SDI-12 command basics

SDI-12 commands have three components:

  • Sensor address (a) – a single character and the first character of the command. Use the default address of zero (0) unless multiple sensors are connected to the same port.

  • Command body – an upper case letter (the “command”), optionally followed by one or more alphanumeric qualifiers.

  • Command termination (!) – an exclamation mark.

An active sensor responds to each command. Responses have several standard forms and always terminate with <CR><LF> (carriage return and line feed). Standard SDI-12 commands are listed in Campbell Scientific sensor SDI-12 command and response set.

Campbell Scientific sensor SDI-12 command and response set

Name

Command

Response1

Acknowledge Active a! a<CR><LF>
Send Identification aI! allccccccccmmmmmmvvvxxx...xx <CR><LF>
Start Verification aV! atttn <CR><LF>
Address Query ?! a<CR><LF>
Change Address aAb! b<CR><LF>
Start Measurement aM!
aM1!...aM9!
atttn<CR><LF>
Send Data aD0!...aD9! a<values><CR><LF> or
a<values><CRC><CR><LF>

1 Information on each of these commands is given in the following sections.