Unihedron SQM-LU-DL, Operator'S Manual

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1 Introduction
9. Disconnect the SQM-LU-DL from the USB cord and plug in the battery pack within eight hours, the LED will come
on for three seconds to indicate that the unit woke up and is working. The LED will come on every minute for a
few seconds, you can use this to determine if the unit is still properly powered. Note: beware that using a “USB
charger” instead of the battery pack may cause problems since some of these chargers make the SQM-LU-DL think
it is connected to a computer instead of a battery, and some other chargers do not have the surge capacity to allow
the SQM-LU-DL to start up properly.
The device is now recording.
1.1.2 Saving the data log
Follow these steps to retrieve the logged data from the SQM-LU-DL:
1. Connect the SQM-LU-DL to the computer with the USB cable.
2. Launch the UDM program and find your device as before.
3. Select the “Data Logging” tab.
4. Click “Retrieve All” and follow the instructions on that page.
5. ONCE YOU’VE CHECKED THAT THE DATA IS SAVED TO DISK PROPERLY, and you want to clear the
data-logger memory in preparation for a new set of records, you can erase the old memory. Warning this step
cannot be undone!
1.1.3 Getting the data from the data log into MS Excel
1. Find the log data. It will be in a *.dat file, where the * will give you the date and time
2. In the Tools pulldown in the UDM program, use the “.dat to Moon .csv” function to convert the log file to a *.csv
file. Do not erase the original log file, because it contains some information (e.g., the type and serial number of your
SQM) that is not converted to the csv file.
3. Open the *.csv file in Microsoft Excel.
4. In Excel, highlight the data, then in the “Data” pulldown, use the “Text to Columns” function to convert the data
into columnar format; the divider is a semicolon.
5. Your data is now in nice columns by date and time, so you can plot it out as you wish.
1.1.4 Other software
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If you are using Windows, you may want to use Knightware SQM-Reader from www.knightware.biz/sqm .
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The CD contains examples of software (Perl, Python, etc.) for various functions that connect to the meter.
1.1.5 FITS integration
Some programs (listed below) gather information from the Unihedron Sky Quality meter products and insert that data
into the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) header.
•
MaxPilote (Freeware) incorporates SQM readings from an SQM-LE/SQM-LU into the FITS header while at the
same time provide constant readings in a live and updated Data Window.
•
CCDAutoPilot
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FITS4Win2 uses the MPSAS keyword for sorting and filtering image files.
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Unihedron SQM-LU-DL Operator’s Manual -
20220119