Frequently Asked Questions

Our endurance is limited by the battery power and instrument configuration. We have demonstrated a 30 day endurance in testing offshore Newport, OR.

The Thetis profiling speeds are user configurable through the Sea-Bird Scientific Profiler Host software, and can be altered during any telemetry session during a deployment. The user can select profiling speeds ranging from 2 to 35 cm/sec.

The most common telemetry system utilized is a FreeWave radio system.  Transmission times for the science data are typically 20-30 seconds through the FreeWave modem when the receiver is within 3 km of the profiler.

Other telemetry systems include a broadband cellular and Iridium modems.

This is a safety feature of the instrument, whereby the lamp is turned off when its temperature reaches 35°C (95°F) to prevent damage from overheating. The SUNA continues to output dark frames while monitoring the temperature, and will restart the lamp once it has dropped back below 35°C. If extended in-lab use is required, immersing the SUNA in a cool bath can  prevent this behavior.