Independent (Remote) Datalogging

Written by Rhonda MacDonald on September 12, 2019. Posted in Elementary, High-School, Post-Secondary, STEM.

In logging mode, wireless sensors collect data to their onboard memory for hours, days, weeks or even months at a time without needing to be connected to a computer, tablet, Chromebook or smartphone.

When the experiment concludes, simply connect the sensor to a device running PASCO software and download all the measurements it recorded.

How much does a windshield screen affect the temperature inside a car on a hot day? Using Wireless Temperature Sensors in logging mode makes it easy to find out.

Set up remote logging

Collect data directly on a Wireless Sensor instead of a computer or mobile device.

Note: Remote Logging is only available for PASCO Wireless Sensors.

Open SPARKvue or click then select Start New Experiment.
Click Remote Logging:
Turn on the sensor then click the sensor which matches the device ID.
Configure remote logging for each sensor:
1. 1. Select a sensor to configure from the Sensor menu.
  2. Toggle Sensor Enabled to Off if you don’t want to log data with this sensor.
  3. Set the Sample Rate using the left and right arrows. Toggle Common Sample Rate to Off to set different sample rates for each sensor.
Tip: The configuration window indicates the amount of time that the sensor can log data below the sample rate. To increase the logging time:
- - Decrease the sample rate.
  - Disable unused sensors.
Optional: Toggle Sensor Button Deferred Logging to On to start data logging by pressing the power button on the sensor.
Click OK.

Data logging begins immediately after you click OK or press the power button on the sensor (if you selected Sensor Button Deferred Logging). The Bluetooth status light blinks yellow and green until data logging begins. When the sensor starts logging data, the Bluetooth status light blinks yellow.

Click OK and close SPARKvue. To stop data logging, turn off the sensor or connect it to SPARKvue to download the data.

Download remotely logged data

Download data remotely logged on a Wireless Sensor for data analysis. You can download the data to multiple devices as long as data isn’t deleted from the sensor after downloading it.

Open SPARKvue or click then select Start New Experiment.
Click Remote Logging .
Turn on the sensor or press the power button if the sensor is currently logging.
Note: The sensor doesn’t appear in Wireless Devices when the Bluetooth status light blinks yellow. Press the power button to make the sensor appear.

Tip: Connect the sensor using USB, if available, to download data at a faster rate.
Select the sensor under Sensors with data.
In the Logged Data window, select Download Data.
Select a method to download the data:
- Templates
  Use this method to download the data into a new file.
  1. In the Select Measurements for Templates panel, select up to three measurements to display.
  2. In the Templates panel, select a template or a Quick Start Experiment to display the selected measurements.
- Quick Start Experiments
  
  Use this method to download the data to a new Quick Start Experiment file. Names of Quick Start Experiments appear if available for the connected sensor.
  
  Select a Quick Start Experiment from the list, if available.
- Add to existing experiment
  Use this method to download the data to an existing experiment file.
  1. Click Open PASCO Experiment or Open Saved Experiment.
  2. Select a file to open.