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DEMONSTRATION OF UNIDATA STARLOGGER SYSTEM

Background

To collect data with a logger and sensor system, you must create a software program on a laptop and upload that to a data logger so the logger will know what to do. Many companies provide software that simplifies the process, but each is specific to their equipment.

Objective

Unidata provides a software package called "Starlog" to go along with its "Starlogger" data loggers. According to Starlog, the program you upload to your data logger is called a "scheme". In this exercise you will use Starlog to create a scheme, upload it to a data logger, collect data, download the data, and look at the final product.

Materials

Starlogger data logger, field termination strip, weatherproof enclosure, water level sensor, laptop computer, modem cable, bucket of water.

Methods
Scheme Creation
  1. Run Starlog from windows by double-clicking on the Starlog icon (OR from DOS type C:\STARLOG\PDL)
  2. You are prompted to "Open a Scheme", but you don't want to, so click on CANCEL.
  3. From the menu bar, select SystemScheme Editor
  4. From the menu bar, Select Scheme Create
  5. Using the drawdown menu, select your data logger model; click OK At this point there are 6 windows on your screen. You will have to review the information in each and customize to your needs.
  6. From the menu bar, select WindowGeneral
  7. Type a brief project description and select "unload comment" for your description to appear with your data when you download it.
  8. From the menu bar, select WindowCommunications
  9. Check that Port=Comm1 and Baud=9600
  10. From the menu bar, select WindowInstrumentsàInstall
  11. Scroll down the list of instruments until you find the "Hydrostatic Water Depth & Temperature Probe". BE SURE TO PICK THE RANGE GIVEN ON YOUR PROBE
  12. In the Instruments window, double click on your sensor name. Two "transducers" should be listed- water depth and red thermistor.
  13. Double click on water depth transducer and look over info. Make sure that "channel" is set to a0, which is the location on the termination strip where you plug in this sensor.
  14. Double click on thermistor transducer and look over info. Make sure that "channel" is set to a1, which is the location on the termination strip where you plug in this sensor.
  15. From the menu bar, select WindowProgram 1
  16. Set the scan rate to 1 sec- this is how often the logger will "look" at the sensor.
  17. Set the Log Interval to 10 sec- this is how often it will collect data.
  18. From the menu bar, select WindowLog Buffer 1àView
  19. This is where you decide what data you will log; choose RAW for both transducers by clicking in the brackets beneath the word RAW.
  20. From the menu bar, select WindowEvents
  21. This is where you can tell the logger to do something when an event occurs. E.g. when the water level reaches 5', turn on the water sampler and collect 1L of water.
  22. For this scheme, Events should say ALWAYS.
  23. From the menu bar, select SchemeSave As; use the file name "HYD151"
  24. Press Alt-X to exit Scheme Editor
Set-up Sensor
  1. Put red wire (power) in terminal marked 15 and tighten down with screwdriver
  2. Put blue wire (water level data) in terminal 39 and screw down
  3. Put yellow wire (temp data) in terminal 36 and screw down
  4. Put green wire in terminal 41 and screw down
  5. Put white wire/shield into terminal 38 and screw down
Use a Scheme
  1. From the menu bar, select PanelOpen
  2. Double click on your scheme to open it
  3. Plug small end of modem cable into laptop serial port and long end into logger; press and key on the keyboard to initiate transfer; when done disconnect cable from logger
  4. Put sensor into bucket of water
  5. Click on "Program Logger with Scheme" and then click OK
  6. Plug data logger into termination strip to start monitoring; wait 5 min to get 30 points.
  7. Plug small end of modem cable into RS-232 port on computer and long end into Logger where it says "Computer"; press and key on the keyboard to initiate transfer; type in a comment, if desired; when done disconnect cable from logger
  8. Click on "Unload data from logger" and then click OK
View Data
  1. Click on Report Editor and press the Ins key to create a report type.
  2. Change the date format to the standard USA format and click OK.
  3. Type Alt-X to exit and save report type.
  4. Select "Display and unload file" and double click on your data file.
  5. View data on screen.
  6. Once you verify your data is properly downloaded, you then are done.