The goal of using the line gun is to create a taught line across the creek by which to pull the Sontek Hydroboard back and forth to make a discharge measurement. The projectile is fired across the creek from the “shooting side” and retrieved on the “receiving side.” The main line is then attached to the gun’s temporary line and pulled across the creek by staff on the receiving side. In most instances, the main line is then attached to existing eye bolts using carabiners and other ropes; in other instances, trees, vehicles and other sturdy objects may be used. Below are the steps for pressurizing and firing the line gun.
Use an allen wrench with key cut to make sure the valve on projectile is open (this will allow residual pressure to bleed out of projectile tank and allow pressure from SCBA tank to enter when desired)
Attach yoke to SCBA tank and projectile
Close bleed valves on the SCBA tank side and gun side of the yoke
Open SCBA tank valve and allow pressure to build to 1800 PSI, then close SCBA tank valve
Close projectile tank valve using the allen wrench with key cut, then bleed residual pressure from the lines using bleed valves at each end of the yoke
Removed yoke from SCBA tank and projectile
Pull black line tight, align the projectile and slide the projectile into gun
Attach black line to release pin using carabiner
Unfold stock on line gun
To charge line gun, close valve and check pressure
Release safety (if safety doesn’t release, close valve and bleed off extra pressure)
At several locations, Mini-Divers have been installed as a redundant water level sensors to the existing gas purge systems. With a 5-minute data logging setting, the internal memory of the Divers will be full in ~83 days. There is no memory wrap feature and the Divers must be stopped/started in order to erase existing data. Data for the Mini-Diver and BaroDiver must be downloaded individually.
Connect the threaded end of the USB interface cable to the Baro-Diver
Locate appropriate SA1, DAT and SA2 files on laptop and transfer to network drive (e.g., Q:\StationDocs\199 – Fillmore Sanitation\Records\2015)
Open Hydstra Explorer (HYEXPLORE) and select from the menu tree: Programs by Function > Hydstra/TS – Time Series > Hydstra Data Management > HYDMWB – Data Managers Workbench
Press the Open folder icon or select File > Open
In the Open Time Series Site dialog box that opens, enter the site number in general format (e.g., 199) in the Site Specifier field and press the Lookup Site button
Select the specific site (e.g., 199A) that appears in the dialog box and then press OK
In the Open Time Series Sites dialog box confirm that the proper site is shown, then press OK
Single-click the site icon that has an A at the end (e.g., 199A A) and select File > Copy
Select File > Import Data.
It is likely Hydstra will still “remember” importing ML1 data from previous site visits; therefore, you need to change the data type. Press Back until Logger is highlighted and select HYD from dropdown
Press Next to highlight Variant and select RAININCH from the dropdown
Press Next to highlight Filename and Browse to proper DAT file on network drive
Press Finish and a new B file is created on the Data Manger’s Workbench
Drag the C file to the B file and release
In the Merge Files dialog box, select the Resolve Overlaps: Split blocks if necessary, preserving C File data radio button, verify the Delete Source box is checked and press OK
Double-click the B file to open the work file
In the dialog box that opens, double-click the row11.00 Rainfall (inches) – High-Resolution
Open the block of newly imported data by selecting the block and pressing the Text tab
Highlight all data points and press the Quality edit button
In the Quality Edit dialog box that opens select 20 Coarser dataset used to fill gap in dataset (ie. ALERT data) from the New Quality dropdown and press OK
Downloading ALERT data is often performed once per year. The process described below creates three files: (1) a diagnostic file prior to the data download (SA); (2) the data file (DAT); and (3) another diagnostic file after the data is downloaded (SA2). For this, you will need a laptop with RS-232 cable for communicating with the Hydrolynx 5096 unit.
Radio transmission strength is also tested at this time. For this, you will need a wattmeter and radio scanner. Also, battery voltage and solar function should be tested.
Test Radio
Make sure either an antenna or dummy load is always attached to the transmitter to prevent damage to transmitter.
1. Use wattmeter set at the following:
• FWD and 15 watts – should read > 5 watts
• REV and 5 watts – should read < 1 watt. If reverse power is greater than a few watts (1-2), check the following:
→ Antenna at correct length for frequency (ALERT2 – 171.925 MHz) – adjusted antenna = 33.75″; omni with radials = 28″)
→ Antenna damage (bent, dented, excessive corrosion, etc.)
→ Damaged cable or fittings
2. Use scanner to confirm transmission
3. Use Novastar5 and vcwatershed.net to confirm arrival at base station
Download Data
Unscrew two black nuts from top plate
Grasp handle, lift slightly, then rotate 90 degrees to ensure that wiring does not catch on threads before lifting fully out of the can
Connect unit to laptop via RS-232 serial cable and with 9-pin connector
On field laptop, open PuTTY
Under Session, confirm that the serial line is set to COM1 and the speed is set to 9600 baud
Further under Session, select Logging and then select the Session Logging: All session output radio button
Browse to the appropriate location (data folder on the hydrographer’s laptop), enter name in SiteMonthDayYear format, followed by the letters “SA1” (e.g., 199111515SA1), then press Save
Press Open to activate a terminal session
Enter command showall
Confirm and record the following:
Real Time
RAW Reading
Reset Count
(Memory) Percent Used
Close window
Reopen PuTTY and repeat steps 5 and 7; however, the file name shall be followed by the letters “DAT” (e.g., 199111515DAT)
Again press Open to activate a terminal session
Enter command get-mem
Press Close when finished downloading data
Reopen PuTTY and repeat steps 5 and 7; however, the file name shall be followed by the letters “SA2” (e.g., 199111515SA2)
Again press Open to activate a terminal session
Enter command showall
If necessary, change time on 5096 to match computer’s time in 24-hour format with hours and minutes separated by a comma (e.g., time= 13,15 for 1:15 PM) and press Enter
Enter command align to synchronize all internal sensor timers
After confirming that all files (SA, DAT and SA2) have been downloaded, enter command clear-mem
Enter command showall to verify memory has been reset (Percent Used should read 0.00%)
Press Close
Tip rainfall bucket 3 or 4 times to confirm transmission via radio scanner (which should be set to same frequency as transmit signal from site)