Chapter 7. Communication

Online

Indicates the periods at which the Meteo-42 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.

Remote Copy

Indicates when and how often CSV file(s) should be uploaded to a configured server using SCP, FTP, SFTP or FTPS. 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, “Statistics Data Files”), Meteo-42 generates CSV files on the selected days at the scheduled times.

USB Copy

Copies files to a connected USB flash drive according to keyfile.txt (see Section 4.5.3, “USB Flash Drive Copy”).

Weekdays

Select the weekdays on which the action should be performed.

Start time

Enter the time of the first occurrence on the given weekdays in 24-hour hh:mm format. For example, enter 14:00 when the action should start at 2 PM.

Quantity

Enter the number of occurrences which should be performed during a day. After raising the Quantity above 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 or 4.

Interval

Enter the time between successive occurrences of the action. The Interval can be entered once the Quantity of an action is raised above 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 in the time format hh:mm.

Next

Displays the date and time of the next occurrence.

Status

If the action has not run since the CECS booted, the status will be "Waiting". If the action is running, it will describe what it is doing. Once completed, the status will be "Finished".

Online duration

Enter the length of time (hh:mm), which the data logger should be connected to the Internet.

Example: start time 11:00, duration 00:20, quantity 2 and interval 03:00 means that the data logger will be online at 11:00 and 14:00 for 20 minutes. Note that the duration should be shorter than the interval if the quantity is greater than 1, but this is not enforced.

Scheduling Template

For an easy and fast configuration of the schedule, you can choose between different pre-defined schedulings:

Table 7.4. Scheduling Templates

Title	Description
Minimal	Only few online times per week, mainly for use with satellite or high communication charges.
Daily (business)	Only one online time per business day.
Daily	One online time per day.
Multiple times (business)	Four only times per business day.
Multiple times	Four only times per day.
Hourly (business)	Hourly online time during business hours on business days.
Hourly	Hourly online times.
Permanent (business)	Permanent online connection during business hours on business days.
Permanent	Permanently online.

CECS Power Mode

The standard operation mode keeps CECS running for 20 minutes. Each user interaction resets the remaining time to 20 min.

In order to keep CECS permanently running, e.g. for SCADA wind farm monitoring, Meteo-42 offers the CECS always active mode. This mode prevents the automatic shutdown of CECS. It can be configured via web interface (System → Administration) or by using the display (Status → CECS) of the data logger. To do any changes of the CECS mode via display, permissions have to be defined in the web interface (System → Display, see Section 4.5.1, “Display Access”). If the CECS always active mode is selected, it will be displayed in the status box of the web interface with the infinity symbol (∞) as well as on Meteo-42 display with the word Always. The CECS always active mode is not selected by default.

	Note
	When the CECS always active mode is set, you cannot manually shut down the system by pressing the middle button on the data logger. If the power supply for Meteo-42 is disconnected while CECS is running in the CECS always active mode, CECS will restart automatically as soon as Meteo-42 is powered again.

To ensure reliable Meteo-42 functionality it is highly recommended to reboot CECS regularly. In cases where CECS is always on, e.g. for SCADA, Meteo-42 has an automatic reboot function. The default behavior of Meteo-42 is to reboot once a week, every Sunday five minutes before midnight. Alternatively, you can choose to reboot every day five minutes before midnight, or never.

	Important
	When CECS is configured to be permanently active, you cannot shut down the system, neither by pressing the middle button on the data logger nor using the Shutdown CECS button at the web interface. You can still restart the CECS with the Restart CECS button.

	Important
	MARS (for measuring and recording) continues without stopping during the restart. You will not loose any measurement data unless the recording is switched off or the power supply has been disconnected. For further details about the systems refer to Section 1.4, “The Two Systems of Meteo-42”.

With the Power CECS on digital status signal option you can start the CECS by applying a voltage peak to the selected digital channel. The voltage peak can be triggered over a cable / switch reachable from the ground to start the CECS on site, in order to prevent further climbing up the met mast during maintenance work.

The voltage peak must last at least one second (see also Section 12.2.3, “Electrical Specifications of Digital Channels (Serial Input / Output)”). The digital channel has to be selected from the list of available digital channels in the Power CECS on digital status signal drop-down list. This configuration change will stop the measurement until it is automatically or manually restarted (see Section 3.2, “Global Control Elements”).

Once the CECS is on, the communication can be established remotely via Modem, a previously connected Ethernet cable or WLAN. The CECS will automatically turn off after 20 min if no action on the data logger is performed.

No AmmonitConnect

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.

AmmonitConnect

Select AmmonitConnect (see Figure 7.2, “Communication between Meteo-42 and PC via AmmonitConnect”) to access the data logger's web interface via an AmmonitConnect domain link https://Gnnnnnn.connect.ammonit.com).

Custom AmmonitConnect

Enter AmmonitConnect login and AmmonitConnect port of your own AmmonitConnect server. Your server has to authenticate the Meteo-42 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 AmmonitConnect server or an AmmonitOR installation. The SSH public key is used to authenticate the data logger at your server.

Link to AmmonitConnect

In order to get the URL to access your Meteo-42 data logger via AmmonitConnect, click on Link to AmmonitConnect.

AmmonitConnect access code

By using a AmmonitConnect 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 AmmonitConnect access code, you can use upper and lower case letters, number, and the underscore. Other symbols are not allowed.

	Tip
	By entering an AmmonitConnect 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.

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

Prevent implicit AmmonitConnect activation

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

AmmonitConnect notify address

Any semicolon (;) separated XMPP addresses (JIDs) entered here will be contacted when the data logger connects to or disconnects from AmmonitConnect. Those accounts will receive a message from connect@ammonit.com which includes the timestamp of the connection, the installed software version and links to the relevant online services.

Remove AmmonitConnect identification

Public key cryptography is used at Meteo-42 to identify the AmmonitConnect server in order to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. During the installation, Ammonit includes the ssh host fingerprint of the official AmmonitConnect server in the known hosts list of every data logger, to make it possible to use the AmmonitConnect service. If you are using a custom AmmonitConnect server, the new fingerprint will be added to the data logger known hosts list on the first access to your AmmonitConnect server. If the AmmonitConnect server ssh host key changes due to a server relaunch you must delete the old AmmonitConnect 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-42 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 same 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. See Section 4.6.1, “Camera Configuration” to save the image to a USB stick instead of sending it.

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.

Gust data, secondary, and tertiary CSV files

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

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

Reset send status

With this function, Meteo-42 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-42 data logger. To do so, download the SSH key and see Section 7.4.1, “Authenticating Meteo-42 at your local AmmonitOR installation” and AmmonitOR user manual on the Ammonit website.

SMTP method

Select the method used to secure outgoing SMTP transfers. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a standard protocol used to send emails. Choose either SMTP over SSL/TLS (also known as SMTPS), STARTTLS (establish an initially-insecure connection which is upgraded to a secure one before data transfer) or unencrypted. Check with your email service provider for the supported methods.

SMTP server

Enter SMTP server address, e.g. smpt.mail.provider.com. SMTP server details can be obtained from your email service provider.

SMTP port

Enter the SMTP port, or 0 for the default. The default is 465 for "SMTP over SSL/TLS", otherwise 25. The port number can be found in the SMTP server details or from your email service provider. Some newer servers use 587 for STARTTLS.

Verify server SSL/TLS certificates

When using SMTP over SSL/TLS or STARTTLS, the server identifies itself by sending a certificate. When this option is enabled, the data logger verifies that the configured server was issued that certificate by a trusted authority. Disabling this option risks man-in-the-middle attacks.

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 files older than the Start date will be sent.

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

Maximal number of attachments

Each email will contain at most this many attachments. If there are more than this amount of attachments to send, then multiple emails will be sent.

SCP with SSH key

Select this option to upload files via SCP to your server. The connection is encrypted with RSA 2048 bit or Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) 256 bit. Enter server address, port, username and directory to enable the file upload. Contact your system administrator for the server details.

To set this up, copy the data logger's public SSH key to the authorized_keys file on the server. If in doubt, ask your server administrator.

	Note
	The Directory can be either absolute, i.e. starting with a forward slash (/), or relative to the remote users home directory, i.e. starting with a tilde and a forward slash (~/).

SCP with password

This option is the same, but authenticates using the provided password instead of the SSH key.

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.

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

	Warning
	The file upload via FTP is not encrypted.

SFTP with SSH key or password

SFTP is similar to FTP but encrypted using SSH. In principle, the same facts apply as with SCP.

FTPS

FTPS is similar to FTP but encrypted using TLS (also known as SSL).

LAN online, whenever CECS is on

The checkbox is selected by default. Thus after connecting Meteo-42 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-42 automatically obtains an IP address from a DHCP server. DHCP is available in most networks. If DHCP is selected, the fields below are disabled. DHCP can be used to connect a Meteo-42 to the internet through a local network without any further configuration.

For most SCADA applications, the data logger has to be configured with a fixed IP address by selecting Static IP. 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-42 firmware via the tethering function of your smartphone, the method has to be set to DHCP. See also Section 4.4.1, “Upgrade using a Smartphone”.

The Link-local method is useful for connecting a PC with Meteo-42 directly using an Ethernet cable. A link-local connection cannot be used for internet access. This connection will not have an influence over a USB modem communication and can be used for testing the modem.

Setting the method to Disabled will power off the Ethernet port which considerably reduces power consumption while the CECS is on and Ethernet is not needed (e.g. when using a USB modem).

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 the Ethernet port is used and the USB-modem is preferred for the Internet connection, e.g. in SCADA applications or connecting a camera to the Ethernet port.

At the networking level, this enables the "never-default" setting, allowing the USB modem to be the internet gateway. At this point, the data logger will route traffic destined within the same LAN subnet (specified by the "Subnet mask") through the LAN and all other traffic through the modem. Additional traffic can be routed through the LAN using the "Additional subnets" field.

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, and not if the CECS is just switched on for maintenance purposes.

Modem switch

A switch can be selected for automatic control of modem power supply at the Modem switch combo box (see Section 4.7, “Configuring Switches”). An external relay will be controlled by the switch (see also Figure 13.1, “Meteo-42 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. Switch S1 is set by default for the modem. If a different switch is used to control the modem relay, 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-42”).

PIN

Enter the PIN code of the used SIM card.

Band restrictions

By default, the modem decides which band to use to connect to the network. Some modems can restrict which bands are allowed, and which one is preferred. The modem does not automatically reconnect after changing this setting. Changing this setting is only recommended when certain bands do not work or are unwanted.

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”.