Record Measured Data Using a Wireless Mini Logger and Monitor this Data Globally

Permanently record temperature, humidity and pressure at various measuring points, in inaccessible locations and at operating temperatures from -20 °C to +125 °C, and monitor them globally via the cloud: The MSR385WD data logger of MSR Electronics (Switzerland), which is equipped with wireless sensors and which is now also available with a GSM terminal, offers these options.

The constantly increasing demand for remote monitoring of measured values via the Internet and mobile communications is not only attributable to the many benefits, such as cost and time saving as there is no need for manual checks locally. In fact, the transmission of measured data via the mobile network makes control easier for the user, even where measured values need to be monitored in locations that are difficult to access, for instance in working machines or in display cabinets of museums. The Swiss technology company MSR Electronics GmbH meets this continuing, undiminished trend towards global networking by expanding its range of mini data loggers further in the direction of wireless applications. The most recent example is the extension of the MSR385WD wireless data logger, which operates in the 868 MHz ISM band, with a GSM terminal.

The centrepiece of the new wireless measurement system by MSR is the MSR385WD data logger, which is equipped with a memory capacity of more than one million measured values. This multi-channel data logger has an integrated ISM band receiver module through which it receives and stores data from up to ten MSR385SM transmitter modules. The data logger is supplied with power by means of a USB connection; with the integrated rechargeable 2400 mAh lithium-polymer battery, it can be operated autonomously for up to two days. A flash memory safeguards the data security in the event of a power failure. The colour OLED display of the data logger is at the user’s disposal for simply reading the measured values locally from the transmitter modules.

The measured data of the small wireless transmitter modules recorded by the data logger can subsequently be read out via a USB interface and processed further using the MSR PC software for data analysis purposes. Alternatively, the user can use the new GSM terminal to access the mobile network and to transmit the data to the “MSR SmartCloud” for remote monitoring at an interval that can be adjusted individually. As a so-called dual-band terminal, the GSM module used by MSR operates both in the 900 MHz and the 1800 MHz frequency band (EU version). Therefore, it can be used both in Europe and in all those countries where the respective network operators offer these two frequency bands. The web-based cloud service by MSR allows the user to store the measured data transmitted by the GSM terminal of the logger on a server via the Internet. This way, measured data can not only be retrieved and observed using any PC with an Internet connection, wherever you are; via “MSR SmartCloud” alarm messages can be received if limit values are exceeded and, if required, the data from several MSR data loggers can be shared with other people.

The temperature-resistant mini transmitter modules that are equipped with sensors are a distinctive feature of the MSR385 system: Depending on the type of case, they facilitate metrological applications even at high operating temperatures of up to +125 °C. The transmitter modules are equipped with up to three optional temperature, humidity and pressure sensors and transfer the measured values to the MSR385WD data loggers in the 868 MHz ISM band, which can be used without a licence. The measuring and transmission intervals of the transmitter modules can be adjusted by means of buttons: 1 s, 10 s, 1 min, 15 min or 1 h. Depending on the type of case selected, the transmitter modules are supplied with power either by means of a rechargeable 260 mAh lithium-polymer battery or a 900 mAh Li-SOCl2 battery. The optimised power management ensures that – depending on the frequency of measurements and radio transmissions – the power supply to the MSR385SM miniature transmitter modules is warranted for up to five years. Equipped with the smallest type of case, such a compact transmitter module weighs approximately 25 g and measures just 35 x 55 x 25 mm externally. Therefore, it can be positioned even in inaccessible locations.