How do I know if the base station is working?

How do I know if the base station is working?

Step 1: Check the Status Light.

Open the electronics box & check to see if the status light (outlined in 
red below) is flashing green. If it is flashing green, your base station is working.





Step 2: Check your Cheat Sheet (if you have one).

If you purchased your base station in 2019 or later, your base station should have a 'cheat sheet' inside the lid of the electronics box, as shown below:
Base Station Lighting Scheme
'Good
Your base station is working correctly.

'Radio Disconnected
Check your radio module (we call it the Mercury Module) to make sure it's properly connected (see picture below).
Mercury Module on the Cellular Base Station
'No Cell Connection' or 'Message Failed to Send' 

The base station may have had an issue connecting to the cell network or it might have had trouble sending a message. Press the reset button to try again (shown below, outlined in 
light blue). 
Reset Button on Cellular Base Station
Low Battery

If it's been really cloudy or rainy and the base station isn't able to receive adequate sunlight to recharge its solar panel, it will go into 'power save mode' to preserve its battery life. You can either:
  1. Wait for the next sunny day and the base station will come back online on its own after charging the solar panel, or
  1. Use a Micro-USB cable to charge the base station with your computer, truck, etc.
If you choose to second option, you'll need to plug in the Micro-USB cable in the upper left corner of the circuit board (shown below, outlined in light green): 
Micro-USB Port on Cellular Base Station

Step 3: Check the Indicator Lights

If you have just turned your base station on, you will see red and green LED indicators on the left side of the circuit board as it connects to the network (outlined in yellow in the picture below). 

Indicator Lights on Cellular Base Station

The red light will flash progressively faster as it searches for & finds a network to use. Both the green light & red light will turn off once the base station connects to the network. Then, if the status light (shown in red above) starts flashing green, your base station is working.

    • Related Articles

    • What is the maximum range of the sensor station to the base station?

      Our sensor stations can transmit to a base station that is 1 to 2 miles away.  Line-of-sight (rather than range) to the central base station is the most important factor to consider when choosing where to install your sensor stations.
    • How many sensor stations can transmit information to a single base station?

      There is no limit on the number of sensors that can transmit data back to a single base station. One of our customers had 50 sensors that communicated to one base station!
    • Do I need to purchase a SIM card for my base station?

      We have good news: ​ No, because the SIM card is included with your base station purchase! Similarly, you do not need to pay for a separate data plan; it's included in your Dashboard subscription.
    • What should I do if my sensor station is 'offline'?

      Step 1: Reset the sensor station. Reset the sensor station. Check the lights on the sensor station circuit board (see this article for more information). If the sensor station is having trouble communicating with the base station, reset the base ...
    • Why is my rain gauge not working?

      If you believe your rain gauge is not working properly, there are two things you should check: 1. Is your debris filter clogged? 2. Is the rain gauge level? ​ 1. Is your debris filter clogged? See the picture of the rain gauge debris filter below.  ...