Q.What’s a “white paper”?

A.The term “white paper” is derived from the term “white book” (a government publication of position/policy on a topic). Winston Churchill wrote one of the most well known white papers in 1922. It stated Britain’s position regarding Palestine in the middle east.

www.palestinefacts.org/pf _mandate_whitepaper_1922.php

A white paper promotes a particular position or solution. White papers, though they have roots in politics, are a valuable tool to introduce technological innovations, products and solutions. They are a tool for users to use in assessing a vendor’s expertise.

Monitor Technologies LLC is a leading supplier of level monitoring and flow detection solutions for powders and bulk solids. Our solutions serve a wide variety of industries; including plastics processing, concrete and aggregates, grain and feed processing, food processing and others.

Monitor Technologies is also the leading producer of “white papers” for use by customers in better understanding specific topics. These are written as generic educational documents. They illustrate our position on the subject.

For example, the white paper “Technology Review – Continuous Level Measurement of Bulk Solids and Powders” highlights the challenges in measuring the level of powders and bulk solids and the pros and cons of the various technologies available today. It also discusses the challenges regarding “real world accuracy” in volume/weight terms and compares level measurement solutions to those provided by weighing systems.

In this white paper we conclude with a four-step guideline for use in selecting the correct solution for your specific application. You can download this and other white papers at www.monitortech.com/papers.shtml.

Question: “I am getting ready to install Monitor’s wireless communications interface, SiloTrack™ software and six (6) SiloPatrol® “smart” SMU sensors. Having never done a wireless installation, is there any advice?”

Answer: Be sure to read and adhere to the Installation & Operation manuals that came with the equipment.

Since wireless is new to you I recommend that you do some bench testing. Install SiloTrack on your PC.

If you were shipped an RS-485 PCI bus card, be certain that you install the drivers for the PCI card BEFORE installing the card or you may have trouble getting the system to work.

Next, connect together one SMU and one wireless communication interface. Use the I&O’s to set switches and jumpers. Then, temporarily connect the other wireless interface to either your DB9 serial port or to your RS-485 PCI card, depending on your system.

Once everything is connected and the software installed, start SiloTrack and setup one silo for testing purposes. If there is no “Com” error, your wireless transceivers are properly configured. If it does not work (Com error), your bench test setup will greatly expedite and simplify the diagnostic process. This is especially true if you utilize Monitor’s SecureCare(SM) technical support services.

Once working, be certain to label the wireless transceivers so there is no mistake as to which one gets connected to your PC and which one gets connected to your SMU network.

Now you will be able to do the actual physical installation with confidence!