Installing the Ear Tag Base
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The Ear Tag Base receives messages from the ear tag sensors via the mesh network and passes them on to the app. It comes with a 4G modem that provides its Internet connection: installing it only requires an electrical socket.
This article contains the following sections:
- The role of the Ear Tag Base
- Equipment supplied
- Who carries out the installation?
- Connecting the Ear Tag Base
- Choosing the location of the Ear Tag Base and the 4G modem
The role of the Ear Tag Base:
| Device | Role |
|---|---|
| Ear Tag Base | Receives messages from the mesh network and passes them on to the app. |
| Anchor | Relays messages between the ear tags and the Ear Tag Base. The anchors are also used to locate the animals in the building. |
| Ear tag sensor | Sends its measurements to the mesh network, with a range of about 100 m. |
Collars, Vigivel sensors and environment sensors use another base, the Collar Base.
Equipment supplied:
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Ear Tag Base | Receives messages from the ear tags and passes them on to the app. |
| 4G modem | Provides the base's Internet connection and powers it via the network cable. |
| SIM card | Included in the 4G modem. |
| PoE injector | Plugs into the electrical socket and powers the 4G modem via the network cable. It has 2 ports (LAN and PoE) and 2 indicator lights (POWER and ACTIVE). |
| Power cable | Connects the PoE injector to the electrical socket. |
| 50 cm UV-resistant network cable | Connects the 4G modem to the base. |
| Carrying case | For storing and transporting the equipment. |
- 1 Ear Tag Base
- 2 4G modem
- 3 PoE injector
- 4 Power cable
- 5 50 cm network cable
Not supplied: the network cable connecting the PoE injector to the 4G modem. Its length depends on your installation. Preferably use a shielded, UV-resistant network cable. Also provide a waterproof box for the PoE injector, for example an electrical junction box.
Who carries out the installation?
The Ear Tag Base is usually installed by your distributor. Depending on how your distributor works, or if you bought the equipment directly, you may need to install it yourself.
Connecting the Ear Tag Base:
The 4G modem provides the Internet connection and passes power to the base via the network cable. A single electrical socket is enough for the whole setup.
To connect the Ear Tag Base:
- Install the PoE injector in a waterproof box, for example an electrical junction box. The PoE injector is not waterproof.
- Connect the back of the PoE injector to an electrical socket using the power cable.
- Connect the PoE port of the PoE injector to the ETH PoE IN port of the 4G modem using a network cable. This cable is not supplied: choose its length according to the distance between the electrical socket and the 4G modem.
- Connect the ETH PoE OUT port of the 4G modem to the network port of the Ear Tag Base using the 50 cm network cable supplied.
- Put the 4G modem's waterproof cover back in place: it protects the SIM card and the connectors.
We strongly recommend installing a surge-protected socket between the electrical socket and the PoE injector.
Do not swap the 4G modem's ports: the cable from the PoE injector plugs into the ETH PoE INport, and the cable to the base comes out of the ETH PoE OUTport. These markings are visible on the modem.
- 1 ETH PoE IN port, connected to the PoE injector
- 2 ETH PoE OUT port, connected to the Ear Tag Base
- 3 SIM card slot
- 1 Electrical socket
- 2 Power cable: from the electrical socket to the back of the PoE injector
- 3 PoE injector
- 4 Network cable (with an RJ45 plug at each end): from the injector's «PoE» port to the modem's «ETH PoE IN» port
- 5 4G modem
- 6 50 cm network cable: from the modem's «ETH PoE OUT» port to the Base's network port
- 7 Ear Tag Base
Once the base is connected, its status is displayed in the app: Base connected or Base disconnected.
Choosing the location of the Ear Tag Base and the 4G modem:
- Install the base inside the building, usually outside the area in which the animals are located.
- Install the base and the 4G modem at about head height, out of reach of the animals.
- The 4G modem is IP55 certified: it does not need a protective housing.
- Do not install the base or the 4G modem right next to existing wireless equipment, to avoid interference: vacuum or scraper robot, feed-pushing robot or autonomous animal feeding system.
- Place the base within 25 m of at least 2 anchors : these anchors provide the link between the mesh network and the base.
- After fitting, save the position of the base in the app, from Settings > Layout.
- 1 4G modem
- 2 Ear Tag Base
- 3 Network cable between the 4G modem and the base, longer here than the 50 cm cable supplied
- 4 Network cable from the PoE injector
After installing the base and the anchors, run a network audit from Settings > Network audit to check their layout.