YSI 9600 - Manual (Page 92)

USING THE 9600 IN FIELD STUDIES
How do I interact with the 9600 to set it up and deploy it?
To interface to the 9600 you must use a PC (laptop or desktop) which is running the YSI software that is
designed for use with the nitrate analyzer. This software is called NUview
TM
and is supplied as a standard
item with each 9600. The software provides an easy to use, Windows-based interface which allows you
to:
• Configure your instrument for a deployment
• Start a deployment
• Interact with the 9600 during deployments to upload and view data
• Stop a deployment
Can I use my YSI 650 to interact with the 9600?
No. The 650 will not interface properly to the 9600.
Is the 9600 difficult to set up for nitrate monitoring?
The set-up is simple, but does require some time. For example, the preparation of chemicals for use with
the 9600 and their installation in the monitor is not difficult, but could take a couple of hours depending on
the familiarity of the user with this procedure. The diagnostic routine used before each deployment is very
simple to activate with the instrument software, but does take approximately 1 hour to complete. In
general, you should probably count on spending about 4 hours total in the set-up of the 9600 for a long-
term monitoring study. Thus, you could set up the instrument for a deployment in the morning and deploy
in the afternoon.
Do I have to take a laptop computer to the field to deploy the 9600?
Not if you don’t want to. You can easily program a delay in the time of deployment during laboratory set-
up of the 9600 which will allow you to simply take the instrument to the field and place it in the water at
your site before any readings are taken.
Can the 9600 be used with data collection platforms?
Yes. The 9600 provides a standard SDI-12 interface which is ideal for use with most data collection
platforms. Note, however, that the minimum sample interval for SDI12 applications is 30 minutes.
What is a typical sample interval for field studies?
Our experience is that usually a 1 hour sample interval will “catch” any changes in nitrate during a typical
deployment. However, there may be isolated cases where nitrate events are more transitory and lower
sample intervals will have to be employed to quantify them. If users are concerned about the potential for
transitory nitrate events at their sites, then they should err on the side of caution in their initial studies, i.e.,
use a greater sampling frequency to gain knowledge of the typical rate of change of the nitrate levels at a
particular location. Naturally, you will want to sample at the longest sample interval which “catches” all
nitrate changes in order to conserve reagents and battery power.
YSI Environmental 92 Model 9600 Nitrate Monitor