Improved accuracy and performance for flood warning systems
Overview
The AL200 is an ALERT2 encoder and modulator that supports ALERT2 and ALERT-concentration services. It meets the ALERT2 standards maintained by National Hydrologic Warning Council (NHWC) and ALERT Users Group (AUG). ALERT2 improves the accuracy and performance of flood warning systems and software, by providing you with faster data transfer, forward error correction, and a TDMA architecture.
With integrated sensor inputs, the AL200 allows you to create a minimal ALERT2 transmitter/station, decreasing the cost of a typical flood warning system. Combining the AL200 with a Campbell Scientific data logger provides enhanced sensor support, user-defined logic and control, and data logging capabilities.
Note: Portions of the AL200 embedded code were developed and copyrighted by Blue Water Design LLC and are used under license.
Benefits and Features
- Easily configurable with graphical, point-and-click software
- Integrated sensor inputs for greatly reduced station cost
- Onboard measurement of supply voltage, clock/GPS quality
- Event or schedule driven reports for battery, clock, tipping bucket, voltage, current, SDI-12, high/low state
- Screw terminals for power, radio, and sensors for easy cabling
- Easy access test features for transmission, radio power, and alignment
Images
3D/CAD Files:
Specifications
| Power Connector | Two-wire, 0.15-in. pitch removable terminal (reverse polarity protected) |
| Power Requirements | 9 to 18 Vdc |
| Configuration | Device Configuration Utility over USB (settable modulation levels using Device Configuration Utility) |
| LEDs | GPS, Serial, Radio (RS-232 and CS I/O share serial activity LED.) |
| CS I/O Port | SDC 7, 8,10, or 11 (multiplexed with on-board sensor interface) |
| RS-232 Port | DCE |
| USB Port | Micro-B |
| Temperature Range | -40° to +60°C |
| Communication Rate |
|
| Current Drain |
|
| Timekeeping Setting via GPS | ±1 μs |
| Drift | ±0.17 s/day (without GPS sync, 40°C temperature change) |
| Analog Input (SE1) Sensor Interface | 0 to 5 Vdc (16-bit ADC; millivolt or 4 to 20 mA selectable) |
| Protocols Supported | ALERT1 and ALERT2 |
| SMA Connector | Active GPS antenna |
| Test Button | Test transmit and tone |
| Dimensions | 16 x 7.7 x 2.2 cm (6.3 x 3.0 x 0.9 in.) |
Sensor Interface |
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| Channels Available | Switch closure (P1), single-ended analog (SE1), limited SDI-12 (C1), switched 12 V, ground |
| Analog input (SE1) | 0 to 5 Vdc, 16-bit Adc (millivolt or 4 to 20 mA selectable) |
Radio Interface |
|
| Channels Available | TX, PTT, switched battery, ground |
| RCFSK Modulation | 100 to 1000 mV, ±50 mV (software selectable) |
Standards |
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| Compliance | RoHS and CE |
| Product Standard | EN 61326-1:2013 |
| Test Standards |
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Compatibility
Please note: The following shows notable compatibility information. It is not a comprehensive list of all compatible products.
Dataloggers
| Product | Compatible | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 21X (retired) | ||
| CR10 (retired) | ||
| CR1000 (retired) | ||
| CR1000X | ||
| CR10X (retired) | ||
| CR200X (retired) | ||
| CR211X (retired) | ||
| CR216X (retired) | ||
| CR300 | ||
| CR3000 (retired) | ||
| CR310 | ||
| CR350 | ||
| CR500 (retired) | ||
| CR5000 (retired) | ||
| CR510 (retired) | ||
| CR6 | ||
| CR800 (retired) | ||
| CR850 (retired) | ||
| CR9000 (retired) | ||
| CR9000X (retired) |
Additional Compatibility Information
The AL200 supports ALERT1 and ALERT2 protocols.
A standalone AL200 can measure:
- Analog sensors with 0 to 5 V or 0 to 20 mA output
- SDI-12 sensors
- Float / contact switch sensors
- CS451 and CS456 Pressure Transducers
- CS475, CS476, and CS477 Radar Water-Level Sensors
- CS460 Pressure Transducer
- SR50A Sonic Ranging Sensor
- CS11 AC Current Sensor
Related Documents
Product Brochures
Manuals
Compliance
Downloads
ALERT Configuration Tool v.1.1 (47.7 MB) 30-06-2016
A software utility used to configure the ALERT210.
AL200 ALERT & ALERT2 OS v.6.0 (649 KB) 01-12-2023
Current AL200 operating system for ALERT and ALERT2. Requires the Device Configuration Utility to update the operating system in the AL200.
These current versions includes bug fixes and improvements to their prior versions and is recommended for all users.
| Operating System | Version |
| ALERT | 1.0 |
| ALERT2 | 6.0 |
AL200 USB Drivers v.2.08.28 (1.64 MB) 05-03-2013
AL200 USB Drivers for the Windows operating system. 32 and 64 bit support for Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.
Note: Drivers should be loaded before plugging the AL200 into the computer.
Case Studies
The Panama Canal was using an outdated water-level system until the Panama Canal Authorities (ACP)......read more
In February of 2015, Campbell Scientific was awarded a bid to supply the Harris County......read more
ALERT2 is a modern communication protocol that improves upon 40 years of tradition within the......read more