Wiki source code of ANU Seismic Data Loggers

Last modified by robert on 2025/08/08 16:09

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robert 38.1 9 ANU has designed and built three generations of seismic data recorders, two of which (the small yellow TerraSAWR and the larger beige LPR-200) are still in use today. Despite their contrasting appearance, they both use the same software, data cards, and have the same instrument response.
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robert 46.2 13 = Power Considerations =
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robert 47.1 15 Both the LPR-200 (or "Low Power Recorder" 200) and TerraSAWR are designed to use as little power as possible, and more or less use the same amount of power.
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santi 54.1 17 At 100 Hz and with a GPS cable connected these loggers draw about 220 mW of power once the screen is off (higher sample rates draw more power but only marginally, < 5 mW). Adding a sensor (e.g. a Trillium Compact 120) increases this to approximately 400 mW, or 0.4 volt-amps. So, in theory 7 Ah battery should last about 10 days without a solar panel, but in practice it seems to be a bit closer to 8 which may be due to variability in power drain while in getting GPS locks.
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santi 54.1 19 For very sunny environments (latitudes < 30) a 20 Volts 10 Watt solar panel should have no issue keeping these loggers alive over the summer months, and assuming unobstructed skies should also be fine over winter. However there is no harm in using 20 or even a 40 Watt panel, especially for high latitudes, coastal regions, or areas without a full sky view. In theory up to a 60 Watt solar panel is fine, but we don't recommend anything over 40 Watts and that amount of power is already overkill.
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23 Power issues are easy and cheap to solve relative to the cost of your experiment, don't skimp!
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santi 54.1 27 In the case of an LPR, there is a large compartment for housing an internal battery, able to accommodate anything from a 10-30Ah battery. To use a standard lead acid battery with a positive and negative terminal, a 6 pin adaptor must be used. This ensures the voltage from the external power port (pins A and C) connect to the battery and ensure the system actually recharges. (See [[Peripheral Equipment>>doc:Instrumentation.Peripheral Equipment.WebHome]] for a more comprehensive overview of this kind of setup)
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robert 15.1 29 = Data Card Formatting and Information =
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robert 42.1 31 Both the TerraSAWR and LPR-200 require SD Cards to be formatted in FAT32 filesystem. For 64Gb cards it can be difficult to format in FAT32, but [[software >>http://auspass.edu.au/field/fat32cardformatter.exe]]is available. ANU recommend SanDisk Extreme 150 mb/s cards in either 32 or 64Gb size. We strongly discourage using cards larger than 64Gb, and in general smaller cards are less likely to fail. We have also found that "adapter" cards (e.g. SD to microSD) are prone to having write issues and **strongly** advise against them.
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robert 42.1 33 The loggers can be "pre-programmed" with information (e.g. site name, sampling rate, etc) or they can be programmed in the field using the buttons on the logger. To pre-program the cards you simply edit a text file (named "[[ANUSRSetup.txt>>http://auspass.edu.au/field/ANUSRSetup.txt]]" for the LPRs, or "[[tSAWRSetup.txt>>http://auspass.edu.au/field/tSAWRSetup.txt]]" for the TerraSAWRs) and place it in the root directory on the SDCard. When the logger boots up, it will parse and load this information.
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robert 48.1 35 == The format for ANUSRSetup.txt / LPR200s will be a single line of text that looks like this: ==
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robert 25.1 37 {{{XXX195G0100010034864 2 }}}
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robert 46.2 39 //corresponding to//
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robert 46.2 41 site **XXX19**,
42 network **5G**,
43 sample rate **0100**, (i.e. 100 Hz)
44 "gps interval" **01** (once per hour~-~- don't change),
45 start mode (always **0**),
46 stop mode (always **0**),
47 seismometer type (**3** = broadband (+/- 20V), 2 = Guralp (+/- 10V), 1 = shortperiod (+/- 5V),
48 and seismometer serial number (**4864**).
49
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Jack Dent 31.3 52 NOTE: the 2 at the very end is for "RECORD ON RESTART". The record on restart option ensures that if the logger dies and is powered back up whilst in the field (due to battery charging cycles or other causes) that the recording will resume. (# of blank spaces before this doesn't matter)
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robert 48.1 55 == The format for TSAWR loggers is shorter: ==
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59 **NOTE: The format is shorter as they don't have an option to set the "GPS sync". The GPS sync number should be omitted otherwise the formatting will not work!**
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Jack Dent 31.2 62 SITE15G02500039999 2
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Jack Dent 33.1 64 corresponding to site SITE1, 
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66 network 5G
Jack Dent 29.1 67 sample rate 0250, (i.e. 250 Hz)
68 start mode (always 0),
69 stop mode (always 0),
Jack Dent 31.2 70 seismometer type (3 = broadband (+/- 20V), 2 = Guralp (+/- 10V), 1 = shortperiod (+/- 5V),
Jack Dent 29.1 71 and seismometer serial number (9999).
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robert 48.1 74 == The formatting process using the logger: ==
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Jack Dent 30.1 76 The process for formatting an SD card within the logger is straightforward. Navigate to the "SD INFORMATION" screen and press ERASE SD CARD. This process may take up to a minute. This will result in erasing all files from the card. Upon starting recording, a new 'seed' will be written containing all the information that the logger has been set with FINISH THIS SECTION
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robert 42.1 78 [[image:original_0747763c-e3dd-4667-b897-833f12c8e0b8_20241219_130604.jpg||height="240" width="298"]]
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robert 24.1 80 Here is a general guideline for how much data you can expect to fit on a card:
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82 {{{ 64Gb card: 245 days @ 250hz or 610 days @ 100hz
Jack Dent 31.1 83 32Gb card: 122 days @ 250hz or 305 days @ 100hz
84 }}}
robert 24.1 85
robert 46.2 86 == Default Settings ==
robert 24.1 87
robert 46.2 88 As of 2025, the default settings for both LPR (v. 2.7) and TSWAR (v 3.6a) loggers are below. If you're using a broadband instrument, you are essentially good to go without having to program the cards.
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90 * XX.ANUSR network and station name
91 * 100 Hz Sample Rate
santi 54.1 92 * 40 Vpp (or +/- 20 V) gain / Trillium Compact seismometer version
robert 46.2 93 * Record on Restart enabled
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95 Note that if a user sets the gain incorrectly, this can be fixed later (assuming nothing clipped) by multiplying or dividing by factors of 2. The gain setting can be looked up from the logfile, else you may have to guess from a PSD or other method.
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Jack Dent 31.1 97 = Logger Menus Overview (and setup) =
robert 24.1 98
Jack Dent 36.1 99 The same menus are used in both the TSAWR and LPR-200 loggers.
Jack Dent 31.4 100
Jack Dent 31.1 101 == System Information ==
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103 This menu provides an overview of the status of the station. Under 'Initialisation Parameters', the status of systems that are initialised upon powering on the logger can be checked.
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105 This menu also displays the firmware version, battery, external, and solar voltages, and the temperature of the system.
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robert 59.2 107 * Check that all //Initialisation Parameters// are marked as successful.
108 * Check that solar voltage is above 10 V in the software, or preferrably physically check that the battery's voltage is increasing via a DMM.
Jack Dent 31.1 109
110 == Live Seismometer Data ==
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112 This screen displays real time seismometer data for all 3 axes of the seismometer. Initially, a plot of raw data from all 3 channels is shown. By pressing enter, a high pass filter can be applied showing a more useful plot of all channels. The up and down arrows can be used to change between a view of all channels, individual channels, and all channels on different X axes.
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robert 44.1 114 * Check that all 3 channels are present and are producing a signal.
115 * Stomp on the ground near where the sensor is installed to check that a signal is being picked up by all 3 channels.
116 * Common representations of poor signals include channels sloping smoothly from high values to zero, or sharp corners in the plots.
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Jack Dent 33.1 118 == GPS Data ==
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120 This menu displays the status of the stations' GPS connection. The screen lists; UTC time, UTC date, latitude, longitude, altitude, number of satellite connections, and SNR.
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robert 59.2 122 * Check that the station is connected to satellites. 3 or more should be perfectly adequate to keep time.
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124 == SD Information ==
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126 The menu lists if the SD card has been initialised, as well as the capacity and space free on the memory card. See "Data card formatting" (above) to see how to format and initialise the inserted SD card.
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Jack Dent 31.2 128 == System Configuration ==
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130 This menu is used to set the stations identifiers and parameters.
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132 First, the sampling rate can be chosen from a set of options (1 Hz, 10 Hz, 25 Hz, 40 Hz, 50 Hz, 100 Hz, 250 Hz, 1000 Hz).
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134 Next, the station identifier (up to 5 characters) and the network code (2 characters) can be set.
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136 Record start and stop mode should be left to 'On Request' mode.
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138 The seismometer model and serial number (up to 10 characters) can be set. Seismometer model options include:
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santi 54.1 140 * Trillium Compact (same for 20s and 120s models)
robert 43.1 141 * CMG - 3ESP
142 * Guralp 40T
143 * LE-3D Lite
144 * Mark L4C
145 * Mark L4
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147 Additionally, the following settings can be used in place of the seismometer model types: +/- 20V, +/- 10V, +/- 5V
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Jack Dent 31.3 149 The record on restart option ensures that if the logger dies and is powered back up whilst in the field (due to battery charging cycles or other causes) that the recording will resume.
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robert 43.1 151 * Set the sampling rate, station identifier, and network code. Set the appropriate seismometer type. Most importantly, ensure the record on restart setting is checked.
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robert 60.1 155 Again, ensure the 'RECORD ON RESTART' option is marked with a cross (the default setting). This ensures that the logger will record any time it receives enough power!
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robert 42.1 159 [[image:original_2b83fcf5-ee5a-4375-bab1-2d738e4ffe8c_20241219_130646.jpg||height="234" width="289"]]
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Jack Dent 31.3 161 == STA/LTA Configuration ==
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robert 43.1 163 The Short Term Average and Long Term Average Configuration screen.. this is a relic for when people weren't recording continuously. Not advised!
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robert 27.2 165 = LogFile Conversion Script =
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robert 42.1 167 Both the TSAWR and LPR-200 write logging information as a binary "dat" file which includes GPS time syncs, temperatures, battery power, and position. To convert them into ASCII you can read, use [[THIS PYTHON SCRIPT>>http://auspass.edu.au/field/anusr_log.py]].
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robert 28.1 169 = Instrument Response =
robert 27.2 170
robert 60.2 171 Both the TerraSAWR and LPR-200 use the same ADS1281 analog-to-digital converter chip and are designed to have identical instrument response. The ADC (analog to digital) chip in both loggers originally samples at 1024000 Hz and downsamples towards the output data rate via a 5th order SINC filter, then another four FIR filters. If the output is below 250 Hz, a final "pure" /5 decimation is done without any sort of FIR filter (for better or worse!).
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robert 62.1 173 In the logger's menu, the user can choose to apply a 2nd stage "sensor gain" by selecting an instrument type in the setup menu. This effectively selects a 10 Vpp (e.g. short period sensors), 20 Vpp, 40 Vpp (most broadband sensors) regime to match the sensor's sensitivity. This has the effect of doubling amplitude from 10v to 20v, or quadrupling from 10v to 40v. If you have set your sensor correctly (and the signal isn't clipped!) you can "correct" this by simply multiplying your data by 0.5 etc. This gain manifests itself in stage 2 in the response information.
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robert 60.2 175 //(The 600+ Stage 3 SINC coefficients during the initial 1024k > 16k decimation were left off as they slowed down the process x10 and contribute at most 0.3 db amplitude and 0.31 ms phase delay discrepancies, and primarily only to frequencies near the nyquist. If for some reason you want to add this phase manually we can share the parameters with you.)//
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robert 62.1 177 You might notice that the response information may come in two versions. The response from our website (see link below) includes the 2nd "sensor gain" stage for clarity. e.g. here is a Trillium Compact 120 & ANU Logger response
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179 ##Channel Response
180 From M/S (Velocity) to COUNTS ()
181 Overall Sensitivity: 3.95452e+08 defined at 1.000 Hz
182 8 stages:
183 Stage 1: PolesZerosResponseStage from M/S to V, gain: 754.3
184 Stage 2: ResponseStage from V to V, gain: 0.25
185 Stage 3: CoefficientsTypeResponseStage from V to COUNTS, gain: 2.09715e+06
186 Stage 4: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 1
187 Stage 5: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 1
188 Stage 6: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 0.99998
robert 63.1 189 Stage 7: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 1##
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robert 64.1 192 However, if retrieving from AusPass or IRIS, the 2nd "sensor gain" stage is combined with the logger gain. This has no affect, but you may detect that the former Stage 2 V->V ResponseStage has been merged into the Stage 3 gain.
robert 62.1 193
194 ##Channel Response
195 From M/S (Velocity) to COUNTS ()
196 Overall Sensitivity: 3.9546e+08 defined at 1.000 Hz
197 6 stages:
198 Stage 1: PolesZerosResponseStage from M/S to V, gain: 754.3
199 Stage 2: CoefficientsTypeResponseStage from V to COUNTS, gain: 524288
200 Stage 3: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 1
201 Stage 4: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 1
202 Stage 5: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 0.99998
203 Stage 6: FIRResponseStage from COUNTS to COUNTS, gain: 1##
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robert 60.2 206 For the most part, the data logger response essentially flat when the samplerate output is set to 100 Hz or less and for seismological purposes is likely to be impossible to detect below 20 Hz regardless.
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robert 48.1 208 Instrument response can be downloaded from IRIS [[Nominal Response Library>>https://ds.iris.edu/ds/nrl/]] if need be, or [[directly from us>>http://auspass.edu.au/data/logger_response]] , or by downloading the response of an equivalent sensor at AusPass (e.g. get_stations(level='response') ).
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robert 59.1 211 [[Amplitude and phase response for ANU logger at 50 Hz>>image:ANU_50hz_response.png||data-xwiki-image-style-alignment="center" height="356" width="475"]]
robert 56.1 212
robert 59.1 213 [[Amplitude and phase response for ANU logger at 100 Hz>>image:ANU_100hz_response.png||data-xwiki-image-style-alignment="center" height="355" width="473"]]
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robert 59.1 215 [[Amplitude and phase response for ANU logger at 250 Hz>>image:ANU_250hz_response.png||data-xwiki-image-style-alignment="center" height="359" width="479"]]
robert 56.1 216
robert 59.1 217 [[Amplitude and phase response for ANU logger at 1000 Hz>>image:ANU_1000hz_response.png||data-xwiki-image-style-alignment="center" height="367" width="489"]]
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robert 60.2 220 [[Huddle test comparing a Trillium Compact 120 + TerraSAWR vs a Trillium Compact 120 + Nanometrics Centaur (M8.AUANU) at 100 Hz>>image:TC120_ANU_vs_CENTAUR.png||data-xwiki-image-style-alignment="center"]]
robert 28.1 221
robert 55.1 222 = ANU TerraSAWR (Gen 3, FW 3.5a, 2014- current) =
robert 28.1 223
robert 55.1 224 Earliest known model is dated July 2014 (though first deployed in 2019) and our current flagship model. Lightweight and small.
robert 1.1 225
robert 55.1 226 = ANU LPR-200 (Gen 2, FW 2.6a/2.7a, 2011 - current) =
robert 1.1 227
robert 55.1 228 Earliest known model is dated May 2011 (but first deployed November 2012) and still in use today. Potentially capable of housing much larger batteries than the TSAWR due to the larger cavity space.
robert 1.1 229
robert 46.2 230 = ANU "ANUSR" (Gen 1, 2003? - 2012) =
robert 1.1 231
robert 46.2 232 This logger has been retired for a long time and has a different instrument response. It used modular component boards and was powered via an acrylic case of 6 x 6V lantern batteries. There is a somewhat complete one above the CAT lab door if anyone is so inclined to have a look.
robert 1.1 233
234
235 = References =
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robert 42.1 237 * [[PDF Manual>>http://auspass.edu.au/field/LPR-200_Instruction_Manual.pdf]]
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robert 6.1 244 **Contents**
robert 1.1 245
robert 42.1 246 {{toc/}}
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robert 7.1 272 = TerraSAWR Specs =
robert 6.1 273
robert 1.1 274
robert 42.1 275 [[image:Terrasawr 1.jpg]]
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robert 42.1 277 [[image:1704865206800-824.jpg]]
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robert 42.1 279 [[image:1704864886951-793.jpg]]
Jack Dent 9.1 280
robert 11.1 281 |=Size (L x W x H)|30 x 25 x12cm
robert 45.1 282 |=Weight (with battery)| 1.9kg (2.5kg)
robert 14.1 283 |=Battery|(((
robert 46.2 284 Lead-acid 12v, ~~7-9Ah
robert 2.2 285
286 Rechargeable
robert 1.1 287 )))
robert 46.2 288 |=Current Firmware|3.5a (Jan 2025)
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robert 42.1 290 [[image:terrasawr battery.jpg]]
robert 2.2 291 )))
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robert 1.1 294 (% class="box" %)
295 (((
robert 7.1 296 = LPR-200 Specs =
robert 3.1 297
robert 42.1 298 [[image:LPR 1.jpg]]
robert 3.1 299
robert 42.1 300 [[image:LPR 2.jpg]]
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robert 42.1 302 [[image:LPR 3.jpg]]
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robert 11.1 304 |=Size (L x W x H)|42 x 34 x17 cm
robert 45.1 305 |=Weight (no battery)|5.5 kg
robert 14.1 306 |=Battery|(((
robert 46.1 307 NOW: Any 12v battery with tab connections that will fit (ex. the same TSAWR battery)
robert 3.1 308
robert 46.2 309 DISCONTINUED: LiFePo4 140Ah Rechargeable (shown below).
robert 3.1 310 )))
robert 46.2 311 |=Current Firmware|(((
312 2.6a (old GPS modules) / 2.7a
Jack Dent 16.1 313
robert 46.2 314 Jan 2025
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robert 42.1 317 [[image:LPR battery.jpg]]
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