RXW Multi-Depth Soil Moisture Sensor (RXW-GPx-xxx) Quick Start
25114-B MAN-QSG-RXW-GP
Adding a Mote to the HOBOnet® Wireless Sensor Network
Important:
Keep the mote near the station while completing these steps.
If you are setting up a new station, follow the instructions in the station
quick start before setting up this mote (go to www.onsetcomp.com/
support/manuals/24380-man-rx2105-rx2106-qsg for RX2105 and RX2106
stations or www.onsetcomp.com/support/manuals/18254-MAN-QSG-
1
2
3
4
Watch the mote LCD during the process of joining the
network:
5
6
Go to www.hobolink.com to monitor mote status and
health. See the HOBOlink® Help for details.
Important:
Set the logging interval for wireless sensors in
HOBOlink to the following minimum settings. See the product
manual for more details (link on back).
Part Number
Minimum Logging Interval
Using Solar Power with
Rechargeable Batteries*
Minimum Logging Using
Non-Rechargeable
Lithium Batteries
RXW-GP3-xxx
5 minutes year round
10 minutes with a
1-year battery life
RXW-GP4-xxx
5 minutes summer,
10 minutes winter
15 minutes with a
1-year battery life
RXW-GP6-xxx
5 minutes summer,
15 minutes winter
15 minutes with a
7-month battery life
* Requires the solar panel is positioned directly toward the sun and without
shade
Mounting and Positioning the Mote
•
Close the mote and use a padlock to keep it secure.
•
Mount the mote vertically using cable ties or screws.
•
Position the mote towards the sun, making sure the solar panel is
oriented so that it receives optimal sunlight throughout each season.
It may be necessary to periodically adjust the mote position as the
path of the sunlight changes throughout the year or if tree and leaf
growth alters the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panel.
•
Make sure the mote is mounted a minimum of 1.8 m (6 feet) from the
ground or vegetation to maximize distance and signal strength.
•
Consider using plastic poles such as PVC to mount the mote as certain
types of metal could decrease the signal strength.
•
Place the mote so there is full line of sight with the next mote. Use a
repeater if there is an obstruction between motes.
•
There should not be more than five motes in any direction from a
repeater or the manager. Data from sensor motes travels or “hops”
across the network and may not reach the station if the mote is more
than five hops away.
Press the Search button. The magnifying glass icon will
blink while the station is in search mode waiting for motes
to join the network.
Press the Select button on the station to switch to the module
with the manager (module 2 on RX2105 or RX2106 stations).
Open the mote door and install the rechargeable batteries.
Press the button on the mote for 3 seconds.
Press the Search button on the station again to
stop the search for motes.
This signal strength icon
blinks while searching for
a network.
Once a network is found,
the icon will stop flashing
and the bars will cycle from
left to right.
a.
b.
c.
d.
This network connection
“x” icon blinks while the
mote completes the
registration process,
which may take up to
five minutes.
Once the mote has finished
joining the network, the “x”
icon is removed and the channel
count on the station LCD
increases by the total channel
count for that sensor model.