Harbour Buoy lighting control SMS Lite

The international standards and conventions for maritime buoys is a complex and massively confusing topic, even for seasoned sailors.

Whilst we cannot simplify the standards, DATRAN Australia can help provide remote control of the harbour buoy lighting, using text messages over the 4G cellular network.

A customer in Queensland has recently selected our SMS Lite for it’s buoy lighting control.

SMS Lite

Remote control is especially important with solar powered buoy lighting systems. Energy conservation is crucial for these systems to ensure that the lighting is always available when needed.

The SMS Lite is low power and ideal for being solar powered. Features include pulsed outputs, input debouncing and an automatic low voltage alert.

DATRAN Australia also offers fully packaged solar powered systems for both the SMS Lite and the popular 900MHz Wireless Point to Point (WP2P) radio systems.

This fascinating article outlines the complexities of international buoy lighting conventions.

The SMS Lite is widely used in Australia, not just for harbour buoy lighting control. The most popular applications include the remote starting of generators, flood detection warning systems and holiday home heating control.

More details of these applications and projects can be found here.

Do you have an application that needs remote monitoring and control?

Please get in touch with us now to discuss how our SMS Lite and Wireless Point to Point systems can help provide a remote control and monitoring solution.

SMS Controller to SMS Controller texting

Our SMS Controllers can perform “controller to controller texting”, allowing a mini cellular control network to be created.

We were approached by a large New Zealand dairy cooperative for a cellular monitoring solution.

The recent cyclone had impacted the existing control system – the cellular network being used was damaged and became unavailable.

An alternate and standalone system, on a different 4G network was requested. This would provide risk mitigation and diversity for the crucial effluent management.

A strong 4G cellular signal was available at both monitoring sites and high-capacity battery backups were already installed.

The initial customer requirement included:

My situation requires the use of two controllers, whereby the inputs on the monitoring controller are matched with the outputs of the second controller. There are two analogue signals and six digital signals. I am wondering if the QTech SMS Controllers are suitable for this application? Can SMS controllers be used with any network provider by adding our intended SIM card?

The terrain of the site was also challenging. The massive milk processing plant sat between the effluent pump and the control shed. The site terrain would likely prevent a low power radio solution, such as our 900MHz WP2P wireless point to points (WP2P) being viable.

This SMS Controllers are easily setup in the “SMS Messenger” configuration software.

The customer downloaded the software and experimented with the functionality.

Click here to download SMS Messenger

See yourself the powerful control and monitoring capabilities.

Need a simpler cellular solution?

Then look at the 4G SMS Lite

Still highly configurable, but all set up is done by sending a few text messages from the master phone number.

SMS Lite - generator remote start

3G Cellular Networks closing

The 3G cellular networks are closing and this does not just affect old cell phones…
The telcos have published closure dates for the 3G networks in Australia.

It is now time to review all your cellular devices, including farm and irrigation telemetry.

3G networks closing is not “new news” as some 3G networks have already been switched off overseas.

We encourage you all to complete the following:

  1. Review what 3G devices you still use
  2. Establish a device replacement or upgrade plan
  3. Check with your telco for updates to their plan for your region

Please remember to check all of these in your business, on your farm and irrigation and control systems:

Auto Diallers – Do you still use any older controllers to send alarms for pump faults etc?

The SMS Lite is the ideal 4G controller for sending alarms and alerts.

Flow Meters – If they use cellular telemetry, has it been updated to use 4G?

Centre Pivot Controllers – Has the pivot control panel module been upgraded to 4G?

Soil Moisture Probes – If they use cellular telemetry, has it been updated to use 4G?

Tractors and Machinery – If they use cellular telemetry, has it already been updated to use 4G?

Building Alarm Monitoring – If it is remotely monitored, has the cellular device already been updated to use 4G?

DATRAN Australia has the SMS Lite, SMS Controller and CM910 Modem – all are 4G devices.

Click here for more product details.

We also stock cellular antennas, including the latest 5G capable device.

The 3G Cellular networks are closing – working with your service providers and making sure your installations and farm is prepared, will be time well spent.

If your modem and system is already 4G capable, no change is needed.

Please get in touch with us now to discuss how our cellular SMS solutions can help.

Cold Room Monitoring

Our 4G cellular SMS controller is used to monitor a client’s cold room.

The cold room is used to store high value seed potatoes. Seed potatoes need to be kept cold and dry for long periods each year, to ensure they are ready for next season’s crop.

Power outages are becoming more common, so a way to remotely monitor the status and temperature of the cold room is needed.

The site has good 4G coverage so a Cellular SMS system would be a simple and appropriate solution, especially as there is no Wi-Fi signal on site.

An extract from our client’s specification:

We need periodic alerts letting the farmer know the cold room is ‘healthy’ and the refrigeration compressor is running. I would also be looking for alerts letting the farmer know of failures, and which failure specifically. I’d estimate 4 – 5 events triggering an alert text message. A remote start would be required with a confirmation text, and a remote reset would also be required. Another key factor would be the cold room temperature. I’d love for the farmer to get an SMS with the current temperature periodically, that way he knows where he is at. Two staff phones would be set up to receive alerts, but we must have the ability to change these numbers as needed. Is this an easy to arrange function for the farmer to manage going forward?

The antenna selection for this application is crucial. The cold room construction uses a lot of metalwork, so an outside mounting antenna is needed. The cold room roof is also extra tall so a custom 10m length antenna system is used.

Please contact us now to discuss your cold room remote monitoring requirements and how our technology can help.

Our popular SMS Lite has four inputs for monitoring equipment and two relays for control.

The sophisticated SMS Controller with its analogue inputs and periodic text ability was selected for this cold room monitoring application.

Always keep potatoes in a dry, frost-free area with good ventilation.

While professional potato growers understand all the best practises, if you are storing seed potatoes at home,

this advice from Potatoes NZ is very useful:

*Store potatoes between 5-10°C. Use a thermometer to ensure storage area is at the correct temperature.

*Keep potatoes away from strong smelling foodstuffs or chemicals.

*Clean store areas regularly.

*Avoid storing potatoes in strong light – natural or artificial – as they will turn green.

*Keep potato stacks low (no more than 6 bags high) to avoid squashing.

*Do not handle potatoes more often than is absolutely necessary as they bruise easily.

*Do not use potatoes if they feel damp in the bag.

Traffic Light Override

The QTech WP2P low power radio system has been chosen for an emergency services traffic light override project.

Modern traffic light control systems use a sophisticated electronic controller to help meet the complex requirements of regional traffic authorities.

These traffic light controllers have multiple external inputs to enable special configurations for railway crossings, pedestrian requests, automated cycle lanes and emergency vehicle overrides.

In this project, the requirement was for the driver of the emergency response vehicle to press a button as they leave the station. This button press is to override the current traffic light sequences, giving the emergency vehicle green traffic lights.

This button operates one of the inputs on the WP2P module and also opens the garage door.

At the traffic controller, the output of the second WP2P module is wired to the controller. When activated, the controller overrides all the nearby traffic lights and performs the required interlocking. This ensures that emergency vehicles have green traffic lights and right of way through all the local traffic signals. This helps to safely speed up their response time and gives the other road users a clear signal.

Traffic Light Override - Options

The WP2P low power radio system has a range of several kilometres with optional antenna systems. It can be used in many other applications such as irrigation and pump control, flow meter pulse transmitting or flood detection systems.

Solar powered options are also available for applications where a 12-24V DC supply is not available.

SMS Lite Animal welfare monitoring

Monitoring the mains electricity supply, ventilation status and temperature are crucial in large scale poultry facilities.

The SMS Lite is the ideal option for sending alarms via text message if the power, ventilation or temperature monitoring sensors are activated.

SMS Animal welfare monitoring

This Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry publication

defines requirements and changes that need to be implemented by 2025.

It includes animal welfare monitoring requirements such as:

  • Automatic alarm systems to warn immediately of ventilation failure
  • Back-up power
  • The ability to detect if the shed temperature is too high or too low and if there is a
    power failure in any power supply phase
  • Appropriate settings so that alarms are easily heard
  • All-hours response availability…

The SMS Lite is the solution for animal welfare monitoring by text message

Effective monitoring of power, ventilation and temperature helps prevent tragic damage to the animals, the associated financial losses and the potential fines that would be incurred.

The incoming mains voltage can be monitored with a phase failure relay with an auxiliary alarm contact. This normally open alarm contact is wired into an SMS Lite input.

The temperature sensor is typically an electronic meter with an alarm contact which is mounted in the electrical cabinet. However, even a mechanical thermostat that closes dry contracts at the configured temperature level, could also be used.

By using a small UPS, such as the PowerShield PSDCMin12/18, the SMS Lite will remain operational for several hours during a power outage. This allows the fault situation to be monitored while corrective actions are taken to ensure animal welfare is maintained.

The SMS Lite has a supply voltage monitoring feature which automatically sends a text message when it is low. The voltage can also be checked at any time with a simple “STATUS” text message to the SMS Lite.

Please get in touch now to discuss this or any other SMS based monitoring applications.

Greyhound racetrack control WP2P

Greyhound racetrack control is another application for our WP2P wireless remote control solution.
The existing underground control cable, which controls the starting gates, was starting to fail making operation unreliable.

A critical requirement for this customer project was avoiding having to dig up the horse racing track which surrounds the greyhound track.

The low power WP2P was used to replace the underground cable.

As the WP2P is a radio system, it prevented disturbing the surface of the adjacent horse track.

The distance from the club room to the starting gate was less than 200m, which is easily within the range of the WP2P systems. With optional high gain antennas, several kilometres can easily be achieved for more demanding applications.

The WP2P has 3 switched inputs and 3 relay outputs, essentially replacing a 6 core cable with a low power radio link.
The track officials can now control the starting gates reliably from the safety of the club rooms.

Interfacing the WP2P outputs to the starting gate wiring is straightforward. The WP2P has normally open, low voltage relay contacts which can be easily integrated into the control circuit by using interface relays.

Please get in touch with the team to discuss your remote control requirement.

Greyhound racetrack control is just one of many applications of the WP2P systems.

Road closure warning system

A Shire council approached us for a road closure warning system as part of a flood mitigation plan.

Extreme rainfall is becoming more frequent and it causes disruptive road flooding and public safety concerns.

A system was needed to activate four LED warning signs when the road flooded.

Council required the remote control and monitoring of the LED flood warning signs, which are to be operated from a high level sensor in a local creek.

An efficient, low power radio communication system was needed, together with the ability to send SMS text alerts to staff phones. 

After reviewing the Shire council’s requirements, we specified a QTech Multi Point Controller and a 4G SMS Lite as the ideal solution.

MPC Road closure warning

To help achieve efficient radio communications, we suggested moving the proposed Master site. The Master was moved to a higher site, which provided good line of sight to all warning signs, as its elevation was over 75m.

The Master is a Multi Point Controller (PD8620) which communicates to four slave radio modules. The slave radios are Wireless Point to Point (WP2P) – Digital radios (PD8810-WP2PE).

Signs A & Sign B only require one radio as they are close to each another.

A WP2P radio was installed at Sign C, Sign D, and the level sensor site.

At the Master a 4G SMS Lite (PD8640-4G) was used to provide cellular communication of any warning activation.

Antennas

Antennas are always an important consideration to achieve reliable communications.

A high gain Collinear antenna (PD9242) is to be installed at the Master and directional Yagi’s (PD9225) at each of the radios. 

To ensure good cellular communication the SMS Lite was also specified a high gain collinear (COL7195).

Reception of each point back to the Master was tested and achieved successfully. 

There are many types of water level sensors available, including float, ultrasonic and tilt switches. Our wireless road closure warning system simply requires a volt free, contact closure to be wired into the digital input of the WP2P radio module.

In this application, all the WP2P radio modules also have spare inputs and outputs, which could be used for future expansion or system changes. The MPC supports up to eight slave WP2P modules so more could be added.

For assistance or further information, please contact us now.

House alarm monitoring - SMS Lite

Home security is increasingly important – your house alarm monitoring can be sent directly to your phone with our SMS based solution.

Do you have a house alarm system but it doesn’t provide you with alerts when you are away?

Can existing alarm systems be configured to send SMS/text messages?

Is there an alternative to paying a subscription to an alarm monitoring service?

The QTech SMS Lite provides a solution to all of these questions and provides house alarm monitoring by SMS text message.

The SMS Lite is a quality, low-cost option for existing alarm systems, and it can be retro fitted to many models of alarm panel.

SMS Lite

The SMS Lite has three switched inputs which are wired to the relay outputs of the alarm panel.

The function of the alarm panel relays are usually programmable for conditions including “alarm has been triggered”, “mains power loss”, “tamper detection/panel open” and “keypad is in” use etc.

The SMS Lite is simple to configure, sends text messages on the 4G network and is secured with a PIN to prevent unauthorised users. The SMS Lite has a sophisticated escalation sequence to ensure someone acknowledges the alarm in a timely manner, maybe even a neighbour of family member.

The SMS Lite inputs also have a programmable “debounce” time to help prevent nuisance messages being sent, when activated.

There are many other applications where the SMS Lite can provide remote monitoring and control via SMS messages. Some of the most popular include remote generator control, heating/HVAC control and bilge pump/jetty lighting.

Alternatively, the wireless point to point systems can be used to transmit the relay signal over a distance of several kilometres. This allows you to bring many status signals to a central location or control room to improve site security for remote buildings etc.

WP2P Repeater

Click here for more details on the Wireless Point to Point Systems

Or

Contact us now to discuss your requirement and for more options

Wireless traffic control

DATRAN Australia helps provide a wireless traffic control solution.

We were recently involved in a project with AGD Systems Pty, a leading provider of traffic signals and transport systems.

The requirement was to provide a traffic control system to operate traffic lights, along a driveway over 150m long. The driveway was narrow, had a blind bend and a safer traffic solution was required.

The challenge was to achieve this without digging up the driveway to lay cables and conduit.

AGD Systems’ inground vehicle sensors and traffic lights were installed at each end of the driveway and AGD Systems also manufactured two electrical control cabinets. Digital I/O versions of WP2P Wireless Point to Point systems were then installed in each cabinet to provide a radio link between the master and slave control panels.

Wireless traffic control solution

The WP2Ps have three switched inputs and three relay outputs. Simply close a contact at one end, and the relay operates at the other. The WP2Ps are low power 900MHz radio systems which run on 12V DC and are ideal for being solar powered.

With optional antennas, a range of several kilometres can be achieved between the WP2P modules. For more challenging applications, a repeater can also be used.

DATRAN Australia have a wide range of wireless and cellular monitoring control systems available. The popular SMS Lite is a 4G text/SMS controller that is a low-cost way of getting important alerts direct to your phone.

Are you looking for a wireless traffic control or monitoring solution?

The WP2P systems are used in many applications including remote starting of generators, advertising signs and are often used in the agricultural sector for irrigation systems and valve control.

Please contact us now to discuss the best option for your requirement.

Click here for more information on the WP2P System

Click here for more information on AGD Systems Pty