4 Setting up the input from a sound speed sensor
If you have a sound speed sensor located close to the transducer face, you can import the information from this sensor. This will result in more accurate EK80 data.
Prerequisites
This procedure assumes that:
| • | You have a vacant interface port on your computer. |
| • | You are familiar with NMEA and other relevant datagram formats. |
| • | You know how to set up the parameters for serial and local area network (LAN) communication. |
| • | The interface port is set up with the correct communication parameters. |
| • | The EK80 system is turned on and operates normally. |
| • | The new sensor is physically connected to the EK80 system using a serial or network cable. The sensor is turned on and in normal operation. |
Neither tools nor instruments are required.
Context
The Sensor Installation page allows your EK80 system to communicate with external sensors and systems. You must specify which communication port to use (LAN (Local Area Network) or serial port). You can type a custom name to identify the sensor import. In the list of valid datagram formats, select the format(s) to be accepted by the EK80 system.
Note
Just making changes and selecting OK at the bottom of the page will not install anything. Select what to install, define the relevant parameters, and then select Add.
Communication with the sound speed sensor is based on proprietary datagrams.
Procedure
| 1 | Connect the sound speed sensor to an available serial communication port on your Processor Unit. This is described in the Installation Manual.
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| 2 | Open the Setup menu. |
| 3 | On the Setup menu, select Installation. Observe that the Installation dialog box opens. This dialog box contains a number of pages selected from the menu on the left side.
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| 4 | On the left side of the Installation dialog box, select Sensor Installation. |
| 5 | For Type, select Sound Speed to import information from a sound speed sensor. |
| 6 | Select which port you want to import the sensor information on. |
| 7 | If you want to check the communication parameters, select Inspect Port. Note
You cannot make any changes here. To change the communication parameters, use the I/O Setup page.
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| 8 | If you want to check that the peripheral system is transmitting data to the EK80 system, select Monitor. The Port Monitor dialog box provides one text box for incoming messages (Rx Data), and one for outgoing messages (Tx Data). Use these boxes and your knowledge of the data communication to investigate the datagrams. The Port Monitor dialog box is a tool for debugging purposes. It is neither required nor intended for normal operation of the EK80 system.
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| 9 | Type a custom name to identify the interface in other dialog boxes. |
| 10 | Select which datagram(s) you want to import from the sensor. |
| 11 | If relevant, specify a dedicated talker ID. |
| 12 | Select Add to save the new sensor interface you have defined. The sensor interface is added to the Installed Sensors list on the Sensor Installation page.
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| 13 | Select Apply and then Close to save all the parameters and close the Installation dialog box. |