Highlights this Quarter
What's New
XL4 PLUS DNP3 RTU
Software Updates
QTech Workbench
DATRAN VI
DATRAN Reporting
WHAT’S NEW
The DATRAN XL4 Plus DNP3 RTU is QTech’s next generation DNP3 RTU. It is built on the same industrial grade platform and real time operating system (RTU’s) as the DATRAN XL4 Plus, with an added triangle microworks DNP3 protocol engine. The new product takes advantage of security, historic logging and file transfer in the latest protocol implementation. Support up to level 3 of the protocol is also provided.
The XL4 Plus DNP3 RTU offers a complete monitoring and control solution and is the perfect choice for integrating into a new or existing DNP3 based SCADA network.
Contact our sales team for more information.
SOFTWARE RELEASES
Over the last 12 months a significant amount of work has been carried out on a broad range of our software components, we will be bringing you details in this and following newsletters.
All our software is constantly evolving as we bring out new feature and resolves bugs. In order for us to be able to offer you direct support, we strongly recommend that all products are updated to the current release.
Customers with Software Maintenance Agreements in place may download the file(s) from the password protected "SMA Holder Login" area of our website.
If you do not hold a valid SMA with us or have issues with using your password on the website, please contact sales@qtech.co.nz.
- QTech Workbench v2.7
QTech Workbench is the Microsoft Windows based configuration utility for various QTech products including DATRAN XL4 and XL4 Plus RTUs, QDR Digital Radios, Q48 Point to Point and Q48 Multi-Point Controllers.
New features include:
- Support of the new Rev. E WP2P devices and modes
- Added enhanced support for the XL4 Plus - DNP3 RTU configuration
- Added support for XL4 Plus - SDI-12 Interface
The following changes have been introduced into this release:
- Display of additional information relating to RTU reset times and reset exception diagnostic logs
- Display of communication state information for QComms server
- Minor changes to text displayed on datalogging, Q48 and other screens
- Improvements to resizing of windows and columns
- Support for local time country and daylight time offsets
- Improved handling of communication connections to an RTU when cables are inadvertently removed.
- Changes to the connection process for RTUs to handle delays in the reboot process in the RTU which attempts to perform file consistency checks
- Improved DF1 data mapping to plc device memory locations
More details about the changes to existing features and resolution of previous issues can be found in the release notes.
- DATRAN VI v6.75
DATRAN VI is ideal for the gathering, managing and sharing of telemetry data as well as for providing a reliable platform for monitoring the communication channels and remote hardware of these systems. In addition to the telemetry data, other data can be sourced from web and office-based applications and shared with many other office and SCADA platforms.
DATRAN VI has a wide range of options to support all the SCADA and telemetry requirements of a variety of private, government and utility companies.
This version:
- Now adds support for the Wireless RTU (WRTU - pending product release) to DATRAN VI
- Provides support for synchronizing injects across multiple EPL Ripple Injectors in the Power Management service.
- Adds TCP Server support for new functionality in DATRAN OPC UA Server v1.5.
DATRAN VI Power Management - Synchronous Mode for EPL Injectors
DATRAN’s Power Management service now allows EPL ripple injectors to be controlled in “synchronous mode”. When in synchronous mode:
- DATRAN ensures that the same set of injection ref codes is injected across all synchronized injectors each inject cycle. Automatic inject scheduling will always schedule the same inject commands to all injectors, and manual inject requests are automatically broadcast to all injectors.
- A transmission fail, comms fails or other error on any injector automatically halts all injectors.
Prerequisites of Upgrading
Prior to upgrading to DATRAN VI v6.75 from any previous version, the following should be considered:
- If your current installation is older than v6.52, please contact us as there are additional tasks required to perform the migration.
- It is important that any sites that have RTUs with firmware older than v7.0 do not have any point count values of 255. If they do then either disable the site, upgrade the firmware, or set the point count value to 254, for example.
TCP Server Support for OPC UA Server v1.5
DATRAN v6.75 provides an upgrade to TCP Server, which is required for DATRAN OPC UA Server v1.5. OPC UA Server is a standalone Windows application/service that allows client devices to connect to DATRAN using the OPC UA protocol and provides interoperability between DATRAN and third-party products and devices.
OPC UA Server v1.5 provides significant improvements over v1.4, including the ability to detect changes to the DATRAN TBD structure (node creation/deletion) in real time, among other minor features and bug fixes.
We have also resolved a number of requested tweaks and bug fixes. Thank you to all the integrators and customers who provided us with valuable insights and helped us to keep improving. Please keep these improvement suggestions coming.
- DATRAN Reporting v6.04
DATRAN Reporting allows you to create resource consent, DWSNZ compliance, and performance reports directly from the DATRAN VI SCADA database. The reports can be scheduled and then automatically emailed and even delivered onto FTP sites
Backward Compatibility
This is a full release version and replaces all existing versions.
Reports built with previous versions are still available and can be used with the new version.
Software Licensing
No additional licensing is required for registered users.
Multiple user licenses are available as required. The client install allows existing reports to be run and scheduled, this can be installed on multiple machines. The report designer is a licensed application to a defined machine.
Summary of changes:
- DATRAN Reporting now uses the global variable of date/time stamp for printing to FTP. i.e., Reports can now be created with or without the timestamp appended to the file name in the case where a specific filename is expected when transmitting via ftp
SUPPORT
We have developed, and continue to develop, Application Notes (and a porting guide for XL4 RTUs to XL4 Plus RTUs) to assist integrators with specific application scenarios. These are available on request from techsupport@qtech.co.nz and in the Application Notes.
We also invite you to submit your own configuration requirements that might be suitable to develop an App Note around.
DATRAN Tech Tip
New SMS Feature for SMS Direct and DATRAN VI
SMS Direct using an external modem interfacing into DATRAN VI v6.75 can now allow Operators to Query or Control Nodes or Points. Previously this was only possible when using DATASHED. QTech’s standard modem for this purpose is the CM910 Cellular Modem.
An Operator in the field can Text Queries and receive useful replies from any Node. An example that we will work through is to check a Reservoir Level at a Node called Exposed Values.
For this functionality parts of DATRAN need to be exposed. This is achieved by adding a _xmldata_topic_ node under the nodes you wish to expose. The exposed node is then referred to as being the Topic and the sub nodes are referred to as Items.
Note: It’s best to place the _xmldata_topic_ node as close to the items as possible as if this too far up the tree structure then potentially DATRAN will be looking for thousands of items.
The default syntax for querying is as follows:
Q.{Topic}:{Item} or for further down the hierarchy taking into account the note above Q.{Topic}:{Item1.Item2.Item3}
Therefore by sending an SMS to the DATRAN Modem containing Q.Exposed Values:Reservoir Levels to DATRAN, you would receive a reply saying that Reservoir Levels = 65.
For more information on the new SMS Query and Command feature refer to DATRAN Browser help and Search “Querying DATRAN”.
A useful field guide wallet card has been produced with the command format for your reference below. A sheet of these cards is also downloadable as a pdf. from the support section of our website.
A common application of QTech Wireless products:
Remote Monitoring and Control - Tank and Pump with SMS Control
Perfect for Electricians and their Rural Clients
Send and receive SMS messages for complete control of a digital wireless 900MHz radio control system.
Using a QTech SMS Controller (Quad Band) and a QTech Digital Wireless Point to Point - Low Power system, with good cellular coverage and line of sight between the radio modules (or with the inclusion of a single repeater) you can use your phone to control remote sites that can be separated from each other by up to 2km.
Using directional Yagi antennas with higher gain at the remote sites can increase this distance to up to 4km.
Contact us to discuss your particular circumstances. A straightforward solution may only require:
A QTech SMS Controller (Quad Band) - alarms, status conditions and the ability to control devices (and receive a confirmation SMS) - all from your smart phone
A Digital Wireless Point to Point Low Power Radio System - a pair of 900MHz radios with stub antennas
Additional items to optimise your solution may include:
Remote Solar Station RSS02- Environmentally protected solar power supply for the SMS Controller
Remote Solar Station RSS01 - Environmentally protected solar power supply and integral whip antenna for one Digital Wireless Point to Point Low Power radio module
3dB Whip Antenna - A robust quarter wave omni-directional whip for shorter range applications of all QTech 900MHz products
Plug Pack - 230V AC input - a 13.8V DC output on 2.1mm DC jack
900MHz 6dB 4 Element Yagi Antenna - a high gain antenna with SMA connector, 5m of coax, and pipe clamp
A Wireless Point to Point (WP2P) Repeater Module if your situation is not line of sight.
