PAR Photosynthetically Active Radiation Sensor
Satlantic’s series of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) sensors provide highly accurate measurements of PAR (400 – 700 nm) for a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial applications. From limnologists and oceanographers to plant and crop physiologists, our PAR sensors provide superior data along with high quality construction to stand up even in the harshest conditions.
Digital PAR Sensors Now Available Satlantic has recently added digital data output capability to the line of PAR sensors. This product update allows users to overcome challenges associated with the degradation of analog signals over long cables and to connect the sensor directly to a computer.
Available in both shallow (600 m) and deep water (2000 m) configurations Satlantic’s series of PAR sensors provide the flexibility for measurements in any environment. In addition, sensors are also available with a logarithmic output specifically designed to interface with CTD’s or other devices that require a limited range of signal input.
The ideal spectral response for a PAR sensor is one that gives equal emphasis to all photons between 400 – 700 nm. Satlantic PAR sensors use a high quality filtered silicon photo-diode to provide a near equal spectral response across the entire wavelength range of the measurement.
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Housing Material | Available in Plastic or Titanium |
| Depth Rating | 600 m (plastic) or 2000 m (titanium) |
| Weight (in air) | 0.127 kg (plastic) or 0.643 kg (titanium) |
| Length: | 7.6 cm (plastic) or 8.3 cm (titanium) |
| Width | 3 cm (plastic) or 3.8 cm (titanium) |
ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Input Voltage | 6 – 30 VDC |
| Current Draw | 5 mA (analog) or 14 mA (digital) |
| Analog Output Range | 0 – 5 V (linear or log amp) |
DIGITAL TELEMETRY
| Response Time | 0.1 - 0.5 seconds (light level dependent) |
| Digital Output Resolution | 24-bit ADC data represented in 32-bit offset binary format |
| RS-232 Output Rate | 19200 bps |
| Sample Rate | 0.125 - 4 Hz (or auto) |
OPTICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Calibrated range | 0 – 5000 μmol photons•m -2 •s -1 |
| Calibration accuracy | ± 5% NIST Traceable (in air) |
| Bandpass | 400 –700 nm |
| Cosine Collector | 0 - 60º 3%; 60 – 85º 10% |
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SatView is a real-time interactive data logging and display application for use with Satlantic radiometers. SatView makes it easy to connect to your Satlantic instruments and view time series, spectral plots, and depth profiles while capturing data for subsequent conversion and post-processing.
SatView features include:
- Easy set up and configuration management
- Serial communications direct to instruments
- Real-time graphical display of incoming data
- Ancillary sensor integration
- Custom log file headers
- Surface pressure tare
- Support for profiling, in-situ and towing deployments
Download SatView 2.9.4
SatView 2.9 provides Windows 7 compatibility, improved PAR sensor support, wavelength range settings for spectral views, additional cast card fields for post-processing, and many more. Please refer to the release notes for a detailed list of recent improvements.
SatView-2.9.4-b2-x86.exe for Windows XP/Vista/7 SatCon is a software utility for converting raw binary data, as logged by SatView, into readable ASCII text suitable for import by third party applications such as spreadsheets or databases. Data can be extracted in calibrated physical units or raw binary counts. SatCon can be operated interactively through a user friendly graphical interface, or in batch mode as a background process.
For minimum system requirements, installation instructions, and new features, please refer to the release notes in the SatCon User Manual.
Download SatCon 1.5.5
SatCon-1.5.5-b2-x86.exe for Windows XP/Vista/7 
How do I return my Satlantic instrument for service?
Before returning your Satlantic product to us for service please contact our support team either by calling us or by filling out the Support Contact Form on the left menu of this page. Many times, we can troubleshoot problems remotely and pre-empt the need to send your equipment back to us.
If we determine that you do, indeed, need to return your equipment we will assign you an RMA (Return Materials Authorization) number and provide you with shipping instructions.
What are SIP files?
Files that are delivered with Satlantic and third party equipment to describe the sensors data output and calibration coefficients come in two types. Calibration files or *.cal files and telemetry definition format files or *.tdf files. In some cases, systems are created that network many sensors together and their combined data is provided in one serial output.
The simplest example is a HOCR sensor that generates both light and dark frames. A more complex example is a HPROII profiling system that may contain as many as 5 sensors and 7 individual calibration and tdf files. These files must be used to both collect and process the data.
This can become quite confusing to keep track of all these files so Satlantic developed SIP files. All CAL and TDF files required for a system are zipped using winzip and the extension changed from *.ZIP to *.SIP. The file name includes the system description (usually the network master serial number) and the creation date. This SIP file can then be used in place of individual files to collect and process data.
Bioshutter II
The Bioshutter II is an autonomous underwater shutter attachment designed for use with Satlantic radiometers. The primary purpose of the shutter is to prevent marine bio-fouling of the sensor optics in moored, time-series application. Copper, and copper-based alloys have long been known to have good resistance against bio fouling and have been used in a diverse variety of commercial applications. Scientists working at the University of California Santa Barbara Ocean Physics Lab under the auspices of the National Ocean Partnership Programs' (NOPP) Ocean System of Chemical, Optical, and Physcial Experiments (O-SCOPE) project developed an underwater shutter device for use with instruments such as Satlantic's OCR-500 and HyperOCR series instruments. The Satlantic Bioshutter II device builds upon the success of this instrument by combining an innovative copper shutter and an input power controlled motor drive assembly to ensure robust operation in harsh marine environments.
Photo Credit: Boussole
