How To Add Sensors After Your Gateway is Already Checking Into iMonnit

You might add new or other sensors after setting up a sensor network with an ALTA or ALTA XL Gateway. For example, you may want to add:

New, recently purchased sensors
Sensors you received after the repair
NIST-certified or recalibrated sensors
Already powered-on sensors that are now outside the standard order of operations for sensor setup

Sensor Setup Order of Operations

Order of operations is essential in the Monnit System to have your sensors report data promptly. If you don't follow the order of operations, you may wait for iMonnit to display sensor data.

This is especially key when adding sensors to iMonnit after your gateway has already been set up and is checking into iMonnit. Or if you have already inserted the batteries into your sensors before adding them to iMonnit. This article will provide details about these scenarios.

Standard Order of Operations

When adding sensors to a network in iMonnit, the following sequence will display data promptly. We suggest this order of operations when adding devices to a sensor network.

Add the gateway.
Add the sensor.
Power the gateway on, and confirm you see it communicating in iMonnit.
Power the sensor on (insert batteries or use a switch if so equipped).
Press and immediately release the button on the gateway (or wait for the gateway’s subsequent check-in).

When setting up sensors with the preceding order of operations, your sensors report data in a timely fashion.

Upon sensor setup in iMonnit, your sensor checks in several times 30 seconds apart. This is part of the self-test. It doesn't generally mean your sensor has a 30-second Heartbeat; instead, it conducts a self-test and handshake with the gateway.

After the sensor checks in several times (four to 10 times 30 seconds apart, depending on the version), it will return to its normal Heartbeat (2 hours by default).

The Drawback of Deviating from the Standard Order of Operations

If you have set up your sensor network with a different order of operations, no damage can be done. However, you may need to wait until the gateway downloads its Sensor List, the sensor is authorized to communicate, and it attempts to join the gateway.

Therefore, it may be 12 hours before you see the sensor reporting data to the gateway. See the article regarding Sensor Lists and Link Mode for details on factors in this timeline.

If you have already set up outside of the standard and have access to your sensors:

As discussed in this article regarding Sensor Lists, pressing and immediately releasing the button of a gateway (if equipped) will initiate an immediate check-in, during which the gateway will download all the sensor IDs from the Monnit server. This is critical for authorizing your sensors to communicate with the gateway.

Confirm all sensors are added to the sensor network.
Power your sensors off.
Press and immediately release the Utility button on the gateway to download the Sensor List and authorize the sensors you added to communicate with your gateway.
Power your sensors on.
Press and immediately release the Utility button on the gateway to transmit any queued transmissions to iMonnit immediately.

You should see sensor data displayed in iMonnit. If you don't, allow one hour to pass before attempting the above steps again.

If you have already set up outside of the standard and don't have access to your sensors:

If you don't have access to your sensors, you can still perform steps to get your devices checking in (though you may need to be patient for the sensors to attempt to connect to the gateway); see the steps below.

Reform the gateway’s network (the reform will be processed upon the gateway’s subsequent check-in).
Wait for the gateway to check in.
Watch for a series of Gateway Management messages under the gateway’s history.
The sensors should attempt to connect, and you should see sensor data as per Link Mode operation.

Conclusion

Adding sensors after you have already powered them up can be instinctive but can affect the rate at which data is reported. This article should help you get data from your sensors even if the steps you took to set up were out of the regular order. If you need additional guidance, please contact support@monnit.com.