Open the Door to Unlock Flexibility

What’s inside your data-acquisition system enclosure? If you look inside, will you find a CR6 Automated Monitoring Platform that can unlock flexibility with unmatched reliability for your field research and data collection needs? For these reasons, the CR6 is an ideal choice for researchers and professionals across various industries. Let’s explore how the flexibility of the CR6 can save you both time and money.

U Terminals

One of the standout features of the CR6 is its configurable Universal (U) measurement and control terminals. These U terminals can measure voltage, provide voltage excitation, read vibrating wire sensors and thermistors, count pulses, and communicate with SDI-12 and TTL RS-232 sensors—among other things. This capability can be highly beneficial because you don’t need to invest in separate data loggers for each specific measurement type. With the CR6, you have a single, versatile device that handles everything from vibrating wire to digital and analog sensors, simplifying your equipment needs and saving you time and money.

Pairing the CR6 with AM16/32B multiplexers unlocks the potential value. Imagine being able to connect just one CR6 with three AM16/32Bs to measure up to 48 vibrating wire sensors. Need more? Add four multiplexers, and you can handle 128 differential voltage measurements from sensors such as thermocouples or linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs). If your sensors are conveniently located near each other, you can streamline your setup with a single data logger. This approach not only simplifies your system but also cuts costs and reduces maintenance, making your data-collection process more efficient and hassle-free.

Communications Options

The CR6 offers a wide range of communications options to ensure your data gets where it needs to be. Whether you prefer wired or wireless solutions, we’ve got you covered:

1. Wired Solutions
• RS-232: This reliable direct-serial communications method supports cable lengths up to 15.24 meters (50 feet).
• RS-485: Perfect for long distances up to 1,219 meters (4,000 feet), the RS-485 typically uses Modbus for communication with a multiple-device network.
• Ethernet: This networking technology provides high-speed data transfer (100 Mb/s) for access to local or cloud-based systems.
• USB: The easiest way to connect your computer or laptop to a CR6, a USB can be used as a temporary or permanent part of your communications setup.
2. Wireless Solutions
• Radio: A cost-effective option for connecting devices over distances, a radio solution is ideal for creating complex networks or simple device-to-base station setups.
• Cell: Link your computer, laptop, or cloud-based server to the CR6, allowing data access from anywhere in the world.
• Satellite: For remote areas, satellite modems provide connectivity where other options aren’t available.
• Wi-Fi: Great for nearby devices (such as in the same building or structure), a CR6 with Wi‑Fi can join an existing network, or you can use it to create a new network.

The CR6’s versatility allows you to mix and match these communications methods to create unique networks and configurations. For example, by combining a radio module with a cell modem, you can create a “gateway” that uses radio to communicate with various devices and sends data through the cell modem.

You can also pair these in more unique ways. You can have a CR6 that is both wired to several devices using RS-485 and Modbus and connected to other data loggers miles away with a built-in radio. Add a satellite modem, and you can transmit all that data to your cloud-based server effortlessly.

Another perk of this flexibility means you can set up multiple communications methods with the CR6 as backups for emergencies. By adding both cell and satellite modems, your system can switch to satellite if the cell signal fails, ensuring your data remain secure and accessible when you need it most.

Advanced Programming Capabilities

The CR6 features a powerful and flexible programming language called CRBasic, designed to let you tailor the platform to your unique needs. With CRBasic, you benefit from:

• Customized Measurement and Control: Create specific routines to meet your exact requirements. For instance, you can set alarms based on data thresholds that trigger signals for device control.
• Seamless Data Transfer: Use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to effortlessly send data directly to a remote server.
• Dynamic Scan Rates: Adjust your scan rates using event-driven programming. This allows you to measure more quickly during important events to capture all necessary data and then switch to slower rates to conserve power and lower your data generation.

CRBasic programming also supports adding extra measurement or input/output modules to the CR6. The CR6 takes care of aggregating, storing, and communicating all the data. With CRBasic, you can process data in real time, making it ready for immediate use and integration into reports.

Conclusion

The Campbell Scientific CR6 Automated Monitoring Platform is the most powerful, versatile, and reliable tool for data logging and monitoring in the market. Its measurement, communications, and programming capabilities mean that the CR6 can be anything and everything that you need it to be. By choosing the CR6, you're investing in a solution that offers the adaptability and reliability required to meet the demands of your projects today and in the future.

If you’re ready to elevate your data acquisition and unlock flexibility, contact our application engineers or sales team today to learn how the CR6 can help simplify your system, cut costs, and save you time.