Danfoss SonoReCon Operating guide
Operating Guide
SonoReCon Software
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2
System Requirements ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Installation ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Installation of the SonoReCon Software ..................................................................................................... 2
Installation of the SonoReCon USB Hardware Driver ............................................................................. 2
Starting up the SonoReCon Software .......................................................................................................... 2
Using Lists ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Main Window ....................................................................................................................................... 6
General settings ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Device state ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Device meter list ............................................................................................................................................................ 7
Received meter list ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Get GSM / UMTS network info ................................................................................................................................. 9
Device configuration .......................................................................................................................... 10
General device settings .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Device FTP settings ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
Device radio reading and FTP upload settings ................................................................................................. 13
Estimated battery life time ............................................................................................................................... 16
Device radio meter filter settings ........................................................................................................................... 16
Remote device configuration ................................................................................................................................... 16
Remote configuration ................................................................................................................................................. 17
Installation Test Mode ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Radio Checklist Mode .................................................................................................................................................. 21
How to Configure an SonoReCon (Standard Setup) ........................................................................ 23
Download and display uploaded files and device protocols ....................................................................... 25
Data view ......................................................................................................................................................................... 26
FTP file view ........................................................................................................................................................... 27
Radio telegram log view ................................................................................................................................... 32
Event log view ....................................................................................................................................................... 33
FTP upload log view ........................................................................................................................................... 34
Conversion of GP2 files to CSV files .................................................................................................. 35
Format of the converted CSV files .......................................................................................................................... 35
Format of special entries of the converted CSV files ....................................................................................... 35
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Introduction
System Requirements
Installation
The SonoReCon is a radio receiver for wireless
M-Bus resource meters, which is equipped with
a GPRS / UMTS modem and a data concentrator.
A lithium battery pack assures operating times
up to several years without an external power
supply. The SonoReCon is used in places where
data from radio consumption meters (electricity,
gas, water and heat) must be collected, stored
and transmitted to a central station, but where
there is no power supply available.
Before installing the SonoReCon software, please
check if your PC complies with the minimum
requirements:
• Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 operating system
(updated to the latest version)
• 1 GHz processor
• 4 GB memory
• 20 MB free hard disk space
• 1 free USB port
• Internet connection (only once to install
the USB driver)
Installation of the SonoReCon Software
Execute the installation file SonoReCon_Setup.
exe on your PC.
If there is already a former version of the
software installed, the user has to remove this
version prior to installing the current version.
If the version number of the already installed
version is inferior to the version to be installed
the removing is done automatically. Otherwise,
the user has to do it manually.
Installation of the SonoReCon USB Hardware
Driver
The SonoReCon uses an USB standard driver,
which is already installed on most Windows
PC. If this is not the case the automatic driver
search mechanism of Windows is downloading
the current USB driver. However, an internet
connection is necessary in this case.
Due to the water tight enclosure with protection
rating IP67 or IP65 (depending on options)
and the operating temperature range of
-20°C to +55°C the SonoReCon can be used in
non-weather protected outdoor installations
(temperate climate).
Starting up the SonoReCon Software
The SonoReCon software is started up by
double-clicking on the program icon on your
desktop or the respective tile:
Having installed the software for the first time,
the following dialog for selecting the program
language appears (English, French or German).
Note: You may change the language afterwards at the
settings dialog.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Installation (continuous) The software recognizes automatically if a
SonoReCon is connected to one of the USB
ports of your PC or if it is disconnected. If there
As soon as a SonoReCon device is connected the
progress bar shows the connection progress.
is no SonoReCon connected and the software is
started, the window below appears:
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Installation (continuous)
After two to eight seconds the connection is
established, and the window below is shown:
If the access to the USB configuration interface
of the device is password protected than
the following window appears before the
connection with the device is completely
established:
Using List
Enter the correct password and press OK
afterwards. Without the correct password no
access to the device is possible.
The software contains several lists which have all
the same general functionality.
Each list has got two buttons for exporting the
list data, either to the clipboard or to a file. The
export to the clipboard is done only for selected
entries. The export to a file is always done for all
entries of the list regardless if they are selected
or not.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Using List (continuous) Column filters can be used to limit the amount
of list entries shown. To activate a filter left-click
Enter a filter value. If you e.g. want to limit the list
entries to only those starting with “17”, enter 17:
Press return afterwards and you can see that
the filter value appears on the second line
on the header of the respective column (address
column has been clicked in the example below):
of the column header and only those entries
corresponding to the filter criteria are displayed.
You may filter the list by multiple columns
simultaneously.
To remove a filter, you may either left-click on the
respective column header and delete the filter
entry.
To remove all column filters at once you may
right-click somewhere on the column header.
This clears all column filter values.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Main Window
General settings
By clicking on this button, the dialog shown below opens.
The program language can be selected by
clicking on one of the flags.
The user may also choose if numbers are to be
displayed with decimal comma or decimal point.
If the software should also be able to decipher
and interpret radio telegrams the user has to
provide the respective keys. A maximum of
three different 64 bit keys (left hand side) and
six different 128 bit keys (AES 128, e.g. for OMS,
right hand side) may be entered, respectively.
Additionally, it is possible to enter a list of meter
specific radio keys. For that purpose, the user
has to enter meter address and radio key of one
specific meter. If the meter with the respective
address is received the stored radio key is used
for deciphering. This function is only available
with AES128 radio keys.
If the user decides to encipher the uploaded files
also, he can enter the FTP file deciphering key
here.
The software will try all three / six keys until a
radio telegram is deciphered. To gain processing
speed during radio telegram reception you
should set unused key entry fields to “FFFF….”.
To show the keys in clear text click on the
button.
Add a new meter address with radio key.
Remove the selected meter addresses and
radio keys from the list.
Edit the selected meter address and radio key.
Import a list of meter addresses and radio keys
from a file.
Expor t the list of meter addresses and radio
keys to a file.
Import one or multiple KEM files with meter
address and radio key.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Device State
After connecting a device, the above shown information are updated once per second:
Time
The current device time and date. Please note
that the SonoReCon has not got a long-term
buffer for the internal clock. That is if there is
no supply for the device either by the main
battery pack, the wall plug power supply or by
USB, the internal clock will continue running
for about 3…5 hours and then stop and drop
back to 2000-01-01 00:00:00. So during onsite
installation the internal device clock must be
set to the current time. Usually, this is done
automatically by this software at connection
time. There is also the option to automatically
set the clock against an internet time server at
every FTP upload. In this case it should be noted
that the automatic clock set option against an
internet time server is always setting the clock to
standard time (not daylight saving time). If the
PC is set to daylight saving time there might be a
difference between PC time and device time.
Temperature
The internal device temperature.
Housing
If the housing is opened or closed.
Device
The device’s complete serial number in
hexadecimal format.
Battery
The battery pack’s serial number in hexadecimal
format (if a battery pack is connected).
Battery
The remaining battery capacity in percent (if a
battery pack is connected).
Report
A report about the currently ongoing process in
the device:
• ----- device is currently in idle state
• RADIO device is currently reading
radio devices
• FTP device is currently performing
an FTP upload
Device meter list The SonoReCon device may be configured for
reading radio meters in two ways. Either it is
opening the radio receiver for a given amount
of time and all radio meters captured are
registered or the user may configure a meter
list. In later case only the radio meters on the
list are captured and registered. This feature has
got the advantages of not spoiling the available
The device meter list may contain up to 1000
meters, however, it is advised to use this feature
only to an amount of 100 to 200 meters since the
radio address comparison process may consume
too much time thus leading to missed radio
telegrams.
Add one or multiple meters from the list of
received meters (see nex t chapter) to the
meter list.
Remove one or multiple meters from the
device meter list (use multiple selection option
with SHIFT or CTRL keys).
data storage space for unwanted radio meter
telegrams and also closing the radio receiver as
soon as all meters from the list are received, thus
saving on battery capacity.
To configure a meter list the user has to start a
radio reception and select the radio meters to
add from the received meters (see next chapter).
If more than 100 to 200 meters must be received
it is better to not use the meter list but to capture
and register all radio telegrams received.
Regarding the meter list the user has got the
following options:
Modify one or multiple device list entries
(use multiple selection option with SHIFT
or CTRL keys). After having clicked on this
button the following dialog appears for each
selected entry of the list. To close the process
prematurely the user may click on “Cancel”
instead of “OK” for the next device.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Device meter list (continuous)
Received meter list
The user may now select the reading profile for
the given radio meter and enter a description
for the meter. The read-out process may be
configured for 3 different profiles (containing the
radio reading interval and the duration of radio
reception for each reading). Thus it is possible
to read-out important meters more often than
less important meters. The “Setting #” associates
the selected radio meters to one of the three
radio reading profiles. The radio reading profiles
are configured at the radio reading parameter
dialogue (see below).
Read the current meter list from the device.
The meter list of the device is not automatically
read during e.g. the connection process.
Therefore, the user must load the list manually
before proceeding with any modifications.
By clicking on “OK” the changes are taken and
the dialogue switches to the next meter (if more
than one meter had been selected). Clicking on
“Cancel” cancels the modifications on the current
meter and closes the dialogue. Please note that
modifications previously confirmed with “OK”
are still taken. Please note also that by editing
the device list only the displayed copy of the list
is modified. It is not automatically written to the
device (see below).
Read the current meter list from the device.
The meter list of the device is not automatically
read during e.g. the connection process.
Therefore, the user must load the list manually
before proceeding with any modifications.
To test the radio reception of the device at a
specific spot or to receive the radio meters
to build a radio meter list the user may start
a radio reading. The radio reading may either
be started for an unlimited amount of time
(just up to the moment where the stop button
is pressed) or the time span may be limited
by selecting an entry from the list on the left
hand-side of the button. Having started the
radio reading all received meters are displayed
continuously on the list (one entr y per meter).
Please note that the radio receiver is switched
off if there is an FTP upload in progress (check
the respective repor t entry at the top of the
windows).
Stop radio reception. Only if the radio
reception is stopped the user may e.g. build its
meter list or configure the device. If the radio
reception is in progress other functions are
blocked.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Received meter list
(continuous)
Get GSM / UMTS network
info
Meters
The total number of different radio meters
received.
Telgr. mode T
The total number of correct wireless M-Bus
mode T telegrams received.
Telg. mode C
The total number of correct wireless M-Bus
mode C telegrams received.
Bit errors
The total number of telegrams with bit errors
received.
CRC errors
The total number of telegrams with CRC errors
received.
The list of received meters is used to build up the
device meter list. By selecting one or more
entries (multiple select by SHIFT and ALT keys)
and clicking the button the selected meters
are added to the list. This is only possible if the
reading process has been stopped.
At the right hand side end of the list with the
received meters you can find the telegram in
hexadecimal format.
To figure out where to place the device best for
an optimum GSM / UMTS network connection it
is possible to start the GMS / UMTS network
monitor. After clicking on the button above it
takes about 30 to 60 seconds before the device
internal modem is started up. Then, if there is a
GSM / UMTS network connection, the network
parameters are shown with an update frequency
of once per second. If the GSM / UMTS network
cell was identified it is also possible to locate it by
clicking on (only available if an internet
connection is active and if the network cell can
be found in the database).
The most important parameter for good data
transmission is the signal strength. This value
should be above 35 % (shown in green). If the
signal strength is below 35 % data upload may
still be possible but the probability of incomplete
files increases.
Please note that a SIM card must be inserted
into the device and the SIM PIN must be
correctly configured (see below at device
configuration / FTP settings). If there is an
incorrect SIM PIN configured the SIM card will
be accessed more than three times with this
incorrect SIM PIN and, therefore, it will be
blocked. In this case you have to put the SIM
card e.g. in an appropriate portable phone
and use the SIM PUK to unblock the SIM card.
By clicking on “Exit” the GMS / UMTS network
monitor is closed. It takes about 10 seconds
after closing this windows to shut down the
device internal modem. During this time it is not
possible to start e.g. an FTP test upload.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Device configuration
General device settings
There are four different device configuration
buttons invoking four different configuration
Device name
The device name must be programmed to a
unique name by the user. This name is used as
name for the uploaded files. Click on “Save” to
write the modifications to the device.
Device text
The device text is free text for e.g. a description
of the installation site. Click on “Save” to write the
modifications to the device.
Password
If the password stays on the default settings
of “SonoReCon” or if the password is blank the
configuration of the device is not password
protected. If the password is set differently the
user has to enter a password before being able to
access the device configuration. Click on “Save”
to write the modifications to the device.
Please note that the password protection
starts only after the device has once been
disconnected from the USB interface. You must
then wait up to the point where the software
recognizes the disconnection (the serial number
of the device is no longer shown at the headline)
before reconnecting the USB interface.
Set the device clock according to the clock of the
Windows PC. The user may set a deviation by
selecting the appropriate value from the list on
the left hand-side of the button.
It is also possible to set the device clock
automatically using an internet clock at FTP
upload time (see below). However, then the
time zone is set automatically to the time zone
of the Windows PC and the deviation eventually
entered here is not used.
dialogues: general settings, FTP settings, radio
reading settings, radio telegram filter settings.
Manage profiles
Profiles are complete configurations of a device.
With this feature
it is possible to configure a device once and
copy this configuration to multiple other devices
without having to configure all parameters one
by one.
Shows the complete configuration (profile) of
the device in an overview list.
Read the complete configuration (profile) of a
device from a file and write it to the connected
device.
Write the complete configuration (profile) of the
connected device to a file.
Generate FTP upload time
If this option is checked then the configured FTP
upload time (using the profile write to device
button ) is not the time stored in the profile
but the time is automatically generated using
the serial number of the device. This guarantees
a certain equal distribution of FTP upload times
over the day if you are using many devices. If
all devices are uploading at one specific time
per day your FTP server may be overloaded and
denying upload requests. Therefore, it is strongly
advised to use this option.
FLASH memory
The FLASH memory of the device contains the
data logger memory as well as e.g. the meter list.
To reset a device it may be completely erased. It
is also possible to perform a memory dump for
debug purposes.
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
General device settings
(continuous)
Clears the complete FLASH memory, thus erasing
all data logger memory as well as the meter list
and all protocol entries. This process takes about
60 seconds to complete.
Write the complete FLASH memory of the device
to a file. This function should only be used for
debugging purposes if there are problems with
the device. The process takes about 40 minutes
to complete. The user may only interrupt the
process by pressing ALT+F4.
Device FTP settings
Starts the firmware update. The manual start
of a firmware update is usually not necessary,
since at connection time the software checks
if the firmware of the device is older than the
current version supplied by the software. If this
is the case the device firmware is automatically
updated. It is not possible to downgrade the
device firmware version. Firmware updates with
firmware versions inferior or equal to the current
device firmware version are ignored by the
device.
SIM-PIN
Configuration of the PIN of the SIM card
(telephone card). Your phone card must have PIN
verification enabled.
APN
Access Point Name for the provider you are
using. Please check with the provider of your SIM
card which APN to use. You may also click on the
button at the right hand-side of the entry field
to get a list of standard APN (supplied without
liability).
User
If the APN needs a user name the user must enter
it here.
Password
If the APN needs a password the user must enter
it here.
FTP server (main)
The URL or IP of the FTP server where to upload
the logged radio meter data. This is the server
which is tried first. If this upload fails, the device
does a second attempt to the backup server.
User
The user name to access the main FTP server.
Password
The password to access the main FTP server. To
show the password in clear text click on the
button.
Directory
The directory on the main FTP server where to
upload the files with the logged radio meter
data. Please use a slash ‘/’ at the beginning and
at the end of the directory name. Do not use
backslashes ‘\’. If the given directory does not
already exist on the main FTP server the user
may click on the button to create the given
directory.
Set time <auto>
Enables or disables the automatic time setting
of the device internal clock by getting the time
from an internet server at every FTP upload. If
the automatic time setting is enabled the device
time is always set to the standard time (usually
winter time) of the time zone provided by the
PC used for configuring. So the time zone on the
configuring PC must be correct.
Perform an FTP test upload using the main FTP
server parameters. This function can be used to
verify the connection to the server. It is possible
to supervise the upload process by clicking on
the button (see below).
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Operating Guide SonoReCon
Device FTP settings
(continuous)
FTP server (backup)
The URL or IP of the FTP server where to upload
the logged radio meter data in case the upload
to the main FTP server has failed.
User
The user name to access the backup FTP server.
Password
The password to access the backup FTP server.
To show the password in clear text click on the
button.
Directory
The directory on the backup FTP server where
to upload the files with the logged radio meter
data. Please use a slash ‘/’ at the beginning and
at the end of the directory name. Do not use
backslashes ‘\’. If the given directory does not
already exist on the main FTP server the user
may click on the button to create the given
directory.
Perform an FTP test upload using the backup FTP
server parameters. This function can be used to
verify the connection to the server. It is possible
to supervise the upload process by clicking on
the button (see below).
String length limitation:
FTP ser ver name 80 characters
FTP user 40 characters
FTP password 40 characters
FTP directory 80 characters
The character “$” may not be used.
File key
If the file encryption option is set to “YES” than
this key is used to encipher the uploaded radio
meter data files. To show the key in clear text
click on the button.
The device has got a reserved memory for
keeping the protocol of the last FTP upload.
By pressing this button the upload protocol is
shown. Since the protocol is updated during the
upload process it is possible to follow it in real
time.
This dialog shows the protocol of the last FTP
upload. In the following list only some of the
entries are explained, the rest is self explaining
or is only be ment to be used by specialist for
debugging purposes.
Upload start
The device registers the time the upload
is started, the time it has established the
connection to the internet, the time the radio
meter data file has been uploaded and the time
the upload has finished. The time spans are also
calculated and displayed.
Refresh the protocol list. If an FTP upload is in
progress the user may press the refresh button
any time to show the current state of the upload.
Network
GSM or UMTS
Provider
The name of the network provider.
Signal Strength
If during the FTP upload process the used GSM /
UMTS network cell has been identified and if this
network cell is listed in the database a click on
this button will show the network cell location
on a map (internet connection necessary).
The network signal strength.
MCC
Mobile Country Code, a code identifying the
country where the network cell is located.
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