Xylem SonTek River Surveyor S5 User guide

SonTek, a Xylem brand
9940 Summers Ridge Road, San Diego, CA 92121-3091 USA
Telephone [phone] •Fax [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] •Internet: http://www.sontek.com
RiverSurveyor S5/M9
System Manual
Firmware Version 3.00
Copyright 2013 by SonTek, a Xylem brand. All rights reserved. This document may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied,
reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form without prior consent in writing from SonTek,
a Xylem brand. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this manual. However, SonTek, a Xylem brand makes no
warranties with respect to this documentation and disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose. SonTek, a Xylem brand shall not be liable for any errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the
furnishing, performance, or use of this manual or the examples herein. The information in this document is subject to change without
notice.

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ii RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
RECORD OF CHANGES
Effective
Description
15 FEB 2009
Initial release; CPU firmware version 1.0
15 FEB 2010
RiverSurveyor Live v1.50 support
01 OCT 2010
SmartPulseHD™ Release; FCC and CE Declarations
15 OCT 2010
RiverSurveyor Stationary Live v1.00 support
28 MAR 2011
Software Updates including Loop Method
26 SEP 2011
Software Updates including CastAway CTD and ASCII Export
16 JUL 2012
Firmware v3.00, RSL Software v3.50 and RSSL Software v2.50
2 FEB 2013
RSL Software v3.60 and RSSL Software v2.60

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RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013) iii
Declaration of Conformity
Manufacturer’s Name: SonTek, a Xylem brand
Manufacturer’s Address: 9940 Summers Ridge Road
San Diego, CA 92121-3091 U.S.A.
SonTek, a Xylem brand declares that the product(s):
Equipment Type: Water Velocity Measurement Device
Model: River Surveyor
Product Name: River Surveyor S5; River Surveyor M9
Conforms to the following European Union Council Directives and Standards as
of 9/01/10:
FCC PART 15, SUBPART B &
EMC DIRECTIVE 2004/108/EC:
-EN 61326 (1997), A1 (1998), A2 (2001), Class “A”
-CISPR 11: 2003 /A1: 2004 /A2: 2006, Class “A”
-FCC 15B, Sec. 107, Class “A”
-FCC 15B, Sec. 109, Class “A”
-EN 61000-3-2: 2006
-EN 61000-3-3: 2008
-IEC 61000-4-2: 2008
-IEC 61000-4-3: 2006
-IEC 61000-4-4: 2004
-IEC 61000-4-5: 2005
-IEC 61000-4-6: 2008
-IEC 61000-4-11: 2004
Hakan Erdem
General Manager
SonTek – a Xylem brand

SonTek, a Xylem brand
iv RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
Release Notice
This is the February 2, 2013 release of the RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual. During the
creation of this manual, the following were the latest versions of firmware/software. As such, if
you are using different firmware/software versions, not all aspects of this manual may apply.
•RiverSurveyor S5/M9 firmware version 3.00
•RiverSurveyor Live software version 3.60
•RiverSurveyor Stationary Live software version 2.60
Trademarks
The terms SonTek, ADP, ADV, Argonaut, FlowTracker, and RiverSurveyor are registered
trademarks of YSI Inc. All rights are reserved. All other brand names are trademarks of their re-
spective holders.
Warranty, Terms, and Conditions
The system you have purchased is covered under a one year limited warranty that extends to all
parts and labor for any malfunction due to workmanship or errors in the manufacturing process.
The warranty is conditioned upon your proper maintenance and operation under normal use as
outlined in the User’s Manual that was provided along with the system. The warranty does not
cover shortcomings that are due to the design, nor does it cover any form of incidental damage
as a result of errors in the measurements.
SonTek, a Division of YSI Inc. will repair and/or replace, at its sole option, any product estab-
lished to be defective, with a product of like type. CLAIMS FOR LABOR COSTS AND/OR
OTHER CHARGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF SonTek, a Division of YSI Inc. GOODS
AND/OR PRODUCTS ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS LIMITED WARRANTY.
SonTek, a Division of YSI Inc. DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS WARRANTIES OTHER THAN
THOSE CONTAINED ABOVE AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIM-
ITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. It is understood and agreed that SonTek DISCLAIMS AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, IN CONTRACT, TORT OR WARRANTY, FOR ANY SPECIAL,
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION LOSSES, LOSS OF GOOD-
WILL, OR LOSS OF BUSINESS OR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS. Some states do not allow
the exclusion of implied warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or con-
sequential damages, so the above exclusion may not apply to the Buyer. The parties specifical-
ly agree that the scope and enforceability of this provision shall be governed by California law.
If your system is not functioning properly, first try to identify the source of the problem. If addi-
tional support is required, we encourage you to contact us immediately. We will work to resolve
the problem as quickly as possible.
If the system needs to be returned to the factory, please contact SonTek, a Division of YSI Inc.
to obtain a Service Request (SR) number. We reserve the right to refuse receipt of shipments
without SRs. We require the system to be shipped back in the original shipping container using
the original packing material with all delivery costs covered by the customer (including all taxes
and duties). If the system is returned without appropriate packing, the customer will be required
to cover the cost of a new packaging crate and material.
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.

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RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013) v
About This Manual
Thank you for your interest in using a SonTek RiverSurveyor S5 or M9 system. This RiverSur-
veyor S5/M9 System Manual describes how to install and configure the RiverSurveyor system
and its associated software. It includes instructions and guidelines for the most common appli-
cations for which this system is used.
Scope and Audience
Even if you have used other SonTek acoustic Doppler products, we recommend that you spend
some time reading this manual to learn about the special features of this system.
This manual is more “application-oriented” in that it tries to explain how to use the RiverSurvey-
or system for specific, real-world applications. If you intend to use the instrument for other appli-
cations, or if you need detailed information about the instrument itself, please contact us.
How to Use This Manual
This manual was especially designed for on-line viewing through a computer. Even though you
may now be reading a paper copy of this manual, an “electronic” copy of this manual was pro-
vided to you on the distribution disk (RiverSurveyor.pdf).
The use of this “PDF” file requires you to have the Adobe®Acrobat Reader®software installed
on your computer. This software is freely available from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com.
This RiverSurveyor.pdf file is also used as a Help file within the RiverSurveyor Live software
program. If you install RiverSurveyor Live on your computer using the default installation instruc-
tions, the RiverSurveyor.pdf file will be in the folder C:\Program Files\SonTek\Manuals.
The PDF version of this manual makes it easy for you to navigate within the document. Several
hyperlinks (in blue) let you quickly go to referenced sections, figures, and tables. Additionally,
you can use the built-in search features of Acrobat to find specific words and phrases. With the
PDF copy, you can also print out high-quality copies of the manual to paper (for your organiza-
tion’s personal use only and not for resale or redistribution).
Reader Feedback
Your feedback about the RiverSurveyor system and this manual will help us to improve our
products. Please let us know what improvements we can make by contacting us via telephone,
fax, or e-mail (see next page for Contact Information).

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vi RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
Contact Information
Any questions, concerns, or suggestions can be directed to SonTek by telephone, fax, or email.
Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
Phone : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
Email : [e-mail] (General information)
[e-mail] (Sales information)
[e-mail] (Support information)
Web : http://www.sontek.com
See our web site for information concerning new products and software/firmware upgrades.

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RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013) vii
Table of Contents
About This Manual....................................................................................................................v
Table of Contents....................................................................................................................vii
Section 1. Getting Started...................................................................................................1
1.1. What does the System do?............................................................................................1
1.2. What’s new? ..................................................................................................................1
Section 2. RiverSurveyor Instrument Configuration and Options....................................3
2.1. RiverSurveyor Core System S5 and M9.........................................................................3
2.2. Power and Communications Module (PCM) - Optional ..................................................5
2.2.1. Bluetooth Option......................................................................................................5
2.2.2. Spread Spectrum (SS) Option .................................................................................6
2.3. GPS Components – Optional.........................................................................................6
2.3.1. SonTek RTK GPS - Optional ...................................................................................7
2.3.2. SonTek DGPS - Optional........................................................................................8
2.4. SonTek Hydroboard - Optional.......................................................................................8
2.5. OceanScience Riverboat – Optional ..............................................................................8
Section 3. System Configurations and Setup....................................................................9
3.1. Overview........................................................................................................................9
3.2. Configuration A – Direct Connection with S5 or M9 Core System..................................9
3.2.1. Description...............................................................................................................9
3.2.2. Hardware Setup.......................................................................................................9
3.3. Configuration B – Bluetooth Communications..............................................................10
3.3.1. Description.............................................................................................................10
3.3.2. Hardware Setup.....................................................................................................11
3.4. Configuration C – Spread Spectrum Communications.................................................12
3.4.1. Description.............................................................................................................12
3.4.2. Hardware Setup.....................................................................................................13
3.5. Configuration D – RTK GPS.........................................................................................14
3.5.1. Description.............................................................................................................14
3.5.2. Hardware Setup.....................................................................................................16
3.6. Configuration E – SonTek Differential GPS..................................................................18
3.6.1. Description.............................................................................................................18
3.6.2. Hardware...............................................................................................................18
3.7. Configuration F - SonTek Hydroboard..........................................................................19
3.7.1. Description.............................................................................................................19
3.7.2. Hardware Setup.....................................................................................................19
Section 4. System Maintenance........................................................................................21
4.1. Overview......................................................................................................................21
4.2. Cleaning the transducers.............................................................................................21
4.3. Cables and connectors ................................................................................................21
4.4. O-rings.........................................................................................................................21
4.5. Batteries.......................................................................................................................21
4.6. Mobile Device ..............................................................................................................22
4.7. Factory Calibration.......................................................................................................22
Section 5. Introduction to Measurement Procedure .......................................................23

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viii RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
5.1. Overview......................................................................................................................23
5.2. Applications .................................................................................................................23
5.3. Pre-Measurement Tests...............................................................................................23
5.3.1. Check cables and connections ..............................................................................23
5.3.2. Communications....................................................................................................23
5.3.3. System Test...........................................................................................................24
5.3.4. Compass Calibration..............................................................................................24
5.3.5. Recorder................................................................................................................25
5.3.6. Measurement Procedure .......................................................................................25
5.3.7. Overview................................................................................................................25
5.3.8. Starting The System..............................................................................................27
5.3.9. Collecting Start Edge Data.....................................................................................27
5.3.10. Collecting Transect Data........................................................................................27
5.3.11. Collecting End Edge Data......................................................................................27
5.3.12. Making Additional Measurements/Transects..........................................................27
Section 6. RiverSurveyor Live for PC Software...............................................................28
6.1. Overview – RiverSurveyor Live for PC Software..........................................................28
6.2. System Requirements..................................................................................................28
6.3. Installation....................................................................................................................28
6.4. Starting the Software....................................................................................................29
6.5. Connecting to the System............................................................................................30
6.6. Site Information............................................................................................................31
6.7. System Settings...........................................................................................................32
6.8. Measurement Settings.................................................................................................34
6.9. Pre-Measurement Tests and Utilities ...........................................................................35
6.9.1. Compass Calibration..............................................................................................35
6.9.2. System Test...........................................................................................................40
6.9.3. Set Time................................................................................................................40
6.9.4. BeamCheck...........................................................................................................41
6.9.5. Update Firmware...................................................................................................42
6.9.6. SonTek GPS Option..............................................................................................42
6.10. Recorder......................................................................................................................43
6.11. Data Collection.............................................................................................................43
6.11.1.Start System..........................................................................................................44
6.11.2.Start Edge..............................................................................................................44
6.11.3.Start Moving ..........................................................................................................46
6.11.4.End Edge...............................................................................................................46
6.11.5.End Transect.........................................................................................................47
6.12. Discharge Measurement Summary..............................................................................48
Section 7. RiverSurveyor Live for Mobile ........................................................................50
7.1. Overview—RiverSurveyor Live for Mobile Software.....................................................50
7.2. Mobile Device Requirements .......................................................................................50
7.3. Installation....................................................................................................................50
7.4. Navigation and Controls for Mobile Device...................................................................52
7.5. Starting the Software and Connecting to the System...................................................53
7.6. Preparing for a Measurement - Main Menu..................................................................54
7.6.1. Site Information (1)................................................................................................55
7.6.2. System Settings (2) ...............................................................................................55
7.6.3. Track and Depth Reference (3)..............................................................................57
7.6.4. Compass Calibration (4)........................................................................................58
7.6.5. Download Recorder (5)..........................................................................................59

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7.6.6. Measurement Summary (6)...................................................................................60
7.6.7. Utilities (7)..............................................................................................................61
7.7. Discharge Measurement - Data Collection...................................................................66
7.7.1. Starting the measurement......................................................................................66
7.7.2. Start Edge..............................................................................................................66
7.7.3. Start Moving ..........................................................................................................68
7.7.4. End Edge...............................................................................................................68
7.7.5. End Transect.........................................................................................................69
7.7.6. Data collection - Swapping between Mobile Device and PC..................................70
7.7.7. Transferring Data from Mobile Device to PC..........................................................71
Section 8. Reviewing Data Files/Post-Processing...........................................................72
8.1. Overview......................................................................................................................72
8.2. Opening Data Files......................................................................................................72
8.3. Application Layout........................................................................................................73
8.3.1. Main Toolbar Icons................................................................................................73
8.3.2. Data file Tabs ........................................................................................................74
8.3.3. Sidebar..................................................................................................................74
8.3.4. Tab Windows Selection .........................................................................................75
8.3.5. Tab Window Display..............................................................................................75
8.3.6. Discharge measurement summary ........................................................................79
8.3.7. Processing toolbox ................................................................................................80
8.4. Hot Keys/Accelerators..................................................................................................84
8.5. Processing Data Files – Step by Step..........................................................................84
Appendix A. Description of RiverSurveyor Live Icons .......................................................87
Appendix B. Parameter and Hotkey Descriptions...............................................................92
Appendix C. MATLAB Export ...............................................................................................94
Appendix D. Troubleshooting.............................................................................................100
Appendix E. Software Changes..........................................................................................109
Appendix F. SmartPulseHD™ Principles..............................................................................120
Appendix G. Stationary Measurement Software................................................................121
G-1. Overview....................................................................................................................121
G-2. System Requirements................................................................................................122
G-3. Installation..................................................................................................................122
G-4. Making a Measurement..............................................................................................123
G-5. Selecting a Measurement Location............................................................................125
G-6. M9/S5 Mounting and Instrument Orientation..............................................................126
G-7. Software Operation....................................................................................................127
G-8. Discharge Measurement Report.................................................................................141
Appendix H. Loop Method ..................................................................................................144
Appendix I. CastAway CTD Integration............................................................................152

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1
Section 1. Getting Started
1.1. What does the System do?
The SonTek RiverSurveyor system is a robust and highly accurate Acoustic Doppler Profiler
(ADP) system specifically designed to measure river discharge, 3-Dimensional water currents,
depths, and bathymetry from a moving or stationary vessel. The RiverSurveyor system com-
bines proven state-of-the-art acoustic Doppler velocity profiler instrumentation with a Windows-
based software package that can be used on a Personal Computer (PC) or Mobile device (using
cell phone technology). The high degree of accuracy and ease of use allows you to measure
confidently without having to change measurement settings for a specific river condition.
First-time users will find data collection and analysis a relatively simple task, while advanced
users will benefit from the flexible processing and analytical tools that are provided. One of the
major benefits of the RiverSurveyor system is that it is easy to program – time-consuming and
complicated training courses are not required before you can start collecting meaningful data.
1.2. What’s new?
Shallow and/or deep water profiling solutions – The ADP can be either one of the following
types. Both of these profilers are described in detail in Section 2.
•S5 ADP: A five-beam system with four profiling beams and one vertical beam. The S5 has
a velocity measurement range of up to 5 m and a discharge measurement range of 15 m
(when referencing GPS and the vertical beam).
•M9 ADP: A nine-beam system with two sets of four profiling beams (each set having its
own frequency) and one vertical beam. The M9 has a velocity profiling range of up to 30 m
and a discharge measurement range of 80 m (when referencing GPS and the vertical
beam).
Multi-frequency – Multiple acoustic frequencies fused with precise bandwidth control make for
the most robust and continuous shallow-to-deep measurements ever for an ADP. A determinis-
tic microcontroller automatically apportions the appropriate acoustics and pulse schemes as you
cross the river. This allows you to focus on the measurement technique, and not on the instru-
ment setup. The end result of the automatic adjustments is that it gives you the best measure-
ment settings possible at all times, no matter the depth and velocity of the river.
Automated cell size adjustments – As you go from shallow to deep water, the cell size auto-
matically adjusts to optimize performance and resolution. This feature further enhances your
ability to measure continuously in dynamic river conditions.
Vertical beam – A low-frequency, fast-sampling vertical beam extends the maximum depth
range of the system and provides superior channel definition for river discharge measurements
and bathymetric surveys. The vertical beam also provides you the confidence that you will
measure the proper depth during extreme conditions such as high-sediment flows and floods.
Integrated GPS, Power, and Communications – The RiverSurveyor Power and Communica-
tions Module (PCM) brings unmatched ease of use and flexibility to the S5 and M9 ADPs. The
PCM contains a rechargeable battery pack for power, factory-configured Bluetooth®radio or
Spread Spectrum (SS) radio (for communication with a PC or a compatible Mobile device; see
§6.2), and an optional GPS enclosed in a water-tight housing.
RTK GPS integration – Available exclusively from SonTek, the RTK (real-time kinematic) GPS
optional solution is easy to use and offers incredibly precise positioning and fast data sampling
rates (10-Hz). This option can augment or be an alternative to Bottom-Track and positioning.
Unlike existing “Differential” GPS solutions, which sometimes requires 50+ meters width for a

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2 RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
reliable discharge measurement, RTK GPS allows you to measure minimum stream widths
consistently to less than 1 meter.
Internal Discharge Calculations – All calculations are performed inside the ADP. This gives
you the increased flexibility to collect data, disconnect from the system, and then reconnect to
the system during data collection without stopping the data collection process and without the
fear of losing data. It avoids any possibility of data loss if communication is lost or becomes in-
termittent. You can even change communications devices (to/from PC or Mobile device) during
a discharge measurement if needed.
Quality and status feedback – New, dynamic software interface and vibrant graphics for clear
feedback in the office or field.
Review and analyze data faster – Load, view, and analyze multiple data sets simultaneously
all from your PC.
Flexible Mobile Device operation – RiverSurveyor runs on both PC and Mobile device hosts
giving you the flexibility to collect data to best suit your field requirements. Both software hosts
also offer you the ability to make complete measurements without relying on secondary pro-
grams or utilities to extract or playback data.
SmartPulseHD™- SmartPulseHD is an intelligent algorithm that looks at water depth, velocity,
and turbulence, and then adapts the acoustic pulse scheme to those conditions. It uses multi-
band acoustics, pulse-coherent, broadband, and incoherent techniques to provide the highest
resolution velocity data possible. And, just like an HD-TV, it lets you see the clearest velocity
picture possible with cell sizes down to 2 cm.
Patent # 8,125,849 on Multi-frequency, Automated cell size adjustments, Vertical beam,
SmartPulse
HD™
and Internal Discharge Calculations

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RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
3
Section 2. RiverSurveyor Instrument Configuration and Options
The RiverSurveyor discharge measurement system is flexible enough to fit most every field set-
up requirement you will need. The core system includes everything you need to make a direct-
connect discharge measurement from a manned powerboat and external power supply. The op-
tions are modular, designed to be used with any S5 or M9 system, to best suit your field meas-
urement needs. The following is a brief description of the core system and the options available
with the new RiverSurveyor discharge measurement system.
2.1. RiverSurveyor Core System S5 and M9
The core system includes:
Part Description
Qty
Multi Frequency ADP (S5 or M9)
1
User Software Disc
1
ADP QuickStart Guide
1
Power/Comm Cable (Std. 10m)
1
Power Supply (18V)
1
AC Power Cord
1
The S5 and M9 ADPs integrate a compass/2-axis tilt sensor, temperature sensor, 8-GB internal
recorder, and a vertical acoustic beam (echo-sounder) for depth measurement.
•S5 (Figure 1): This portable, 5-beam ADP with a velocity profiling range of 0.2 to 5.0 m is
ideal for use in shallow channels. The S5 has a 5-inch (13-cm) diameter Delrin housing that
narrows to 3.2 inches (8.1-cm). It has four 3.0-MHz velocity measurement transducers in a
Janus configuration. A 1.0-MHz vertical acoustic beam (echo sounder) provides depth da-
ta.
Figure 1. S5 ADP Features
1 MHz Echo-sounder
3 MHz Transducer
Built in Temperature Sensor
Delrin housing containing compass,
2-axis tilt sensor, 8 GB recorder and
Processing electronics
8-pin cable connection

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4 RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
•M9 (Figure 2): This portable, 9-beam ADP with a velocity profiling range of 0.2 to 30 m is
intended for use from moving or stationary boats/floating devices in both shallow and deep
channels. The M9 has a 5-inch (13-cm) diameter Delrin housing. It has two sets of velocity
measurement transducers, both in a Janus configuration – four 3.0-MHz transducers and
four 1.0-MHz transducers. A 0.5-MHz vertical acoustic beam (echo sounder) provides
depth data.
Figure 2. M9 ADP Features
The four brass inserts on top of the ADP can be used to secure the ADP to a mount on the side
of a boat or to mount the optional GPS antenna. Figure 3 shows a dimensioned drawing of the
brass insert locations in inches and millimeters.
Figure 3. Brass Insert Locations
Built in Temperature Sensor
0.5 MHz Echo-sounder
3 MHz Transducer
1 MHz Transducer
Delrin housing containing compass,
2-axis tilt sensor, 8 GB recorder and
Processing electronics
8-pin cable connection

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5
2.2. Power and Communications Module (PCM) - Optional
The PCM (Figure 4) connects directly to the S5 or M9 using a 1-m cable. It provides power to
the ADP using a rechargeable battery pack. It allows for remote communications with a PC or
Mobile device via a radio link. There are two different radio communications options depending
on range.
Figure 4. Power and Communications Module (PCM)
The PCM has four LEDs. Table 1 describes their purpose. In all cases, a green light would indi-
cate that the component is functioning while a red/orange light would indicate that the system is
not functioning. Below is a description for the LED labels.
Table 1. PCM LED Descriptions
Label
Description
PWR
Power
Radio
Radio Communication
DGPS*
Differential Quality GPS (Green)
GPS*
GPS Lock (Green)
*Note:Depends on optional GPS selection
Important: The dummy plug must be installed when using the PCM.
2.2.1. Bluetooth Option
A PCM with the Bluetooth option provides remote communication between the ADP and PC or
Mobile device. The maximum range using the supplied Bluetooth dongle plugged into a PC is
up to 200m. The Bluetooth range of the Mobile device is approximately 60m. Those approxi-
mate ranges assume a clear line-of-sight with no obstructions or poor weather.

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6 RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
2.2.2. Spread Spectrum (SS) Option
A PCM with the Spread Spectrum radio option provides remote communication between the
PCM and the SS Base radio connected to a PC. The operational range is about 2 km.
2.3. GPS Components – Optional
SonTek offers two GPS options integrated into the PCM. The first option provides RTK quality
data (±3 cm). RTK quality data requires additional hardware in the PCM as well as a separate
RTK Base Station (Figure 5). The Base Station provides RTK corrections to the GPS receiver
built into the PCM. The Differential GPS (DGPS) option does not require a Base Station, but
additional hardware is required for the PCM. Some general rules of thumb for connection times
for the various communications are:
•GPS Lock: Typically takes 5 minutes to turn from Red to Green (greater than 1-m ac-
curacy).
•Differential Lock: Typically takes up to about 5 minutes to turn from Red to flashing
Red/Green (sub-meter accuracy).
•RTK Lock: Typically takes up to about 10 minutes to turn from alternatively flashing
Red/Green to Green (±3 cm accuracy).
•BT/SS LED: Turns to Green as soon as connection is established between PC/Phone
and the system (assuming you are within range).
•Base Station Radio Link Established: Red light
Figure 5. Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Base Station

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RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
7
2.3.1. SonTek RTK GPS - Optional
The RTK GPS option provides precise (±3 cm) real-time kinematic position data to the ADP.
The Bluetooth or Spread Spectrum PCM includes an internal RTK GPS receiver, an external,
high-gain GPS antenna and a mounting mast. It also includes an additional Spread Spectrum
radio modem for communication with the RTK Base Station. The RTK Base Station consists of
an RTK GPS receiver with an external, high-gain GPS antenna, a Spread Spectrum radio mo-
dem for communication with the PCM, an external, high gain antenna and a mounting tripod.
The Base Station receives GPS data at 10-Hz and provides RTK corrections at 1-Hz to the
PCM connected to the ADP. The Base Station should be in a fixed location on shore. A direct
line of sight is best for communication. The maximum communication range is about 2 km.
Figure 6 shows the details for the Base Station.
Table 2 describes the Base Station LED labels.
Figure 6. RTK Base Station Components
Table 2. RTK Base Station LED label descriptions
Label
Description
RTK
RTK Quality Connection (Green)
GPS
GPS Lock (Green)
The RTK Base Station receives GPS data via satellite and applies an RTK correction that is
transmitted to the internal GPS of the PCM via Spread Spectrum radio communications. The
RTK correction data is transferred to the ADP’s internal memory for processing. It is then
transmitted along with the ADP data from the PCM to the PC or Mobile device.
Note: If communication between the RTK Base Station and PCM is lost, a sub-meter correction
is typically valid for up to 45 minutes without having to re-establish communications.

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8 RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
2.3.2. SonTek DGPS - Optional
The DGPS option provides sub meter differential GPS positioning data to the ADP. The Blue-
tooth or Spread Spectrum PCM includes a DGPS receiver and external antenna. No Base Sta-
tion is required for this option.
The GPS satellites communicate with the differential GPS receiver inside the PCM. The DGPS
data is received by the PCM at 10-Hz and transferred to the ADP’s internal memory for integra-
tion and processing. It is then transmitted along with the ADP data from the PCM to the PC or
Mobile device.
2.4. SonTek Hydroboard and HydroBoard II - Optional
The SonTek HydroBoard II (Figure 7) is specifically designed to be used with the S5 and M9
ADP systems. It has easy to use, drop-in installation mounts for the ADP and the PCM. Simply
insert the components into their corresponding mounts and tighten the thumb screws. The Hy-
droboard has two hydro-fins to provide increased stability. There are two embedded towing
mounts near the front as well as one in the rear for an optional drag chute to increase boat track
stability. A detailed description of the mounting procedure for the Hydroboard is explained in
Section 3.7.2.
Figure 7. SonTek HydroBoard II with Optional GPS
2.5. OceanScience Riverboat – Optional
The OceanScience Riverboat is available for use in environments with higher flow rates. It pro-
vides a stable device for accurate measurements by reducing pitch, roll and yaw in flows up to 3
m/s. The flared box design reduces nose-diving and allows for wider selection of acceptable
measurement sites.

SonTek, a Xylem brand
RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
9
Section 3. System Configurations and Setup
3.1. Overview
An important configuration concept to remember is that the RiverSurveyor system and all its
components are completely interchangeable. Any PCM can be connected to any S5 or M9 ADP
system. The S5 or M9 can be mounted with the PCM to the SonTek Hydroboard or any other
boat with a custom installation. We encourage you to become familiar with the components, as-
sembly instructions, and functionality of the system before going into the field. This section pro-
vides information on how to interconnect and prepare the system for data collection. The next
several figures (Figure 8 through Figure 15) present some typical PCM configurations with sys-
tem communications and setup details.
3.2. Configuration A – Direct Connection with S5 or M9 Core System
3.2.1. Description
The core system is typically used in a manned powerboat application using a direct cable con-
nection to the PC and the external power supply (Figure 8). The dashed line indicates the use of
an optional third party external GPS. The use of an external GPS precludes the use of all wire-
less communications (i.e. Bluetooth and Spread Spectrum); therefore, a direct connection via
serial communications is necessary.
Figure 8. Core System-Direct Connect Setup
3.2.2. Hardware Setup
Follow these instructions to set up the hardware for the core system:
1. Connect the underwater, 8-pin, male connector of the 10-m power and communications
cable to the female ADP connector until the face of the cable connector is flush with the
ADP connector. Screw-on the locking sleeve to secure the connection.
2. Connect the female, 9-pin, serial connector marked USER on the power and communica-
tions cable to the PC. If the PC does not have a serial port, use the USB to serial adapter
included.
3. Mount the ADP to the boat. Be sure to mount the ADP deep enough that the transducers
will remain submerged for the entire measurement.
4. Connect the external AC power supply to the system by connecting the 2-pin power cable
from the 10-meter power/serial communications cable to the power source.

SonTek, a Xylem brand
10 RiverSurveyor S5/M9 System Manual (February 2013)
5. Figure 9 shows the hardware necessary for this option.
Figure 9. Hardware Required for the Direct Connect Option
6. Start the RiverSurveyor Live for PC software and connect to the system to start the meas-
urement. Details for conducting a discharge measurement with a PC are presented in Sec-
tion 6.
7. To integrate an external GPS system, connect the male, 9-pin, serial connector marked
GPS on the power and communications cable to the GPS system. The external GPS needs
to have the following settings:
•Communications Protocol – 38400 N,8,1
•Data Rate – 10 Hz
•GPS String – VTG/GGA. To avoid possible communication issues it is always recom-
mended to turn-off (or disable) any additional GPS strings being output by the external
GPS.
3.3. Configuration B – Bluetooth Communications
3.3.1. Description
Figure 10 shows the RiverSurveyor system with wireless communications, in this case Blue-
tooth, using a small unmanned boat, such as the SonTek Hydroboard. The maximum range us-
ing the supplied Bluetooth dongle plugged into a PC is up to 200m. The Bluetooth range of the
Mobile device is approximately 60m. Those approximate ranges assume a clear line-of-sight
with no obstructions or inclement weather.