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See Data Advise
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A terminal on the datalogger’s wiring panel where leads for analog signals are connected. The analog channels are designated single-ended (SE) or differential (DIFF) on the wiring panel. Many sensors, such as thermistor temperature probes and wind vanes, output analog signals.
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See Mixed-array Datalogger
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A computer file containing letters, numbers, and other characters using the ASCII character encoding.
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The transmission of data between a transmitting and a receiving device occurs as a series of zeros and ones. For the data to be “read” correctly, the receiving device must begin reading at the proper point in the series. In asynchronous communications, this coordination is accomplished by having each character surrounded by one or more start and stop bits that designate the beginning and ending points of the information (see Synchronous). The transfer of information is not otherwise coordinated between the sender and receiver.
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An ACSII text file that contains one or more DOS commands or executable file commands. When the batch file is run, the commands in the file are executed sequentially.
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This entry in the status table returns the datalogger battery voltage.
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The rate at which a communication signal travels between two devices.
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A file based on software defined formatting. A binary file can only be interpreted by the software programmed to decode the formatting. This format is used for more efficient data storage than is provided by ASCII.
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The communications protocol used by the server to communicate with table-based dataloggers and RF modems.
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Part of the radio (RF) technique of polling remote radio modem datalogger sites. A single modem sends a message (broadcast) that all affected remotes hear and respond to.
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When a datalogger is programmed for Call-back, it will automatically call the host computer when a specified condition is met. The computer must be set up to look for such an incoming call.
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A three-digit number that is used to identify what datalogger has called the host computer. (Not available for Table-based dataloggers.)
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Choosing Cancel from a dialog box will typically ignore any changes made and close the box.
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An electrical signal used to convey data or other information. For example, radio and phone modems use carrier signals. Phone modems attempt to detect carrier when the call is placed. The red LED on the RF95T lights when the modem detects a carrier.
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See Node. A node that is accessed through another device (parent node). For example a remote radio frequency (RF) site is accessed through and a child of the base RF232T. All nodes are child nodes of the PC.
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A software application designed to connect to a server. Usually provides some type of user interface or data acquisition. Email programs running on individual PCs are typically client applications that connect to an email server program running on a computer at an Internet Service Provider to receive and send email messages.
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Special type of cable with two conductors (center conductor and outer shield conductor). Classified by size, impedance, and loss characteristics. Used to connect MD9 modems and to connect radios to antennas.
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see Data Collection
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A computer’s serial communications port. Cables and other interface devices are connected between the computer’s COM port and the datalogger.
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The software (typically packaged as a DLL) that provides the communications functions within other software such as PC400 or LoggerNet.
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Dataloggers have digital output ports that can be used to switch power to sensors such as the HMP35C relative humidity circuit or to control relays. These digital outputs are called Control Ports and are labeled C1, C2, etc., on the wiring panel. Control ports on some dataloggers can also be used as inputs to sense the digital (high or low) state of a signal, monitor pulse signals, control Synchronous Devices for Measurement (SDM), or used as data input/output connections for SDI-12 sensors.
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A command line interpreter client to the LoggerNet server that allows the user access to many of the capabilities of the LoggerNet server using direct commands or programmed script files.
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The programming language used for CR1000X-series, CR6-series, CR300-series, CR350, CR1000, CR3000, CR800-series, CR200-series, GRANITE 6, GRANITE 9, GRANITE 10, CR5000, CR9000, and CR9000X dataloggers. Short Cut or the CRBasic Editor are used to create program files for these dataloggers.
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A CR1000X-series, CR6-series, CR350, CR300-series, CR1000, CR3000, CR800-series, CR200-series, GRANITE 6, GRANITE 9, GRANITE 10, CR5000, CR9000, or CR9000X datalogger. Sometimes referred to as “CRx000 dataloggers.”
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Generally, a CR1000X-series, CR1000, CR350, CR300-series, CR6-series, CR800-series, CR3000, CR200/205, CR5000, or CR9000 datalogger. More correctly referred to as “CRBasic dataloggers.”
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A mutual agreement between the communication server and the datalogger about which tables are to be collected every time the datalogger is contacted. Based on the dataloggers table definitions.
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An agreement between a client application and the communication server to provide specified data as it is collected by the server.
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The packet of data sent by the datalogger based on the Data Advise agreement.
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The storage for data collected from the datalogger by the communication server. This data is stored in binary files on the hard disk of the computer where the server is running.
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Getting a copy of the data stored in the datalogger and saving it in the communication server’s data cache (compare to Data Retrieval).
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A data value that is sent to Final Storage as the result of an Output Instruction. A group of data points output at the same time makes up a record in a data table
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Sending a copy of the data from the communication server’s data cache to a file, network, or data display (compare to Data Collection).
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A portion of the datalogger’s Final Storage allocated for a particular output. Each time output for a given data table occurs, a new record is written to the table. The size of the table (in number of records) and when records are written to the data table are determined by the datalogger’s Data Table Instruction (P84). The fields (columns) of the table are determined by the Output Processing Instructions that follow the Data Table Instruction.
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A field in the status table that shows the number of days before any of the tables using automatic record allocation are filled.
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Short for “Device Configuration Utility”, a software application that provides a graphical user interface to configure settings in dataloggers and communications peripherals. Available in PC400, LoggerNet, and as a stand-alone application from the Campbell Scientific website.
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Some sensors have two signal wires and the measurement is reflected in the voltage difference between them. This type of sensor requires two analog connections. The channels marked DIFF on the datalogger wiring panel are used to connect differential sensors.
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Sensors utilizing electrical bridge circuits require a precise electrical voltage to be applied. The excitation channels, marked as VX1, VX2, etc., on the datalogger wiring panel, provide this required precision voltage.
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See Scan Interval.
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The time required to execute an instruction or group of instructions. If the total execution time of a Program Table exceeds the table’s Execution Interval, the Program Table will be executed less frequently than programmed. Each time this occurs, a Table Overrun occurs. Table Overruns are considered to be
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In most instances, pressing the F1 key will provide context sensitive help for the highlighted object on the screen
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Message relating to network activity where repeated problems or errors have occurred. Repeated faults usually indicate a failure of some kind.
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Final Storage is an area in the datalogger’s memory where data is stored for collection to a PC. When you collect data from the datalogger you are collecting data from a Final Storage table.
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Memory locations where the program can store a logical high or low value. These locations, called User Flags, are typically used to signal a state to another part of the program.
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Most sensors require one or more ground connections in addition to excitation or signal inputs. Ground connections may serve any of several purposes: a reference for a single-ended (SE) analog voltage (use analog ground if available); a power return path (do NOT use analog ground for power return); a connection for cable shield wire to help reduce electrical noise (do not use analog ground for shield wires, also known as drain wires)
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The process used by the server to collect data records missing from the data cache but possibly still in the datalogger. If Hole Collection is delayed or disabled, the memory in the datalogger can ring around and overwrite the missing data records resulting in an Uncollectable Hole.
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When using Data Advise, the communications server always gets the most recent data records, so if there are more records to be returned than can fit in one packet there can be sequences of older data available from the datalogger that have not yet been collected to the data cache. The server tracks and collects these holes only if that option is enabled. This entry in the status table shows the number of data points in missed records for the data storage tables in that station.
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The machine where the communication server software is running.
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Configuration files that are used to preserve the last known setups or states of a program or device.
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A string of alphanumeric characters that are sent to a device, such as a modem, to prepare that device for communications.
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Datalogger program instructions used to make measurements or send data automatically to other devices.
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Datalogger memory used to temporarily store values (such as a running total and number of samples for an average calculation), typically to be used for output calculations. The datalogger uses Intermediate Storage to accumulate sensor readings until output.
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Logger Data Export Protocol, a protocol and client application that provides for data distribution from the communications server to a third party application through a standard TCP/IP socket. Installed with LoggerNet Admin; see the associated PDF file for more information. Requires record-specific acknowledgements for record flow control. See LDMP.
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Logger Data Monitoring Protocol, a protocol and client application that provides for data distribution from the communications server to a third party application through a standard TCP/IP socket. Installed with LoggerNet Admin; see the associated PDF file for more information. Requires very simple acknowledgements for record flow control. See LDEP.
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Communications route between two devices, for example the phone link between two phone modems.
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Text files that are stored on the computer’s hard drive that record activity. They contain information about communications between the communications server and other devices in the datalogger network. Log files are typically used for troubleshooting purposes. LoggerNet has four types of log files: Transaction, Communications Status, Object State, and Low Level I/O. Refer to the Log Files Appendix for information on these log files.
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An MD9, or multi-drop modem, is a communications device that uses twisted pair cable for connection. Typically, the system consists of one MD9 base modem that is attached to the user’s computer, with one or more remote modems at the datalogger field site. One remote modem is needed for each datalogger at the field site
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Values stored by the datalogger in an Input Location after reading an electronic signal from a sensor and converting the raw signal into meaningful units.
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From “modulator-demodulator”; a device used to transmit and receive digital data over normally analog communications lines, such as an audio signal on telephone circuits. A modem attached to a computer performs a digital-to-analog conversion of data and transmits them to another modem that performs an analog-to-digital conversion which permits its attached computer to use the data.
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Part of the description of a datalogger network. Each node represents a device that the communications server will dial through or communicate with individually. Nodes are organized as a hierarchy with all nodes accessed by the same device (parent node) entered as child nodes. A node can be both a parent and a child node.
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The output interval is the interval at which the datalogger writes data to a Final Storage data table.
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Writing to final storage memory a sample or summary statistic of data measurements. Output processing options include sending a sample, average, maximum, minimum, total, or wind vector of data to Final Storage. Each Output Processing data value is kept in a separate location within the datalogger. This allows multiple output processing for each measurement. For example, you can average air temperature over a 60-second interval, a one-hour interval, and a 24-hour interval. See the operator’s manual or programming software for output processing options available for each datalogger model.
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A unit of information sent between two BMP or PakBus devices that are communicating. Each packet can contain data, messages, programming, etc. Usually contains addressing and routing information.
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A packet-based and packet-switched networking protocol used by newer dataloggers. PakBus allows for robust transmission of commands and data, dynamic routing between PakBus devices, and peer-to-peer communications (such as when one datalogger needs to control another datalogger without involving the PC).
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Number or code which helps to specify exactly what a given datalogger instruction is to do.
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The modems, or other devices that make up a link to communicate with a remote site datalogger.
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Process where a datalogger or other communications device is periodically checked for any packets it needs to send. The server polls dataloggers for most communications links. Some communications devices, such as RF232T radio bases or repeaters can also poll datalogger sites.
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The user-specified interval that determines when to poll a given device.
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Datalogger instructions that modify the sequence of execution of other instructions in the datalogger program; also used to set or clear user flags.
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A program signature is a unique value calculated by the datalogger based on program structure. Record this signature in a daily output to document when the datalogger program is changed.
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Some sensors output voltage pulse signals. Such sensors can be connected to Pulse Channels for measurement (labeled as P1, P2, etc., on the datalogger’s wiring panel).
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Often referred to as “sleep mode” – a low power state between program execution intervals.
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All dataloggers have an internal clock. The date and time information from this clock are used in the time stamp for stored data. The datalogger’s scan interval and timer are synchronized with the clock. All CRBasic dataloggers have battery backups that maintain the clock even when 12V power is not available.
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A group of data values output at the same time to the same data table. Records are written in response to the DataTable declaration in CRBasic dataloggers. The individual fields within each record are determined by the Output Processing instructions following the instruction that created the data table.
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Typically where a datalogger is located at the other end of a communications link. Also can refer to the site where a radio (RF) repeater is located.
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A radio (RF) site that relays packets of information to a remote site. Used to extend the range of radio transmissions. Most remote datalogger sites with radios can act as repeaters.
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When a transaction or communication between two devices or programs fails, the transaction or communication can often be triggered to repeat until it succeeds.
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See Data Retrieval.
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Radio Frequency
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Real Time Monitoring and Control software. A client application to the communications server that displays data from the server’s data cache (only) and updates as new data is collected. RTMC is relatively easy to set up, and ships with LoggerNet.
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The periodic interval on which the datalogger program is run. The scan interval is sometimes referred to as the execution interval. For example, when a scan interval of 60 seconds is set, the datalogger will execute its program table every 60 seconds. Between scans the datalogger enters a sleep (quiescent) mode. This conserves battery power and creates predictable measurement intervals. The scan interval is synchronized with the datalogger’s real-time clock.
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SDI-12 stands for Serial Digital Interface at 1200 baud. It is an electrical interface standard and communications protocol that was originally developed by Campbell Scientific and other manufacturers for the U.S. Geological Survey for hydrologic and environmental sensors. SDI-12 was designed to be a simple interface (ground, 12 volts, and signal) that improves compatibility between dataloggers and “smart” microprocessor-based sensors.
Other goals of the SDI-12 standard are: low power consumption for battery powered operation via the datalogger; low system cost; use of multiple sensors on one cable connected to one datalogger; allow up to 200 feet of cable between a sensor and a datalogger.
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A code entered into the datalogger either directly with a keypad or via software or the datalogger’s program to prevent unauthorized access to datalogger settings, programs, and data.
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Also “communication server”, a software application that accepts connections from client applications and provides data or other information as requested. The LoggerNet server manages all the communications and data collection for a network of dataloggers. The collected data is made available for client applications. PC400 also uses the communication server but in a more limited configuration.
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A program generator application that ships with PC400, LoggerNet, and is available as a stand-alone product from the Campbell Scientific website. Short Cut does not require knowledge of individual program instructions. Users need only know what kind of datalogger and sensors they’re using and decide what output they require. Short Cut generates the program for them. (Contrast a “program generator” with the full-featured “program editors”, Edlog and CRBasic Editor.)
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Number calculated to verify both sequence and validity of bytes within a packet or block of memory.
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Some analog sensors have only one signal wire. (They will also have another wire that can be grounded and that is used as the reference for the signal wire.) With this type of sensor, only one analog connection is required. Hence, it needs a “single-ended” or SE analog input. The single ended channels are marked as SE on the datalogger wiring panel.
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Skipped scans occur when the actual program execution time exceeds the scan interval. This causes program scans to be skipped. When an skipped scan occurs, the SkippedScan parameter in the datalogger’s status table is incremented by 1.
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A datalogger site is often referred to as a station.
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The transmission of data between devices occurs as groups of zeros and ones. For the data to be “read” correctly, the receiving device must begin reading at the proper point in the series. In synchronous communications, this coordination is accomplished by synchronizing the transmitting and receiving devices to a common clock signal (see Asynchronous).
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List of data available from a table-based datalogger. The datalogger supplies this list on request. The tables are determined by the datalogger program. The LoggerNet server must have a current version of the table definitions to collect data from the datalogger.
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The date and time when data are stored in the datalogger.
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The exchange of data or information between two devices or programs. For example, setting the clock in a datalogger requires a transaction between the server and the datalogger.
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Occurs when a hole in the data cache cannot be collected from the datalogger before the data table wraps around and the records are overwritten.
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An entry in the status table that shows the number of watchdog errors that have occurred. The watchdog checks the processor state and resets it if necessary. If an error occurs, the watchdog error counter is incremented.
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The set of terminals and underlying circuits that enable connections of sensors, control and power supply wiring to the datalogger itself.