Ranch Systems RS100 RanchSensor User Manual Manual 7 19 06 JC REVISED

Ranch Systems LLC RanchSensor Manual 7 19 06 JC REVISED

UserManual.wiki >

Ranch Systems >

RS100 User Manual HTML Version

Owners Manual

FCC Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply

with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to

part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to

provide reasonable protection against harmful

interference in a residential installation. This equipment

generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy

and if not installed and used in accordance with the

instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio

communications. However, there is no guarantee that

interference will not occur in a particular installation. If

this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio

or television reception, which can be determined by

turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged

to try to correct the interference by one or more of the

following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the separation between the

equipment and the receiver

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a

circuit different from that to which the receiver

is connected

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV

technician for help

This equipment has been verified to comply with the

limits for a class B computing device, pursuant to FCC

rules. Operation with non-approved equipment is likely

to result in interference to radio and TV reception. The

user is cautioned that changes and modifications made

to the equipment without the approval of the

manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate

this equipment.

RanchMaster System Manual

WARNING – READ BEFORE USE!

Congratulations on choosing the RanchMaster system

for your business. We believe that RanchMaster is the

most advanced technology available today for

agricultural irrigation and climate control.

However, it is important to emphasize that this system is

still only a tool, and cannot be expected to function error-

free, 100% of the time.

The following are just some of the risks and limitations

that you need to plan for:

• Control and Data information is communicated via

cellular networks, such as Cingular. These network

experience outages, which in turn will prevent the

RanchMaster system from working

• Sensors occasionally report erroneous values, so

ultimately no data value can ever be assumed to be

100% true. Sensor data is a proxy for real conditions

in the field, but ultimately you should never take

drastic actions before double-checking specific

conditions.

• Electrically operated valves may malfunction, so for

example, the RanchMaster system may report a valve

as open when in fact the valve itself is still closed.

Correlating to water flow and soil moisture sensors

are good ways to detect such problems.

• No piece of software is error-free, despite thorough

testing. This means that RanchMaster system may

perform incorrect and unexpected actions, such as

opening a valve without explicit instructions. The user

must be vigilant in monitoring such anomalies to

avoid loss or damage. RanchMaster sensors can

themselves help implement such “closed loop”

verification, but it ultimately remains the ranch owner

responsibility.

Limited Warranty

Ranch Systems does not warrant that the RanchMaster

solution will operate uninterrupted or error free. Ranch

Systems will use commercially reasonable efforts to

correct any RanchMaster Solution problems in a timely

manner upon identification of issue or receipt of notice.

If a customer is dissatisfied with the equipment and

service within the first 90 days of equipment installation

and activation, they may terminate service.

Limited Liability

Ranch Systems shall not be liable for direct, indirect,

incidental or consequential damages including without

limitation damages for harm to business, lost profits or

lost revenues (however arising, including negligence),

whether or not Ranch Systems has been advised of the

possibility of such damages. Ranch Systems shall not

be liable for any damage that may arise out of use, or

inability to use, the services or products provided

hereunder.

RanchMaster System Manual

RanchMaster System

Manual

Version 2.1

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 – GETTING STARTED 7

1.1 Introduction 7

1.2 Features of this manual 7

CHAPTER 2 – ABOUT YOUR SYSTEM 9

2.1 RanchMaster System Overview 9

2.2 Sensor Node Specifications 14

2.3 Base Station SpecificationsError! Bookmark not defined.

2.4 Hosted Software SpecificationsError! Bookmark not defined.

CHAPTER 3 - INSTALLATION 17

3.1 What You Have Received 17

3.2 Base Station Installation 18

3.3 Solar Panel Installation 20

3.4 Sensor Node Installation 20

3.5 Sensor Installation 21

CHAPTER 4 – BASE STATION USAGE 20

4.1 Introduction to manual base station usage 20

4.2 Base station keypad overview 20

4.3 Menu Options 22

CHAPTER 5 – INTERNET SOFTWARE 30

5.1 Logins & Security 30

5.2 Online Features 30

5.3 SMS Commands 46

CHAPTER 6 – TROUBLESHOOTING 46

6.1 Trouble Shooting Overview 46

CHAPTER 7 – CUSTOMER SERVICE 50

RanchMaster System Manual

7.1 Customer Service 50

7.2 Contact Information 50

GLOSSARY 51

CONTACT INFORMATION 55

Chapter 1 – Getting Started

1.1 Introduction

This manual describes the use of the RanchMaster

system, including base station, wireless sensor

nodes, and corresponding web software.

1.2 Features of this manual

This manual contains 7 chapters intended to

explain the features and functions of Ranch

Systems equipment.

Chapter 1 – Getting Started

A preview of the manual

Chapter 2 – About Your System

Overview of RanchMaster system components

and technical specifications

Chapter 3 – Installation

Itemizes your RanchMaster system components

and explains the proper methods for setup of

each component

Chapter 4 – Base Station Software

Instructions for the setup and navigation of the

RanchMaster base station

Chapter 5 – Internet Software

RanchMaster System Manual

Instructions for the setup and navigation of the

Ranch Systems website and how to use it in

conjunction with the base station

Chapter 6 – Trouble Shooting

An explanation of error messages, hardware

issues and FAQs

Chapter 7 – Customer Service

A list of contact information to get in touch with

Ranch Systems personnel

Glossary

Definitions of frequently used terms

Chapter 2 – The RanchMaster System

This chapter introduces you to the specification and

operational principles of the RanchMaster system.

2.1 RanchMaster System Overview

RanchMaster is a powerful, easy-to-use, system for

wireless climate and irrigation control, optimized for use

in agriculture. Typical hardware components of a

RanchMaster system are shown in the picture above:

1. Wireless base station (typically one, but possibly

multiple per system)

2. Wireless sensor nodes (typically 4-100 per

system)

3. Soil moisture sensors

4. Flow sensors

RanchMaster System Manual

5. Temperature sensors

Other sensors supported but not pictured include:

1. Relative humidity sensors

2. Wind speed sensors (anemometer)

3. Rain gauges (tipping bucket style)

4. Water level and pressure sensors

5. Electric valves

6. Leaf wetness sensors

2.2 Sensor Nodes

Wireless sensor nodes are small, completely self-

contained units encapsulated in a rugged, water-tight

metal enclosure. Each node

has two input ports to which

various sensors can be

attached. Nodes come pre-

programmed to accept a

particular set of sensors on

their ports, so there is

absolutely no field

programming required. They

also come already powered

up, and their built-in battery

will keep them running for 2-

3 years depending on sensor

types attached. The types of

sensors attached to sensor

nodes include: soil moisture

sensors, water flow sensors,

wind speed gauges, and

relative humidity sensors.

Additionally, all sensor nodes

have a built-in temperature

sensor.

Sensor nodes are not data collection devices – they are

sensor monitoring devices. This distinction is important

to understand the functioning of a RanchMaster system:

whereas a data collection device periodically reads data

from a sensor and transmits or stores this data, sensor

monitors only report exceptional conditions. The

important fact about the RanchMaster system is that

using sensor monitoring it is possible to establish a

virtual data series of sensor data using complex

approximation and projection techniques. The result is

better data at dramatically lowered battery use due to

minimal wireless data transmission in the field.

Ranch Systems sensor nodes accomplish this by being

programmed to understand the specific meaning of

attached sensors and only transmit to the base station

when a significant event occurs, which is typically a

major change in the conditions. For example, in the case

of a sudden temperature drop, the sensor node will

realize that this needs to be reported and some action

may need to be taken. It will transmit the new value to

the base station with instruction to connect to the back-

end server and rules engine. The rules engine will

determine the necessary response and transmit back to

the base station. The original signal from the node will

also contain instruction to the base station to show the

new value in the display as an alert and possibly take

direct action locally (even without contacting the server).

More specifically, this event-based scheme works as

follows: the sensor node continuously monitors the

attached sensors and their latest values. It compares

this to the past pattern of values and determines when

the value of the sensor represents an abnormal situation,

in which case a control signal is transmitted to the base

station reporting this change and instructing the base

station to take further action as described above. Note

that the sensor node and base station maintain a mutual

RanchMaster System Manual

“contract” as to the normal sensor value pattern, so

transmission need not occur just because a sensor value

changes – only if the value change is “abnormal” will

transmission occur.

For example: let say a sensor node is measuring soil

moisture. When the soil is irrigation the soil moisture will

increase rapidly, and this sudden event will be reported

to the base station. However, after irrigating, the soil

moisture will decrease slowly following logarithmic

function. Because the sensor node and base station

understands this function, no further transmission need

occur until next abnormal event (start of rain, or

irrigation).

The effect of this scheme is that at times when sudden

events lead to rapid fluctuations in sensors value (like

start of irrigation changing soil moisture), the nodes will

transmit often to signal these abnormal conditions, while

at other times when no particular events are occurring,

no data will be transmitted for long periods of time.

The sensor nodes have a mechanism to prevent

frequent transmission and associated battery drainage in

the unlikely situation that a sensor changes value rapidly

and randomly (e.g. a malfunctioning sensor). This is

accomplished in three complementary ways: 1) by

ensuring that at least 2 minutes pass between any to

transmission cycles, even in the most extreme case, 2)

by randomizing the interval of time between any two

transmissions, and 3) by a “lock-out” rule that disables a

sensor that has reported a dramatic change more than a

certain number of times per hour.

2.3 Base Stations

Wireless base stations are rugged, self-contained

wireless units placed centrally in the general areas

where sensor nodes are deployed - typically on a

pole. The range around the base station for reliable

deployment of sensor nodes should not exceed 1/2

mile under line-of-site conditions. Base stations are

four electrical relays capable of switching a variety

of electric valves. In general, base stations perform

a number of distinct functions:

• they act as real-time conrol data

companions for sensor nodes, maintaining

“normal data pattern” contracts with each

sensor node and forwarding control and

data information back and forth to the

backend server

• they act on commands issued from the

Internet server, such as opening and

closing of electric valves

• they act on text messages (aka SMS) sent

to them by users in request of latest sensor

status information or with commands to

open or close valves

• they can monitor sensor data from attached

sensors, in much the same way as sensor

nodes

Base stations constantly approximate real-time data

conditions in the local network based on exception

signals and data

received from the

sensor nodes. When

exceptional changes in

data occurs,

transmission link is

immediately

established to the

back-end server via the

cellular network.

Base stations process

RanchMaster System Manual

commands received via text messaging (aka SMS).

These commands can either be issued by an end-

user using a cellular phone, via the Internet

software as a response to users selecting control

options, or by the triggering of advanced rules

programmed by the end-user. Commands fall in

three broad categories:

• Informational commands, such as

requesting information about the latest

value of a particular sensor

• Control oriented commands, such as

requesting the opening of a particular valve

• System-level command, such as updating

the base station system configuration.

Base stations also have the ability to monitor

sensors connected directly. This is especially useful

for sensors that require more power than can be

derived from the small battery in sensor nodes, or

sensors that need constant excitation. There are

five sensor ports: 1 digital port, 2 analogue ports,

and 2 digital counter ports.

Finally, the four on-board relays themselves are

also sensors enabling the positive confirmation that

a command to open a valve has in fact been

executed.

2.4 Technical Specifications

Wireless Sensor Node – RS100

• Wireless connectivity to RM100 stations (up to

1/2 mile) via Ranch Systems VHF Ranch Area

Network (‘RAN’) protocol

• One 2.5V excitation analog input port

• One 5V excitation analog input port

• Built-in temperature sensor

• Powered by 3.6V lithium cell (~2-3 years life)

• Self-monitoring battery status to Internet

software

• Rugged, watertight aluminum enclosure

Cellular Base Station – RM100C

• Receiver for Ranch Systems VHF ‘Ranch Area

Network’ (RAN)

• Transceiver for GSM cellular packet data to

Ranch Systems network operating center

(NOC)

• Transceiver for SMS text messaging protocol of

GSM network

• 4 built-in relays for driving valves or other

equipment

• 2 analog input ports (5 or 12V excitation)

• 1 digital input ports (0-5V)

• 2 digital counter ports (0-5V)

• Built-in temperature sensor

• 4 line LCD display with backlighting

• 15 key waterproof keypad

• Battery and 12V solar charge controller

• Wall charger for 120 VAC

• Enclosure of 14 gauge steel, NEMA 3R rated

WiFi Base Station – RM100W

Identical to RM100C except:

RanchMaster System Manual

• No cellular modem

• Built-in 802.11b card for connectivity via WiFi

access point.

Hosted Software Suite

• Automatic communication with RM100 stations

and RS100 nodes

• Incorporates customer-specific clickable map

photo to show overview of Ranch Area Network

(‘RAN”)

• Configurable ’dashboard’ with latest values for

all sensors and direct access to pop-up graphing

• Reporting module with PDF-quality, detailed

reports

• Control-zone grouping of sensor into natural

irrigation and management zones

• Rules engine allowing simple or complex rules

and triggers

• Unlimited central database storage

• Cellular phone interface using text messaging

(SMS) for controls and alarms

• 100% accessible from any Internet browser

• Secured by SSL encryption

• Database and application hosted in two

separate high-security data centers with nightly

backups and diesel generator power backups.

Chapter 3 - Installation

3.1 What You Have Received

Your RanchMaster system comes equipped with a base

station, at least four wireless sensor nodes, a solar

panel, a wall charger, and associated sensors. There

are a myriad of alternate sensors that can also be used

in conjunction with the base station. Your selected

components are itemized on the inventory sheet shipped

with your system.

Our Ranch Systems technicians have pre-packaged the

base station and sensor node units with their associated

sensors for your convenience. This typically includes a

refitting of sensors with Ranch Systems bayonet style

connectors for increased field reliability. Please refer to

the unit labels to unsure sensor connection to the

appropriate ports on the nodes.

Each node is identified by and serial number printed on

the front of the node, e.g. “1014”. The left plug on the

node is referred to as “port 1” and the right plug is “port

2”. In the software you refer to sensors using the serial

number + the port number separated by colon. So a

sensor in port 2 on node 1014 would be referred as:

“1014:2”.

Once installed, all of these components can be reviewed

and managed using the Ranch Systems website

(www.ranchsystems.com), for which you will receive a

username and password separately.

RanchMaster System Manual

3.2 Base Station Installation

The first and most important component to set up is the

base station. It is imperative that the base station be set

up in a central environment, out of the way of machinery

and casual tampering, with a good cellular connection

(refer to Chapter 4 for additional detail about testing

cellular signal strength), and accessible to technicians

for support if required.

The maximum range from the base station to the sensor

nodes is approximately half a mile, line-of-sight. Nodes

outside that range will have problems transmitting data,

which will compromise the functionality of the

RanchMaster system. Ideally, the base station should

be placed in an area that has “line of sight” to all of the

nodes that it controls, however there is some flexibility

based on distance from the base station and site-specific

conditions. Please contact a Ranch Systems technician

if you have any questions about base station placement.

Note: if your site has complex topology, it may be

necessary to order a RanchMaster base station with an

external antenna, which can be separately mounted on a

mast.

The base station is shipped with the main fuse

disconnected (located separately in your packaging), so

to start operation this fuse must first be inserted. To

accomplish this, remove the two screws along the lower

front edge of the unit and carefully slide the front-plate

down and up. BE CAREFUL NOT TO PULL THE

KEYBOARD CABLE OUT OF ITS SOCKET. You will

then see a small socket in the lower left corner of the

circuit board into which the supplied fuse will fit. As soon

as you insert the fuse, the station should start up, and

you can immediately replace the cover.

After the base station is installed you must verify that it is

functioning. Once the system is turned on, it should

instantly begin to synchronize with the server. Give it a

few minutes to get connectivity and synchronize before

starting to troubleshoot. This is a good time to get

familiar with the Base Station display:

The number in the upper right hand corner of the screen

marks the cellular signal strength. The number 9 marks

the highest signal strength possible, whereas a zero

would mark no signal being received. Typically a signal

of 3 is sufficient, although 4 or 5 are preferable.

The number directly below this one on the screen

indicates the connection status of the base station. The

meaning of this number is as follows:

1-3 No connection, typically when there is

insufficient cellular coverage. If this is the

problem, either relocate the station to a place

with better strength, or contact Ranch Systems,

as a high-gain cellular antenna can be fitted to

improve signal performance.

4 Idle state – base station is connected to the

cellular network, but not communicating with

Ranch Systems server

5 Not used

6 Base station is in process of connecting with the

Ranch Systems server (Network Operating

Center).

7 Data and control information is being

synchronized with the server.

RanchMaster System Manual

When you first initialize the base station, the cellular

signal strength will appear as a dash (-) and the station

connection will likely be a 2. The time and date will likely

be inaccurate as well. As the system begins to boot up,

the cellular signal strength will show up as a number,

and the station connectivity should jump from 2 to 4 to 6

and eventually briefly 7. If the time of the unit is not

correct the system will discover this at this point and time

will be adjusted and unit reset automatically.

At this point the base station is running and receiving

sensor information from nodes, and there is typically no

more field programming to perform. All the programming

of functionality is done in the Internet software.

3.3 Solar Panel Installation

The solar panel is needed to charge the battery of the

base station. It should be mounted as high as possible,

however such that it is accessible for maintenance if

needed. The solar panel should be placed facing the

sky southward, at an angle. The optimal angle depends

on the latitude of your location, however a 45 degree

angle should work for most locations.

3.4 Sensor Node Installation

Depending on the number of sensors attached to each

node, and the variability of the data sensed, as many as

100 sensor nodes may be set up for each base station.

These sensor nodes process the information from the

sensors you have selected, and transmit exceptional

changes back to the base station based on a complex

monitoring and control scheme outlined in the

introduction. Nodes should be placed around the

property in the locations where you desire to monitor

sensor data.

The sensor nodes need to be placed upright, with the

antenna facing vertically toward the sky. The higher up

the node is placed, the better it will transmit to the base

station. A typical installation will place the node on a

stake just above an irrigation line, with any sensor

cables that run to the ground routed downward through a

PVC pipe. Please note that it is important to ensure that

the sensor cables remain relatively straight at their

connection as severe bends can damage both nodes

and sensors.

The sensor node can be attached in the desired position

using the flanges located on either side of the metal shell.

It is important to make sure that the sensor node is

secure and will not be removed by violent weather or

machinery.

Please note that sensor nodes come pre-configured for

specific sensors, which is printed on the front plate of the

nodes. This means that you have no programming or

configuration hassle during installation, but it also means

that you must order the correct nodes for your sensors.

3.5 Sensor Installation

The RanchMaster system works with a range of sensors

such as temperature, soil moisture, water flow, water

level, humidity, and wind speed. If your current

configuration does not include your preferred sensors, or

if you would like to interface with an existing sensor,

please speak with one of our Ranch Systems

technicians.

Each sensor has its own specific method for installation.

Please review the manual for the specific sensors that

RanchMaster System Manual

you are using, or contact the manufacturer for

instructions on how to install your sensors. The Ranch

Systems staff is also available to give advice.

Chapter 4 – Base Station Usage

4.1 Introduction to manual base station

usage

The majority of the time users will simply review and

control the base station and overall RanchMaster system,

via the Internet, which provides both ease of use and

advanced functionality. Users can also control and

adjust the system directly, however, using the base

station keypad and LCD.

Common direct uses of the base station keypad and

LCD include monitoring the most recent values of

sensors to check that the system is working and all

nodes are communicating as expected, manually

controlling any connected valves, and reviewing various

system functions (mostly intended for service personnel).

4.2 Base station keypad overview

The top row of the keypad contains the following three

buttons which you will use for most of the navigating.

The up and down arrow keys that will move your cursor

location, and the “ENTER” key that selects prompts and

engages processes.

The arrow key which faces leftward is used to go back to

the previous screen, and is also used as a delete key

when entering in numeric values.

RanchMaster System Manual

The numeric keys are used to enter values. The period

key (located directly under the leftward arrow/back key)

is used to enter decimals into numeric entries. It also

serves as the refresh button when a menu or list is

shown. The base station does not automatically update

the screen display, so it is generally necessary to refresh

the screen to see that an operation has been performed

or some anticipated sensor condition changed.

The primary screen, which is displayed initially when the

base station is first turned on, provides information about

the time, the attached sensors, and the cellular signal

strength:

1. The number in the upper right hand corner of the

screen marks the cellular signal strength, where

the number 9 is the strongest signal and 0

indicates no signal.

2. The number directly below this one on the screen

indicates the connection status of the base station.

The base station synchronizes changes in sensor

data with the central server on a real-time basis.

When this number is a 4, that means that there is a

connection, however nothing is currently being

exchanged. When the base station is attempting

to sync with the server, this number will change to

a 6. When the base station is finalizing the

synchronization (this occurs briefly), this number

will change to a 7 and then return to a 4. Any

number below a 4 indicates that there is a

connection problem. For a more detailed look at

the cellular signal strength and the connection of

the station please view chapter 3.

3. Directly underneath the “RanchMaster” Title, the

date and time are displayed.

4. Below this line is a scrolling display of the various

sensors associated with the base station either

directly or through a sensor node. The number on

the left identifies the sensor using the RSUID:port

code that corresponds to the base station or

sensor node unit and the port to which that specific

sensor is attached. This same number will be

notated on the Ranch Systems Website as the

“Sensor ID” and is used to identify any sensor.

Note: RSUID stands for Ranch System Unit ID,

and is essentially the serial number of the node or

base station.

5. The value to the right of the RSUID:port code

corresponds to the most recent measurement or

status of the sensor indicated by that code. Valves

will be marked as “OPEN” or “CLOSED”, wind

speed will be displayed in terms of “m.p.h.”,

batteries will be displayed in terms of voltage,

temperature will be displayed in terms of degrees

Fahrenheit, etc… The values will change every

couple of seconds, allowing the system to scroll

through all of the active sensors.

6. In the bottom right hand corner of the screen there

is a flashing asterisk. This is the “heart beat” of the

base station, which indicates simply that it is on

and working.

4.2 Menu Options

RanchMaster System Manual

In order to access the Menu from the primary screen,

press the “ENTER” key. This will take you to the main

menu screen, which is divided into nine subdivisions:

1. Sensor Status

This menu lists all of the active units by their RSUID

codes with the most recent known status.

Using the arrow keys to move the cursor through the list,

a specific unit can be selected by clicking “ENTER”

when the cursor is on the desired row. This next level of

detail lists out all of the ports associated with the unit,

what sensor type is present on that port, and the latest

sensor value. This information is displayed as follows:

• “Prt” - The Port #

• “Tp” – The Type of Sensor

oFL = Water Flow

oHM = Humidity

oSM = Soil Moisture

oTP = Temperature

oWS = Wind Speed

o3V = Internal Lithium Battery (ranges

from 3-3.5V)

o5V = Sensor Voltage Generator (should

be at ~5V)

oCF = Configuration (diagnostic

information used by the NOC to monitor

unit performance)

• “Mn” – Minutes since the last read

• “Value” – The most recent reading of the sensor

In order to get a more in-depth display, simply press the

“ENTER” button on the port/sensor you wish to view.

This will display a menu with RSUID and port #, the type

reference number and type description, the last known

time, and for base station sensors only, the sampling

rate. Use the arrow key to scroll down to see additional

information that does not fit on the screen

2. Valve Control

This menu lists the various active valves that are linked

to your base station. It displays the “RSUID” which

shows the RSUID:port codes of your valves, the “Type”,

and the “Stat” or Status. Valves can be one of two type

categories: Type “LATC” represents a valve with latching

DC solenoids, and Type “N.O.” represents “Normally

Open”, i.e. a valve that simply gets switched through a

normal relay function, such as standard 24VAC valves.

The type of valve is determined by jumpers on the circuit

board and should be set by qualified service personnel

to fit the particular valves connected to the RanchMaster

relays. Both of the valve types can be open or closed on

command. “Stat” or Status displays whether or not the

valve is on or off. In order to turn a valve on or off,

simply move the cursor next to the RSUID:port code of

the valve you wish to change and hit enter. A new

screen will show titled “Select and ENTER” in which you

can choose whether the valve should remain on or off by

selecting the prompt and pressing “ENTER”. After you

have made your selection and pressed “ENTER”, use

the back arrow to return to the previous menu(s).

Note:

Valves relays are assigned port number 10 through 13,

where relay 1 (from left on circuit board) is on port 10,

relay 2 on port 11 and so forth.

3. Memory Status

This menu lists the sensor (“data recs”) and message

(“msg”) reads and what percentage of memory they are

using (%). The last upload records the last time that this

menu was updated.

•

••

•

Data: Data records currently buffered in the

base station. These are control records with

information about exceptional sensor conditions.

•

••

•

Sensors: Number of unique sensor known to this

base station

•

••

•

RSUIDs: Number of unique nodes known to this

base station (including the base station itself)

RanchMaster System Manual

•

••

•

Sync: Last time base station synchronized with

Ranch Systems Network Operations Center

(NOC)

•

••

•

Log: Number of system log entries currently

buffered in base station

•

••

•

UserNames: Internal field for system use only

•

••

•

Tsynch: Time of last synchronization of base

station’s real time clock from the Ranch Systems

Network Operations Center (NOC)

4. Synchronize

This selection causes the base station to synchronize

with the server immediately. When selected, the base

station will pre-empt its normal synchronization schedule

and immediately synchronize with the Ranch Systems

data center. This function is not normally required, and

the system automatically maintains real-time consistency.

5. Configure

This menu lists the various system-level settings that are

typically only used by Ranch Systems Technicians.

The following is a list of the abbreviations, their

meanings, and a brief definition:

• RSUID – The identification number of the base

station

• IP – This number shown is the IP address

specific to the Ranch Systems server to which

the base station will synchronize.

• IP2 – This is the address for the back up server.

The base station will connect to this server if the

first one cannot be reached.

• GSM – This is the GSM phone number of this

base station. This is the number to which you

can send SMS commands and messages. The

base station will automatically update this field

based on the specific SIM card inserted.

• AGSM – This stands for administrative GSM. In

the case of an emergency, the base station will

send an SMS message to the Ranch Systems

administrator.

• APN – This is the access point for the GPRS

network

• APNUN – The Username for the APN server

• APNPW – The password to access the APN

server

• Servertime – This field allows you to choose

how often the base station should update its

real-time clock from the servers’ time and date.

In order to change this setting, press “ENTER”

on the “Servertime” prompt. The value entered

here is the number of minutes between server

time synchronization.

• Lcddatarate – This is number of seconds

between updates in the main screen. In order to

change this value, simply press “ENTER” on the

“Lcddatarate” prompt. Then using the key pad,

type in the new value and press enter.

• Wifion – NOTE: Applies to model RM100W only,

and enables the formation of ad-hoc networks of

multiple base stations over larger(multiple miles)

distances. Do not change.

• Cellon – Cellular on: This is the most common

mode of communication between base stations

and the Ranch Systems server. In order for the

base station to synchronize it needs to send and

receive cellular signals, so this signal should not

be changed.

• Msgmode – This is the messaging mode. This

determines to what degree the system

messages are uploaded. A value of “0” denotes

that none of the system messages will be

uploaded. A value of “1” lets only critical

messages upload. A value of “2” allows for all of

the messages to upload. In order to change this

value, simply press “ENTER” on the “Msgmode”

prompt. Then using the key pad, type in the

new value and press “ENTER”.

RanchMaster System Manual

• Syncrate – This menu lets you set the interval

of time that the base station synchronizes with

the server. Not normally necessary as the base

station will automatically synchronize as needed.

• Rdvrate – This refers to the Rendezvous rate;

or how often the multiple base stations

synchronize. This is only relevant if you are

operating with two or more base stations. An

average suggested Rdvrate is 5 minutes.

• Rdvsecs – This refers to the length of time in

seconds that the base stations will utilize during

a rendezvous. An average suggested rate is 60

seconds.

• Rxshow – This refers to the “S” text icon shown

in the lower right hand of the LCD display. An

“S” will occur when sensor data is being

received. A value of “1” in this category means

that this icon will be displayed on the main LCD

screen. A value of “0” will hide it.

• SMSon – This menu commands the base

station to check for inbound SMS commands. A

value of “1” allows SMS messages to be

received. A value of “0” causes the base station

to ignore these SMS messages. NOTE: turning

SMS off, will also disable the control of valves

from the Internet software.

6. System

This menu is designed for maintenance and repair. It is

intended for use by Ranch Systems Technicians only.

• System Log – This is system event information

regarding the base station.

• RSRF Track – This selection allows you to type

in the RSUID from a single specific node, and

see a real-time log of signal received from that

node.

• RSRF Scan – This selection is used only by

authorized service personnel during site analysis

and installation, allowing advanced wireless

signal diagnostics and troubleshooting.

• RSRF Status – This menu provides advanced

system information regarding the RSRF (Ranch

Systems Radio Frequency) subsystem.

• Switch Servers – This menu allows the base

station to switch its synchronization to the

alternate server.

• Recycle board IO – This is an administrative

function to reset the base station IO chips.

• Device status – This provides a status check of

certain peripheral devices on the base station

• Reset (soft) – This menu resets and

resynchronizes the base station.

• Reset (w/erase) – This menu resets,

resynchronizes, and erases the memory of the

base station.

7. Current Time

This menu provides you with the current date and time

settings of your base station. If you want to adjust any of

the settings manually regarding the date and time you

can do so in this menu by lining the cursor up with either

“date” or “time” and pressing “ENTER”. The screen will

then display the first prompt (In the case of the date it is

the “year”). Simply press “ENTER” to navigate through

the prompts until you find the one that you want to

change. Use the left arrow to delete the current entry

and enter a new one with the numeric pad. When you

are finished press “ENTER”. Remember that in order for

your own personal date and time settings to remain, you

must first change the value to 0 in the Servertime

category of the Configure menu, however, generally it is

preferable to let the base station automatically

synchronize time from the Ranch Systems server.

8. Signal Strength

This menu displays the signal strength and the error

rate. The error rate deals with the number of times that

data packages are sent before actually getting received.

RanchMaster System Manual

The cellular GSM protocol detects errors, and when this

rate is high it has to resend the data. The scale is

between 0 and 7, with 0 meaning that no messages are

resent, and 7 meaning that messages are constantly

resent, indicating either poor connection or interference

from other equipment.

9. SW Version

This menu displays the specific version of software that

is installed on your base station.

Chapter 5 – Internet Software

One of the unique features of the RanchMaster

solution is the ability to monitor and control your

entire system from anywhere in the World – at any

time. All you need is access to an Internet browser.

It also means that data is always kept secure in the

Ranch Systems Data Center, and that system

problems, such as viruses, located on your own

computer systems will not affect the integrity of your

RanchMaster system and data.

5.1 Logins & Security

In order to login, simply go to the Ranch Systems web

site (www.ranchsystems.com) and follow the “My

Account” link in the left menu bar. This will take you to a

secure login screen. Your Property ID, User ID and

password will be provided either by Ranch Systems or a

Ranch Systems Authorized Dealer.

Property ID is a short mnemonic identifying the property

you wish to log into. User ID is your personal user name

on the Ranch Systems network. The same users can

have accounts on multiple properties (such as an

outsourced vineyard manager), and one property can

have several users. If you are having problems logging

in, please contact Ranch Systems technical support.

5.2 Online Features

Real-Time Map - This page displays a photographic

layout of your monitored area and divides it into zones.

RanchMaster System Manual

Within this area, your various sensors are displayed as

small icons located roughly equivalent to their actual

location in the field. Each sensor on the map will display

its last read value next to its icon. If the last value is

outside of the range set in sensor configuration, it is

highlighted by a red box.

Photo courtesy of Obsidian Ridge Vineyard (www.obsidianridge.com)

For a more in-depth look at sensor data simply click on a

specific sensor or anywhere within a block. This will pull

up a graph portraying time series data of either a specific

sensor or all the sensors in a block.

NOTE: because of the complex method used by

RanchMaster to monitor sensors, the graphs don’t

represent simple periodic time series of data like

traditional data loggers. Instead it is a result of

monitoring and approximation performed between

sensor nodes and base station, rather than periodic

transmission. In many cases this is in fact more precise

than periodic measurement. Please see introduction for

more information on this method.

Once in the graph view, you can customize the chart

using the pull down menu to select the amount of time

you would like to graph. You can select preset values

from the last hour up to the last year of stored data. You

can also customize the exact date and time of the data

you wish to graph by using the date/time fields and pull

down menus underneath the “Zoom Left” and “Zoom

Right” buttons. If you have typed in an explicit date and

time range, hit the “Update” button to refresh.

Photo courtesy of Obsidian Ridge Vineyard (www.obsidianridge.com)

You can zoom into the graph either by clicking on a

specific data point, or by clicking on any vertical time

band on the graph. You can also use the “Zoom”

function to navigate the graph. The “Zoom” function

allows you to view larger or smaller amounts of data

where the degree of zoom is based on a multiplier factor.

A factor of “1” will keep the chart the same. A factor of

“2” will zoom in (e.g. from 20 hours to 10 hours). A

factor of “3” will zoom three times, etc. To zoom out, just

use negative numbers. The “Zoom Left” and “Zoom

Right” buttons will shift the chart to the left or the right

slightly (in terms of date) with a little overlap. Finally, the

graph function remembers previous zoom and time

RanchMaster System Manual

settings, and if you hit “Back” you will pop back to the

previous zoom setting.

The graphs only generate lines where data has been

confirmed. If you request a graph for a period of time

that has no data, the graph will display a simplified

version that omits the portions without any data (for

example: if I request a graph for the months of February

and March, but my sensors were installed in March, the

resulting graph will only display the period in March

where data was received).

Data and Graphs - This page presents a more textual

and comprehensive list of all sensor zones, by showing

all the sensors assigned to each zone. For each sensor

you will see its ID, which is composed of the node

serial# (RSUID) followed by a colon and then a port

number. The icon to the left of the sensor id number

depicts what type of sensor is displayed. The following

icons depict the following sorts of sensors:

• Soil Moisture – This icon represents any

sensor that measures the amount of water

moisture in soil as a percentage.

• Precipitation – This icon represents a

sensor that measures the amount of rainfall in

inches.

• Temperature – This icon represents a

sensor that measures the temperature on a

Fahrenheit scale.

• Valve – This icon represents a valve that

can be either open or closed. It maps to one of

the four relays in a RanchMaster base station.

• Voltage – This icon represents a battery

level in volts.

• Water Flow – This icon represents a sensor

that measures water flow in gallons per minute.

• Water Level – This icon represents a

sensor that measures the water level of a tank in

feet.

• Wind Speed – This icon represents a

sensor that measures the wind speed in miles

per hour.

• Relative Humidity – This icon represents a

sensor that measures the relative humidity as a

percentage.

Your sensors must be organized into control zones (see

the control zones segment later in this chapter) for

viewing within the data and graphs menu. The screen

below is an example of a control zone that has a

temperature sensor, a water flow sensor, and a soil

moisture sensor.

In order to display a graph of a specific control zone,

simply click the “show graph” link.

Irrigation Schedules - Use this screen to define your

irrigation schedule for each zone. This screen shows

one line for each valve assigned to an irrigation zone.

You use the calendar on top to select the week for which

you wish to inspect or change irrigation programming.

RanchMaster System Manual

You can only change programming for future dates, so

past dates serve as a log of past irrigation.

To change irrigation programming, simply type in a

combination of time (e.g. 16:30) and a number of

minutes (e.g. 45) you wish the valve to be open on a

particular day. Then press save, and the schedule is

changed.

WARNING: As soon as changes are made to this

schedule, they are automatically remember by the

RanchMaster system and will be executed accordingly.

So be careful to delete any “experimentation data” you

may enter to get familiar with the system.

Advanced Rules - Use this screen to define the rules

you wish the RanchMaster system to follow for

monitoring and controlling within your zones. You need

to assign sensors to your zones before defining your

rules (See Sensor Assignments above).

Each rule uses one or more variables (see below) to

define a condition that the system will regularly evaluate.

When the condition is met, the action associated with the

rule will be executed automatically.

You can use the following variables to define conditions:

ATP,LTP,HTP Average, lowest and highest

temperature in zone (Fahrenheit)

ASM,LSM,HSM Average, lowest and highest soil

moisture in zone (%)

AWL,LWL,HWL Average, lowest and highest water

level in zone (feet)

AFL,LFL,HFL Average, lowest and highest water flow

in zone (GPM)

AHM,LHM,HHM Average, lowest and highest relative air

humidity in zone (%)

AVL,LVL,HVL Average, lowest and highest valve

status in zone (0=closed, 1=open)

ABV,LBV,HBV Average, lowest and highest base

station battery voltage in zone (volts)

ANV,LNV,HNV Average, lowest and highest sensor

node battery voltage in zone (volts)

TOD

Current time of day as a decimal 24 hr

number. E.g. when it is 7.30pm this

variable will be 19.30

DOW Day of week as a number, 1-7.

1=Sunday

DOM Day of month as a number, 1-31

MON Month as a number, 1-12

Example formula: (ASM<15 and (TOD>19.30 or

TOD<9.00)) or (ASM<10)

RanchMaster System Manual

The "hours before re-arming" is the time in which the

rule will be de-activated after the condition is first met

and action is performed. This option controls how often

the rule will be resent: if the condition is still met after

this amount of time, the action will be executed again.

WARNING! As soon as you start adding rules, the

RanchMaster system will start acting on them, so be

sure the rules are really what you want. It is a good idea

to watch the dashboard frequently after establishing

and/or changing rules, in order to validate that

everything works as you intended.

Control Zones - Use this screen to create new control

zones or to delete existing zones. Control zones are the

fundamental way that you group sensors and valves that

are deployed in the same area. Typically a control zone

will be the same as a vineyard block. After creating a

new zone in this screen, use the separate icon on the

left toolbar to assign sensors to the zone.

Sensor Assignments - Use this screen to assign

sensors and valves to control zones. To do this correctly,

you must first make note of the specific sensors placed

in the zone. Each sensor is identified by two numbers:

the RSUID (ie. Serial#) of the sensor node or base

station (e.g. #1003), and the port number between 0 and

13 where the sensor is connected. Both of these

numbers are printed on the boxes. However, it is

important to note that some port numbers refer to the

internal port, such as the voltage sensor sensing the

internal battery level. So for instance a soil moisture

sensor inserted into port 1 on node #1003 would be

called "1003:1", while the internal battery sensor of the

same node would be "1003:8".

RanchMaster System Manual

To add a sensor to a zone, you must first select the zone

you wish to associate the sensor with. Using the pull

down menu on the top, find your desired zone, and hit

the “Select” button.

Next you must assign the sensor to that zone. Using the

pull down menu on the bottom, find the sensor that you

want added to the zone and hit the “Add Sensor” button.

In order to delete a sensor from a zone, select the zone,

then check the box next to the sensor you wish to

remove and hit the “Delete Checked” button.

Variable Definitions - This page lets you create and

edit user-defined variables. Variables are a series of

data over time, much like sensors, but are calculated by

the RanchMaster system at fixed minute intervals based

on formulas that you specify. These variables are stored

and plotted in the system next to sensor data, and can

be viewed and plotted similarly. Variables can also be

freely used when defining control rules.

Variable data is automatically generated by the system

at certain intervals, and is specified for each variable in

minutes. You can also specify the date interval to

generate data, as you will often want the variables to be

generated for previous data, as well.

This picture shows some examples of variable

definitions. For assistance creating advanced variables,

please contact Ranch Systems support.

Sensor Configuration - The screen provides an

overview of all your RanchMaster system sensor nodes

and the attached sensors.

RanchMaster System Manual

Click on the sensor icon to see details for each sensor.

Most of the information in the sensor field cannot be

changed because it reflects the physical connection and

“wiring” of the sensor. However, you can modify the

description and the value limits to trigger warning emails

as well as the yellow/red color coding in various screens.

Change Requests - Use this form to submit service

requests to Ranch Systems support, service and

development, as well as to check the status of ongoing

requests, provide more information, etc. Make sure to fill

out all of the fields and be as specific as possible as to

the nature of your request or problem

Simply click the “Add” link and then fill out the necessary

fields to report the problem.

Log Out – Clicking on this link will log you out of your

account.

RanchMaster System Manual

5.3 Text Messaging Control (aka SMS)

The RanchMaster system can be queried as well as

controlled in real-time using most of the commonly

available cellular phones.

Commands are sent to the base station by using SMS

text messages from a cellular phone. Once received,

the base station will reply to these messages. The

effective result is that you will be able to ‘chat’ with your

RanchMaster system.

The following is a list of SMS commands that the base

station will accept, and the resulting actions produced by

these commands. In order to send a command, simply

enter in the command as it is listed below, and send it to

the GSM phone number of your base station, which you

can find in the Configuration menu. Once the base

station receives the command, it will process the

information requested and send an SMS message back

to your phone.

Note, that while the commands are known by long

names, such as sensor or memory, you will almost

always want to use the shorter versions, such as s and

m, because of the limited keyboards on most phones.

Commonly Used Commands

• sensor or s – sensor data – this is the command

you will likely be using the most. There are several

distinct format options:

os – this queries for the nodes known to this

base station, including the base station itself.

os <RSUID> - this queries for all the sensors

attached to a particular node known to the

base station (Example: s 1098).

os <type> - this queries for all sensors of a

particular type across all nodes known to

this base station. The types are the same

used in the sensor status menu of the base

stations (Example: s FL):

oFL = Water Flow

oHM = Humidity

oSM = Soil Moisture

oTP = Temperature

oWS = Wind Speed

o3V = Internal Lithium Batter (ranges

from 3-3.5V)

os <RSUID> <port#> - queries the details of

a single, specific sensor identified by node

number and port (Example: s 1098 2).

• batt – Display the current battery charge level

• relay or r – Read or switch relay status. Command

is followed by a number from 1 to 4 and then

optionally by status ON or OFF. There are two

format options:

or <#> – query current status of relay/valve.

Example: r 1

or <#> <on/off> – turn relay/valve on or off

(Example: r 1 on).

• time – Show current base station time

• timeset – Set base station system time YYYY-MM-

DD HH:MM:SS. HH is 24 hours. WARNING:

causes system reset

• sync – Request out-of-cycle sync with server

• valve or v – Synonym for relay

RanchMaster System Manual

• memory or m - queries the current memory status

of the base stations.

These SMS commands can only be sent one at a

time. To continue sending SMS commands to the

same base station, you can simply use the reply

option after each SMS reply you receive. It is

important to note that due to the wireless nature of

SMS messaging, SMS messages may occasionally

be lost, so you should not assume that the base

station has received a command before you receive

an explicit reply.

Chapter 6 – Troubleshooting

6.1 Trouble Shooting Overview

• How do I change my login name and

password? Please contact Ranch Systems

support.

• What does it mean if a sensor has a red box

around it on the real-time map? A red box

indicates that the current value for that sensor is

outside of limits defined in sensor configurations.

• How do I change the limits for my sensor

values? To change limits, go to the Sensor

Configuration icon and click on the sensor that you

wish to change. You can set minimum and

maximum limit values in that field.

• What does it mean if I get a “Zone not defined”

message when I click on the Real-Time map? In

this case the zone mnemonic code which is

embedded in the map is not found as a valid

defined sensor zone. You can see the code

embedded in the map in the bottom window bar of

your browser when you move the mouse over the

field. Make sure that you have defined the

corresponding zones.

• How do I zoom in and out on graphs? You can

zoom into the graph either by clicking on a specific

data point, or by clicking on any vertical time band

RanchMaster System Manual

on the graph. You can also use the “Zoom”

function to navigate the graph. The “Zoom”

function allows you to view larger or smaller

amounts of data where the degree of zoom is

based on a multiplier factor. A factor of “1” will

keep the chart the same. A factor of “2”, will

double the zoom of the graph (i.e. from 20 hours to

10 hours). A factor of “3”, will triple the zoom, etc.

To zoom back out, just use negative numbers.

The “Zoom Left” and “Zoom Right” buttons will shift

the chart to the left or the right slightly (in terms of

date) with a little overlap.

• How do I change which sensors are in which

zones? You use the sensor assignment screen.

Note that the same sensor can be assigned to

multiple zones, which is helpful if you want to use,

say, a single humidity sensor as the proxy for

humidity in a number of zones.

• How do I know if I’ve used the correct syntax

for Advanced Rules? The system shows a status

field in the rules list, which tells you if the

conditions of the rule are currently met or not. If the

rule syntax is wrong, it will display “syntax error”.

• I changed the start date for my graph to an

earlier month but it’s not showing up – why?

The likely reason for data not appearing in early

months is that data wasn’t recorded at that time.

The graphs only generate lines where data has

been logged. If you request a graph for a period of

time that has no data, the graph will display a

simplified version that omits the portions without

any data (for example: if I request a graph for the

months of February and March, but my sensors

were installed in March, the resulting graph will

only display the period in March where data was

received).

• What is the difference between the signal

strength in the menu and the signal strength in

the top right corner? The number in the top right

corner stands for the first digit of the actual

percentage received. For example if the signal is

being received at 65%, the number in the top right

hand corner would be a 6.

• In Signal Strength, how can a signal be at -3%,

and what does the error rate mean? This occurs

when there is no signal and the modem is

searching.

• What reports are available to me? If you go to

the reports tab, you will see the standard reports

produced every night by the server. These are

produced in PDF format and will print as complete

‘books’ of reports and graphs. Some people find it

helpful to bind these regularly as a paper reference.

• What would I use Variable Definitions for?

Variable Definitions are useful if there is a value

that you want to track, like a sensor value, that is

not directly measured, and that can be derived

using other known sensor values. Dew point and

Gallons/Minute/Vine are two examples.

Chapter 7 – Customer Service

7.1 Customer Service

RanchMaster System Manual

The Ranch Systems office is open Monday through

Friday from 9am-5pm Pacific Standard Time. Operators

and Technicians are available to help you during these

times. Please consult your Ranch Systems manual

before calling to help specify the problem. Remember

that you can also log a problem online in the “Change

Requests” menu.

7.2 Contact Information

A Ranch Systems technician can be reached by calling

the Ranch Systems office at (415)-558 8044.

Glossary

Technical Terms

In this manual we will frequently use some technical

terms that should be explained here in a few words:

Base Station

This is the primary sending and receiving site in a

telecommunications facility network. In Ranch

Systems case, base stations are three-way wireless

units capable of communicating simultaneously on

three networks: 1. GSM cellular networks, 2. WiFi

networks following the 802.11B standard, 3. The

Ranch Systems proprietary VHF radio protocol

optimized for Ranch area networks

Cellular

The term cellular refers to circuit-switched voice

telephone communications via radio channels. The

service area is divided into many cells and in each there

is a base station handling the communications in that

particular cell. Ranch Systems uses cellular for base

stations to communicate with the central server.

GSM

This stands for “Global System for Mobile

communications”, the most widely used digital mobile

phone system and the de facto wireless telephone

standard in Europe. It was originally defined as a pan-

European open standard for a digital cellular telephone

network to support voice, data, text messaging and

cross-border roaming. GSM is now one of the world's

main 2G digital wireless standards. Implemented on 800,

900, 1800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands. The two

RanchMaster System Manual

components of GSM that is utilized by Ranch Systems

are SMS and GPRS.

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service: a radio technology for

GSM networks that adds packet-switching protocols,

shorter set-up time for ISP connections, and offer the

possibility to charge by amount of data sent rather than

connect time. GPRS promises to support flexible data

transmission rates typically up to 20 or 30 Kbps (with a

theoretical maximum of 171.2 Kbps), as well as

continuous connection to the network. Ranch Systems

uses the GPRS for data transfer between the base

station and the Ranch Systems server

IP Address

Each machine connected to the Internet has an address

known as an Internet Protocol address (IP address). The

IP address takes the form of four numbers separated by

dots, for example: 123.45.67.890.

LCD

This stands for “Liquid Crystal Display”. The screen of

the base station is an LCD display.

Node

A wireless sensor monitoring device that monitors

sensor data and uses sophisticated control signals to

keep base station abreast of sensor status. All of the

sensors in the RanchMaster system are attached to

nodes, which communicates status of those sensors to a

base station.

RSRF

This stands for “Ranch Systems Radio Frequency”. It is

a Ranch Systems proprietary wireless protocol in the

UHF band, optimized for ranch applications.

RSUID

Ranch Systems Unit ID.

This is simply a number that used to identify a Ranch

Systems sensor node or base station, and is equivalent

to a VIN number. You will find it printed on the front of

all sensor nodes.

Sensor

A device that responds to a stimulus, such as heat,

humidity or wind, and generates a signal that can be

measured or interpreted. Examples from the

RanchMaster system is soil moisture sensors, flow

sensors etc.

SMS

Short Message Service: available on digital GSM

networks allowing text messages of up to 160 characters

to be sent and received via the network operator's

message center to your mobile phone, or from the

Internet, using a so-called "SMS gateway" website. If the

phone is powered off or out of range, messages are

stored in the network and are delivered at the next

opportunity. Ranch Systems uses SMS for three

purposes: 1. to communicate urgent requests from the

internet application to base stations and sensor nodes, 2.

for users to communicate directly with the base stations,

3. to send SMS alerts to users based on rules and

conditions regarding the entire system.

Valve

A device fitted to a pipeline or orifice in which the closure

member is either rotated or moved transversely or

longitudinally in the waterway so as to control or stop the

flow. Ranch Systems supports three types of valves:

1.standard solenoid controlled irrigation valves power by

AC voltage, 2. standard solenoid controlled irrigation

valves switched by reverse polarity DC voltage, 3.

motorized shut off ball valves which can be used for

situations where there is little or no water pressure (as

opposed to standard irrigation valves).

WiFi

RanchMaster System Manual

The term WiFi, is short for ‘wireless fidelity’. A term for

certain types of wireless local area networks (WLAN)

that use specifications conforming to IEEE 802.11b. WiFi

has gained acceptance in many environments as an

alternative to a wired LAN. Many airports, hotels, and

other services offer public access to WiFi networks so

people can log onto the Internet and receive emails on

the move. Ranch Systems uses WiFi in order to

synchronize multiple base stations deployed on the

same property.

Zones

Groupings of sensors with a specific interdependency,

for example sensors and valves deployed in the same

irrigation vineyard block).

Contact Information:

Phone: 415-558-8044

Fax: 707-982-7078

Email: info@ranch-systems.com

Web: www.ranch-systems.com

555 De Haro Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

U.S A.

Ranch Systems RS100 RanchSensor User Manual Manual 7 19 06 JC REVISED

Ranch Systems LLC RanchSensor Manual 7 19 06 JC REVISED

Owners Manual

Navigation menu

Namespaces

Views

Navigation