Chapter 7. Communication

Online

Indicates the periods, at which the Meteo-40 web interface can be accessed over the Internet. If configured, a tunnel connection is established.

	Note
	Be carefully selecting the online intervals of the data logger. Connection costs can be very high depending on the communication method. In most cases up to three online intervals of 20 minutes are sufficient.

AmmonitOR

Indicates, when and how often CSV files should be uploaded to an AmmonitOR account.

Email

Indicates, when and how often emails with attached CSV file(s) should be sent. If necessary, CSV files are generated automatically before emails are sent.

SCP/FTP/SFTP

Indicates, when and how often CSV file(s) should be uploaded to a configured server using SCP, FTP or SFTP. If necessary, CSV files are generated automatically before upload.

Only generate CSV

Indicates, when and how often CSV files should be generated without sending or uploading them. Select this option to generate CSV files for the manual download via web interface or on USB flash drive. According to the configured statistics (see Section 6.3, “Statistic Data Files”), Meteo-40 generates CSV files on the selected days at the scheduled times.

Weekdays

Select the weekdays, on which the action should be performed.

Start Time:

Determine, when the first action should start. If no Start time is defined, Meteo-40 will schedule the first action for 00:00.

Enter the Start Time according to the 24-hour format: hh:mm. Enter 14:00, when the action should start at 14:00 hrs.

Duration (Only applies for Online):

Enter the length of time (hh:mm), which the data logger should be connected to the Internet. The duration begins with every start of an action.

Example: Start time 11:00, Duration 00:20, Quantity 2, Interval 03:00 means that the data logger will be online at 11:00 hrs for 20 minutes. At 14:00 hrs Meteo-40 is online again for 20 min.

Enter the Duration according to the following time format: hh:mm.

Quantity:

Enter the number of actions, which should be performed during a day. Once a weekday has been selected to perform the action, the Quantity is set to 1. After changing the Quantity to a number higher than 1, an Interval can be entered. The last action will be performed at the latest at midnight, even if the user's defined number of actions has not been achieved.

Enter the Quantity as integer, e.g., 2, 3, 4.

Interval:

Determine the time between the starts of two successive actions. The Interval can be entered once the Quantity of an action was set to a higher number than 1. Entering 01:00 means that the action will be performed hourly; entering 24:00 means that there is only one action per day possible.

Enter the Interval according to the following time format: hh:mm.

Next:

Displays, when the next action is scheduled indicating date and start time.

No tunnel:

Select this option, when you use a SIM card with static IP address or when you are connected directly to the data logger via LAN (Ethernet) or USB.

Ammonit tunnel:

Select the Ammonit Tunnel Server (see Figure 7.2, “Communication between Meteo-40 and PC via Ammonit Tunnel Server”) to access the data logger's web interface via an Ammonit tunnel domain link https://Dnnnnnn.tunnel.ammonit.com).

Custom tunnel:

Enter Tunnel login and Tunnel port of your own tunnel server. Your server has to authenticate the Meteo-40 data logger. Download the SSH key of the data logger for authentication. Contact your system administrator for further details.

Download SSH Key

Download SSH Key is only necessary, if you use your own tunnel server or an AmmonitOR installation. The SSH public key is used to authenticate the data logger at your server.

Link to tunnel

In order to get the URL to access your Meteo-40 data logger via Ammonit tunnel, click on Link to tunnel.

Tunnel access code

By using a Tunnel access code, you prevent unauthorized Internet traffic from reaching the data logger. This traffic might slow down your connection and increase Internet costs. For the tunnel access code, you can use upper and lower case letters, number, and the underscore. Other symbols are not allowed.

	Tip
	By entering a tunnel access code, connection costs can be saved. The login page of the data logger is not visible for unauthorized users. Thus the URL of the data logger cannot easily be spammed or attacked.

	Note
	Compared with the Tunnel affix(available in older Meteo-40 firmware versions), the Tunnel access code does not change the URL of your data logger in the tunnel. It remains https://dnnnnnn.tunnel.ammonit.com/.

Once the Tunnel access code has been entered in your browser, it is saved as cookie on your PC. The Tunnel access code has only be entered again on your PC after the cookie has been deleted.

Prevent implicit tunnel activation

The data traffic can be reduced by selecting this checkbox. The feature is especially designed for satellite communication. By activating the checkbox, the tunnel is only established according to the configured schedule (see Section 7.2, “Configuring the Communication Schedule”). Other tunnel activations are prevented.

Remove tunnel identification

Public key cryptography is used at Meteo-40 to identify the tunnel server in order to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. During the installation, Ammonit includes the ssh host fingerprint of the official tunnel server in the known hosts list of every data logger, to make possible the use of the tunnel service. If you are using a custom tunnel server, the new fingerprint will be added to the data logger known hosts list on the first access to your tunnel server. If the tunnel server ssh host key changes due to a server relaunch you must delete the old tunnel host identification in order to allow the connection.

AmmonitOR server

Select your preferred AmmonitOR server: Ammonit-hosted installation or your own AmmonitOR server.

If you use the Ammonit-hosted installation, server details are filled automatically. If you use your own installation, enter the necessary server details. Your local AmmonitOR server has to authenticate each data logger. To do so, see Section 7.4.1, “Authenticating Meteo-40 at your local AmmonitOR installation”.

AmmonitOR project key

Enter the Project key of your related AmmonitOR project. The Project key is displayed in the project overview of your AmmonitOR project. It consists of four to six uppercase letters. You can connect more than one data logger to an AmmonitOR project. To do so, use the Project key for all project-related data loggers.

Server, Port, Username

Name or IP address of your AmmonitOR server, TCP port, and username for upload. These values are automatically set correctly for the Ammonit hosted server.

Start date

Files older than this date will not be transmitted to AmmonitOR.

AmmonitOR send options

CSV files

Select this, if you want to send all measurement data to AmmonitOR.

If you do not want your measurement data sent to AmmonitOR, deselect this switch.

Logbook data

Whether to send logbook entries. Select No to never send them, Yes to send them always on the next day, or Immediately to send them with every scheduled email.

Configuration file

Select this option, to send the data logger configuration file to AmmonitOR. Passwords and the modem PIN will be stripped of the configuration file for security reasons.

Camera image

Select this option, to send camera images to AmmonitOR. The camera image is taken at the moment of the sending to AmmonitOR.

Data snapshot

Select this option, to send data snapshots to AmmonitOR. The data snapshot consists of the measurements just in the moment of sending to AmmonitOR.

	Note
	This feature is still considered experimental and might not always work.

Gust data, secondary, and tertiary CSV files

Select this option, to send gust data, secondary, or tertiary CSV files to AmmonitOR.

	Note
	This files are only stored on AmmonitOR, but not yet interpreted in any way.

Reset send status

With this function, Meteo-40 forgets about ever sending files to AmmonitOR. Any files will be sent again.

Save and copy test data

This function sends a test file to AmmonitOR. This is useful to check the connection and settings, such as the project key.

Save

Save the current settings.

Link to AmmonitOR

Click on Link to AmmonitOR to set up a new AmmonitOR account.

Download SSH Key

Applies only, when you use a local AmmonitOR installation (not the Ammonit-hosted installation). Your AmmonitOR server has to authenticate each Meteo-40 data logger. To do so, download the SSH key and see Section 7.4.1, “Authenticating Meteo-40 at your local AmmonitOR installation” and AmmonitOR user manual on the Ammonit website.

SMTP server

Enter SMTP server address, e.g., smpt.mail.provider.com. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a standard protocol used to send emails. SMTP server details can be find in our email account data or contact your email service provider.

SMTP port

Enter the SMTP port, e.g., 25 or 465, later servers often use 587. The port number can be found in the SMTP server details or contact your email service provider.

SMTP username

Enter the username, which is used to access your email account. Often the username is the same as the email address.

SMTP password

Enter the password, which is used to access your email account.

From

Enter the sender's email address, which is often also the username of the email account.

To

Enter the email address of the recipient. If more than one email address should be entered, use a semicolon (;) to separate the email addresses.

Cc

If required, enter the recipient(s), who should receive the email in copy. If more than one email address should be entered, use a semicolon (;) to separate the email addresses.

POP server (for POP-before-SMTP authorization)

Only required for SMTP servers using POP-before-SMTP or SMTP-after-POP authentication.

Start date (YYYY-MM-DD)

Indicates which data files should be sent via email. No older files than indicated with the Start date will be sent.

Enter the start date in ISO-8601 format: YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2016-01-31)

SCP

Select this option to upload files via SCP to your server. The connection is encrypted with RSA 2048 bit. Enter server address, port, username and directory to enable the file upload. Contact your system administrator for the server details.

SCP works only, if you add the data loggers public SSH key to the authorized_keys file on the server. SCP with login name and password is not supported. In doubt, ask your server administrator.

All files uploaded via SCP have a checkmark in the SCP column in the Data → Statistics menu. See also Section 6.3, “Statistic Data Files”.

FTP

Select this option to upload files to your FTP server. Enter server address, username, password and directory to enable the file upload. Contact your system administrator for the server details.

All files uploaded via FTP have a checkmark in the FTP column in the Data → Statistics menu. See also Section 6.3, “Statistic Data Files”.

	Note
	FTP transfer always uses passive mode, not active mode.

	Warning
	The file upload via FTP is not encrypted.

SFTP

SFTP or Secure FTP is similar to SCP. In principal, the same facts apply.

LAN online, whenever CECS is on

The checkbox is selected by default. Thus after connecting Meteo-40 to LAN via Ethernet, the data logger goes online as soon as the CECS subsystem is switched on.

Use DHCP, static IP, or link-local

By default, Meteo-40 automatically obtains an IP address from a DHCP server. DHCP is active in most of the networks. If Use DHCP for wired network is active, the fields below are disabled.

For most SCADA applications, the data logger has to be configured with a fix IP address. Thus the use of DHCP server has to be deactivated. See Section 7.7.1, “Configuring a Static IP address in a LAN” for more information.

	Note
	For upgrading the Meteo-40 firmware via the tethering function of your smartphone, the method has to be set to DHCP. See also Section 4.3.1, “Upgrade using a Smartphone”.

The link-local method is useful for connecting a PC with Meteo-40 directly using an Ethernet cable. This connection will not have an influence over the USB modem communication and can be used for testing the former.

Connect to Internet via USB modem only (recommended e.g. for SCADA)

Select this checkbox to set the USB modem connection as preferred Internet connection. This checkbox is not selected by default.

This function is only recommended, when Ethernet port is used and USB-modem connections are preferred for the Internet connection, e.g., in SCADA applications or connecting a camera to the Ethernet port.

State

Connection status

Reason

Reason of connection failure

Signal

Signal strength

Operator

Mobile network operator

IP Address

IP address of modem

Product

Product details

RX/TX

Received/transmitted bytes

Bands

Radio bands supported by the modem

Number:

Depending on your provider, the phone number of the GPRS/ UMTS or satellite service has to be entered, e.g., *99#.

If you are using point-to-point protocol ( PPP, TCP/IP connection without GPRS or UMTS), enter the phone number in the relevant field. In this case, the APN is not important, but username and password probably are, depending on your provider.

In case of doubt contact your provider.

APN (Access Point Name):

Enter the APN of the GPRS/ UMTS network, which can be requested from the provider or can be found in the Internet. CDMA does not require an APN.

Use the Provider helper to set APN and provider details automatically. Check the details with your provider. See Section 7.9.1, “Using the Provider Helper”.

	Important
	If you are using a SIM card with static IP address, the APN is different from the one offered in the Provider helper. Ask your provider for the exact APN. See also Section 7.9.3, “Working with Static IP SIM cards”.

Username:

Enter the username for the APN, if applicable.

The username will automatically be set by selecting the APN via the Provider helper .

Password:

Enter the password for the chosen APN.

Password is automatically set after selecting the APN via Provider helper .

Modem online, whenever CECS is on

The checkbox is selected by default. Thus the modem establishes an online connection as soon as CECS is switched on (automatically or manually). See also Section 7.9.4, “Two Ways to Establish an Online Connection via Modem”.

If the checkbox is deselected, the modem only turns on according to the defined actions in the schedule (see Section 7.2, “Configuring the Communication Schedule”).

	Note
	The default setting with activated checkbox Modem online, whenever CECS is on can increase power consumption - depending on modem type and location of the next transmitting mast.

	Tip
	By deactivating the checkbox Modem online, whenever CECS is on, connection costs can be saved. The modem will only be switched on according to the scheduled actions. A running CECS system for maintenance purposes does not switch the modem.

Modem switch:

A switch can be selected for automatic control of modem power supply at the Modem switch combo box (see Section 4.6, “Configuring Switches”). An external relai will be controlled by the switch (see also Figure 13.1, “Meteo-40 Supply incl. Modem” for electrical connection plans). The modem will be power cycled as needed to prevent possible modem hangups.

Important

If the modem is connected via relay to the data logger, a switch must be configured. Without selecting a switch for the modem, it will not be power cycled on data logger restart, e.g. after installing an upgrade or at the end of an action requiring communication. The assigned switch has to be saved to the data logger configuration. We highly recommend the usage of a modem switch, the modem may otherwise misbehave. In Meteo-40 firmware version higher than 1.0 Rev.13915 switch S1 is set by default for the modem. If a different switch is used to control the modem relai, it must be accordingly selected. If the switch is not used for the modem, it can be deselected.

	Note
	The switch configured for the modem supply is not available for sensor configuration.

	Important
	If you use a BGAN satellite modem, a switch for the LAN connection has to be assigned in the Communication → LAN menu (see also Section 7.9.7, “Connecting a BGAN Satellite Modem to Meteo-40”).

PIN:

Enter the PIN code of the used SIM card.

New PIN:

This field is used, if you like or have to change the PIN. To use it, you need also to enter the PUK below.

PUK

The PUK PIN Unlock Key (or Personal Unblocking Code, PUC) is used to activate the new PIN above.

SMS

Click here to configure short message functions. See Section 7.9.2, “Short Message Service”.