Stations / Station Type List
Introduction
Clicking on the Stations / Station Type List menu displays the Station Types List page. A new NovaStar system will already have several station types defined, including:
- High Sierra 3206
- HydroLynx 50386
- HydroLynx 5096
- HydroLynx 5400
- USGS Waterdata
A station type is a collection of parameters that are common to a piece of broadcasting equipment (or another data source) of a specific type of manufacture. Predefined station types make it easier to define new stations, particularly if multiple stations use similar data collection/transmission equipment or require similar procedures for station interrogation. The station type defines the Connect, Sampling, and Polling parameters for that equipment so that when creating new stations, only the Identification and Location information and the point assignments for each station must be manually entered. Selecting the correct station type will automatically enter the Connect parameters, Sampling parameters, and Polling parameters that are defined for that station type.
Station Type List
The following image illustrates illustrates the Station Type List page after a station type has been selected in the list at the top of the page.
Station Type List (see full-size image)
Navigation, Adding, Deleting, Modifying, and Copying Station Types
The station types page conforms to a layout similar to many data types which includes a list of data items. See List Features and Application Functionality for more information detailing page navigation; adding, cloning and deleting station types; and modifying existing station types.
Adding a New Station Type
If existing equipment does not appear on the Station Type List, click the Add button to define a new station type. Or, select an existing station type and click the Copy button to use that station type as a copy template for creating a new station type.
When adding a new station, always confirm that the station type parameters are correct before using that station type for station configuration.
Identification
Station Type Identification (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | When creating a new station type, assign a recognizable name, such as HydroLynx 5096, Handar 585, High Sierra 3206. Max: 100 characters. Hovering over the Name label displays the database index of the station type. |
| Description | Enter additional information describing station type. Max: 1000 characters. |
| Protocol | Protocol type restricts parameter sections displayed on station and station type. It also restricts Identification parameters. |
User Groups
The User groups table shows the user groups currently assigned to the station. For more information, see the User Groups documentation.
Connect Parameters
Station Type Connect Parameters (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Poll Line | Sets the data collection line number used to establish a connection. Data collection line numbers are assigned to serial ports or modems; see the Serial Port List page. For web page station type protocols, the poll line number set the source number in the data report flags. |
| Path | Information necessary to connect to the remote station. Its content depends on the type of telemetry used. For a telephone dial-up it is the telephone number. For a radio connection it may be the list of repeaters to go through. (This is needed for the Sierra Misco 850 and Campbell CR10 radio repeater systems.) For internet data sources the path is the URL of the internet server and page. For 50386 networked stations, the path is the IP address of the station. If the path contains the string alert2 then station points assigned this type will show ALERT 2 data collection parameters on the point edit page. The Path is not needed for ALERT telemetry; nor is it required for the 50386 two-way radio telemetry. |
| Baud Rate | 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400. |
| Parity | None, Odd, Even, Mark or Space. |
| Data bits | 5, 6, 7 or 8. |
| Stop bits | 1 or 2. |
| RTS toggle | Select true if the RTS signal is used to enable transmissions but must be off to receive data. This feature is required by microwave modems. |
| Timeout | Station polling response timeout. |
| Attempts | Maximum number of polling attempts before the effort is discontinued. |
| Remote login | Login name required to poll or control the remote station. |
| Password | Password require for remote station login. The password text is hidden unless you click the Eyeball icon. |
Sampling Parameters
Station Type Sampling Parameters (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Interval | Time interval for data sampling at the station, not the polling interval. This parameter is used to parse multiple samples returned by a station poll. |
| Time limit | Limits the period of time the station polling software will request. This will prevents the station polling from getting stuck requesting large amounts of historic data. For HydroLynx 5400 station types the time limit is subtracted from the last time the station was polled to compute the starting time for the poll request. |
| Time offset | Time interval added to the station report times before the data is filed in the NovaStar database. This field is used to correct any time zone or time difference between the remote station time and base station time. |
Polling Parameters
Station Type Polling Parameters (see full-size image)
| Data Label | Description |
|---|---|
| Poll command | NovaStar command used to poll this station type. |
| Control command | NovaStar command used to send control commands to this station type. |
| Sync Time | If true is selected then the station clock will be synchronized with the base station clock by the automatic time synchronization program. This program is run as a NovaStar scheduled task, see the Scheduler List section. If true is selected for HydroLynx 5400 station types, then data reports filed from the station are adjusted by the time offset for daylight savings time. |
Station Type Delete
Click the Delete button to delete a station type. A station type that is assigned to a station cannot be deleted. For more information, see Application Functionality.