How it works

... and other Frequently Asked Questions

Which sensors can you connect? What about power? Is there an API? This page will answer all your questions. If any other questions remain, don't hesitate to contact us.

General introduction

Reporter, a versatile sensor device for remote monitoring designed by Crodeon

How does it work?

At Crodeon we design products for end users with no technical skills or for those who have no time for coding. Sometimes you want things to just work out-of-the-box.

Reporter® has 4 sensor connectors. Any connector fits any of the sensors in our shop. Reporter uses grid or solar power and has an internal lithium-ion battery to use as back-up.

When your Reporter arrives in the mail, you plug the sensors and your data will show up on the Crodeon Dashboard.

What is the Crodeon Dashboard?

Transmission of sensor data to the cloud happens instantly over a wireless cellular connection. Every Reporter is out-of-the-box connected to the Crodeon Dashboard. You only need a browser to get started.

The Crodeon Dashboard is a lightweight web application with a responsive design which means it runs great on laptops, tablets and smartphones. Data can be visualized in the tool, exported to Excel or accessed through our API.

Configuring your Reporter is also done through the Crodeon Dashboard. Turn the device on/off and modify settings such as measurement interval, device name, alarm thresholds, alarm delay and sensor calibration with just a few clicks.

Sign up for a free account on the Crodeon Dashboard and view live demo data.

Any sensor combination is possible?

That's right. Any sensor combination of your choice can be shipped. Reporter will automatically detect the sensor combination that you are using.

If you’re looking for a specific sensor that you can’t find in our shop, then don’t hesitate to contact us. Often customers desire to use a sensor that he/she has good experiences with. In that case we are happy to check whether your particular sensor can be connected to Reporter.

What about power?

The Reporter has a large lithium-ion battery on board. This allows the device to keep operating when grid power goes down. Depending on the configured measurement interval and the kind of sensors that are connected, the Reporter can keep operating between 2 days and 3 weeks on end without power supply.

For applications where grid power is unavailable or unreliable, solar power might be a solution. For a plug and play compatible solar panel, take a look at our 10W monocrystalline panel with M12 connector.

What is included in the yearly subscription?

Every Reporter comes with a yearly subscription. This covers:

  • The wireless connection of the Reporter (sim card)
  • Alarm notifications by SMS or voice call
  • Use of the Crodeon Dashboard
  • Hosting and backups of your data
  • Service and support by Crodeon
  • Monitoring of the health of your device

The latter means that if your device malfunctions for any kind of reason, then you will be notified about this within 24 hours.

This is what we call the Crodeon managed IoT experience. The Reporter is there to stop you from worrying, and not to start it.

Ordering

How to place an order

Browse through our shop and select the sensors of your choice. Each sensor uses one connector on your Reporter, so you can connect up to 4 sensors to every Reporter. Connector 5 is where you plug the power supply.

Don't forget to add the yearly subscription (€180 / Reporter) to your shopping cart.

From which countries can you order?

Because of limitations enforced by our cellular provider, we only ship to the countries listed below. In order to prevent complaints, we do not accept orders from other countries through the webshop. However, get in touch if your country is not listed. We might be able to work something out.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. 

Can you get a VAT invoice?

We are mainly focused on business customers and that's why all prices exclude VAT. Belgian VAT is 21% which will be added during checkout. Companies with a valid European VAT number should not pay VAT (more info here). Create an account in the shop and contact us at info@crodeon.com to order without VAT. Your account will be modified within one working day.

When your payment is completed, a VAT invoice will be sent to your email address.

Using your Reporter

A sensor being connected to Reporter

How much work is it to install a Reporter?

The mounting and startup of a Reporter takes only a few minutes. You only need to sign in to the Crodeon Dashboard and connect the sensors. The Dashboard will allow you to activate the Reporter with one click in order to start measuring. There you also have the ability to configure settings such as the measurement interval and alarm thresholds.

The Crodeon Reporter is there to help you save time, not waste it. This is why Crodeon makes sure that the startup and activation goes fast and smooth. As a customer you should not worry about software, connectivity and hosting.

Should you provide a wifi network?

No. Reporter has an industrial simcard on board to connect to the internet using a cellular connection (NB-IoT, Cat-M and 2G). This means you don’t need wifi or ethernet. The simcard is pre-installed and activated by Crodeon so you don’t need to look after a mobile subscription.

Can you install the Reporter in a location with no GSM signal?

If the internal antenna of your Reporter does not suffice, then an external antenna can be provided. This antenna allows you to use the Reporter in basements or spaces with heavy insulation. Please contact us for questions about connectivity or signal in certain countries

Can you use the Reporter outside?

The Reporter is IP67 waterproof and can therefore be used in all weather conditions. There is no need to provide an enclosure or additional protection. The device is designed to always be instantly usable out-of-the-box, indoor as well as outdoor.

Can the Reporter also work on solar power?

Sure. For applications in remote areas or for example in agriculture, Crodeon can supply a 10W solar panel (dimensions: 35cm x 30cm). This way, Reporter has everything on board to charge during the day and easily survive multiple nights with low sunlight, even when operating at a high measurement frequency, all year long.

What if the Reporter or a sensor fails to operate?

A unique aspect of our technology is the fact that we as a manufacturer monitor the health of every device, sensor and even the connection. If any of these stop working, the customer is notified within 24 hours. This means you don’t have to check the Dashboard manually for measurements, nor do you need a separate monitoring system to guard your Reporter. Crodeon automates these controls so we can offer them on a large scale, without extra cost.

is there an app to view the data on a smartphone?

The Crodeon Dashboard is a web-app that is perfectly displayed on smartphones, tablets and PCs. By following these instructions, you can add the Crodeon Dashboard as an app on the home screen. This way you’ll have direct access to the latest data from your Reporter with a single tap on the Crodeon icon.

Integration projects

Is there an API to integrate with?

Yes. Crodeon offers a Rest API that you can freely use as a customer. This allows you to call all Reporter data on the dashboard from external systems in real-time. View our API documentation for more information about the possibilities of the API.

Can Reporter be a part of your Internet of Things project?

Absolutely. Reporter is a generic wireless monitoring system that allows you to quickly and reliably read sensors with a live connection to the cloud. The versatility of Reporter and the availability of the Rest API make it perfectly suitable to complete your project with.

Reporter is often used by software companies, consultants or digital agencies that are looking for a reliable and easily usable hardware component for their project. Don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss how Reporter can become your missing link. Follow this link for more information about teaming up with Crodeon.

Any other questions?