---
title: "Sentek Soil Moisture Probe"
canonical: "https://farmconnect.docs.rubiconwater.com/space/FCKB/2325151764/Sentek%20Soil%20Moisture%20Probe"
format: markdown
---
See the [Sentek website](https://sentektechnologies.com/products/soil-data-probes/drill-drop/) for further information on Sentek probe options
> Macro (toc)
*Soil Moisture Probe Options*
# Requirements
| **Description** | **Rubicon Part Number** | **Notes** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Soil Moisture Probe | 81807 (5m Loom)
OR 81808 (12m Loom) | Sentek Drill & Drop Probe, 90cm TriSCAN, Moisture, Salinity & Temp, SDi-12 (00939) |
| Mounting Bracket | [81305 DD FerIT Node Dimensional Data and Selection](https://bit.ly/3tocKWK)
[81840 DD FerIT Solar Node Dimensional Data and Selection](https://bit.ly/3fmn753) | |
| FerIT Node | [81305 DD FerIT Node Dimensional Data and Selection](https://bit.ly/3tocKWK)
[81840 DD FerIT Solar Node Dimensional Data and Selection](https://bit.ly/3fmn753) | FerIT Solar Node can be used if preferred for reduced battery maintenance and connection to additional devices |
| Bluetooth-enabled Device | - | Refer to [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DC](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DC) |
# Setup
> ⚠️ Please make safety a priority when you are carrying out any work at a site. We recommend that you perform a site-specific risk assessment to identify any potential risks before commencing any work at a site.
> ⚠️
> ⚠️ See the [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/GM/pages/1925186045](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/GM/pages/1925186045) section for more information about specific risks and recommended procedures. Specific safety information is also provided in relevant topics.
## Installing the Soil Moisture Probe
Refer to the [manufacturer’s instructions](https://sentektechnologies.com/download/drill-drop-installation-manual/) for installation.
## Installing the FerIT Node
Refer to the [FerIT documentation](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FER/pages/1932689644) for installation instructions
## Connecting the Soil Moisture Probe
Thread the connecting loom through the node mounting pole and connect to the 8-pin M12 plug. For FerIT Solar Node, pass the connecting loom through the base grommet and connect to the 8-pin M12 splitter, then connect the splitter to the FerIT node and the power module.
## Driver Installation
> ℹ️ Refer to the [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DC](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DC) documentation for procedures to install and configure drivers
The Sentek SDI-12 probe uses the ‘Sentek SDI-12' driver in the FerIT device
1. Connect the battery
2. In DeviceConnect, scan for devices. Once found, connect the the FerIT
3. Navigate to the **Drivers** tab and select **Add**, then find and add the 'Rain Gauge Pulse' driver.
4. Enter the access code provided
5. Allow the FerIT to restart and then reconnect
## Driver Configuration
> ⚠️ The settings and data units are dependant on your browser language. Ensure you have selected English (Australia) to display as metric, or English (United States) to display as Imperial
1. In the Driver tab, select the Sentek SDI-12 driver and navigate to the **Settings **tab
2. Apply the settings based on your probe option, adjusting based on the ‘Settings Description’ table below
3. Once configured, reset the FerIT via DeviceConnect. Allow the FerIT to restart and then reconnect
4. In the Driver tab, select the Sentek SDI-12 driver and navigate to the **Data **tab
5. Confirm that the probe is operating as expected by observing the values at each probe layer
### Settings Descriptions
**SDI-12:**
| | |
| --- | --- |
| **Property** | **Description** |
| Address | Used to set the SDI-12 address the FerIT node will try to read the sensor on. This will not change the sensor address. |
| Query Device Address | Queries the sensors current address and updates the FerITs reference address. |
| Change device address action | Sends the command to set the FerITs current reference address as the probes address. |
| Version | SDI-12 version number, indicating SDI-12 version compatibility; for example, version 1.4 is encoded as 14 |
| Vendor ID | An 8 character vendor identification, usually a company name or its abbreviation |
| Model Number | A 6 character string specifying the sensor model number |
| Sensor Version | A 3 character string specifying the sensor version |
| Serial | An optional field, up to 13 characters, used for a serial number or other specific sensor information that is not relevant for operation of the data recorder |
| Communication Status | Indicates whether the communication to the sensor is good or has failed. |
| Fail Count | Increments for every failed communication |
| Config Patch | Internal FerIT memory structure identifier |
| Burst Period | Communication burst rate of the sensor data to the host via the radio |
| Periodic Period | Communication rate in which the FerIT polls the data from the sensor data to the host via the radio |
**Moisture Probe Settings:**
These settings are used to tune the average and sum and VSM calculations. Update the soil type for each soil depth as required, uncheck any depths that are not required and then ‘Update Sensor Settings’.
### Data Variable Descriptions
| | |
| --- | --- |
| **Property** | **Description** |
| Moisture Average | Average moisture across the active depths |
| Moisture Sum | Sum of moisture across the active depths |
| Moisture VSM | Volumetric soil moisture across the active depths |
| Probe Data | A break down of the raw moisture, temperature and salinity at individual depths.
Note: temperature and salinity are not supported on all probe versions. |
### Inspection Test Plan (ITP):
Download and complete the ITP
[0080-ITP-FerIT Node Monitoring Device (LoRa) Commission.pdf](https://bit.ly/3aUO8Ov)
# Accessing Your Data Through FarmConnect
See [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2022342685](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FCD/pages/2022342685) for general information on accessing device data through the FarmConnect Portal.
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