3 DATA
3.1 Data Handling
3.1.1 Printer
Th
e IR printer will print out data in short, medium or
long format - see RAD7 manual. In long format,
there will be a spectrum printed at the end of every
cycle.
3.1.2 Memory
Th
e internal memory of the RAD7 stores the date and
time, the radon concentration, live time, total count
and percentage in each of the main energy windows,
as well as a host of other parameters, for every cycle -
see RAD7 manual.
Th
ese data can be downloaded to
a PC at any time, during or a
ft
er a run, with
CAPTURE so
ft
ware, supplied.
3.1.3 RADLINK
Th
e RADLINK remote control so
ft
ware installed in
the RAD7 enables a PC to control the RAD7
remotely, to grab any or all of the data, and to divert
what would have been sent to the IR printer to the PC
instead - see RAD7 manual.
Th
ese, as with all other
commands, may be invoked from DURRIDGE’s
CAPTURE so
ft
ware, as explained below, or using a
terminal program that can communicate through the
computer’s serial port.
Th
e PC must be connected to the RAD7 with a null-
modem cable, as supplied with the RAD7. If the PC
does not have an RS232 serial port the Keyspan USB/
RS232 adaptor, as supplied, should be used. It is
advisable to go to the Keyspan web site
(<www.keyspan.com>) to download the latest driver
for the adaptor and the operating system of the PC.
3.1.4 CAPTURE for Windows or Mac
Data recorded to the RAD7 may be easily download
and graphed DURRIDGE’s CAPTURE so
ft
ware.
CAPTURE is available from the DURRIDGE web site
(<www.durridge.com>).
RAD7 data that has been collected using the RAD
AQUA should be downloaded using CAPTURE, then
graphed using CAPTURE’s RAD AQUA radon
source option, which uses water temperature data to
calculate radon concentrations.
Th
is water
temperature data is obtained by exporting it from the
temperature logger so
ft
ware, (see Section 3.1.5,
below). For speci
fi
c instructions on downloading and
graphing RAD7 data, please refer to the CAPTURE
user’s manual, which is available from the
DURRIDGE web site.
Once the data has been downloaded and backed up
securely, you should erase the data on the RAD7, to
prevent it from accumulating and
fi
lling the device’s
memory.
3.1.5 Temperature Data
To obtain the temperature data, hook up the
temperature logger to the PC and run its so
ft
ware to
download the data.
Th
e program will take a moment
to download the entire memory, and then display it
as a graph. You should save it to your hard drive
before doing anything else. You can also export it to
a comma-delineated .TXT
fi
le for use with
CAPTURE, or for incorporating into a spreadsheet or
database program.
Warning!
Make sure that the data is properly
downloaded and backed up before launching the
logger again. Certain operations may erase previous
data.
3.1.6 Time Relationship
A temperature reading is made at the moment in
time indicated with the reading. A radon reading, in
contrast, is the average value taken over the cycle
whose end occurred at the time indicated. More
precisely, in SNIFF mode, taking into account the
218-Po half life, a cycle whose end occurred about 5
minutes before the time indicated. For constant
radon and temperature values this is of no
consequence but if the temperature was changing
quickly, then the temperature readings during the
course of the radon cycle, and for
fi
ve minutes before,
should be averaged to give the average temperature at
the air water interface when the radon being
measured was leaving the water.
3.2 Data Conversion
3.2.1 FRITZ WEIGEL
Th
e RAD7 gives an accurate reading of the radon
concentration in the air. With the RAD AQUA, this
Section 3
Data
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