1 Introduction

The CTT Node™ is a mini-base-station that allows you to localize LifeTags™, PowerTags™ and HybridTags™ with a high degree of accuracy. If deployed in a grid fashion, and employing post-hoc analysis, the CTT Nodes can operate as pseudo-reverse-GPS, providing near GPS accuracy in optimal conditions. With the addition of calibration data, Nodes can provide presence/absence and distance estimate of instantaneous detections from supported tags.

The CTT Node uploads received tag detection data to the standard CTT SensorStation™, creating a dense, high resolution tracking network. Solar power recharges batteries in the CTT Nodes meaning no extra power cables or external solar systems are necessary.

Each CTT Node has a detectable range of about 250-300 meters, and is able to relay data to a CTT Base Station as far away as 1.5 kilometers.

1.1 Using This Guide

Use the Quick Start Guide in the next section to get you up and running with your CTT Nodes. For more detailed information you can proceed to the sections below the Quick Start Guide. Please provide any feedback via our Customer Service Desk portal here.

2 Node Quick Start Guide

What you will need:

  1. Unpack your Nodes.

  2. Place Nodes outside in a sunny location and allow to fully charge for several days (more important if you will be testing with the magnet off)

  3. Bring Nodes within range of an existing SensorStation (note: if not using antennas on your SensorStation, make sure Nodes are within a meter of the station).

  4. Connect your computer to your SensorStation so you can view the web interface (for SensorStation operation consult the online install guide here).

  5. Ensure your SensorStation has at least one radio tuned to detect Nodes (if this isn’t clear, consult the SensorStation online install guide).

  6. With the magnets still on, a Node will transmit health information once every five minutes and can do so for over two years without recharging the battery. With the SensorStation web interface open, you should begin to see Nodes checking in and showing up in the Nodes list at the top of the SensorStation webpage like in the image below. A properly functioning Node will send accurate GPS location and GPS time. Note time is always in UTC. If GPS data is empty, or GPS time is incorrect, either the Node is in a place where it cannot get a GPS fix, or the GPS needs to be forced. See Advanced Configuration via Node Client below for how to force a GPS fix.

Node display on SensorStation web interface.
Node display on SensorStation web interface.
  1. If you have a test tag, you can place it near the Nodes and remove the magnet on the Node case. Removing the magnet activates the Node radio to listen for tags. You should begin to see tag data flowing in on SensorStation web interface under the radio(s) you programmed to listen for Nodes.
Here Radio 1 is set to detect Nodes, while Radio 2 is set to detect Tags. Looking at the data displayed you can see that Radio 1 data includes a Node ID and the RSSI is the signal strength of the Tag hitting the Node, while Radio 2 data is simply the tags being directely detected by the antenna on Radio 2, and therefore the RSSI refers to the signal strength of the Tag hitting the antenna on Radio 2.
Here Radio 1 is set to detect Nodes, while Radio 2 is set to detect Tags. Looking at the data displayed you can see that Radio 1 data includes a Node ID and the RSSI is the signal strength of the Tag hitting the Node, while Radio 2 data is simply the tags being directely detected by the antenna on Radio 2, and therefore the RSSI refers to the signal strength of the Tag hitting the antenna on Radio 2.

  1. If you are deploying your Nodes, go ahead and remove the magnets and store them somewhere safe. You will want to reuse them if you ever want to shut down a Node for storage.

  2. Attach your Node to an appropriately sized support structure. We recommend 1/2” - 3/4” diameter EMT conduit, but there is no rule as to what can or can’t be used. We also recommend placing your Nodes at least 2 meters off of the ground.

  3. Place your Nodes in the field within 1-1.5km of your SensorStation.

  4. Once set up, return to your SensorStation and ensure that all Nodes are checking in. Ultimately you want your Nodes to be received 100% of the time, so looking at your data after a few days will help diagnose any Nodes ‘on the fringe’.

  5. For any Nodes not being detected consistently, you should consider one of the following possible solutions:

3 Initial Node Setup

Because of shipping laws, your Node arrives with a partially-charged Lithium battery and should be placed in the sun for several days prior to deployment to get its battery up to full charge.

3.1 Unboxing

Node packaged for shipping
Node packaged for shipping

Remove the packing material that surrounds your Node. You can do this by removing the two nuts on the mounting bracket, which will then allow you to slide the bubble wrap off of the Node and save it for future use.

Notice that there is a piece of blue tape securing a magnet to the Node.