RF500 transmitters provide a continuous monitoring activity as opposed to a
standard logger. This technique allows an RF500 system to reduce the amount
of data logged but still able to detect any out-of-limit Events even if their
duration is less than the log rate. This has several benefits for a wireless
monitoring system.
- There is less radio activity making it more likely a radio transmission
reaches the Gateway without interference from other transmitters. Some competing
systems have transmitters send a radio message every 30 seconds which in
a large system increases the likelihood of two transmitters “talking” at
the same time, the result being neither message is received causing missing
data.
- Each transmitter can log data over a longer time. RF500 transmitters
can store records covering 3 months at recommended settings.
- The Gateway can store more data. RF500 can store records for 64 transmitters
for more that 10 years at recommended settings.
A standard temperature logger set for a log rate of 15 minutes will only
sample the temperature once every 15 minutes. This means that any out-of-limit
periods with a duration of less than 15 minutes could be missed entirely.
RF500 transmitters sample the inputs at 1 minute intervals making RF500
much more responsive to out-of-limit Events. Samples taken at the log rate are
logged to memory at transmitted via radio to the Gateway. If however the input
goes out-of-limit then extra readings are logged and alarm Event notifications
generated if necessary.
See the section on Transmitter Alarms for an
explanation of how alarm Events and extra readings are generated.