How to Add Sensors After Your Gateway is Already Checking In

Adding Sensors After Your Gateway is Already Checking In

There are scenarios where you might be adding devices after you have an existing Sensor Network, receiving sensors back for repair, or where you have already powered on devices outside of the standard order of operations for setting up Monnit devices. Order of operations is important in the Monnit system in terms of getting your devices to report data in a timely manner. If the order of operations is not followed, you may be waiting for your sensors to display sensor data in the portal. This is especially key when adding sensors to your iMonnit Online Portal after your gateway has already been set up and is currently checking in, or if you have already inserted the batteries into your sensors prior to adding them to the iMonnit Online Portal. This article will provide details on this operation, and getting your sensors to communicate in a timely manner when adding them after your devices are already powered up.

Standard order of operations

When adding devices to the portal, the following sequence will result in data displayed in the iMonnit software promptly. This is the order of operations Monnit suggests when adding devices to a Sensor Network.

1. Add the gateway to the Sensor Network.
2. Add the sensor to the Sensor Network.
3. Power the gateway on, and confirm you see the gateway communicating with the iMonnit Online Portal.
4. Power the sensor on (insert batteries or use switch if so equipped).

5. Press and immediately release the button on the gateway (or wait for the gateway’s subsequent check-in).

   When setting up sensors with the preceding order of operations, you will find your sensors reporting data in a timely fashion.

   Note: When first setting up sensors, you will see your sensor check in several times 30 seconds apart. This is part of the self-test. This does not generally mean your sensor has a 30-second Heartbeat, but rather the sensor is conducting a self-test and handshake with the gateway. After the sensor checks in several times (4 or 10 times 30 seconds apart, depending on the version), it will return to its normal Heartbeat (which is 2 hours by default).

Drawback of deviating from the standard order of operations

If you have set up your Sensor Network with a different order of operations, there is no damage that can be done. You may simply need to wait until the gateway downloads its Sensor List, the sensor is authorized to communicate, and it attempts to Join the gateway. Therefore, it may be a day or so before you see the sensor reporting data to the gateway. See the article regarding Sensor Lists and Link Mode for details on factors in this timeline.

If you have already set up outside of the standard order of operations and have access to your devices

If you have already set up outside of the standard order of operations and do not have access to your devices

In the scenario where you do not have access to your devices, you can still perform steps to get your devices checking in (though you may need to be patient for the sensors to attempt to connect to the gateway); see the steps below.

• Reform the gateway’s network (the reform will be processed upon the gateway’s subsequent check-in).
• Wait for the gateway to check in.
• Watch for a series of Gateway Management messages under the gateway’s history.
• The sensors should attempt to connect, and you should see sensor data as per Link Mode operation.

Conclusion

Adding devices after you have already powered them up can be instinctive, but can affect the rate at which you see data reported by your devices. This article should help you get data from your sensors even if the steps you took to set up were out of the normal order. If you need additional guidance, please contact support@monnit.com.