Tip Sheets and Instrumentation Training

DCPs & Data Loggers

• Basic Electronics & Troubleshooting Instrumentation (html)
• Satellite Data Collection Platform Installation & Operation (html)
• Meteorburst Radio Update (pdf)
• Instructions for Aiming Satellite Antenna at the GOES Satellites (html)
• GOES Header Flagword (Excel)
• HDR DCP Message Header (pdf)
• LDR DCP Message Header (pdf)
• RF Test Equipment Parts List (pdf)
• Basic DCP Power Systems (ppt)
• Satellite Data Distribution System Overview (ppt)
• Troubleshooting DCP's (Download and Save .zip file)(video-1 hour 10 minutes) Watch Online
• What is Radio Frequency (RF)? (ppt)
• Fabricating Your Own RF Cable (ppt)
• Troubleshooting Radio Frequency (RF) Problems (ppt)

Pressure Sensor Testing

• Pressure Sensor Testing (ppt)
• Pressure Sensor Testing Video (zip) (24 minutes)
• Understanding Vendors’ Pressure Sensor Specifications (pdf)
• Pressure Sensor Field Performance (pdf)

Velocity Measurements

• Basic Electronics & Troubleshooting Instrumentation (html) Training
• Care and Maintenance of AA and Pygmy Current Meters (zip)(video-54 minutes)
• A Tethered Shaft Alignment Tool to Use with the FlowTracker (pdf)
• Care and Maintenance of Vertical-Axis Current Meters (html) - OSW Memo 99.06
• AA Price Current Meter Instruction and Care (pdf)
• OSW Hydroacoustics Work Group (HAWG) (html)

Sediment Sampling

• Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP) (html)
• Selecting WQ and Bedload Sampling Equipment (pdf)
• Suspended Sediment Sampler Characteristics and Parameters (pdf)
• A Guide to the Proper Selection and Use of Federally Approved Sediment and Water-Quality Samplers (html)(pdf)

Water Quality

• ROX Probes: Temperature Coefficient Clarification (pdf)
• Can I Use Orion’s ORP Standard (pdf)
• Water-Quality Instrumentation Battery Explosion Hazard (pdf)
• Proper Care for Your Sondes (pdf)
• Important Maintenance Procedures on YSI’s ROX Probe Membranes and Calibration (pdf)
• Reducing Water-Quality Monitoring Fouling (pdf)

Stream Measurement

• CD and Web based Classes
• Training certificates (html)

Meteorological Sensors

• Tipping Bucket Rain Gage Calibration FAQ (pdf)
• Calibrating a Tipping Bucket Rain Gage in the Office (pdf)
• Did I Hear a "Double Tip"? Hydrological Services TB4 Tipping Bucket Rain Gage (pdf)

Field Computing Equipment

• USGS One Stop Shopping - Is strictly limited to the procurement of hydrologic equipment, such as DCPs and Dataloggers, Gaging Station Accessories, GW Sampling Kits, Meteorological Sensors, Safety Equipment, Power and Grounding, Sediment Sampling, Stage and Water Level, Stream Measurement, Velocity Measurement and Water Quality equipment including data acquisition devices, sensors, surveying equipment, stream gaging equipment, gaging shelters, acoustic equipment, and field computing equipment. This service is not available for the purchase of computers, software, vehicles, office equipment, and services/leasing.

Power & Grounding

• Training - Basic Electronics & Troubleshooting Instrumentation
• Instructions for Setting the “Aim” of a Solar Panel
• DCP RF System Gain (Excel)
• Battery Voltage Decoder (Excel)
• DC Current Consumption Calculations (Excel)
• Transmit Window Length Calculation (Excel)
• Example of a Ground System (ppt)
• 5-Ampere Adjustable Load Tester (ppt)
• Proper Set-Up of a SunSaver 6 Charge Controller (pdf)

Gaging Station Accessories

• Troubleshooting
• Gaging Station Troubleshooting (ppt)
• Video (56 minutes)
• Gage House Design (html)
• Gage House Design Information Exchange Form (form)
• Gage House Design Search Criteria (form)
• All Gage House Designs Submitted (html)

Personal Safety Equipment

• Water Resources Division Policy for Safety Associated with Measurements, Sampling, and Related Streamgaging - WRD Memo 99.32 (dated Aug 17, 1999)(html)
• New ANSI Standard for USGS Employees Working from Bridges (pdf)(Revised 01/27/09)

Firmware/Software Revisions

• Equipment Firmware/Software Reference (pdf)(updated 9/17/10)

WRD Instrument News

• WRD HIF Instrument News (search index)