QTech has a range of solar powered solutions available. This article provides an overview of the solutions and some example applications to help you understand when and where to use them. We have two versions of a highly customisable solar power solution, the RSS01 and RSS02. Further details available here. We also have dedicated solid…

There are many ways QTech can help with your irrigation control solutions. Whether you use solid set irrigation, centre pivot or other forms of irrigation our controllers can help. Solid Set Irrigation The IPC provides automatic schedule-based sprinkler control for solid set irrigation systems. The Water-Insight IPC is a smart, solar powered solid set sprinkler…

The new DATRAN XL4 Plus RTU Archive Logging & XL4-Connect is now available. If your DATRAN system loses contact with a remote RTU, for hours, days or longer, what happens to the data being logged at that site? Until now, the answer depended on how quickly you could get someone to the site before the…

Shooting range warning flags is another great example of our Wireless Point to Point system saving time and improving safety. A shooting club recently approached up for help with a remote-control warning sign system. All shooting ranges have strict safety requirements that includes warning flags. This shooting club had multiple entry points so it needed…

Use the Analogue I/O version of Wireless Point to Point WP2P system to send the water pressure signal from the end of a centre pivot to the pump VSD controller. Connect a 4-20mA sensor at one end, the analogue WP2P system then transmits the 4-20mA signal to the other end over a low power digital…

When designing your remote monitoring system, it is important to consider what happens to the output signals if the radio link goes down or is interrupted, ie “failsafe”. Failsafe in this context means causing a piece of equipment to revert to a safe condition in the event of a malfunction or breakdown. A good example is effluent…

The low power QDR 900MHz radios are wireless RS232 or RS485 serial cable replacements. QDRs are ideal for transmitting instrumentation signals or concentrating several remote sensors into a central control room. The QDRs can also be used with the DATRAN telemetry system, often as a way of connecting extra I/O modules to the RTU instead…

Wildfires are deadly and destructive – prepare your property now and consider using wildfire protection sprinkler control. Use the QTech SMS Lite to remotely control roof and gutter mounted sprinkler systems.This is of great benefit if a wildfire is getting close to a rural building and the owner is away.The relay outputs of the SMS…

The new look DATRAN XL4 Plus RTU is now available. We are delighted with the outcome of this project which included redesigning the internal printed circuit boards (PCBs) and end panels.It delivers a great quality, look and feel to our DATRAN telemetry range. The DIN rail mounting clip is also improved from the previous version. The…

The analogue I/O Wireless Point to Point WP2P provides a low power radio link from the flow meter and the VSD setpoint control at a PLC. The customer’s existing system uses a central PLC for overall site control. However, a new flow meter and pump with VSD control was added. The application needed to integrate…

A simple but innovative solution for controlling rural water supplies using QTech devices. Our customer needed a low-cost control system at two reservoirs. The system would start/stop the pumps and send out alerts to operators for reservoir low levels or communications fails. The reservoirs are in a rural area of New Zealand with many hills…

DATRAN V6.78 constitutes a significant overhaul of the QTech SCADA software suite; directly addressing the requirements for reporting and monitoring for Drinking Water Standards[1] that came into effect in November 2022. This edition significantly increases the throughput for logging data to SQL server as well as improvements to reliance and fault tolerance over distributed computing…

Every brewer is looking for quality and consistency of their final product. This applies to small scale home brewers, microbreweries and the big players. The 4G SMS Lite has been used by a local brewery to monitor process instrumentation and send SMS alarms should things go wrong. The project used the SMS Lite for the…

Wild deer and feral pigs are an increasing threat to New Zealand’s agricultural industry and unique environment. This article from Farmers Weekly outlines the scale of the problem and the costs for one South Island farmer. The 4G SMS Lite from QTech can be used to send animal trap alerts as text messages when you…

This major DATRAN development is now complete. The project has delivered significant benefits to data logging and security of RTU logged data. DATRAN V6.78 constitutes a significant overhaul of QTech’s SCADA software suite; directly addressing the requirements for reporting and monitoring for Drinking Water Standards that came into effect in November 2022. This edition significantly…

DATRAN Alarms are typically sent via the Datashed SMS Gateway web service or via a dedicated modem attached to the DATRAN Base Station Server operating the DATRAN SMS Direct Service. This application note shows you how to force DATRAN to use the SMS Direct functionality if Datashed is temporarily unavailable.SMS Direct would then deliver alarms via the…

 The 3G cellular networks in New Zealand close soon. This recent update from One NZ confirmed the closure will be 31 December 2025. The 3G closure does not just impact old cell phones. This recent NZ Herald article shows an unfortunate situation for a cellular controlled gate closing system. We encourage you all to complete…

We are often asked if our cellular and radio products can be used for remote pump control. Inevitably the answer is yes, they can. Both the 4G SMS Lite and WP2P are frequently used to remotely start, stop, and monitor pumps. Pump control and pump controllers is a specialist area and there are many different…

The QTech WP2P wireless point to point system is used for a remote traffic sign control system.We were recently involved in a project with AGD Systems, a leading provider of traffic signals and transport systems. The requirement was to provide a traffic control system to operate traffic lights, along a driveway over 150m long. The driveway was…

At QTech, we’re helping change the way industries approach cable control systems. Whether you’re managing an irrigation system at a golf club or controlling starting gates at a greyhound racetrack, our WP2P remote control system provides a seamless, efficient, and reliable alternative to any unreliable underground cables.  Golf Club Auckland: One of our recent success…

To help you make the most of the SMS Lite a YouTube troubleshooting video is now available. We are always looking for ways to make using our products easier to use and these videos and the online help are full of useful tips. Our 4G cellular products have an added extra level of complexity as…

The SMS Controller P2P (Point to Point) mode is an innovative feature that automatically sends the digital and analogue (4-20mA) signals to and from its partner SMS Controller using text messages. The text messages are initiated based on a configurable polling period ranging from every minute to once a week. This allows you to maintain…

This SMS Lite was purchased in early 2014 and is the first generation of the product. Our customer has been using it consistently since then and it has proven to be reliable and worked well. We are truly delighted that our engineering design and robustness of the product has delivered a life span of 10…

The latest QTech YouTube video is for the SMS Lite firmware upgrade. The recent release of SMS Lite v4.10 provided many new features including the USB firmware upgrade ability. The upgrade process uses QTech Workbench our configuration and diagnostic software used on many of our other products. Workbench is free to download and is frequently…

The XL4 Plus RTU firmware upgrade is the latest video on the QTech YouTube channel. This video shows you how to upgrade the firmware of the XL4 Plus and how to check what version you are running via QTech Workbench. The following extract from the FAQ shows what will be covered in the XL4 Plus…

Version 4.10 of our popular SMS Lite is now available. The exciting new features include: • Supports up to eight phone numbers • Configurable alarm escalation time • Notification only option – no need for ACK or BUSY replies • Broadcast mode – send events to all phones • Firmware updates via USB Please contact us now for details or…

The QTech YouTube channel is now live. The YouTube channel now features three playlists grouped by product type. SMS Lite playlist WP2P Wireless Point to Point playlist How to Videos playlist These videos are all short but packed with important info. The videos are ideal for initial product training for new staff and as a…

Aviation obstruction lights, or “aircraft warning lights” are vital warning devices. They help pilots avoid tall obstacles such as cranes, particularly when visibility is reduced or during the night. Tall construction cranes encroaching into controlled airspace is a serious business and strict rules apply. Knowing that the aviation obstruction lights are both running and the power supply is…

Automatic transfer switches (ATS) are part of backup power systems and allow a smooth changeover to generator power when a mains power outage occurs. A local generator supply company contacted us wanting to use our SMS Lite as a notification and remote control override for their existing ATS systems. Many of these systems are installed…

This major development project will deliver massive improvements for users of larger DATRAN SCADA systems. It will provide improved data robustness, more data logging, and increased data throughput. Phase 1 of the DATRAN Data project is a DATRAN VI software upgrade that will be made available to our software maintenance agreement (SMA) holders. Phase 1…

The QTech SMS Lite is used to remotely start and monitor your generator via text messages over the 4G cellular networks. Starting your generator is now as simple as sending a text. We have been involved with a generator remote start project for the popular Kubota GL600D-AU-B genset fitted with the DSE 4520 digital control…

Bird control and bird deterrent systems are important safety consideration for airports and runways. They are also extensively used in agriculture and farming to help prevent birds eating crops and seeds. Our customer wanted to install a remote control option for an acoustic system at an airport runway. We were able to assist with the…

The new DIN rail mount is suitable for all of the SMS Lite and Wireless Point to Point (WP2P) modules. The mounting bracket provides easy DIN rail mounting options in switchboards or control panels. The mounting bracket is made from 2mm mild steel with a powder coated finish and is supplied complete with an aluminium…

LED lighting upgrades for sports fields are becoming more popular. Our low power wireless controllers are ideal for remote control of LED sports field lights. LED lighting has multiple benefits over incandescent lighting, including lower energy consumption (lower power costs) and longer life expectancy. Importantly, many of the modern LED lighting fixtures are modular and…

The Multi Point Controller (MPC) firmware version 2.03 has some great improvements. We have added the ability to configure the behaviour of digital outputs on the MPC under fault conditions such as comms failure. The outputs can now be configured to be turned off (RELEASE) or held in their current state (HOLD) in the event…

A recent investigation demonstrated the flexibility and power of the XL4 Plus RTU comms options. The new rural water scheme is planned for a remote part of NZ. The aim is to add up to ten new telemetry sites over two separate zones. Hydraulically, the water scheme interconnection is relatively straightforward with a maximum of…

The 3G networks are closing soon in New Zealand. One NZ (previously Vodafone NZ) planned to switch them off in 2024. The October 2024 update from One NZ has delayed the closure until 31 December 2025.We appreciate this is not “new news” as some 3G networks have already been switched off overseas.However, this does not…

We were approached to provide a control solution for remote latching solenoids over a distance of 1200m. Latching solenoids are commonly used in the irrigation market as they are very low power. Latching solenoids require a special driver circuit which controls the polarity of the switching signals. Latching solenoid control can easily be achieved with…

Cellular connectivity and internet availability in rural NZ has been challenging for a long time. Black spots, call drop outs and being unable to use mobile technology in every location, has always been a problem. However, the government’s “statement of intent for improving digital connectivity ” has been recently announced by MBIE. Needless to say,…

We have been approached by several DATRAN SCADA users for advice on server replacement and migration projects. QTech has now produced detailed technical resources to assist all system administrators and IT staff looking at performing DATRAN server and SQL database migrations. Importantly, please get in touch with us before starting the project as there are…

Backing gates are slow moving motorised barriers that control dairy herd movement into the milking platform. The motor drive units used are often water powered devices. Using water removes the need for long cable runs and the water also helps with the yard clean up. A recent enquiry needed to add remote valve control to…

Our customer wanted to send reservoir water levels out as a text message every hour. Whilst the reservoir is already part of a DATRAN telemetry system, an additional stand alone system was required. It was to be funded separately and used to notify different users. Local community stake holders need the reservoir level information as…

QTech SMS Controllers perform controller to controller texting, allowing a mini cellular control network to be created. We were approached by a large New Zealand dairy cooperative for a cellular monitoring solution. The recent cyclone had impacted the existing control system – the cellular network being used was damaged and became unavailable. An alternate and…

QTech cellular controllers are used to monitor a client’s cold room. The cold room is used to store high value seed potatoes. Seed potatoes need to be kept cold and dry for long periods each year, to ensure they are ready for next season’s crop. Power outages are becoming more common, so a way to…

The QTech WP2P low power radio system has been chosen for an emergency services traffic light override project. Modern traffic light control systems use a sophisticated electronic controller to help meet the complex requirements of traffic authorities. These traffic light controllers have multiple external inputs to enable special configurations for railway crossings, pedestrian requests, automated…

Monitoring the mains electricity supply, ventilation status and temperature are crucial in large scale pig and poultry facilities. A leading New Zealand electrical wholesaler approached us for help with an animal welfare monitoring project. The QTech SMS Lite is the ideal option for sending alarms via text message if the power, ventilation or temperature monitoring…

QTech’s own building control system has implemented a novel use of DATRANVue. DATRANVue is a cost effective graphical user interface (GUI) using scalable vector graphics. DATRANVue is typically used for graphical operator mimic screens for 3 Waters sites, such as treatment plants or reservoirs. The access control system uses the QTech SAC which is an…

Home security is increasingly important – your house alarm monitoring can now be sent directly to your phone with our SMS based solution. Do you have a house alarm system but it doesn’t provide you with alerts when you are away? Can existing alarm systems be configured to send SMS/text messages? Is there an alternative…

The QTech WP2P wireless point to point system is used for a remote traffic control system.We were recently involved in a project with AGD Systems Pty, a leading provider of traffic signals and transport systems. The requirement was to provide a traffic control system to operate traffic lights, along a driveway over 150m long. The driveway was…

Greyhound racetrack control is another application for our WP2P wireless remote control solution. The existing underground control cable which controls the starting gates was starting to fail. This made starting gate control unreliable. A critical requirement for this customer project was avoiding having to dig up the horse racing track which surrounds the greyhound track.…