sensorProbe+ Series Knowledge Base (SP2+ SPX+)
SETUP & LOG IN, SECURITY & NMS
- Ensure that your PC or laptop is in the same subnet as the sensorProbe+ eg. 192.168.0.101.
- Using the supplied crossover cable, connect the AKCP device to the LAN port of your PC or laptop.
- Open the browser on your PC or laptop and type in the unit’s default IP address 192.168.0.100.
- The setup wizard will then start and guide you through the configuration details. You can then proceed to the system/network page for your specific network settings.
Note: It is recommended to temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall during this setup process and only use Chrome or FireFox browsers. - If you have any further issues connecting to your unit’s web interface, first download the IPSET tool using the QR code below, or the direct link here:
http://www.akcp.in.th/downloads/Firmwares/lnuxIPSet6.0.0.zip - Start the IPSET utility. Press the “reset” button on the sensorProbe+ unit once. IPSET will detect the units IP address and allow you to open the units web interface and set your IP address.
If you have any further issues with connecting to your unit, please check the sensorProbe+ connection troubleshooting steps below & in the SP+ manuals, or contact our support team for more assistance.
- Make sure you can ping the units default IP address.
- Make sure your laptop, PC or network fixed IP is configured for the default network subnet as the unit (192.168.0.1 for example). And that the IPv4 is checked/enabled on your PC.
- Check the Ethernet link LED on the unit and the PC. Check the patch cable (direct connect = crossover. Connect to switch = straight through).
- Try temporarily disabling your Antivirus & Firewall.
- 5000 TCP for RPC with APS – note: not fully user configurable
- 161 TCP/UDP for SNMP
- 80 TCP for HTTP of Web UI
Other ports:
- 123 TCP for NTP (Network Time Protocol) – note: port is not user configurable
- 162 TCP/UDP for SNMP Trap
- 25 TCP for Email SMTP (if used)
- 1194 TCP/UDP for VPN (if used)
- 443 TCP for HTTPS of Web UI
- 502 TCP for Modbus TCP (if used)
FIRMWARE UPGRADES & MANUALS
EMAIL ISSUES & SMS ALERTS
Our SP+ (SP2+ & SPX+) units fully support TLS or SSL type SMTP email servers, so for example they can send email alerts using Gmail accounts etc. If you are having trouble sending alerts via email we would suggest you check with your local system administrator to ensure all the settings you have entered into the email alert settings on the unit are correct and you can ping your SMTP server.
If you are trying to setup a Gmail account to use, then these instructions should be followed;
#1. Ensure your unit(s) is running the latest version of firmware that is on our website support portal.
#2. Input the settings as follows server: smtp.gmail.com
port : 587
SMTP authentication : enabled
Login name : <gmail_user>@gmail.com
Password : <gmail password>
Connection security : STARTTLS
And make sure that the “Allow less secure apps” setting is turned ON in your Gmail account settings. (My Account -> Sign-in & security at the end of the page)
#3. And when sending with Gmail, sometimes additional steps are required:
First when you try to send mail, and it fails even if you use the correct settings (the “less secure apps” is allowed). This means Gmail still requires a confirmation popup or captcha.
Open this link in a web browser:
https://accounts.google.com/DisplayUnlockCaptcha
Then try sending again while keeping this page open.
This can happen if the Gmail mailbox is accessed from a “previously unknown IP address”.
Usually a warning email is also sent about this access.
More info on this here:
https://serverfault.com/questions/635139/how-to-fix-send-mail-authorization-failed-534-5-7-14
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34433459/gmail-returns-534-5-7-14-please-log-in-via-your-web-browser
Settings for office365
Important Note: Sending office365 email alerts are only supported on the SP+ F7 & H7 units running the latest firmware on our website and are not supported on the older F4 type SP+ units.
First you need to ensure that the SMTP settings and the email action configuration are correct as follows (our account is used as an example):
Very important: the “Mail from” parameter must match the same as the SMTP login parameter in the settings.
The mail servers are strict about the “mail from” parameter for antispam methods, and it cannot be different than the email login setting.
First make sure your SP2+ or SPX+ unit is running the latest firmware that is on our website support portal.
Secondly, please make sure you ordered the correct modem type for your region. We offer two types, the EU and US versions. You can check your region using this link here:
https://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html
Frequencies | EU model:
|
Category | CAT1 |
Data Transmission |
HSPA+L up to 5.76 Mbps(UL),42Mbps(DL) LTE Category 1: up to 5 Mbps(UL),10Mbps(DL) |
Please also make sure your region & GSM SIM service provider supports the following specifications for our internal modems:
Test the SIM card you are going to use on the SP2+ or SPX+ in your mobile phone to make sure you are able to send the SMS successfully and the SIM has enough credit.
Make sure you have inserted the SIM card into the modem (see manuals) correctly with the power off on the unit. Make sure you have connected the external antenna and that you are receiving a good signal from your GSM provider. Reboot the device one more time and wait a few minutes before testing the SMS notification.
If there is a PIN code on the SIM card, this needs to be disabled. Also double check the settings on the modem are correct. Ensure that you are using the correct DNS settings from your cellular internet provider.
And verify with your cellular network provider what the settings should be for their 3G/4G network.
If you are still having a problem sending SMS alerts, please contact our support team support@akcp.com and include all troubleshooting details and the “support” file from the unit.
sensorProbe+ Configurations Memory & BEB (Basic Expansion Bus)
Yes, the SPX+ units can be ordered in both 1U and 0U rack mount type configurations with many different configurations and module types. You can check our online configuration tool to custom create your own unit type using the link below, or choose from a variety of pre-set unit configurations.
https://www.akcp.com/configuratorTool/index.php?p=spxplus
https://www.akcp.com/akcp-products/sensorprobe-plus/sensorprobexplus/
Please also check our product datasheets and manuals for more technical details on each SPX+ module.
F7 Units Specifications:
AKCP STM32F7 MCU 32-bit ARM micro-processor 512KB of Ram 32MB of non-volatile flash
H7 Units Specifications:
AKCP STM32H7 MCU 32-bit ARM micro-processor 1MB of RAM 64MB of non-volatile flash
CPU speed: 216 MHz (F7) to 460 MHz (H7) The H7 is significantly faster than the F7 in real usage.
The most notable difference between the platforms is the supported number of sensors when the VPN feature is enabled: the total sensor count is reduced to 36 on F4 units, but it is still 150 on F7 & H7 units.
When upgrading the firmware, there are three separate .bin files included in the firmware update packages. One for the F4 units, one for the F7 units and one for the H7 units. If you try to upgrade your unit with the wrong .bin file, the firmware upgrade will fail. So please make sure you use the correct file for your unit type following the firmware upgrade instructions in the text file that is included in the compressed firmware package.
Also, very important to note that any backup configuration created on the F4 platform cannot be uploaded to the F7 platform unit and vice versa. This also applies to the H7 units. Backup configurations created on the F4 or F7 units are not compatible with the H7 units.
This applies to both the F7 & the H7 type SP+ units. If you require more than 14 sensor graphs then you can use our AKCPro Server software which there are no limitations for the sensor graphs. Our software can be downloaded from this link:
https://www.akcp.com/akcp-products/akcpro-server/
Check to make sure the sensorProbe+ unit is running the latest firmware.
Check to make sure you have connected the BEB extension cable to the correct ports, from the base unit to the BEB unit. Our BEB product manual on our support portal includes this information.
If you have created your own cable, then double check the pin outs in the manual.
Try the extension cable (blue) that was shipped with the BEB unit(s).
Next try these steps:
- Disconnect the BEB cable from the SP+ Gateway.
- Power on the SPX Gateway and wait for it to fully boot up.
- Power on the Remote unit (BEB).
- Long press the Reinit button on the Remote (BEB) unit for about 3-4s until the LED blinks from slow to rapidly then release it.
- Connect the BEB cable to the SP+ Gateway.
- Wait for about 1-2 minutes until the BEB is connected. Act/Sts LED should blink rapidly.
There is also an online YouTube video here that shows this process: https://youtu.be/xJsTGgnT1-Y
After all of this, you still cannot see or access the BEB unit, please contact our support team for more assistance support@akcp.com
sensorProbe+ Virtual Sensors PMS & Modbus
If you are going to use the Modbus protocol over the RS485 on our SP+ unit(s) to monitor backup generators, then here is some basic information you will need below. If you are not familiar with Modbus, then you would need to check online to learn more about how this protocol works.
For example, if you are planning on using the Modbus RTU RS485, then the register is basically the address for that piece of information.
Let’s say the generators controller has 5 different parameters
– Voltage Output
– Current Output
– Charge Status
– Input Current
– Input Voltage
Each of those would have its own register, to identify it. That way our SPX+ can send a request to the controller by requesting a specific register, the controller then knows what information we are asking for and it can send it to the unit via the Modbus virtual sensors.
You would need to obtain the manual for your customer’s specific generator and also ask them “How do we request information over RS485 from your device?” Then setup each of the Modbus virtual sensors accordingly as explained in the SP+ Modbus manual. You can also check our online video here:
First make sure you have checked the information regarding the setup of the AKCP PMS in our sensorProbe+ Modbus manual on our website support portal and that your firmware is the latest on our website as well.
Next make sure that you have connected the AKCP PMS correctly to the EXP/MOD port using the correct wiring shown in the manual.
Next confirm if you have configured the EXP port to be Modbus on the SP2+E/SPX+. As explained in the manual, by default, the EXP port is configured to be connected to the E-IS8, E-O16 or CCU expansion units, so the RS485 Modbus (AKCP PMS) will not work if this is not changed and saved.
Please check the SP2+E/SPX+ web UI setting by navigating to the Settings > Modbus page then check the following:
Modbus RS485 : Enable
Modbus mode : Master
Then make sure you save this and reboot the unit and follow the setup directions in the manual noted above.
Normally if you purchased any of our products through a local authorized AKCP dealer of ours, we suggest you try and contact them directly first as they would be in your same time zone. When they signed up to be our dealer they agreed to provide direct technical support to you.
If you are having any trouble contacting or obtaining technical support from our local dealer, you can always contact our support team via email support@akcp.com and we will be more than happy to assist you further.
Please keep in mind we normally only provide technical support during our daily working hours GMT+7 Monday through Friday. We normally will always reply to you within 24 hours.
If you don’t hear a reply back from us within 24 hours, it might be because your email was caught by our spam filter. Or our reply email to you was caught in your spam filter. In which case, please try to use another email address to send from, or a different communication method. And also check your spam filter.
When contacting our support team via email, please always provide all technical information regarding your issue or question and include the troubleshooting details and support file from the unit if you have a technical problem. This will ensure we can get back to you as quickly as possible with an answer or a possible solution.
As mentioned above in this Knowledge Base section, we highly recommend you download, thoroughly check and read the information in our product manuals before contacting us, as these will most likely answer a lot of your questions and hopefully resolve your issues.
Thank you for using and your interest in our products!
AKCP Technical Support Team