Installation in Corn and Maize Fields with Soil Moisture Probe

Installing marks in the middle of the field, as opposed to the side, will allow for better spectral data on growth rate stages. But, before you head to the field for installation, you will need the following:

• Two Poles:
  • An Outer Pole of approximately 1.5" in diameter and 3.5 to 4.5 ft in length.
  • An Inner Pole of 15 feet long and 1" in diameter. This pole should have 4-5 O-rings around the base, which would make it fit snugly into the outer pole and keep it from shifting orientation.
• Yellow Vertical Tape to ensure proper orientation.
• Electrical Tape to make O-rings around the base of the inner pole.
• Soil Moisture Probe.

Installation:

1. Check charge. The devices should be at full charge when you receive them, but double check by a quick press of the button. The lights will count up around the Arable 'A' logo on the device twice. If it flashes with 3 or 4 of the lights lit then you are good to go to the field! This means the device is 50% or more charged. 
2. Attach the device to the mount. On the bottom of the device is an alignment tick. Align this tick with the button on the vertical mount and twist counterclockwise until until you hear a click.
3. Deploy Device. Lights on the device will start blinking to indicate that the deployment sequence has initiated. The initiation sequence boots the system, runs two sensor tests and connects to the server. This may take several minutes. Please stay with the device. When the sequence is finished, all four lights around the arable logo should shine solid blue and blink in unison a few times. 
4. Secure outer pole 2-3 ft into the ground with 1.5 ft sticking out the surface. This height was designed to allow the device to be removed, so equipment could run through the field and clear the 1.5 ft height. 
5. Attach the device to the inner pole. Make sure the lens on the bottom are over the maize leaves and tassels. 
6. Place the yellow vertical tape down the side of both poles before securing inner pole into outer pole. Align the vertical tape on both poles, which will ensure the device was oriented properly (spectrometer facing south). This will also facilitate quick removals and re-installations (which should be fairly easy, depending on winds in location) in the future without having to look at the top dome/light UI. 
7. Attach inner pole to inner pole. 
8. Log into the app to see the devices that have just deployed. It may take up to 4 hours for the devices to show in the app. You can select the new locations from the list in the right hand of the interface and give them a name or tags (such as the varietal) etc.