Installing your monitoring station

Do not connect the solar panels to the monitoring station until the plastic tag disconnecting the battery for shipping has been removed. Don't remove this tag until you're ready to commission the device.

1. Open the lid of your nest box and attach the stoppers. This will stop your lid falling open and straining the cables.
2. Attach the antenna mount. The antenna cable is 60cm long so the mount can be attached to the base on most boxes. Use another convenient location on deep boxes. The hexagonal recess will face up. Pre-drill the holes and secure the mount with screws.
3. Create a 10 x 20 mm slot in the middle of the top of the back wall of the nest box. This can be done using a few small pilot holes and then opening them using a larger drill bit.
4. Center the monitoring station (MS) camera over the base of the nest box.
5. Pre-drill the four mounting holes in the lid of the nest box.
6. Attach the MS using four screws.
7. Connect the antenna cable, two solar cables and the two temperature sensors. The solar connectors are denoted by 'S1' and 'S2' on the camera case. 'Ti' refers to the sensor for inside the nest box. 'Te' will record the external ambient temperature. The temperature sensors have a black node at the end of the cable. Keep track of the sensor connected to 'Ti'.
8. With the nest box lid open, feed all the cables through a hole in the back wall of the nest box.
9. Gently zip tie the cables to form a neat harness. Be carefully not to damage the cables.
10. Determine the position that the 'Ti' sensor shall re-enter the nest box. Ideally it should be at the height of the animal inside the nest box. Drill a 7mm hole.
11. Fit the 'Ti' sensor into it's housing and press it into the hole.
12. Fit the antenna cable into the mount and secure with the hex nut.
13. Connect the antenna.

The monitoring station is now ready to commission. Follow the steps on the commissioning page.