active
LCD screen on WatchDog 200 and 400 series loggers.

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For WatchDog weather stations, the LCD can be acti-
vated by hitting the DISPLAY button.
To offload a data logger, connect the interface cable to
the shuttle and to the computer port of the data logger.
Press the green button on the shuttle to initiate data
transfer. The data logger will automatically be
relaunched after the data is offloaded (confirm this by
observing the LED or LCD on the logger). When a
logger has been completely offloaded and relaunched,
the shuttle’s LCD screen will read “no. X”, where X
indicates how many loggers have been offloaded up to
that point. It also identifies where that logger’s data is
located in the shuttle’s memory.
If, after offloading a logger, the shuttle no longer has
room for another logger, the LCD screen will read
“FULL”. No further data can be transferred to the
shuttle until it is downloaded and relaunched.
CAUTION: If a logger battery is < 25%, the LCD
screen will read “Lo b”. At this point, the logger
battery must be replaced to continue data transfer and
relaunch. The logger will not resume operation until
the battery is replaced.
It is recommended that spare logger batteries be
available when using the shuttle to avoid gaps in your
data files. Whenever replacing a battery in a logger in
the field (even one that does not register a low battery
reading from the shuttle) you should replace the battery
BEFORE offloading the logger. If the battery is re-
placed after offloading the data logger, the logger will
be shut off and not recording data. In this case, offload
the logger again with the shuttle. The saved data file
will not be important because it will only contain one

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data point. But, the shuttle will still re-launch the log-
ger.
Step 3: Transferring data to your computer
To download data from the shuttle to the computer,
connect the shuttle to the PC interface cable and open
Specware software. The download sequence is
initiated by selecting the Get WatchDog Data option
from the Logger menu or by clicking the Get Watch-
Dog Data button on the SpecWare toolbar. When the
data transfer is complete, check OK on the Translate
Logger Data box. The Save Logger Data box will
then appear. Choose the Logger Location where you
want to save the file. All new dataloggers require that
you create a new Logger Location the first time the
logger is read out.
The sequence of downloading data from the shuttle to
the computer is the reverse of how it was offloaded
from the data loggers. In other words, data from the
last data logger offloaded to the shuttle will be the first
data transferred to the computer. After downloading
data from a shuttle position to the PC, the shuttle’s
LCD will automatically increment to the next available
position. If data from more than one data logger is
saved to the shuttle, you will be prompted to select or
create a Logger Location after each successive
logger’s data has been downloaded. When the last
shuttle position has been downloaded to the PC, the
LCD will read “OFF” (see Troubleshooting,p. 10)

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The stored logger data is not erased from the shuttle
until it is relaunched. Until then, it is possible to use
the arrow button to re-download the data from any of
the shuttle positions. With the shuttle in the “OFF”
position, press the green button to scroll to the shuttle
position of interest. Initiate the download with from
the SpecWare Logger menu or with the Read
WatchDog Logger button. After downloading, the
shuttle will return to the “OFF” position. Other shuttle
positions can be downloaded in a similar fashion.
Note: Data will remain on the shuttle until it is
relaunched. The shuttle must be relaunched before
further data can be collected.

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Battery Replacement
Each WatchDog Data Shuttle is powered by a 3 Volt CR-
2032 battery. The battery has a life of 6 months and a 2-
year shelf life. It is user replaceable and can be purchased
locally. Other battery numbers that may be substituted for
a CR2032 are BR2032 or DL2032.
To replace the battery:
1. Remove the screw on the back cover of the
shuttle.
2. Remove the back cover.
3. Slide the battery out of the battery holder.
4. Insert a new CR2032 battery positive side up.
5. Replace shuttle cover.
6. Tighten back cover screw.
Confirm that the shuttle is actively working by viewing
the fully lit LCD directly after battery installation, or by
going through a launch sequence with the SpecWare
software.
Insert a flat-edged
screwdriver completely
underneath old battery.
Gently lift edge of
battery over the casing
lip, slide battery out.
Slide new battery into
battery casing.

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Specifications
Software: SpecWare 5.0 or greater
Compatibility: Compatible with all WatchDog
dataloggers (except the WatchDog model 100 button-
type loggers) as well as the Leaf Wetness &
Temperature Logger and Datalogging Rain Gauges.
Capacity: Contains 128K non-volatile memory. The
first 96K of memory can be allocated to any
combination of 8K (WatchDog 100 and 200 series,
Leaf Wetness & Temperature Logger and Datalogging
Rain Gauges), 16K (WatchDog 400 series) and 32K
(WatchDog weather station) dataloggers. The final
32K of memory is reserved for one logger or weather
station of any size. Therefore, the shuttle can store the
data from a total of four weather stations, seven 16K
loggers or thirteen 8K loggers.
Time Accuracy: Approximately ± 1minute.
Speed: Offloads one full 8K logger in 90 seconds, one
full 16K logger in 200 seconds, and one full 32K
weather station in 400 seconds..
Battery: 1 user-replaceable CR-2032 battery. Battery
life is about 6 months with normal use.
Interface: 1-foot logger/shuttle interconnect cable

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Troubleshooting
Commonly asked questions include:
Q. When I try to launch the shuttle, SpecWare says
there is still data to download.
A. The shuttle’s LCD must say “OFF” before it can be
launched. If the data from all the shuttle positions
has not been downloaded, SpecWare will not be
able to launch the shuttle. If all the data has been
downloaded, it may be that the shuttle is stuck on
the “no 1” shuttle position. Try removing and re-
placing the battery. If this doesn’t help, or if the
shuttle is stuck on a shuttle position other than “no
1”, a data extraction is necessary. In this case, con-
tact Spectrum Technologies for technical assis-
tance.
Q. When I try to offload a logger in the field, the shut-
tle’s LCD reads “FAIL”.
A. This indicates that the shuttle is not making a con-
nection with the logger. Possible causes:
1. The small gray cable is not plugged com-
pletely into either the shuttle or the data logger.
2. The small gray cable is defective. If it is not
possible to connect to any WatchDog data log-
gers, this may be the cause.
3. The battery on the logger is extremely low or
dead. In this case, the logger will not be run-
ning. This is different than the “Lo b” message
that appears when there is sufficient battery
power but not enough to run the logger for
more than a few days.

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Warr a nty
This product is warranted to be free from defects in material
or workmanship for one year from the date of pur-
chase. During the warranty period Spectrum will, at its op-
tion, either repair or replace products that prove to be de-
fective. This warranty does not cover damage due to im-
proper installation or use, lightning, negligence, accident, or
unauthorized modifications, or to incidental or consequen-
tial damages beyond the Spectrum product. Before return-
ing a failed unit, you must obtain a Returned Materials Au-

12360 S. Industrial Dr. E
Plainfield IL 60585
[phone] or [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.specmeters.com