Introduction and Overview

In this document you will find how to:

• assemble SensorGnome hardware

• install the SensorGnome V2 software

• connect to a running SensorGnome and perform maintenance tasks

• troubleshoot when things don't work

• Avoid getting frustrated: if it doesn't work, double-check, try again, perhaps try an alternative, but then ask for help! Don't waste hours of time.

• If you can, connect your SensorGnome to the internet and leave it running & connected: most of time the best troubleshooting happens using the log files it uploads.

• To get help:

A SensorGnome is an automated radio receiver, designed to detect and record radio signals transmitted by wildlife tracking tags, without the need for any person to be present.

At its core, a SensorGnome is powered by a Raspberry Pi (RPi). The RPi runs the software that listens for and records the radio data picked up by the antennas. In addition to the RPi, a SensorGnome will have one or more USB dongles -- "software-defined radios" -- that take the raw radio signals from the antennas and convert it into a digital form that can be recognized and recorded by the RPi. Finally, the SensorGnome will include a GPS and power supply, all of which is typically housed in a heavy-duty plastic case.

This guide is divided into three sections:

• Setup and operation: Initial software installation, configuration, data downloading, etc

• Hardware components: misc information about radios, USB, HATs, how to assemble an SG

• Appendix with additional information, resources, and troubleshooting tips

1. Install the software and configure the SensorGnome password

2. Connect to your SensorGnome

   1. verify GPS and time source

   2. Configure radios and their ports, verify operation using test tags.