Neon System and IP Product Range

Comparison Table Printer Friendly Version

OptionsNRL 3004/3006NRL 3008NRL 3016NRL 3004M/3006MNRL 3001MNRT 2018 and NRT 2022
DescriptionIndustrial NRL 4 Analog Channels (Metal Enclosure)Industrial NRL 8 Analog Channels (Metal Enclosure)Industrial NRL 16 Analog Channels (Metal Enclosure)NRL 4 Analog
Channels M-Series
(Polycarbonate Enclosure)
NRL Single Analog
Channel M-Series
(Polycarbonate Enclosure)
NRT Inmarsat Satellite/ 3G/4G
ModemOptional:
Cellular 3G/4G/LTE
NBIoT
Satellite Iridium SBD
Satellite Inmarsat BGAN Hughes 9502
Satellite Inmarsat BGAN Sabre Ranger
Satellite Certus Iridium RockRemote
Satellite Certus Iridium SkyLink
Optional:
Cellular 3G/4G/LTE
NBIoT
Satellite Iridium SBD
Satellite Inmarsat BGAN Hughes 9502
Satellite Inmarsat BGAN Sabre Ranger
Satellite Certus Iridium RockRemote
Satellite Certus Iridium SkyLink
Optional:
Cellular 3G/4G/LTE
NBIoT
Satellite Iridium SBD
Satellite Inmarsat BGAN Hughes 9502
Satellite Inmarsat BGAN Sabre Ranger
Satellite Certus Iridium RockRemote
Satellite Certus Iridium SkyLink
Optional:
Cellular 3G/4G/LTE
NBIoT
Satellite Iridium SBD
Optional:
Cellular 3G/4G/LTE
NBIoT
Satellite Iridium SBD
2018 Inmarsat Hughes 9502
2022 Inmarsat Hughes 9502 & Cellular 3G/4G
Internal PowerNoNoNoOptional 3V6 Lithium D CellOptional 2 x 3V6 Lithium D CellOptional 3 x 3V6 Lithium D Cell
External Power9V - 30VDC9V - 30VDC9V - 30VDC9V - 30VDC9V - 30VDC6V - 24VDC
RTC Backup Battery3V6 Li Coin Cell CR16203V6 Li Coin Cell CR16203V6 Li Coin Cell CR16203V6 Li Coin Cell CR16323V6 Li Coin Cell CR1632No
Instrument
Power
5V regulated 100mA fused5V regulated 100mA fused
12V regulated 200mA fused
5V regulated 100mA fused
12V regulated 200mA fused
5V or 12V or 18V regulated, 80mA,
User Selectable
15V or 18V regulated, 80mA,
User Selectable
5V unregulated 5mA Max
Analog
Channels
4 single-ended (max)
or 2 differential (max)
24-bit resolution, 4 user
selectable gain ranges
8 single-ended (max)
or 4 differential (max)
24-bit resolution, 4 user selectable gain ranges
16 single-ended (max)
or 8 differential (max)
24-bit resolution, 4 user selectable gain ranges
4 single-ended (max)
or 2 differential (max)
24-bit resolution, 4 user
selectable gain ranges
1 single-ended, 12-bit resolution
0-2.5VDC
4, 12-bit resolution unipolar, single-ended
Digital Inputs0 to 5V DC Digital InputNo4, Low <1.1V
High>2.05V
Max 5V DC
No0 to 5V DC Digital InputNo
Digital Output1 - Open Drain FET
30V DC, 250mA max
1 - Open Drain FET
30V DC, 250mA max
2 - Open Drain FET,
30V DC, 250mA max
1 - Open Drain FET
30V DC, 250mA max
No1 - Open Collector
Counter
Channels
2 x 16 bit, DC to 20kHz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C0,C2)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 300Hz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C1,C3)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 20kHz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C0,C2)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 300Hz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C1,C3)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 20kHz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C0,C2)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 300Hz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C1,C3)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 20kHz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C0,C2)
2 x 16 bit, DC to 300Hz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C1,C3)
1 x 16 bit, DC to 20kHz free contact or
0 to 5VDC digital input (C0)
1 x 16 bit, 3kHz
3 x 8 bit, 300Hz
USB DriveUSB B PortUSB B PortUSB B PortUSB B Micro PortUSB B Micro PortN/A
Base Memory7.5MB7.5MB7.5MB7.5MB7.5MB30KB
Memory ExpansionMicro SD CardMicro SD CardMicro SD CardMicro SD CardMicro SD Card8MB
ModbusSingle Channel2 Independent Channels2 Independent ChannelsSingle ChannelSingle ChannelSingle Channel
SDI-12Single Channel 1.3 CompliantTwo Independent Channels 1.3 CompliantTwo Independent Channels 1.3 CompliantSingle Channel 1.3 CompliantSingle Channel 1.3 CompliantSingle Channel 1.3 Compliant
HSIONoNoYesYesNoYes
EthernetOptional
Option E - 0/100 MBit
Yes 10/100 MBitYes 10/100 MBitOptional
Option E - 0/100 MBit
NoYes 10/100 MBit
Configuration
Port
USB B Port, Micro SD Card and BluetoothUSB B Port, Micro SD Card and BluetoothRS-232 level, 115,200 Max baud rate
USB B Port, Micro SD Card and Bluetooth
USB B Micro Port and
Micro SD Card
USB B Micro Port and
Micro SD Card
RS-232 level,
300-38,400 bps
DisplayOptional 320 x 240 Colour Resistive Touch Panel320 x 240 Colour Resistive Touch Panel320 x 240 Colour Resistive Touch PanelNoNoNo
KeypadWith LCD option only
5 button membrane keypad
5 button membrane keypad5 button membrane keypadNoNoNo
AccelerometerYesYesYesYesNoNo
BarometerYesYesYesYesYesNo

The Neon system collects measurements from Neon Remote Loggers (NRL) connected to field instruments and sensors and transmits these measurements to a central Neon Web-based system for data storage, analysis, data presentation, graphical analysis and reporting and data transfer to other external systems.

The Neon system also provides facilities for remote management of Neon remote loggers via the Neon Web interface to allow for remote reconfiguration, sensor input changes and local program changes thereby minimising trips to the site and reducing cost.
The communication protocol between Neon remote loggers and the central Neon Server is Internet Protocol  (TCP/IP) and LoRa LPWAN technology protocol.

The Neon system also provides facilities for remote management of Neon Field Units / Neon Remote Loggers via the Neon Web interface to allow for remote reconfiguration, sensor input changes and local program changes thereby minimising trips to site and reducing cost.

The communications method between Neon remote loggers and the central Neon Server can be any method that utilises TCP/IP, and we support Cell Phone, Wi-Fi, Direct Ethernet, Inmarsat BGAN M2M Satellite, Globalstar Satellite, Iridium Satellite and LoRa LPWAN across public and private networks.

The Starlog 4 software is a desktop application that assists with the setup of Neon remote logger configuration. This software allows for a point-and-click setup of Neon remote logger internal programs, called schemes. Schemes are downloaded to the loggers via a serial interface direct to the logger or uploaded to the Neon Web interface to be downloaded to a logger in the field via the Neon network.

The Neon system is offered to customers based on two options:
1. A customer-owned server model, where the customer purchases a Neon Application Software licence from Unidata and runs that software on their own servers, or
2. A hosted application service model where Unidata provides access to run the system on Unidata secure servers on a fee for service basis.

There is a range of different Neon remote loggers available. While the models may be different, and the interfaces available in various models are different, the basic operation of all Neon remote loggers is the same.

Typical Neon Measurement System

The figure on the right is an example of a Neon installation showing an NRL connected to a Modbus sensor.
Every day the NRL will send, via the Inmarsat satellite network, to the Neon server a “packet” of information containing the data in raw format. The Neon Server then extracts the raw data from the packet. The data is then stored on a secure server until the client accesses the data using a standard Web Browser.

The Neon Server receives, processes, displays, stores and reports collected data in many ways. On top of that The Neon Server also can issue control commands based on pre-set algorithms and issue alarms and notifications via several mediums.

Alarm setpoints can be set up on the NRL units as well as the Neon Server further alarm notifications can be sent via several methods including email and SMS text messages. Alarm triggers can initiate physical actions in the field such as turning pumps on and off or activating other control functions based on the internal program within the NRL.

The Neon system has fully bi-directional communications between the NRL and the Neon Server. This allows for remote diagnosis, remote programming and remote firmware updating for the operation of the remote equipment and thereby reducing costly site visits.

NRL units can be configured to read sensors, log data internally to local memory and push data to the central Neon server at user-settable intervals such as once a minute, every few minutes, every hour, or once a day. Data can be viewed on the Neon Web interface in near real-time from any browser and the comprehensive reporting engine within Neon allows for reporting out to other systems using email, FTP, and web services, either dynamically, every minute, or on a daily, monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

The NRL Internal architecture is shown below.

The NRL architecture

It contains two discrete sections:

1. A LOGGER section where the terminal connects to the field transducers and the logging scheme, scan rates and diagnostics are managed.
The StarlogV4 support software allows a user to generate a logger program (called a scheme) that defines transducer information, logging scan rates, logger interval etc and various engineering unit definitions. These files are called, for example, the LDR and KBD files.

2. A COMMUNICATOR section which deals with communications to the server. This section contains, for example, a scheduler component and the modem component, either a Cellular Network modem or a Satellite Network modem. The communicator manages functions such as the reporting interval, the number of communications attempts per communications session, etc.
The StarlogV4 support software allows a user to generate a configuration file for the Communicator section, called an FPO file in which the user sets the required communications parameters.

The Neon Server then extracts the raw data from the packet. The data is then stored on a secure server until the client accesses the data using a standard Web Browser. The Neon Server receives, processes, displays, stores and reports collected data in many ways. The Neon Server also can issue control commands based on pre- set algorithms and issue alarms and notifications via several mediums. Alarm set points can be set up on the NRL units as well as the Neon Server and alarm notifications can be sent via several methods including email and SMS text messages.