Watch-Dog 3388G, 3388C, 3388P4 Product Manual

®

GPRS / CDMA

Modems & Solar Panels

PRODUCT MANUAL

Item 3388G, 3388C, 3388P4

CONTENTS

Configuration 3
Assembly 5
Operation 9
Warranty 10
CE Declaration of Conformity 10

Thank you for purchasing the WatchDog GPRS or CDMA modem with solar power. Please read this
manual thoroughly before assembling and using your modem.

Components

WatchDog Modem
The modem is packed in a single box containing the waterproof enclosure. The modem, cables, and
electronics come pre-assembled within the enclosure. A pipe mounting clamp is taped to the
enclosure as well.

Solar Power System
The Solar Power system consists of a 5W Solar Panel (11” x 7.5”), a 5A-Hr sealed lead-acid battery,
and the four mounting components pictured below.

1. Angle Bar

2. Panel Mounting Channel

3. Pipe Mount Clamps (2 total, one is included
in modem enclosure)

4. Hose Clamp

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Configuration

The WatchDog Modems are designed for use with the WatchDog 2000 Series Mini and Weather
Stations. If you are adding the modem to an existing station, the station microcontroller may need to
be upgraded to operate with the WatchDog modem.

You must configure your WatchDog 2000 Series Station to work with the WatchDog Modem. If you
are using the WatchDog Modem outside the United States, or sending data to an Internet location
other than SpectrumWeather.com, you will need to configure the Modem as well. Both processes are
easier to do at a desk in an office, compared to balancing a laptop computer in a field. You must have
SpecWare 9 Pro (or later) software installed on your computer in order to perform the configurations.
If you have not installed SpecWare, do so before continuing. Be sure to set key parameters, such as
the English/Metric option, and the communications port.

Configuring the WatchDog 2000 Series Station

Connect your station to the PC using the 6’ (2m) gray direct-connect cable provided with SpecWare.
Start SpecWare Pro and start the WatchDog Manager (click the toolbar button, or the “WatchDog
Manager” option in the Logger menu). Select “<Direct Connect 2000 Series>” and click “Properties”.
If requested, give your station a name (or approve the default). When the WatchDog Properties
screen displays, set the configuration of your external sensors to match the ones you are using.

SpecWare allows you to specify both a logging interval and a data transmission interval.. The “Data
Collection Interval” specifies how often data is logged to the internal memory of the station. This may
or may not match the frequency you will be transmitting current conditions to the Internet. Data saved
on the station can be retrieved at the station by using a WatchDog Data Shuttle or by downloaded
using a PC running SpecWare.

The “Repeat- Transmit Interval” is used to specify how often your station will send current conditions
via the WatchDog Modem. Note that it only sends the current conditions—not the data logged since
the last transmission.

The “Repeat-” “Format” allows you to specify the record format for the current conditions
transmissions. The following formats will be listed for a full-size WatchDog Weather Station:

• Format “1 Text” is an older format that sends 128 bytes of text information at a time.

• Formats “G Binary M” and “H Binary E” are shorter forms that compress the data into a 40 byte

record. The format you see will be based on your English/Metric setting in SpecWare. In general,
this is the format you should choose.

• Formats “I Short Bin M” and “J Short Bin E” are even shorter forms that compress the data into a

28 byte record by omitting the values for external sensor ports A-E. They are designed to fit in the
smallest Iridium packet to minimize satellite costs as much as possible. They should only be used
with a satellite modem, and where there are no external sensors (except in Port F, which is used
for the Solar Pyranometer on the 2900ET station).

The WatchDog Mini Stations have only a single “Repeat-” “Format” option, displaying either “K Binary
M” or “L Binary E” based on the English/Metric setting in SpecWare.

Once set, the “Repeat-Transmit” will send current conditions data out at the selected interval until you
reconfigure the station to disable it (via direct connection to a PC running SpecWare). If the batteries
are removed and replaced, the “Repeat-Transmit” will resume once the batteries are reinserted.

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