Ag Leader SMS Mobile Sensors Start Guide

Quick Reference Guide

Sensor Configuration

and Logging Options

SMS™ Mobile Sensor Configuration and Logging Options

SMS Mobile has the ability to connect to predefined and custom sensors when logging data in the field. This document covers the item listed below which will help you to use Sensors with the SMS Mobile Software:

 Basic Sensor Configuration  Connecting an Ag Leader OptRx Sensor  Connecting a Dualem 1s/2s/2/4 Sensor  Connecting a Geonics EM38/B/DD/MK2 Sensor  Connecting a GreenSeeker RT100/500/505 Sensor  Connecting a Holland Scientific 430 Sensor  Connecting a Minolta 502 SPAD Meter  Connecting a VERIS EC Surveyor and EC Instrument  Defining a Custom Sensor  Logging Data and Configuring Tooltips

Basic Sensor Configuration [Back to Top]

Data can be logged from external sensors using SMS Mobile in all operations except for the Boundary logging mode. Sensor configurations can be created, edited or deleted in SMS Mobile.

All sensors connected to SMS Mobile must have their own power source. Certain sensors, such as the Veris equipment, also require their own GPS source.

There are several predefined configurations in SMS Mobile that are discussed later in this document. The predefined settings can be modified when setting up your sensor, such as modifying the COM Port your sensor will be using to communicate with SMS Mobile. Custom sensors can also be setup with SMS Mobile to log data that is unique to your operation.

Connecting an Ag Leader OptRx Sensor to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

1. Connect the OptRx Sensor (running firmware version 1.1 or

newer) to the 12 pin Deutsch cable and then connect the 9-pin end of the cable to the 9-pin port on the Mesa, PC or handheld device (Ag Leader Part Number: 4002339-10).

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software and turn on the OptRx Sensor.

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select Ag Leader OptRx from the Sensor Model drop down menu.

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the OptRx in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the OptRx

Sensor will be predefined for you:

a. Serial Port: COM1 b. Baud Rate: 38400 c. Data Bits: 8 d. Parity: None e. Stop Bits: 1

10. Tap Test Sensor. a. Tap OK after verifying the OptRx Sensor is turned on. b. Once testing is complete you should receive a message indicating that

messages have been received from the sensor and that it is connected.

c. Tap OK.

11. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

12. The OptRx configuration will now be displayed in the list of available sensors and

can be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Connecting a Dualem 1s/2s/2/4 Sensor to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

Photo courtesy of Dualem.com

1. Connect the Dualem Sensor to the Mesa, PC or handheld device with the serial cable

to the 9-pin serial port.

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software.

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select Dualem 1s/2s/2/4 from the Sensor Model drop down menu.

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the Dualem Sensor in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the Dualem

Sensor will be predefined for you:

a. Serial Port: COM1 b. Baud Rate: 9600 c. Data Bits: 8 d. Parity: None e. Stop Bits: 1

10. Tap Test Sensor. a. Tap OK after turning on the Dualem Sensor. (The arrow on the end of the

sensor MUST be pointing up and all wires connected. Newer sensors will say “DUALEM” instead of displaying the arrow. The text must be in the upright and readable position).

b. Once testing is complete you should receive a message indicating that

messages have been received and that it is connected.

c. Tap OK.

11. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

12. The Dualem configuration will now be displayed in the list of available sensors and

can be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Connecting a Geonics Sensor to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

1. Connect the Geonics Sensor to the Mesa,

PC or handheld device with the serial cable to the 9-pin serial port.

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software.

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the

Sensors icon.

Photo courtesy of Geonics, Inc.

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select the Geonics Sensor that you will be using: a. EM38 b. EM38-B c. EM38-DD d. EM38-MK2

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the Geonics Sensor in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the Geonics

Sensor will be predefined for you:

a. Geonics EM38/38-B/38-DD:

i. Serial Port: COM1

ii. Baud Rate: 9600 iii. Data Bits: 8 iv. Parity: None

v. Stop Bits: 1

b. Geonics EM38-MK2:

i. Serial Port: COM1

ii. Baud Rate: 19200 iii. Data Bits: 8 iv. Parity: None

v. Stop Bits: 1

10. Tap Test Sensor. a. Tap OK after turning on the Geonics Sensor. The EM38 will need to be in Q/P

Mode and not I/P Mode.

b. Once testing is complete you should receive a message indicating that

messages have been received and that it is connected.

c. Tap OK.

11. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

12. The Geonics configuration will now be displayed in the list of available sensors and

can be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Connecting a GreenSeeker RT100/500/505 Sensor to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

1. Connect the GreenSeeker Sensor to the Mesa, PC or handheld

device with the serial cable (supplied with the GreenSeeker unit) to the 9-pin serial port. If using the 505 model you will need to connect the GreenSeeker Sensor to a null modem cable (Ag Leader Part Number: 200819) with a gender adapter (available at any electronics store) between the null modem and PC cable.

Photo courtesy of GreenSeeker

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software.

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select the GreenSeeker RT100/500/505 from the Sensor Model drop down menu.

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the GreenSeeker Sensor in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. Select if you will be using the sensor for Trigger or Continuous data collection. Tap OK.

10. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the

GreenSeeker Sensor will be predefined for you:

a. Serial Port: COM1 b. Baud Rate: 38400 c. Data Bits: 8 d. Parity: None e. Stop Bits: 1

11. Tap Test Sensor. a. Tap OK after turning on the GreenSeeker Sensor. Once testing is complete

you should receive a message indicating that messages have been received and that it is connected.

b. Tap OK.

12. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

13. The GreenSeeker configuration will now be displayed in the list of available sensors

and can be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Connecting a Holland Scientific 430 Sensor to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

1. Connect the Holland Scientific Sensor to the 9-pin end

of the cable to the 9-pin port on the Mesa, PC or handheld device.

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software and turn on the

Holland Scientific Sensor.

Photo courtesy of Holland Scientific

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select Holland Scientific 430 from the Sensor Model drop down menu.

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the 430 in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the Holland

Scientific Sensor will be predefined for you:

a. Serial Port: COM1 b. Baud Rate: 38400 c. Data Bits: 8 d. Parity: None e. Stop Bits: 1

10. Tap Test Sensor. a. Tap OK after verifying the 430 Sensor is turned on. b. Once testing is complete you should receive a message indicating that

messages have been received from the sensor and that it is connected.

c. Tap OK.

11. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

12. The Holland Scientific configuration will now be displayed in the list of available

sensors and can be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Connecting a Minolta 502 Spad Meter to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

1. Turn the SPAD meter on. The word ‘CAL” should be shown

on the screen. Connect the SPAD Meter to the 9-pin port on the Mesa, PC or handheld device.

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software.

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

Photo courtesy of Spectrum Technologies

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select Minolta 502 SPAD Meter from the Sensor Model drop down menu.

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the SPAD Meter in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the SPAD

Meter will be predefined for you:

a. Serial Port: COM1 b. Baud Rate: 4800 c. Data Bits: 7 d. Parity: None e. Stop Bits: 1

10. Tap Test Sensor (you will need a sample leaf or test strip). a. Tap OK after verifying the SPAD Meter is turned on. b. Once testing is complete you should receive a message indicating that

messages have been received from the sensor and that it is connected.

c. Tap OK.

11. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

12. The Minolta SPAD Meter configuration will now be displayed in the list of available

sensors and can be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Connecting a VERIS Surveyor/Instrument to SMS Mobile [Back to Top]

1. Connect the Veris Monitor via serial port connection to the Mesa, PC

or handheld device.

2. Open the SMS Mobile Software.

3. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

Photo courtesy of Veristech.com

4. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

5. Select the Veris EC Surveyor/Instrument from the Sensor Model drop down menu.

6. Choose the Operation you wish to record data from the Veris Monitor in.

7. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

8. Tap OK.

9. On the Sensor Port/Connection Settings window the settings to use with the Veris

Sensor will be predefined for you:

a. Serial Port: COM1 b. Baud Rate: 9600 c. Data Bits: 8 d. Parity: None e. Stop Bits: 1

10. Tap Test Sensor. a. Tap OK after verifying the Veris Monitor is turned on. In order to test the Veris

Display, you will need to be traveling more than .08 miles per hour and have a GPS fix.

b. Once testing is complete you should receive a message indicating that

messages have been received from the sensor and that it is connected.

c. Tap OK.

11. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

12. The Veris configuration will now be displayed in the list of available sensors and can

be used to record data in the operating mode that you designated.

Defining a Custom Sensor [Back to Top]

To define a custom sensor you must specify how the information provided from the sensor is organized and how SMS Mobile should interpret that data. The following parameters must be set when defining a custom sensor configuration:

 Define Sensor Header to Parse – Defines what text strings from the sensor contains the

data you wish to log. For example, in an ASCII text string formatted as: $, 123.5, South, XYZ if you wanted to record the 123.5, South and XYZ, then you must define the $ as the header. After defining the Header then SMS Mobile will know that all data following this Header will be recorded.

 String Delimiter – This setting defines the formatting of the ASCII text string to be

parsed, i.e. how each attribute in the string is separated from one another. Options are commas, spaces and tabs.

 String Terminator – This setting defines how each ASCII text string outputted by the

sensor ends and thus defines the start of the next string.

 Logging Type – This setting defines how often the sensor will output data.

 Trigger Type – should be used when the sensor outputs a single reading on

demand.

 Continuous Type – should be used when the sensor outputs readings

automatically and constantly without any user control. When Continuous is selected and the sensor is used in any operating mode except for Coverage Logging then a Sensor icon will appear on the map that will allow you to take a reading for the currently selected object in the layer.

To create a custom sensor in SMS Mobile follow the steps below:

1. Tap the Setup menu and then the Sensors icon.

2. In the Available Sensor Configurations window tap Add.

3. Choose Custom Sensor under the Select Sensor Model drop down menu.

4. Choose the Operation you would like to use this sensor in.

5. Enter a Configuration Name so that you can recognize this sensor in the future when

displayed in the list of Available Sensor Configurations.

6. Tap OK.

7. On the Sensor Specific Settings input the Define Sensor Header to Parse and select

the string delimiter and terminator and the logging type.

8. Tap the Assign Attributes tab and assign any attribute that you wish to log with this

sensor by tapping on the column and then using the Assign Column button.

a. Choose the Attribute Group, Attribute Name, Units, and how to handle data if

Multiple Samples are sent from the sensor to SMS Mobile.

9. Tap OK.

10. Select the Port and Connection Settings for the sensor. a. Input the serial port, baud rate, data bits, parity, and stop bits.

11. Tap the Test Sensor button. When prompted to turn on the sensor, turn it on and

then tap OK.

a. If the sensor is configured correctly you will receive a message indicating that

the sensor message was received and that it is connected.

b. If the sensor is not configured correctly you will receive a message indicating

that the sensor was not found, please check sensor connections and settings.

12. After testing the sensor tap OK.

13. Select the Attributes you wish to log from the sensor by placing a check mark in the

box next to their name. Tap OK when finished.

14. The sensor will now appear in the list of Available Sensor Configurations and can be

used to record data within the designated operating mode.

Logging Data and Configuring Tooltips [Back to Top]

To begin logging data from the sensors you have configured follow the steps below:

1. Enter the Operating Mode of SMS Mobile that you designated for your specific sensor.

2. Continue thru the operations setup window until the Select Attributes/Sensors

window opens.

3. Tap on the Sensors tab and select the desired sensor. Tap OK.

4. When you begin logging data, if the sensor was setup as Continuous Logging your

values will automatically be recorded. If the sensor was setup as Trigger Logging each time you take a reading the value will be added to the logged data in SMS Mobile.

To display tooltips while logging data with a sensor so that the values you are recording are displayed in the lower left hand corner of the SMS Mobile Software follow the steps below:

1. In the operation window go to the Map menu and select Tooltips.

2. Select the Layer that you are working with that contains the data you would like to

see the tooltips from.

3. Select the appropriate Attribute to display as a tooltip, i.e. EC Shallow, EC Deep,

Chlorophyll Index, or any custom defined attribute.

a. You can turn on two tooltips while logging data with SMS Mobile, allowing you

to view two attributes at once.

Ag Leader SMS Mobile Sensors Start Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual