T24 Wireless Range

FAQs > T24 Wireless Range

Welcome to the T24 Knowledge Centre

Here we aim to answer your questions about the design and function of the T24 wireless telemetery system, please scroll down the page to see a range questions and answers.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us using the 'Need Help' links on the left panel.

See our T24 Presentation Overview click here .

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T24 General FAQ's:

Q: What inputs are compatible with the T24 system?
A: The T24-SA strain gauge acquisition is a five wire measurement device providing excitation voltage typically used for strain gauge applications. The T24-VA voltage acquisition accepts 0-10V while the T24-IA current acquisition accepts 0-20mA calibrated to the range 4-20mA.

Q: What sensors would these inputs cover?
A: Any sensor that provides a voltage, current or ratio metric interface can be connected to an acquisition module, including load cells, inclinometers, accelerometers, displacement LVDT, pressure, temperature, humidity, ph, shock.

Q: Is the system point to point?
A: Yes, however the modules may also operate in many to one (such as multiple data acquisition modules communicating with a base station) and one to many (such as a data acquisition module supplying data to multiple handhelds and displays).

Q: What is the communication protocol?
A: Proprietary protocol based on a 804.15.4 chip. This allows the T24 range to co-exist with Bluetooth, Zigbee & WiFi devices with out conflicts.

Q: What limits the RF range of the devices?
A: Any metal surface will reflect 2.4 Ghz radio waves, therefore in a sealed metal box, no RF will escape. However by providing a suitable RF window the signals will propagate.

Q: What is the range of T24?
A: The miniature chip antenna, as featured on the T24-SAi, provides 100 metres direct line of sight. Using other antennas, such as the T24-ANTB, (used in hand helds and aquisition enclosures) provides extended range. In ideal conditions, field tests have achieved up to 300 metres.

Q: Can PC software gather data from many devices?
A: Yes, by using Visual Link (our own SCADA package) for creating custom software using Mantracourt instruments, or by using the .DLL and COMM drivers supplied with the T24 Toolkit. Users can then create their own Visual Basic designs and routes into other software packages.

Q: How many devices can operate on one radio channel?
A: Many devices can operate on the same radio channel depending on the sample rate of the acquisition modules present in the system. There are 16 channels available with each one capable of supporting up to 200 data packets per second.

Q: What software is provided with the T24 devices?
A: All devices are supported by the T24 Tool Kit which allows users to
configure all devices from the T24 range as well as view and log data from
acquisition modules in range. The software can also be downloaded directly
from our website.

Q: Is it possible to use repeaters within T24 network?
A: Currently we are investigating the possibility of passive and powered repeaters.

Q: How reliable are the readings?
A: Due to the digital nature of the T24 system, when a reading is received by any device it is guaranteed not have been distorted over the RF transmission.
 

T24 Acquisition Module FAQ's:

Q: What are the sampling rates of the acquisition modules?
A: The T24 standard acquisition modules (SA, IA, VA) sample from 0-200 updates/sec. The T24 fast acquisition modules are fixed at 2,000 updates/sec.

Q: What is the resolution of the acquisition modules?
A: The noise free resolution for a sample time of 10 milli-seconds or less is 15.5 bits for the T24 SA, 12.5 bits for the T24-VA and 12.25 bits for the T24IA. With increased sample times resolution can be increased up to 18.75 bits for the T24-SA.

Q: What is the supply voltage for the acquisition modules?
A: 3V for the acquisition modules and handheld displays. Other modules in the range take 9-36 V

Q: How are the modules powered?
A: Standard AA batteries or the T24-BC1 Battery Charger, which provides a re-chargeable power supply

Q: Can power be provided to a sensor?
A: Yes, all acquisition modules feature a 5V supply which is the excitation voltage used by the T24-SA strain gauge acquisition module.

Q: How are the strain gauge acquisition modules calibrated?
A: The modules are factory calibrated to 2.5 mV/V which can be custom calibrated up to 9 points by using the T24 Toolkit.

Q: What is the difference between the ‘i’ and ‘e’ versions of the
acquisition units?
A: The ‘i’ modules (T24-SAi, T24-SAfi, T24-VAi, T24-IAi) all feature an on chip
integrated antenna. The ‘e’ modules (T24-SAe, T24-SAfe, T24-VAe, T24-IAe) are
fitted with a miniature UFL connector which can be used with either of the antenna options available (the T24-ANTA pcb antenna or T24-ANTB stub antenna)

Q: What is the difference between the T24-SA and T24-SAf?
A: The standard acquisition modules are capable of providing data up to 200Hz. The ‘fast’ T24-SAf provides data at a fixed 2Khz.
 

T24 Base Station FAQ’s:

Q: What is the function of the USB and industrial base stations?
A: Both provide users with a PC interface by which to calibrate and configure all devices in the T24 range as well as collect and log data from any acquisition module within range.

Q: How is the industrial base station different to the USB base station?
A: The industrial base station provides not only USB interface but also RS232 and RS485. This module can also be DIN rail mounted.

Q: How many acquisition modules can be acquired by the base stations?
A: Each base station can use one of 16 channels. From one of those channels a base station can collect data simultaneously from any number acquisition modules depending upon the frequency of readings being provided.

Q: What is the difference between the T24-SO Serial Output and T24 Base Stations?
A: The T24-SO gathers data from up to 8 acquisition modules and, on its serial output, provides a user configurable ASCII string. The output string can contain the summed value of the gathered data. This output can be used to drive serial displays, printers or to simply feed directly into a PC, PLC or other data acquisition systems.

The base stations communicate bi-directionally so are used to configure the devices as well as gather data. The communications protocol is binary and packet based and so requires processing to present the data to the application in a formatted manner.

Q: How many T24 Acquisition modules can be controlled by one USB Base Station at the same time?
A: Acquisition modules are not controlled when providing data, rather data is provided at a user determined rate during configuration set up. The base station can gather data from any number of acquisition modules providing they are on the same channel. The number of modules a single base station can process depends upon the frequency of transmission from the acquisition modules that channel. 

Q: Can base stations integrate to other communications protocols?
A: Our SCADA software package ‘Visual Link’ interacts with all of our devices
allowing a PC to enact the conversion. In addition, with the use of the .DLL and
COMM driver provided with the T24 Tool Kit, users can create tunneling between the data provided by the base station to the PC and another communications protocols.

Q: Once an acquisition module has been configured, will it require regular connections to the base station?
A: No. Once an acquisition module has been configured it will remain stable for its lifetime providing its operating limits are not exceeded.
 

T24 Handheld Display FAQ’s:

Q: What is the battery life of the handhelds?
A: 40 hours continuous use

Q: Are they IP or NEMA rated?
A: Yes to IP65 NEMA4

Q: What batteries are required?
A: 2 x AA, Alkaline, Zinc or Rechargeable NiCad, NiMH

Q: What is the difference between the T24-HS, HA & HR handhelds?
A: The T24-HS provides easy one-to-one communication with a single acquisition module.
The  T24-HA advanced provides communication with up to 12 acquisition modules providing both individual and resultant values.
The T24-HR roaming will acquire data from any number of acquisition modules in range, offering the most powerful (nearest) one for display first.