MEA Bug Downloads
The MEA Bug Software is a user friendly and simple package for the retrieval and display of continuous soil moisture measurements made by the GBug, GTBug, ABug, and TBug.
Basic Functions
Site Setup
The Site Setup tells the software which type of Bugs are installed at each monitoring site, along with the details of the type of sensors installed and the respective sensor depths. Each site can be identified with a suitable name (i.e. Chardonnay Row 23 - 30cm). A unique ID number is used to identify the Bug installed at each measurement site. When readings are downloaded from the Retriever into the software, the values for each Bug are then saved against the corresponding site. A series of on-screen prompts helps ensure the Site Setup can be entered quickly and easily.
Data Retrieval
The data transfer process is the real "wow factor" which gets people excited about the Bugs. You simply take the Retriever out into the field, hold it close to the Bug and tap the Bug to wake it. The Bug then transmits its readings into the Retriever via low power radio. There are no cables to connect or drop in the dirt. Once the transfer has completed, you can review the readings on the screen of the Retriever.
If the batteries inside any of the Bugs are getting low, you will receive a low battery warning message. After visiting each Bug site, take the Retriever back to the computer and download the data into the MEA Bug Software.
Graph Display
Once data is unloaded it can be viewed on a graph. The time period on display may be set to intervals ranging from from a day to a year. A cursor on the graph indicates soil moisture values at the current time.
Scaling buttons allow you to zoom in and until the desired moisture range is shown. Graphs can be printed at the push of a button. If you want to make your own views of the data - say to combine readings from the top sensor at each site - you can create a Custom Graph which includes up to 8 sensors chosen from any sites (with common sensor types). The vertical axis will display in units appropriate to the type of sensor (and hence Bug) being used e.g. tension in kPa, moisture content in % or temperature in degrees C.
Table Display
The readings from the Bugs can also be displayed in tabular format. This is more suitable for the GBug and GTBug, with their 2 hourly readings, than it is for the ABug and TBug with 15 minute readings. Simply click on the Table icon to switch to the table view, then change use the navigation buttons to move through the data.
Last 48 Hours
The MEA Bug Software also allows the user to show a "snapshot" of values for the last 48 hours. This is provides a quick snapshot of changes in moisture levels over the last 2 days.
Export
If your needs for data manipulation are greater than what can be achieved with the MEA Bug Software, then we've made it easy to capture data and export it to another program. You can choose to capture the graph or table you are currently displaying or the data from all sites.
The MEA Bug Software may not be loaded up with every bell and whistle, but we feel we have reached a great compromise between functionality and cost. Especially when you remember that we bundle the software with every MEA Retriever and you can get free updates from our web site for life.
Software Downloads
We try to regularly update the MEA Bug Software to add features requested by our users or to rectify any problems which crop up with new computers or Operating System versions. Click on the link below to download the latest version of the MEA Bug Software.
Run SETUP.EXE either to upgrade an existing installation of the software (no existing data will be lost) or to install as a new version. The Bug software now has full support for every member of the MEA Bug range. Remember, if you are upgrading an existing version, always back up your data before proceeding.
MEA Bug Software - Gbug, GTBug, ABug and TBug users
With the release of the ABug and TBug, the original GBug software has been expanded and enhanced to work with these new products. The MEA Bug software may also be used with the GBug & GTBug. The MEA Bug software includes additional features including summed and average soil moisture graphs and the ability to export results to additional formats.
Note: If you are still using the GBug Software this will not work with the TBug and ABug. To update your Software to MEA Bug, please download the link below.
- Download MEA Bug Software V6.01.06 (1.5 Mb) (01-06-07)
Download User Manuals
Click on the link below to download the latest copy of the BUG or GBUG user manual. The manual is in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have a copy of the Acrobat viewer, download it from the Adobe web site.