HOBO MicroRX Station Manual
1-800-LOGGERS 21
www.onsetcomp.com
includes any connections for alarms or changes you make to
the connection schedule. You can also increase the connection
interval to reduce the number of connections to HOBOlink per
day. Go to the Device Information section on your station page
in HOBOlink to check the status of the monthly
communications plan usage for the station.
Deployment Guidelines
Follow the guidelines and steps in this section for deploying and
mounting the station.
Guidelines for All Models
•
Check the signal strength on the LCD in the location you
wish to deploy the station to make sure it will be able to
reliably connect to HOBOlink. The station may have
difficulty connecting if there is only one bar illuminated in
the signal strength icon on the LCD. (The signal strength
shown on the LCD is from the last connection.)
•
The station must be mounted at least one foot from all
sensors to avoid interference from the built-in radio
module and antenna with the measurements made by the
sensors.
•
Make sure the station remains in a vertical position once it
is placed in its deployment location to prevent pooling of
water on the cable entries. In addition, if it is mounted
horizontally, the battery could be damaged over time in
RX2102 and RX2104 models as it is charged and the
antenna in all models will not have optimal range.
•
If possible, avoid sites immediately adjacent to
radio/television/microwave towers and equipment. In rare
situations, strong electromagnetic interference may result
in sensor network errors.
•
If you are using a wind speed/direction sensor or if the
station will be installed on a roof or in a location with
exposure to lightning, use a grounding wire (CABLE-
MICRO-G). A grounding wire may also reduce potential
sensor errors that can result from installing near other
radio or electrical equipment or antennas. See
Installing
the Grounding Wire
. Also, ground the tripod or mast using
appropriate grounding, such as the Grounding Kit (M-
GKA).
•
Take note of the mounting considerations in the sensor
manuals at www.onsetcomp.com/support/manuals for
additional guidelines for the sensors you are using.
•
Make sure all cables and wires are fastened securely and
routed through the cable channel. Any empty holes in the
cable channels need to be filled with the integrated plugs
to ensure the station is weatherproof (see the diagrams in
Setting up the Station
for how to insert the plugs).
•
When using the AC adapter (P-AC-1) with the cable
channel installed, route the AC adapter cable through the
far-left hole in the cable channel. Tuck the cable into the
left side of the hole and use the integrated cable channel
plug in the same hole (see the diagrams in
Setting up the
Station
for how to insert the plug). The far-left hole is
slightly bigger than the other holes in the cable channel
and can accommodate both the AC adapter cable and the
integrated plug at the same time.
•
Do not store excess sensor cable wire coiled inside the
station case or within one foot outside the case.
•
Protect cables and wires with conduit. Exposed cables can
be chewed by rodents.
•
Make sure the total cable length for all installed smart
sensors does not exceed 100 m (328 ft).
•
Consider using a padlock to restrict access to the station.
With the station door closed, hook a padlock through one
of the latches on the right side of the door and lock it.
Guidelines for the RX2102 and RX2104 Models
•
The RX2102 and RX2104 models have a built-in solar
panel to recharge the NiMH battery pack. Connect the
solar panel cable to keep the battery charged. When
mounting the station, position the solar panel in the
direction where it will receive the most sunlight through
the day and throughout each season. It may be necessary
to periodically adjust the station position as the path of
sunlight changes throughout the year or if the tree and
leaf growth alters the amount of sunlight reaching the
solar panel.
•
If the location where you want to install the station does
not produce enough sunlight to charge the battery, use
an external solar panel (SOLAR-xW). Disconnect the built-
in solar panel cable and tuck it in the station door. Plug in
an external solar panel. Lightly coat the portion of the
cable that will be placed in the cable channel with a small
amount of silicone grease. Route the external solar panel
cable through far-left hole in the cable channel.
Guidelines for the RX2103 and RX2104 Models
•
The absolute pressure sensor in the water level sensor is
temperature compensated over the range of 0° to 40°C
(32° to 104°F). The barometric pressure sensor is
temperature compensated over the range of -20° to 50°C
(-4° to 122°F). To obtain the highest level of accuracy,
both the sensor and station should be allowed to come
to full temperature equilibrium (approximately 20
minutes) before the reference level is entered in
HOBOlink as described in
Setting up the Station
.
•
Sudden temperature changes should be avoided.
•
When deploying the water level sensor in a well, make
sure the well is vented to the atmosphere. Typically, a
small hole can be drilled in the side of the well cap to
ensure that the pressure inside and outside the well is at
equilibrium. Use the Onset well cap (WELL-CAP-02) if it is
a 5 cm (2 inch) well. Otherwise, you will need to find
another method of attaching the cable at the top of your
well so that the sensor stays in position. The sensor cable
includes a Kevlar® strength member so it can support the
weight of the sensor and its cable. You can attach a
clamp around the cable, such as a hose clamp, but be
careful not to damage the cable.
•
There is a vent for the barometric sensor on the back of
the station. This vent must not collect water or it will
block proper barometric pressure readings. The best way
to avoid water collecting is to mount the station
vertically.
