EnviroMon

Using EnviroMon to log data remotely through two GSM modems


With EnviroMon you can remotely log data to your PC through two GSM modems. In the set-up described below we have used the Wavecom Fastrack M1306B modems, but the method should work with other modems.

Guide to remote data logging

  1. Configure Your EnviroMon system as though you have no modems. (Please refer to your manual for this.)
  2. Ensure that, once you have configured your device, you click the Program button.
  3. Restart your software.
  4. Once in the configuration panel, click Equipment.
  5. Set the connection to via telephone + modem with the serial cable still connected.
  6. Choose a baud rate of 9600, click Set link and wait for it to complete.
  7. Set up the logger at the remote site.
  8. Connect the power to the modem. Make sure the modem is running at 9600 baud. You may need to do this using AT commands.
  9. Disconnect the power and battery from the EL005.
  10. Connect the EL033 adapter to the EL005, and connect the modem to the EL033.
  11. Plug the power back in to the EL005. This will send an ‘automatically answer call’ signal to the modem.
  12. Plug the other modem into the PC on which you configured the Logger.
  13. Go into the configuration panel and click Equipment.
  14. Click Telephone. Enter the telephone number of the modem connected to the EL033/EL005.
  15. If you require an alarm SMS message, fill in the details now. Click OK.
  16. Select which serial port the PC modem is attached to. Click OK.
  17. Click Exit.
  18. Open the envimon.ini file (located in your EnviroMon or Pico Folder) and add the following under the [General] section:

    TurnroundMs=2000
    MaxRetries=1

  19. Save and close the file. Restart EnviroMon.
  20. From the File menu select Connect. The program will display the current readings and then start downloading stored data. The readings will not change while the stored data is being downloaded.
  21. Keep the program running until you hear the computer beep or until you see the current readings change again.
  22. The telephone link stays active while the program is running or until you select Disconnect from the File menu.

Notes

It is possible to set EnviroMon to automatically connect to the logger on start-up and then disconnect after the data transfer. This can be done by selecting Disconnect after data transfer from the Connection at start up control in the Logger dialup options dialogue (Settings | Configuration | Equipment | Telephone).

Once the logger is connected through a telephone and modem link, it is possible to reprogram it if you need to update the settings. It is not possible to change the baud rate while connected through a modem.

If you do not know the baud rate of the modem used, try using 9600. This is supported by almost all modems.

One of our customers (user “rpm” on the Pico forum) has reported success with Siemens and Telit modem equipment. This user advises using HyperTerminal to check simple things such as getting the modem to auto-answer the command ATS0=1.

The purpose of instruction 18, particularly the first line of code, is to extend the time between the GSM modems’ attempts to communicate. Previously the default time was not sufficient for GSM modems, so the logger and computer were not completing communication.

Article: KB-144
15 Jun 2007

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