SensorStation
INTERNET-CONNECTED MOTUS RECEIVING STATION
Carrier Class Wildlife Telemetry Receiver
Now in its third generation, the CTT SensorStationâ„¢ is even more powerful than ever. Fully open source, this SensorGnome powered receiver features a Raspberry Pi CM3 + 16GB compute module, USB 2.0 backplane, LTE modem, GPS, RTC with battery, altimeter sensor, battery and solar voltage measurement, onboard 802.11n WiFi, 5x Arduino powered 32u4 processors, 6 high current USB 2.0 ports, LCD display, and more.
The SensorStation is fully programmed and ready to go! Just provide power and antennas, and SensorStation will get to work.
The SensorStation offers 5 fully configurable radio-receiving channels. These channels can be configured to receive our digital radio tags or CTT Nodesâ„¢. Additionally, its USB 2.0 ports can be used with FunCubes or RTL-SDRs to receive other non-CTT wildlife tags.
No more traveling to remote field sites to collect SD cards. The SensorStation offers an on-board eSIM with service to over 191 countries (inexpensive data plan required). The SensorStation will upload all of your tag data, health information and more to the cloud, automatically. Software updates? Not a problem. Those are automatically downloaded as SensorStation is improved. Have WiFi or Ethernet? If the answer is yes, then no cellular service required!
The SensorStation has optional satellite capabilities and can use the Iridium satellite network to transmit your data from even the most remote places such as ocean buoys, mountain tops, arctic breeding grounds, and more.
All SensorStations now have 802.11n WiFi shipped as the standard option. No more fumbling around with WiFi dongles, drivers, or weird antenna adapters. WiFi comes with a flexible antenna and can optionally be connected to the SMA jumper for external antennas.
The SensorStation has a built-in GPS receiver with the option of an external antenna. PPS is wired directly to the Raspberry Pi, providing accurate timing as well as positioning information.
Headless operation is a breeze using the outdoor readable LCD screen and on-board buttons. You can view station information, IP addresses, download data to USB drives, and more - all without touching a computer.
If needed, you can plug your SensorStation into any modern TV display, aiding in system development and troubleshooting.
Our SensorStation include three I2C accessory ports and the standard Raspberry Pi 40-pin header, making them extremely hackable and flexible for any task. You can find our reference examples on GitHub.
Are you ready for the altimeter revolution? Altimeters on our smallest tags are just around the corner, providing both altitude and a digital ID. Having an altimeter at the receiving station help in calibrating this reading. The CTT SensorStation features the BMP388 Pressure Sensor from Bosch, one of the world's most trusted and reliable brands. Get your Motus station geared up with this latest in tech advances.
SensorStations has an on-board analog-to-digital converter which lets users monitor both battery health and solar voltage from afar. Researchers can be proactive with the health of their stations to ensure continuous operation; this can be especially important for station located in remote areas.
CTT’s SensorStation can keep track of the time, even when the power is off. There is no reason to wait for a GPS signal, making it a perfect backup while indoors.
The U.FL stress release connector allows you to easily connect fragile connectors from either the LTE modem, Iridium modem, or WiFi adapter to a heavy piece of coax. This reduces the risk of physical damage to your SensorStation.
Our SensorStation is equipped with 6 powerful USB ports that are connected directly to the power supply, easily providing power to the most demanding of applications. The USB backplane also features multi-transaction translators, important for SDR applications.
The SensorStation accepts a wide range of voltages, from deep cycle battery to solar to aircraft, and is designed for both on-grid and off-grid operations.
The CTT SensorStation features 5 USB-connected ATMega32u4 Arduinos, each connected to a dedicated radio. These Arduinos are configured to receive CTT digital tags directly onto the SensorStation. SensorStations are pre-populated with the FSK radio RFM69; however, an optional RFM9x for LoRa is also available. Contact CTT for details.
Specifications
Hardware
- Open Source Hardware
- Raspberry Pi CM3+ 16GB
- Quectel GPS patch with SMA jack
- 3x I2C accessory ports
- 4x20 LCD display
- 4x buttons
- Composite video
- 12V-30V DC in
- I2C ID EEPROM
- RTC with battery and ID
- USB switch for OTG access
- Multi-transaction, multi-translational USB backplane
- Bosch BMP388 Pressure Sensor
- ADC for solar and battery voltages
- Mini PCIe Slot for LTE (USB Mode Only)
- 802.11n WiFi USB module
- Iridium 9603 satellite port
- U.FL to SMA stress relief
- 5x Arduino ATMega32u4
- 5x RFM69 or RFM95 (FSK or LoRa)