WiFi-500 Sensor Series
Getting Started

Contents
System requirements and recommendations .................................................................2
Installing the software ..................................................................................................2
Setting up the device on the PC ...................................................................................5
Viewing data on the PC ...............................................................................................6
Setting up the device for the Cloud ..............................................................................8
Viewing data on the Cloud ...........................................................................................9
Viewing data on the WiFi-500 Sensor Series display .................................................10
Positioning the device ................................................................................................12
Recharging the sensor ................................................................................................12

System requirements and recommendations

System requirements and recommendations
 PC or laptop with WiFi capability running Windows® 8/7/ Vista®/XP,
32- and 64-bit

 802.11b-compliant router or access point running one of the following
supported security protocols:o WEP 64 bit (Passkey only)
o WEP 128 bit (Passkey only)
o WPA-PSK
o WPA2-PSK
 Micro-USB cable (shipped with sensor)
 Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device
 Adobe Reader 5.0 or later required to read help file Microsoft Excel® 2000 or greater (optional)

Requirements for Cloud storage
A FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account (link available in WiFi-500 Sensor
Series software to create an account).
Cloud accounts are web-based and can be accessed athttps://www.wifisensorcloud.com/ using a browser on a phone, tablet, PC,or Mac®.
Note: Your WiFi-500 Sensor Series device may also require afirmware update in order to access the Cloud. Refer toUpdating firmware in the WiFi-500 Sensor Series User's Guidefor instructions about updating the device firmware.
Clickon the main window to open the user's guide.

Installing the software
Visit www.mccdaq.com/software.aspx to download and install the free
WiFi Sensor Software. Allow any security access highlighted by yourfirewall or antivirus program if you are prompted.

2

Installing the software

Checking the WiFi connection on your computer
Before you connect the WiFi-500 Sensor Series device, make sure that thecomputer running the WiFi Sensor software is connected to the routereither wirelessly or by Ethernet cable, and has an active connection to a
WiFi network.
If your computer has access to more than one network, check which
network it is connected to before setting up the sensor. The device must beconnected to the same WiFi network as the computer.

Starting a Data Logging Session
Complete the following steps to run the WiFi Sensor Software, connect a
WiFi-500 Sensor Series device to a WiFi network, and start a new logging
session on either the PC or on the Cloud:
1. Make sure the host PC is connected to a WiFi network.
2. Click the WiFi Sensor Software icon () on the Start menu to run
the software.
Allow any security access highlighted by your firewall or antivirus
program if you are prompted.
Note: Clickin the main WiFi Sensor Software window to open
the WiFi-500 Sensor Series User's Guide.

3. Choose whether to store data locally on your PC or remotely on theCloud.

Click Set-Up Device»On This PC to set up the device tostore data locally on your PC or local network.

 To create a Cloud account, click.
 To log in to an existing Cloud account, click

Click Set-Up Device»On The Cloud to set up the device
to store data on the Cloud.

3Installing the software

With Cloud data storage, all data is transferred through the internet andstored remotely on secure servers. Data is accessible from anywhere
through a web browser on any internet-enabled device.
4. Remove the rubber plug that protects the USB connector on the bottomof the sensor and connect the sensor to the computer using the MicroUSB cable.

If a NOT CONNECTED message displays, disconnect and thenreconnect the USB cable and the software automatically scans for thedevice again.
A CONNECTED message displays when the software has detected thesensor.
When a FINISHED message displays, the software has detected one ormore WiFi networks.
Note: If the software fails to detect any WiFi networks, click Refresh
Connections to continue searching for WiFi networks. Referto the Tips and Troubleshooting chapter in the WiFi-500 Sensor
Series User's Guide.
Clickon the main window to open the user's guide.

5. Select a network from the list, enter the network password, and click
Next. This must be the same network that is connected to the hostcomputer.
If you need to configure additional network settings such as a static IPaddress, select the Enter Advanced Network Options Nextcheckbox.
Note: Select the Enter Advanced Network Options Next checkbox

if you need to enter additional network information. Enter theIP address, subnet mask, and default gateway to configure thedevice. To lock the device so that it only connects to one
wireless access point, select the Lock this Device to an
Access Point option and enter the MAC address of the accesspoint.

4

Setting up the device on the PC

When a CONNECTED message displays, the sensor has connected to theselected WiFi network.
The device configuration instructions differ depending on whether you arestoring data on the PC (Setting up the Sensor on the PC below) or on thecloud (Setting Up the Sensor for the Cloud on page 8).

Setting up the device on the PC
Complete the following steps to set up a WiFi-500 Sensor Series device tostore data on a PC:
1. Configure the device name logging settings on the GENERALSETTINGS dialog box and click Next.
2. Configure the TEMPERATURE ALARMS settings.

If you are setting up a device that supports thermocouple probes, selectyour probe type.
Refer to the label attached to the probe cable for the probe number.
Selecting an incorrect probe type can cause inaccurate measurements.
Figure 1: Probe type label
3. Click Next.
4. If your WiFi-500 Sensor Series device measures humidity, configure
the HUMIDITY ALARMS settings and click Next.
5. Disconnect the USB cable from the device and click Next in theSet-Up Complete dialog box.
6. Click Finish and place the device in the location you want to monitor(refer to Positioning the device on page 12)5Viewing data on the PCViewing data on the PC
To view data for a specific logging session on the PC, complete thefollowing steps:
1. Click View Devices»On The PC in the main window.
2. To turn off the audible alarm, click Mute Alarm at the bottom of theExisting devices dialog box.
3. Select your WiFi-500 Sensor Series device and click View Data at thebottom of the Existing devices dialog box.
Note: Refer to Configuring a device wirelessly from the PC in theWiFi-500 Sensor Series User's Guide for more information on
the Existing devices dialog box.
Clickon the main window to open the user's guide.

By default, all logging sessions for the current month are listed on thedialog box. You can change the date range by moving the date sliders.
4. Click on the logging session you want to view.

Figure 2: Selecting a logging session

6Viewing data on the PC

5. A graph displays with checkboxes to show temperature readings,relative humidity readings, temperature alarm readings, relative
humidity alarm readings, and calculated dew point values.

Figure 3: WiFi-500 sensor View Data graph (temperature/humidity)
6. To export data to a .csv or .pdf, the graph to a .jpg or .pdf, orboth the data and graph to an Excel® spreadsheet, click Export andselect the file format.
The exported file opens automatically. An example of data and a graphexported to Excel is shown in Figure 4.

7

Setting up the device for the Cloud

Figure 4: WiFi-500 Data/Graph Excel example

Setting up the device for the Cloud
The first time you set up a WiFi-500 Sensor Series device on the Cloud,the only setting you can change is the device name. All others settings are
kept at their current values.
1. Enter WiFi Sensor as the device name and then click Next.

2. Disconnect the USB cable from the sensor and click Next in theSet-Up Complete dialog box.
3. Place the sensor in the location you want to monitor (refer toPositioning the device on page 12)

Once a WiFi-500 Sensor Series device is set up for the Cloud, you canchange its configuration from the Cloud.
Cloud configuration includes setting up email alerts to notify you of dataand device events. This feature is only available from the Cloud.
Note: Refer to Changing device logging settings from the Cloud in theWiFi-500 Sensor Series User's Guide. Clickwindow to open the user's guide.
8on the mainViewing data on the CloudViewing data on the CloudTo view data for a specific logging session on the Cloud, complete thefollowing steps:
1. Click View Devices»On The Cloud in the main window.

Each device listing represents an individual logging session for thatdevice.
Note: If you have a Professional-level account, you may need to clickon NEW DEVICES in the Device Locations pane to view
your device.

Figure 5: Device Location pane
Note: Refer to www.wifisensorcloud.com/accountdifferences.aspx for

a comparison of Free, Personal, and Professional Cloud accountfeatures.

2. Select the logging session you want to view and then click View Data

at the bottom of the page.

3. A graph displays on the Sensor Session Data page plotting

temperature and relative humidity readings (if supported by the device).

4. To export an image of the graph to a .pdf file for immediate display,click Export. (not available with Free Cloud accounts ).

The file automatically opens in the browser, showing an image of thegraph.

9Viewing data on the WiFi-500 Sensor Series display

Viewing data on the WiFi-500 Sensor Series display
You can also view basic data on the display of a WiFi-500 Sensor Seriesdevice.

Figure 6: WiFi-500 sensor components

123
4

Temperature reading
Humidity reading(if supported by device)
Screen cycle button (refer toFigure 7)
Temperature unit

105
6

Battery charge indicator
Min/Max value indicator

7

Alarm indicator

8Signal strength indicatorViewing data on the WiFi-500 Sensor Series display

Press the screen cycle button to cycle through the different sensor
displays.
Figure 7: WiFi-500 sensor display cycle

11Positioning the device

Positioning the device
Avoid placing a device near sources of heat and radio emission. Physicalobstructions between the router and sensor can affect the range of thesensor. You can use WiFi extenders to improve the range of the device.
The sensor signal strength displays on the sensor screen as a number
between 1 (weak signal) and 10 (strong signal).
The WiFi signal indicator ( ) has three states:

 Not displayed – the sensor has not yet been set-up and configured to a
WiFi network

 Flashing – not communicating with the software Solid – successful communication with the software

Recharging the sensor
Each WiFi-500 Sensor Series device is shipped partly charged withenough power for the initial set up and use of the device.
For optimum performance, charge the device for 24 hours before regularuse.
The battery life depends on the regularity of sensor transmissions. The
battery charge indicator displays the battery charge status.
Battery Charge Indicator

Battery Charge Status(not displayed)

Battery charge sufficient
Battery charge low – recharge byconnecting sensor to a computer
using the Micro-USB cable provided
Battery recharging

If you have a critical process or do not wish to recharge sensors, you cankeep them plugged in to a USB charger continuously.
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QS WiFi-500-Sensor-Series.docx Rev4