Onset U-DT-2 Operating Manual

HOBO® U-Shuttle (U-DT-x) Manual

The U-DT-1 is compatible with all U-Series loggers (except the HOBO U30 Station), all UX-Series
loggers, HOBO Weather Stations and Micro Stations (H21), and the HOBO Energy Logger (H22).
The U-DT-2 is compatible with the HOBO U30 Station, HOBO Weather Stations and Micro
Stations (H21), and HOBO Energy Logger (H22).

The HOBO U-Shuttle performs the following major functions:

• Reads out data from loggers in the field for transfer to a host computer

• Optionally relaunches the logger—synchronizes the logger’s clock with the shuttle’s
clock and (in most cases) sets logging to begin at the next interval

• Preserves data in nonvolatile memory, even if batteries are depleted

• Displays logger status, including memory, battery level, and sensor readings for some
sensors (on some models)

• Displays its own status, including clock, memory, and battery level

• Lets you change the batteries in the field without resetting the clock

• Allows you to test individual smart sensors (does not support the TRMSA-D)

Specifications

HOBO U-Shuttle

Models: U-DT-1

U-DT-2

Included Items:

• 30 cm (12 inch) serial

logger cable

• USB cable

Required Items:

• HOBOware 2.2 or later for

U-DT-1

• HOBOware 2.6 or later for

U-DT-2

• Compatible logger with

appropriate cable and/or
base station

Compatibility U-DT-1: All U-Series loggers, all UX-Series loggers, HOBO Weather Stations

Firmware Upgrades Available on the Onset website as needed to provide compatibility with

Operating Temperature 0° to 50°C (32° to 122°F)

Storage Temperature -10° to 50°C (14° to 122°F)

Time Accuracy ±1 minute per month at 25°C (77°F); see Plot A

Logger-to-Shuttle Transfer
Speed

Shuttle-to-Host-Transfer
Speed

Data Capacity (Full
Loggers)

Idle Timeout Shuttle powers down after two minutes of idle time, except when actively

Ports RJ-12 jack for communicating with smart sensors; mini-B full speed USB

Batteries Main: 2 AA alkaline batteries / Clock backup: 1 CR1225 lithium battery (3 V)

Battery Life Main: 2 AA alkaline batteries / Clock backup: 1 CR1225 lithium battery (3 V)

Weight 153 g (5.4 oz)

Dimensions 11.0 x 6.9 x 2.7 cm (4.35 x 2.70 x 1.05 inches)

Case Materials ABS case with urethane rubber grips, polycarbonate label

and Micro Stations (H21), and HOBO Energy Logger (H22)

U-DT-2: HOBO U30 Station, HOBO Weather Stations and Micro Stations
(H21), and HOBO Energy Logger (H22)

future supported logger models

USB/optic: 64K in approximately 30 seconds
Serial: 512K in approximately 60 seconds

Full shuttle offload (4 MB) to host computer in 3 to 5 minutes, depending
on computer

4 MB (minus 64 KB for shuttle information): enough for 504 readouts of 8K
loggers, 63 readouts of 64K loggers, or 7 readouts of 512K loggers

communicating with HOBOware (see HOBOware User’s Guide for details)
or changing logger batteries (10 minutes)

port for communicating with host computer; full speed USB port for
communicating with U-Series loggers and base stations; high speed serial
port for communicating with serial loggers. Shuttle communicates with
only one device at a time.

The CE Marking identifies this product as complying with all relevant
directives in the European Union (EU). To maintain CE compliance, this
product must be used with the supplied USB cable or equivalent (less than
3 m long).

13401-F MAN-UDTx

HOBO U-Shuttle (U-DT-x) Manual

Specifications (continued)

Plot A

Onset strongly recommends that you spend a few minutes
reading this manual and trying out the procedures described
here before taking the shuttle into the field.

Important note when using the HOBO U-Shuttle (U-DT-1) with
a HOBO 4-Channel Thermocouple logger (UX120-014M): If the

HOBO 4-Channel Thermocouple logger is configured to log
multiple channels with several statistics selected or with burst
logging enabled, the HOBO U-Shuttle can report erroneous
battery readings and may result in unexpected behavior. Only
use the shuttle with the HOBO 4-Channel Thermocouple logger
if you plan on minimal logging (such as logging thermocouple
channels only or two channels plus statistics logging). It is highly
recommended that you test your logger configuration with the
shuttle before deploying it to be sure the battery readings are
as expected and the offload works properly.

Ports on the HOBO U-Shuttle

The shuttle communicates with only one device at a time. It can
detect the host computer automatically. When actively
searching for devices, it first looks for a host computer, then for
a U-Series logger, then for a serial logger, and last for a smart
sensor.

First: Mini-B USB
(from host computer)

Third: Serial port (to serial loggers)

Control Buttons

The U-Shuttle has three dual-function buttons, labeled
esc (on/off), yes (next), and no (alt).

When the shuttle asks a question, press the yes or no button to
answer the question.

If the shuttle displays something other than a question, press
the next button to advance to the next screen, or the alt button
to view an alternative screen (if available).

Press the esc (on/off) button to return to the main menu (Find
Device/Shuttle Info). Press the esc (on/off) button again to
power the shuttle off.

Before Using the Shuttle for the First Time

1. Make sure the host computer’s clock and time zone are

correct. If they are not, correct them before starting
HOBOware. This information will be loaded into the shuttle,
and will be the basis for all logger relaunches in the field.

2. Use a compatible version of HOBOware to launch the U-

Shuttle and each logger you will use with the shuttle.

• U-DT-1: HOBOware 2.2 or greater

• U-DT-2: HOBOware 2.6 or greater

3. Plug the large end of the USB interface cable into a USB

port on the computer.

4. Plug the small end of the USB interface cable into the small

USB port in the shuttle.

5. Press the on/off button to power on the shuttle. (It may

take a few seconds for the new hardware to be detected.)
The shuttle display should read “PC/Host Connected.”

6. Follow the instructions in the HOBOware User’s Guide to

access the Manage Shuttle dialog.

7. Launch the shuttle as described in the HOBOware User’s

Guide. Launching synchronizes the shuttle’s clock to the
host computer, deletes all data from the shuttle’s memory,
and initializes the shuttle’s control information.

8. Disconnect the USB cable from the shuttle and press the

on/off button to turn the shuttle off.

Preparing to Go on Location

Before you go into the field to read out and relaunch loggers
with the shuttle, take the following steps:

Last: RJ-12 jack
(to smart sensors)

Important: Never use these ports to attach the shuttle to
devices that are not supported by the U-Shuttle. Doing so may
void the warranty, drain the shuttle’s batteries prematurely,
and damage the electronics.

1-800-LOGGERS 2 www.onsetcomp.com

Second: USB port
(to U-Series loggers & base stations)

1. Make sure the host computer’s clock and time zone are

correct. If they are not, correct them before starting
HOBOware.

2. Press the on/off button to turn the shuttle on, and connect

it to a host computer running HOBOware. The shuttle
display should read “PC/Host Connected.”

3. Follow the instructions in the HOBOware User’s Guide to

access the Manage Shuttle dialog. Make sure the battery
level is good (the battery gauges should be green), and
change the batteries after you complete this procedure if
they are weak.

HOBO U-Shuttle (U-DT-x) Manual

4. Synchronize the shuttle’s clock to the host computer. If

there are datafiles on the shuttle, offload them and
relaunch the shuttle to make sure there is enough memory
to accommodate the loggers you plan to read out.
(Launching the shuttle synchronizes the clock and deletes
all the datafiles in one step.)

5. Disconnect the USB cable from the shuttle and press the

on/off button to turn the shuttle off.

6. Be sure to bring the necessary cables, base stations, and

couplers to communicate with your loggers.

Using the U-Shuttle in the Field

After you have ensured that there is sufficient memory
available and the shuttle’s clock is synchronized, you are ready
to take the U-Shuttle into the field.

The shuttle allows you to check the logger’s status and read it
out while the logger is still logging. You can then stop the logger
and change its batteries, if necessary, and relaunch the logger.
Not all of these steps are required (i.e. you do not have to
change the batteries every time), but the shuttle will give you
an opportunity to perform each step before it proceeds to the
next.

In most cases, you should be able to easily read out and
relaunch a logger simply by following the prompts on the
shuttle’s display. The following steps provide more detailed
information.

The display cycles through the list of sensors, identifying each
sensor and giving its reading. Sensor readings are shown in the
units that were preferred in HOBOware when the logger was
launched. Press next to continue to the next sensor, or press
esc to end communication with the logger.

After the shuttle has displayed all sensors, it will ask if you want
to repeat the readings. Press yes to repeat them, or no to end
this step.

Reading out the logger

1. The shuttle asks if you want to read out the logger. Press

yes to read out the logger. (If the logger contains data that
has not been read out, the shuttle will not allow you to
proceed beyond this step until the logger has been read
out.)

2. While the shuttle reads out the logger, the shuttle display

will read “Offloading...” to let you know that the readout is
in progress.

Important: If you read out a logger that is still waiting for a
delayed or triggered (button or coupler) start, the resulting
datafile will not open in HOBOware (because it has no data).

Stopping the logger

When the readout is finished, the shuttle asks if you want to
restart the logger, and if you are sure. (The shuttle will not offer
to relaunch a logger that contains data that has not been read
out.)

Checking the logger’s status

1. If the shuttle is still connected to the host computer,

disconnect it.

2. Use the shuttle’s large USB port or serial port to attach the

correct cable or base station for the logger, then connect
the logger.

3. Turn the shuttle on by pressing the on/off button.

4. From the shuttle’s main menu (Find Device/Shuttle Info),

press yes.

5. When the shuttle detects a supported logger, it displays the

logger’s status, including whether it is stopped, logging, or
waiting for a triggered/delayed start; the amount of logger
memory that has been used for the datafile (DF: XX%); and
battery level (Bat: XX%). Press next to continue.

6. For all serial loggers and some U-Series loggers with certain

sensors, the shuttle displays the number of sensors and
asks whether you want to see the sensor details. Press no
to skip this step, or yes to view the sensor details.

Important: If a serial logger is communicating with a U-Shuttle
for the first time, the shuttle may display a message “WS needs
upgrade to show sensors” (press next); “Readout&Relaunch
installs upgrade” instead of displaying the sensors. When you
relaunch the logger, the U-Shuttle will upgrade the logger’s
firmware so that sensors can be displayed the next time you
check the logger’s status with the shuttle.

• To let the logger continue logging without relaunching,

press no. This will end the shuttle’s communication with
the logger. Disconnect the logger from the shuttle.

• To stop the logger without relaunching, press yes to

answer the question and the “are you sure” prompt. The
shuttle stops the logger, displays the logger’s battery
status, and asks if you want to change the battery.
Disconnect the logger from the shuttle. This will end the
shuttle’s communication with the logger.

• For U-Series loggers only, the shuttle displays the

message “HOBO Is Stopped” when you disconnect the
logger at this point. Press next to return to the main
menu (Find Device/Shuttle Info), or on/off to turn the
shuttle off.

• To relaunch the logger, press yes to answer the question

and the “are you sure” prompt. The shuttle stops the
logger (if it is still logging), displays the logger’s battery
status, and asks if you want to change the battery.
Continue to the next step.

Replacing logger batteries in the field

1. To change the logger’s batteries, answer yes to the “Change

Battery?” prompt.

2. At the “Change Battery Now” prompt, disconnect the logger

from the shuttle.

3. Change the logger’s batteries.

4. Reconnect the logger to the shuttle.

1-800-LOGGERS 3 www.onsetcomp.com