Wireless Temperature Measurement

New data acquisition devices from Measurement Computing transfer temperature measurement data wirelessly

Measurement Computing Corporation (Norton, Massachusetts), market leader in low-cost data acquisition, has announced through its UK distributor Adept Scientific (Letchworth, Herts) the release of two wireless temperature input devices modelled on the popular USB-TC and the USB-TEMP. The new products, the WLS-TC and the WLS-TEMP, are essentially identical to their USB predecessors but with an added RF module, which allows for wireless data transfer.

The RF modules were engineered to meet IEEE 802.15.4 standards and support the unique needs of low-cost, low-power wireless sensor networks. The modules require minimal power and provide reliable delivery of data between devices. The modules operate within the ISM 2.4 GHz frequency band. Users can acquire and process temperature data for monitoring and control at distances up to 50 metres indoors, and as much as 750 metres line-of-sight outdoors. A small PC interface module (WLS-IFC) connects to the user’s PC USB port and allows communication with a virtually limitless number of WLS-TCs and WLS-TEMPs throughout any industrial, commercial or residential space.

The WLS-TC supports 8 channels of J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B type thermocouples. The WLS-TEMP supports 8 channels of data from the same thermocouple types in addition to RTDs, thermistors, and semiconductor temperature sensors.

According to Bill Kennedy, Measurement Computing’s vice president of marketing and sales, "We are very excited about extending the functionality of our already popular USB product line. With the release of the WLS-TC and WLS-TEMP, our customers are no longer tethered to their USB port. They now have the convenience of installing their DAQ devices at the point of measurement. Our WLS series supports both wireless and USB applications - an extremely flexible solution for our customers to enjoy."

The devices are bundled with all software drivers and TracerDAQTM, an industry-leading software package that provides easy data management and analysis. TracerDAQ converts and saves temperature and alarm data to standard, comma-delimited text files. It also plots and analyses real-time data or historical temperature files. Also included are InstaCalTM, an all-in-one installation, logger setup, calibration and test application; and Universal LibraryTM and UL for LabVIEWTM, powerful language interfaces that allow users to write programs in all of the popular programming languages using easy-to-understand, high-level command syntax.

Measurement Computing Corporation is the market leader in the design and manufacture of low-priced, PC-based test and measurement hardware and software. These products include analog I/O and digital I/O devices for the USB, Wireless, PCI, ISA, PCMCIA, and PC/104 buses, as well as RS-232/485 serial interfaces.

Adept Scientific is Measurement Computing's partner and master distributor of their hardware and software products in the UK. With offices in the UK, USA, Germany and throughout the Nordic region, Adept Scientific is one of the world's leading suppliers of software and hardware products for research, scientific, engineering and technical applications on desktop computers. Full details and contact information for all Adept Scientific international offices are available at www.adeptscience.com; or telephone +44 (0)1462 480055.

With offices in the UK, USA, Germany and throughout the Nordic region, Adept Scientific is one of the world's leading suppliers of software and hardware products for research, scientific, engineering and technical applications on desktop computers.