MET description and configuration 
R/V New Horizon

STS MET Translator System

This system acquires, corrects and distributes MET sensor data from a wide 
variety of sensor types and serial data streams. It also converts the signals 
of various inputs to a format that is the same or similar to existing MET 
modules.  

Main Features: Real time outputs in RS232 format provides data for all sensors 
in the system. Up to 35 sensors can be accomodated. Any number of Redundant sensors
up to the 35 maximum can be connected to the system.
The sensors can be any combination of WHOI IMET modules, Weatherpak, RS232 devices,
and/or RS485 addressable devices. The program can be configured to provide
file or serial outputs of corrected, uncorrected, and calculated data. The
program can run on any compatible IBM PC that has at least one comm port. It
can use 1 to 16 Comm ports simultaneously. MET Data is stamped with one
or two sources of GPS and gyro data and one source of Depth Recorder and
timeserver data.  

The Program runs on a DOS  based computer that is networked to the Ship's main
Sun sytem computers for direct recording of the data. Data files of three different
types can be written either simutaneously or individually. Each data file starts of
the beginning of each (GMT) day and contains one full day of data. There is a file 
that contains uncorrected raw sensor data, a file that contains corrected sensor 
data and a file that contains computed data.


A description of the sensors that are on the R/V New Horizon follows:

Location        Unit                                    Sensors
Flying bridge   Coastal Environmental WeatherPak        Air Temp, Baro Press, Wind,
                                                        SWR, LWR, Humidity              
*Aft Lab         Seabird SBE21 Thermosalinograph         Temp, Conductivity,
                                                        Wetlabs Wetstar Fluorometer
Engine Room     Dual Temperature unit                   Sea Surface temperature (2 EA)
Chart Room      Pcode Receiver
Chart room      Trimble Differential GPS
Bridge          Gyro Compass

The sea surface temperature sensors are Hull mounted RTD's that are located
in the engine room below the water line. These two sensors are directly under the 
insulation and in contact with the inner hull. There are two of them in case
there is a problem with one drifting or failing. These sensors are labled ST
in the recorded data. The thermosalinograph temperature measures the temperature
at the unit itself. There is some warming of the water as it flows through the
pump and plumbing in order to reach the TSG unit in the lab. This is the temperature
at the conductivity sensor and is what is used to calculate salinity.

* Installed upon request prior to cruise