RF407-Series radio communications with one or more data loggers

To configure an RF407-series radio to communicate with the data logger, you must complete the following steps (instruction follows):

• Ensure your data logger and RF407-series radio are connected to an antenna and power.

• Configure the connection to the RF407-series device using Device Configuration Utility Software tool used to set up data loggers and peripherals, and to configure PakBus settings before those devices are deployed in the field and/or added to networks..

• If you are connecting to multiple data loggers, you will have to assign unique PakBus addresses to each data logger using Device Configuration Utility. (Connect to each data logger, set the PakBus Address on the Deployment | Datalogger tab.)

• Use data logger support software LoggerNet, RTDAQ, and PC400 - these Campbell Scientific software applications include at least the following functions: data logger communications, downloading programs, clock setting, and retrieval of measurement data. to set up communications between the RF407-series radio and the data loggers.

Configuring the RF407-Series radio

Configure the RF407-Series radio connected to the computer (see image in Configuration options for reference).

1. Ensure your RF407-series radio is connected to an antenna and power.

2. If connecting via USB for the first time, you must first install USB drivers using Device Configuration Utility (select your radio, then on the main page, click Install USB Driver). Plug the RF407-series radio to your computer using a USB or RS-232 cable.

3. Using Device Configuration Utility, select the Communication Port used for your radio and connect to the RF407-series radio.

4. On the Main tab, set the Active Interface to USB or RS-232 (depending on how your computer will be connected to the RF407-series radio).

5. Apply the changes.

6. Connect the RF407-Series radio to the computer communication port selected in the previous step.

Setting up communications between the RF407-Series data logger and the computer

These instructions provide an easy way to set up communications between the RF407-series data logger and the computer connected to the RF407-series radio (as configured in previous instructions). Follow these instructions multiple times to set up multiple data loggers. In this case, each data logger must be given a unique PakBus address (see PakBus communications for more information). For more complicated networks, it is recommended that you use Network Planner Campbell Scientific software designed to help set up datal oggers in PakBus networks so that they can communicate with each other and the LoggerNet server. For more information, see https://www.campbellsci.com/loggernet..

1. Supply 12 VDC power to the data logger.

2. Ensure the data logger antenna is connected.

3. Using data logger support software, launch the EZSetup Wizard and add the data logger.

   • PC400 Free entry-level data logger support software that supports a variety of communications options, manual data collection, and data monitoring displays. Short Cut and CRBasic Editor are included for creating data logger programs. PC400 does not support scheduled data collection or complex communications options such as phone-to-RF. users, click Add Datalogger .

   • LoggerNet Campbell Scientific's data logger support software for programming, communications, and data retrieval between data loggers and a computer. users, click Setup , click the View menu to ensure you are in the EZ (Simplified) view, then click Add Datalogger .

4. Click Next.

5. Select the CR300Series data logger from the list, type a name for your data logger (for example, a site or project name), and click Next.

6. If prompted, select the Direct Connect connection type and click Next.

7. Select the communication port used to communicate with the RF407-series radio from the COM Port list. (Note that the RF407-series radio to RF407-series data logger link is not indicated in the LoggerNet Setup Standard View.)

8. Accept the default value of 00 seconds in the COM Port Communication Delay - this box is used to allow time for hardware devices to "wake up" and negotiate a communications link. Click Next.

9. In the previous instruction "Configuring a Connection to an RF407-Series Radio," you were asked to select an active interface option of USB or RS-232. If you selected USB as the active interface for the radio, you do not need to select a baud rate. If you selected RS-232, set the baud rate to the one chosen during that step. The radio's default baud rate is 115200. The PakBus ® A proprietary communications protocol developed by Campbell Scientific to facilitate communications between Campbell Scientific devices. Similar in concept to IP (Internet Protocol), PakBus is a packet-switched network protocol with routing capabilities. A registered trademark of Campbell Scientific, Inc. address must match the hardware settings for your data logger. The default PakBus Address is 1.

10. Click Next.

11. By default, the data logger does not use a security code or a PakBus encryption key. Therefore, the Security Code can be left at 0 and the PakBus Encryption Key can be left blank. If either setting has been changed, enter the new code or key. See Data logger security for more information.

12. Click Next.

13. Review the Communication Setup Summary. If you need to make changes, click the Previous button to return to a previous window and change the settings.

Setup is now complete, and the EZSetup Wizard allows you to click Finish or click Next to test communications, set the data logger clock, and send a program to the data logger. See Testing communications with EZSetup for more information.

If you experience network communications problems, see Troubleshooting Radio Communications for assistance.