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Tinytag TGRF-4021 User Manual

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Summary of Contents for Tinytag TGRF-4021

  • Page 1 Tinytag connect...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    1.5 Ethernet Receiver/LAN Logger Software Setup 1.6 Tinytag Connect Gateway Software Setup 1.7 Connecting to a System from Another Computer 1.8 Enabling the Tinytag Connect Navigation Pane 1.9 Radio Logger Setup 1.10 Using a Tinytag Connect Device 1.11 Logger Icons System Information 2.1 System Components...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    It covers the installation of a system, an overview of how it works and then specific information on the different types of logger the system supports (radio and LAN connected products). All users are advised to run the latest version of the Tinytag Explorer software. The latest version of the software can be downloaded from: www.tinytag.info/support...

  • Page 5: Getting Started

    Getting Started...

  • Page 6: What You Need

    To use a Tinytag Connect system you will require the following: • A copy of the Tinytag Explorer Connect software CD • A Tinytag Connect activation code (this can be found inside the front cover of this manual) • A Tinytag Connect device (Radio receiver, loggers and/or LAN logger) •...

  • Page 7: Software Installation & Setup

    Access rights on the server or computer you are using. • Place the Tinytag Explorer CD into the CD drive of your PC. The Tinytag Explorer Installer will run automatically after a few seconds and present you with a Welcome screen. If Tinytag Explorer Installer does not run automatically, open Windows Explorer, navigate to your CD drive and double-click tinytag.msi.
  • Page 8 Start >> All Programs >> Tinytag Explorer >> Tinytag Explorer Activating Tinytag Explorer Connect The first time you run Tinytag Explorer you will be prompted to activate the software. Enter the activation code into the box provided and choose whether you want it to be applied to all the user accounts on the computer.

  • Page 9: Usb Receiver Hardware Installation

    When the installation is complete, plug the cable into the receiver and turn the receiver on. The receiver should then be located so that it is within range of one or more data loggers (an elevated position may help). Now go to Section 1.6: Tinytag Connect Gateway Software Setup 1.3 USB RECEIVER HARDWARE INSTALLATION...

  • Page 10: Ethernet Receiver/Lan Logger Hardware Setup

    1.4 Ethernet Receiver/LAN Logger Hardware Setup Ethernet receivers and LAN loggers are Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices. If a PoE plug-in injector is supplied, the device should be connected up using Ethernet cables (not supplied) as shown below: Once connected, turn the device on. Locate and make a note of the MAC address on the back of the device being installed, this will be needed later.

  • Page 11: Ethernet Receiver/Lan Logger Software Setup

    1.5 Ethernet Receiver/LAN Logger Software Setup To install a Tinytag Plus Radio Ethernet Receiver or LAN Logger: On the computer that will run the Master Gateway, install and activate the Tinytag Explorer Connect software, as previously described. Browse the Tinytag Explorer CD and locate the LAN folder Run the program VirtualCommPort.exe and follow the instructions in the onscreen prompts...
  • Page 12 Run the Virtual Comm Port software (this is called NB Virtual Comm Port and can be found on the Windows Start Menu under NetBurner NNDK) and click Add. Set Select serial port to COM100 (if installing more than one device, increment the port number for each successive device used).
  • Page 13 In the Remote host name/port fields type the IP address of the Ethernet device and the Listening network port number (as previously determined) and click Add and Apply. The device is now ready to use. 1.5 ETHERNET RECEIVER/LAN LOGGER SOFTWARE SETUP...

  • Page 14: Tinytag Connect Gateway Software Setup

    With the receiver or logger plugged into the computer or network, start Tinytag Explorer and go to Options and Communication Options. Next, click on the Tinytag Connect tab and select Use a Tinytag Connect Product, then select Direct connection to Tinytag Connect Device and click on the Configure Gateway button.
  • Page 15 Next. E-Mail Alarm Notifications Tinytag Explorer can be set to send e-mail alerts when user defined logger alarm limits are exceeded (the user account that the system is working on must have a properly configured e-mail account for this to work).
  • Page 16 Autostart gateway service when this computer is switched on box. This will automatically start the gateway service running, and maintain the network, in the event of an unexpected reboot. To start the radio service, check the Start it now box, then Finish. 1.6 TINYTAG CONNECT GATEWAY SOFTWARE SETUP...

  • Page 17: Connecting To A System From Another Computer

    To connect to an existing system from another computer, install Tinytag Explorer on the remote computer and go to Options and Communication Options. Select the Tinytag Connect tab, Use a Tinytag Connect Product and then Autodetect Gateway on LAN.

  • Page 18: Enabling The Tinytag Connect Navigation Pane

    1.8 Enabling the Tinytag Connect Navigation Panel On the Tinytag Explorer Connect toolbar you will now see a new drop-down menu. Select the Tinytag Connect Gateway option. A navigation panel will then appear on the left-hand side of the screen and after a few moments the receiver or any LAN logger(s) connected to the system will start listing.

  • Page 19: Radio Logger Setup

    1.9 Radio Logger Setup Once Tinytag Explorer has been installed and the receiver set up, data loggers can be turned To minimise the time necessary for the units to connect, start turning on the loggers closest to the receiver first and then work outwards.

  • Page 20: Using A Tinytag Connect Device

    Current Readings Use this to view what a device is currently reading. Further information on these and other options can be found in the Tinytag Explorer Help file by going to Help and Contents. 1.10 USING A TINYTAG CONNECT DEVICE...

  • Page 21: Logger Icons

    1.11 Logger Icons The navigation pane in the Tinytag Explorer Connect software allows the user to see the status of any logger at a glance. The icon for a given logger or receiver can indicate whether the device is in contact with the system, whether the device is transmitting data, whether an alarm is active and its battery status.

  • Page 23: System Information

    System Information...

  • Page 24: System Components

    2.1 System Components Below is a key to the components used in the Tinytag Connect system that you will see in various places throughout this manual. Tinytag Radio Logger LAN Data Logger Tinytag Receiver Tinytag Explorer Connect Tinytag Connect Gateway...

  • Page 25: System Overview

    2.2 System Overview Introduction A Tinytag Connect system can be made up of a combination of radio and/or LAN connected data loggers, but every system has the same core components; the Tinytag Connect Gateway, that manages the collection of data from the loggers; the Tinytag Explorer Connect...
  • Page 26 Tinytag Explorer Connect Software. As well as making data available for viewing in Tinytag Explorer, data can also be exported from the Connect Gateway directly using either the Modbus protocol, or in csv files via a http link.
  • Page 27 Tinytag Explorer Connect Software Tinytag Explorer is the software that is used to view data from and work with all Tinytag products. The Connect version of the software provides extended functionality, allowing users on the same network to view data from the system on their own computer.
  • Page 28 Loggers Every Connect system requires at least one data logger to collect the actual data. Data loggers are electronic devices that record data using different types of sensors. By default, they transmit this data to the Connect Gateway as it is recorded, but they also hold a copy of the data locally in case problems arise.

  • Page 29: Gateway Configurations

    Master Gateway running on a server at the head office, with a computer at each satellite site running a Slave Gateway. The Slave Gateways then forward data from their local networks onto the Master Gateway, allowing anyone running Tinytag Explorer Connect to see data from all three sites.
  • Page 30 Server NETWORK A Tinytag Connect Master Gateway is installed on a server, with a receiver for a radio network, or a number of LAN loggers, connected to it. The Connect Gateway then makes data available to other users on the same network for viewing in the Tinytag Explorer Connect software.
  • Page 31 This ensures that the Tinytag Connect Gateway will start running as soon as a computer is turned on; reducing the delay in fetching the data the gateway hasn’t downloaded. Enabling this option also ensures a Tinytag Connect system will start running again in the event of a power cut.

  • Page 32: Data Logging

    2.4 Data Logging No stopping Tinytag Connect data loggers will start logging as soon as they are switched on. They do not need to be ‘launched’. It is possible to change the configuration of a logger (logging interval, channels labels, groups, etc.) without stopping the logging process.

  • Page 33: Data Transmission

    If the Connect Gateway is aware of a gap in the data from a logger when it is viewed in Tinytag Explorer then it will ask the user whether they want to see the data so far, or wait until the gap has been filled in.

  • Page 34: Alarm E-Mails

    If an alarm is configured, the logger samples the parameter every few seconds. If an alarm value is exceeded, an alarm indicator will be transmitted to the Connect Gateway immediately, and this will show up in Tinytag Explorer straight away. However, the Connect Gateway does not send an alarm e-mail warning immediately; it delays for five minutes in case another logger should raise another alarm so that it can deliver all the alarm warnings in one e-mail.

  • Page 35: Exporting Data

    The data stored by the Connect Gateway is held in propriety format data files that have a .jf extension, that open directly in Tinytag Explorer. Data from a Connect system can also be accessed directly from the gateway using the Modbus protocol or in CSV files over http.
  • Page 36 The following example was downloaded from: http://hostname:3927/Exports/all_readings/613756.csv The first few lines of this file is a header which consists of: • Various properties, name and value in the first two columns, for example ‘Serial’ and ‘Next Restart’. • A blank line. •...
  • Page 37 Gateway web pages. It must be generated by the software solution which wants to perform incremental transfers. Proprietary Connect Gateway Protocol The Connect Gateway supports a simple text-based proprietary network protocol which provides read-write access to logger configuration. This is the protocol used by Tinytag Explorer to access the Connect Gateway. 2.7 EXPORTING DATA...

  • Page 38: Modbus

    The unit identifier of each device is shown on the Modbus tab page of the Connect Gateway interface. These values are stored under the Tinytag Explorer program files, in json format, in the file: \Program Files\Tinytag\Tinytag Explorer\var\storage\units.db...
  • Page 39 No Modbus interaction is possible until a device is fully connected. That is, when the device leaves the Connecting group in Tinytag Explorer Connect’s Navigation pane, and the device’s state is listing as HAPPY in the Devices tab of the Connect Gateway interface.
  • Page 40 Missing Properties The Connect Gateway will return an Illegal Data Address error code if the requested property has not been fetched, or is missing from the device. This should not happen under normal circumstances, but may occur if: • Requesting a register corresponding to a diagnostic/debugging property, and the Connect Gateway is not in a diagnostic mode.

  • Page 41: Power

    2.9 Power All Tinytag Radio and LAN data loggers and receivers are fitted with alkaline batteries that are widely available and cheap to replace. These batteries are either the main source of power for the device, or provide back-up power in the event of the devices primary power source going down.
  • Page 42 Plus Radio loggers should only be used with the ACS-0044 power supply Low Power Warnings Tinytag Explorer Connect displays a low battery flashing icon in its navigation pane when the battery voltage of a device is below a critical threshold.
  • Page 43 • Loggers are close to a receiver in a large system where there are a lot of loggers that are not in direct contact with a receiver. Battery life will be significantly shorter if the Current Readings feature in Tinytag Explorer is used regularly for long periods.

  • Page 44: Troubleshooting

    Note that this indicator shows Connected as soon as Tinytag Explorer has connected to the Connect Gateway. This does not indicate that the Gateway Service has connected to a receiver or any loggers.

  • Page 45: Radio

    Radio...

  • Page 46: Radio Specification

    3.1 Radio Specification Different radio frequencies are used for different countries: 869.8MHz Used in the EU. Devices using this frequency can be identified by their part number ending –A. Older part numbers which do not have a single letter part number suffix also use this frequency.

  • Page 47: Positioning & Mounting Instructions

    3.2 Positioning & Mounting Antenna Orientation Ideally the antenna should be oriented vertically. Most of the energy is emitted perpendicular to the antenna. Ultra Radio products can be wall mounted or placed flat on a surface, such as a shelf or a table top.
  • Page 48 Plus Radio Mounting Points The logger can be wall mounted or placed on its back on a flat surface, such as a shelf. The logger’s back-plate has mounting holes, as shown. Ultra Radio Mounting Bracket If wall mounting an Ultra Radio data logger, remove the two indicated screws from the rear of the logger and use them to screw the mounting clip onto the back of the logger.

  • Page 49: Installation

    1. Tinytag Explorer has been able to connect to the Gateway Service, and 2. The receiver is listing in the navigation pane. If working correctly, the receiver should be listing in Tinytag Explorer within a few minutes. Do all of this before powering up any loggers.
  • Page 50 It can sometimes take a while for a network to establish itself. If a logger is not listing in Tinytag Explorer it may be tempting to reboot it or move it to another location. Rather than helping, doing this may actually slow the connection of the logger;...

  • Page 51: System Configurations

    3.4 System Configurations Mesh Network All devices in a radio system participate in a mesh network. Tinytag Radio System Components Key Tinytag Radio Logger Tinytag Receiver Tinytag Connect Gateway OBSTACLE Tinytag Explorer Connect Obstacle Communication Route Alternative Communication Route Out of Range...
  • Page 52 “mesh routing hubs” (which are often mains powered, and may need to be placed with some care) and non-meshing “transmitters”. The Tinytag solution is more robust because having a larger number of mesh-capable devices will allow it to form a more effective mesh.

  • Page 53: Receiver Configurations

    3.5 Receiver Configurations Most installation will only need the one receiver, but in some cases multiple receivers might be a benefit. Receivers can be connected directly to the computer running either type of gateway in two ways; either across a network, using an Ethernet connected receiver, or directly, using a USB cable.
  • Page 54 Receiver Configurations There is a minor difference to the behaviour of a receiver depending on whether it is connected to Master or Slave Gateway. A receiver that loses contact with the Master Gateway (maybe because the computer has shut down) will continue to maintain the mesh network centred on that receiver.

  • Page 55: Mesh Network Behaviour

    Tinytag radio mesh devices can respond to this very quickly by immediately switching to the second best downstream route. It is not a problem even if this is a sideways hop –...
  • Page 56 (a) Good – plenty of redundant routing options for all devices. (b) Not Good – the red logger has only one place to send its data, so everything upstream of there (to the right) will not be reliable. 3.6 MESH NETWORK BEHAVIOUR...
  • Page 57 (c) Modifying the position of the red logger, so it has more than one place to send its data, will improve the range and therefore the reliability of the communications. In some cases it can be beneficial to add or move a device to improve redundancy: 1.
  • Page 58 2. In some cases it is not possible to provide a clean radio path for loggers that are physically close to each other, perhaps because they are at ground level on an undulating ground. In this case it may be possible to elevate a small fraction of the loggers so that they can overlook the others.

  • Page 59: Radio Configuration

    In most cases these parameters do not need to be adjusted, and incorrect configuration may adversely affect the performance of your radio network. We therefore advise that you only use this feature following the advice of Tinytag Technical Support. Receive Sensitivity The primary parameter to affect radio performance is Receive Sensitivity.
  • Page 60 Reducing the range in this way will have an effect on the mesh network connections established by the loggers. In some circumstances the mesh can be less robust for loggers which are within range of more than 20 other loggers. Reducing the range can also increase battery lifetime.
  • Page 61 Note that this parameter is different from the Measurement Interval, which can be controlled using Tinytag Explorer and is typically set to 10 minutes. Under normal circumstances, measurements are transmitted as soon as they are taken, and arrive on the computer system almost immediately.

  • Page 62: Led Flash Patterns

    3.8 LED Flash Patterns With the exception of the Ethernet radio receiver, Tinytag Radio loggers and receivers have a single LED indicator that shows the current status of the unit: Action Status/Operation No Indicators Device is powered off Red flash every 4...

  • Page 63: Ethernet/Lan

    Ethernet/LAN...
  • Page 64 4.1 Mounting Points LAN loggers can be wall mounted or placed on its back on a flat surface, such as a shelf. The logger’s back-plate has mounting holes, as shown. 4.1 MOUNTING POINTS...

  • Page 65: Alarms

    (latched) by external equipment until it is explicitly acknowledged. Muting the alarm at the logger does not acknowledge or switch of the alarm in Tinytag Explorer Connect. Cable Wiring An output cable for the external connection is available, part number CAB-0042. This is a plug with a 1.5m cable with stripped ends, ready for wiring into a terminal block.
  • Page 66 Wire an indicator (sound and/or light) between Power (brown) and Signal Indicator (white). The indicator must have a suitable supply voltage rating. SMS Dialler Wire Signal (white) to an active-low input and Ground (green) to the Ground reference. Polarity is important! If the input does not have a pull-up then one should be provided between Signal (white) and Power (brown).

  • Page 67: Led Flash Patterns

    Either: a) Battery is Low. b) An alarm indicator is signalled. Check the nature of the problem using Tinytag Explorer. Green flash every 4 seconds The device is powered on, and does not have any problems.

  • Page 68: Appendix

    Tinytag Connect Gateway Service The system requirements for running the Tinytag Connect Gateway Service are shown below. Note that additional requirements apply if you are running Tinytag Explorer Connect on the same computer (see below). Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 (x86 and x64 bits versions)

  • Page 69: Software Licence

    Tinytag Explorer Connect. b) Software Licence Tinytag Explorer is supplied under a site licence which means that it can be installed on as many computers as the customer wishes at a given location (additional copies of the software are required for each additional site the software is used at).
  • Page 72 Gemini Data Loggers (UK) Ltd Scientific House, Terminus Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8UJ, +44 (0)1243 813000 info@tinytag.info www.tinytag.info...

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