Hi all,
I'm a little confused about satellite communications, for example, with radio frequency communication, I need 2 radios (one on the remote station and the other at the base station) and download the data directly from the PC using LoggerNet or PC400. But if I want to use satellite communication(ARGOS or GOES) how to download the data?
I read that the data is downloaded directly by the owners of the satellite, but then they send the information by mail?
For TX320 saw few other options:
Internet, Domsat, LRGS, DRGS (Direct Readout Ground Station), Phone
But exactly how this works? searching the internet I saw that DRGS is an additional device that can download data directly from the satellite, I need to buy this device and connect to the PC like a RF416 to download data from the station?
As you will see I'm pretty confused, I want to transmit data every hour (or every 3 hours for example)from a field monitoring station to my office. Is it possible to clarify some ideas?
I hope you can help me understand how I get the data using satellite communication.
Best Regards
Hi,
There are a number of satellite systems. If you use a system such as ARGOS then this is a pre-packaged system where you need an argos compatible data device that sends pre-formatted data to argos who then provide a service to access the data from them. This is probably of little value to yourself.
I would go for Iridium which gives you a transparent link such as you have with GSM modems or HF radios where you get an IP style connection that your logger can use to talk to LoggerNet.
I am not an expert on satellite systems but what we have used are IP based systems that allow a transparent link and so Loggernet can talk directly to the logger, Iridium can do this but systems such as Argos only work with compatible devices and then you have to download the data from argos directly not from the logger.
Hope this helps,
Scott.
Hello,
I was working outside the office without access to internet, I just saw the answer and thank you for the clarification, I hope you can help me with some more questions:
1. - GOES system works similar to ARGOS?
2.-Campbell has modems to work with iridium satellite? know a particular modem you can use a CR1000?
3.-Have an idea of the approximate cost to be paid by the satellite communication service?
Thank you very much
Best regards
Hi,
I can speak to the Iridium network because that is what I am using. The transceiver that I am using is the 9522B and you can get it from a variety of vendors. There is a pretty good manual for the 9522A that was written by CSI Canada, http://www.campbellsci.ca/Catalogue/Iridium_Man.pdf and I also found this from CSI UK, ftp://ftp.campbellsci.com/pub/csl/outgoing/uk/technotes/41-06_apr09.pdf
I have my transceivers configured so that I call them to collect the data. This also gives me the option to send new programs and monitor data as if I was there. You can also configure the transceiver to send out packets of data. It just depends on how much data you are collecting and how frequently you want to get it.
I am paying $13 per month plus $1 per min. and I collect data from these sites once per week to keep costs down. I am not sure if I am a loud to say on here or not but the company I use for Iridium service and equipment is JouBeh Technologies (www.joubeh.com). They also sell an interface for the 9522B that makes it easy to connect to a Campbell datalogger.
Bill
Hi,
Thank you very much for the replies, I have clearer ideas now
Best Regards
Thanks, Bill.
We have certainly have had many customers use 9522B's from JouBeh. Another, nicely packaged, alternative is NAL Research (http://www.nalresearch.com/). Take a look at their A3LA series. We have many customers using the NAL products also.
If you decide to go with a one-way, SMA, or "short-burst-data" type of plan, LN takes a backseat. The logger would generally initiate the communications, sending the data. The data would then be delivered to you via email or be made available via an HTTP query of the provider's back-office / data hosting service.
But I agree with Bill that having dial-up, two way comms is really great. Integrates well with LN and provides you an easy way to perform remote administration.
* Last updated by: Sam on 4/4/2012 @ 10:00 PM *
Hello again,
I quite like the option of Iridium, locate providers in my country and I found one that can give me the sim card for iridium communication, but now I have a question, Hope can help:
If I have a SIM card for iridium, which data need from the provider to configure the modem? It is sufficient that the supplier give me the telephone number associated with the sim card?.
For example in the case of GPRS communication, the cell number did not really matter, because I use the IP address associated with the SIM card (in addition the IP must be static and public).
In the case of GPRS, in my country, no provider can give me a public IP, which was a problem when I wanted to use GPRS modems and do not want something similar happen to me again.
Then the question is: Wath i need from the provider?
1.- Cell Number?
2.- Ip of the sim card? (Public?, static?, etc)
3.- Some other number?
4.- See in the manuals of iridium campbell scientific canada enter a "voice number" in loggernet, what is this? is the number of the cell? only need this?
Well actually there are many questions, hope can help
Best Regards
Your iridium provider will be able to give you any setup details you need but there shouldn't be anything other than possibly a pin number.
Iridium isn't like a cell modem that gives you a connection to the internet and an IP address. You will have to call it using a modem on your computer or using another iridium transceiver connected to your computer. This is the simplest configuration but there are others that allow you to send messages (SMS) or packets of data (short burst data, SBD) from the logger. You would have to talk with your provider to see what the offer and what the cost would be.
Bill
Thank you for the help
I will talk with the provider for details
Best Regards!