12/27/2010 4:10pm MST
Mote power cycling from yesterday did not result in rad mote at river7 functioning.
river7 site was visited to test the sensors/mote and replace the mote if necessary.
Sensors were tested and the mote was found to not be operating. The problem was tentatively identified as a cracked solder on the oscillator for the real-time clock/calendar chip. This results in the 1 second green 'heartbeat' led not lighting. The mote in question is mote 17.
Thus the spare mote: 08 (Channel: B) was connected to the battery/sensors, and turned on, and its LEDs indicated that it was working normally. Mote 8 has been installed, and is locally collecting the data on it's microSD card. It is possible that we can transfer the xbee radio from mote 17 to mote 8, allowing it to communicate with the tower and transmit it's data. But for now, the station radio would have to be reprogramed to receive data from mote 8. Thus it is working in local storage mode only. The transfer of radios may take place tomorrow, and requires disassembly of both motes 17 and 8.
John Militzer has also indicated that he can send a new mote and pre-programed radio from Boulder so that the radiation stand can be communicated with. This is another option.
It has been discussed that the priority is collecting the rad data, and it is not vital that this data be immediately available to project scientists. Though in the interest of ensuring data quality, it makes sense to have the data accessible.