Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding App Manager vs. BaseManager

Before adding controllers, it's important to understand the difference between App Manager and BaseManager. 

BaseManager is actually an app that exists within the App Manager framework. You should always sign in through baselineapps.net rather than BaseManager.net directly.

Signing in through App Manager provides several advantages. The engineering team develops for the App Manager framework, so you'll have a more fluid user experience. Additionally, App Manager gives you access to the mobile version of the system, which isn't available if you sign in directly to BaseManager. If you've previously logged into BaseManager, your browser may cache that page and automatically take you there when you start typing, but you should redirect yourself to baselineapps.net instead.

Think of BaseManager as one app inside the baseline apps platform. When you sign in through baselineapps.net, you get access to BaseManager plus additional features and a better overall experience.

Pre-Site Planning and Preparation

Adding a controller to BaseManager is a simple process, but it requires preparation before you visit the site. Following these planning steps will save you time and prevent issues during installation.

Create an App Manager Account
You need to have an App Manager account established before you're ready to add a controller. Many installers arrive on site excited to connect the controller, only to discover they don't have an account set up. You can create a free App Manager account on the Baseline website under the support section. Look for the App Manager account setup option. This account will be where you attach all your controllers.

Activate Cell Modems in Advance
If you plan to use a Baseline cell modem for communication, it must be activated before you go to the site. While Baseline can sometimes work with you to activate a modem quickly, the preferred method is to fill out the online cell modem activation form in advance.

The activation form requires two pieces of information: the SIM ID and the serial number of the device. Both of these are printed or typed directly onto the cell modem itself. If you're registering the device but the modem is already installed on site and you're not physically there, you'll need to obtain this information from someone at the location. Cell modems are typically activated the same day, though Baseline reserves up to 24 hours during busy peak times.

Verify Network Connectivity
If you're not using a cell modem, verify that your chosen communication method is ready before arriving on site. Just because an ethernet cable has been run to the controller location doesn't mean the internet connection is provisioned and ready for you to connect. Always double-check with your client, their IT manager, or whoever is in charge of network connectivity. Confirm that internet access is available and ready to go. This simple verification call will save you significant time when you arrive at the site.

On-Site Connection Process

Once you arrive at the site with your App Manager account created and your communication method prepared, you're ready to physically connect the controller.

Cell Modem Connection
If you're using a cell modem, connect it to the controller and then power cycle the device. This is the same process as resetting your cell phone after replacing a SIM card. The power cycle wakes up the modem and allows it to communicate with a cell tower and establish a connection.

Make sure you're using the correct antenna with your cell modem. The antennas that come with Baseline cell modems are called "salt shaker" antennas because they look like small white domes or pyramids. 4G antennas are taller than the previous 3G antennas. While there may be identification labels on the antenna specs, the height difference is the easiest way to distinguish them. Using the wrong antenna with the wrong modem can cause connectivity issues. Baseline always ships the appropriate antenna with the modem when ordered or installed on a controller, so mismatches are unlikely unless you're working with older equipment.

If you're upgrading from 3G to 4G and purchase a 4G modem, the correct antenna comes as part of the package, so you shouldn't encounter antenna compatibility problems.

Ethernet Connection
If you're using ethernet, make sure the cable is connected to the controller. Check for lights on the back of the ethernet port, as these indicate that there's power on the cable. Sometimes an ethernet cable comes out of the wall but isn't actually plugged into anything on the other side, so the presence of lights confirms a live connection.

WiFi Connection
For WiFi connections, go through the settings on the controller and connect to the WiFi network. This process is similar to connecting to WiFi on your computer, tablet, or phone. You'll need the network name and password, which you should have obtained in advance from your client or network administrator. Enter this information into the controller's WiFi settings.

Configuring Network Settings on the Controller

After establishing physical connectivity, you need to configure the controller's network settings to communicate with the BaseManager server.

1. Turn the controller dial to Network Settings.

2. Work through the network menus from top to bottom. If you're using an ethernet connection, you only need to configure the first two menus. The Ethernet Setup menu will be the first option.

3. Navigate to the BaseManager Server Setup menu. This is where the critical connection happens.

• Every Baseline controller comes from the factory pre-programmed with the Baseline server address. The server address is either a website URL (DNS name) or a specific IP address. Because this information is pre-programmed at the factory, you don't need to enter any server information manually.

4. In the BaseManager Server Setup menu, you'll see a box that displays the word Connect (on a fresh installation). Highlight this box and press Enter to connect.

When you press enter, the controller calls the Baseline server and identifies itself with its MAC address. The Baseline server responds by sending an authorization PIN back to the controller. This PIN will display in a large yellow box on the controller screen. Take a picture of this PIN code or write it down carefully. ⚠️You'll need this PIN to link the controller to your BaseManager account.

Adding the Controller to Your BaseManager Account

With the authorization PIN from the controller, you're ready to add the controller to your BaseManager account.

1. Sign in to your App Manager account at baselineapps.net.

2. Navigate to BaseManager, then click the menu icon (often called the "hamburger menu") and select Administration.

3. Select Administration again. This will open a secondary browser window with all the backend admin configuration settings for your App Manager account.

4. If this is a brand new site, create a new site first. A site is like a folder or bucket that will contain the controller. This step should be completed before adding the controller.

5. Go to My Controllers and select Add a New Controller.

6. In the Add a Controller screen, select your site name from the dropdown menu.

7. Enter the PIN code you received from the controller into the authorization box.

8. Review the list of users displayed. If you're adding a controller to an existing BaseManager account, these are all the users who currently have access to your account. By default, when you authorize the controller, all of these users will automatically receive access to the new controller. 

🚨If you don't want everyone to have access, you'll need to manage user permissions separately. Consider who should have access before proceeding.

9. Click Authorize Controller, then click back.

The controller will now appear in your account on your list of controllers. If you've navigated to a different screen, you can return to your controller list by hovering over My Controllers and selecting Edit My Controllers.

Setting the Time Zone

After adding the controller to your account, you must set the correct time zone. This is one of the most frequently overlooked steps and generates many support calls.

By default, every controller displays Mountain Standard Time because that's where Baseline is located. The controller doesn't know where it's physically installed, so it defaults to Mountain time. Displaying the wrong time is one of the most common issues users encounter, and it's entirely preventable.

1. In the controller settings within BaseManager, locate the time zone setting.

2. Select the appropriate time zone for the controller's physical location.

3. Click the button to save your changes. Note that the button may say Edit rather than Save, but this button saves your time zone selection.

Final Power Cycle

The last critical step is to power cycle the controller one final time. This step is required regardless of whether you're using a cell modem, WiFi, or ethernet—the connection type doesn't matter.

When a controller first connects to BaseManager, only Live View is available. Live View is the "freemium" version of BaseManager that everyone can access at no charge. The other menu options and full BaseManager features are not available until you complete this final power cycle.

1. After setting the time zone and confirming communication, power cycle the controller.

2. The controller will automatically reconnect to the server after the power cycle.

3. After reconnecting, you'll have access to the full BaseManager system with all menu options available.

Many support calls come from users who didn't complete this final power cycle step. If you only see Live View and no other menu options, the controller needs to be power cycled. Alternatively, if you only see Live View, check whether the BaseManager subscription has expired. You can click the information bubble icon at the bottom of the screen to see the subscription date. If the subscription has expired, it simply needs to be renewed.

Managing Users and Permissions

After successfully adding a controller, many users need to add additional users to the system or manage who has access to specific controllers.

If you are the company admin, you have full access to add additional users to the account through the admin panel. You can decide which controllers each user can access, giving you complete control over permissions.

Take time to explore the admin panel and familiarize yourself with all the menu settings. Don't be afraid to look around and discover what options are available. Baseline tries to give you all the power you need to set up the system in the way that works best for your organization.

Exporting Configuration Information

While there isn't a traditional print function for schedules and programs in BaseManager, you can export your current configuration data.

Inside BaseManager, you can export your current configuration into a CSV file. This export includes all current programming information, all biCoder information with corresponding descriptions (if you've entered them), and basically a complete snapshot of the entire system configuration. This gives you a way to have a printout of all programs, all devices, and their settings.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Removing a Soil Sensor with Communication Errors
If you removed a soil sensor from the field but forgot to take it out of the program first, you may see a revolving communication error with the old sensor and be unable to remove it from the system. To resolve this issue, you need to unassign the sensor from the program first, then run a search, and the sensor will disappear as an option.

This same procedure works for other devices like flow sensors. Sometimes a flow sensor fails or gets replaced but is still configured in the system. When you run a search, it still appears because it's set in the programming. You must first unconfigure it and disassociate it from anything—whether that's a program, a zone, or any other assignment. After unconfiguring it, run the search again and it should disappear as an option to select and assign.

Wrong Time Displayed
If your controller is displaying the wrong time, you need to set the time zone in BaseManager. Remember that all controllers default to Mountain Standard Time. You have full access to modify the time zone through the controller settings in your BaseManager account.

Only Live View Available
If you only see Live View and no other menu options, there are two possible causes. First, you may not have completed the final power cycle after adding the controller to BaseManager. Power cycle the controller and allow it to reconnect. Second, the BaseManager subscription may have expired. Click the information bubble at the bottom of the screen to check the subscription date.

Converting Two-Wire Systems from Other Brands

If you're converting an existing two-wire system from another brand to a Baseline system, you will need to change out the biCoders. BiCoders are proprietary to each manufacturer, so switching from one brand to another requires replacing all biCoders.

To minimize conversion costs, consider these strategies:

• Use quad (four-station) biCoders instead of single biCoders wherever possible. The cost per zone is half when using a quad biCoder compared to single biCoders.
• If another valve box is within approximately 100 feet of a biCoder location, you can use a multi-station biCoder to control multiple valves and streamline costs.
• Look for situations where valve boxes are single but located next to each other, allowing you to consolidate control with multi-station biCoders.

When retrofitting two-wire systems, carefully inspect the existing wire and assess its condition. Try to find out who installed the original system so you can get an idea of the quality that contractor typically uses in their installations. Make absolutely sure the wire is double-jacketed and not just a two-conductor single wire. Don't consider using wire that isn't double-jacketed two-wire.

Several other manufacturers make biCoder cable that's double-jacketed and will meet Baseline specifications, but always confirm it's double-jacketed, double-insulated biCoder cable before proceeding with a retrofit.

Reusing and Reassigning Cell Modems

Cell modems are fairly universal and not tied to specific controllers. There is no correlation between which controller and which cell modem—they're interchangeable. The SIM card is the critical component that determines assignment.

If you receive a cell modem back on an RMA that was previously installed, it can be reassigned to another customer as long as the SIM card is not associated with the previous customer and the previous account. Some contractors keep a cell modem that they own and move it between controllers during installation or for the first couple weeks after installation to provide communication during setup. You can then remove it and put it in another controller. Cell modems are completely universal between controllers, making them flexible tools for installation and troubleshooting.

Video Walkthrough

Video originally published October 2020.

If you have questions, here are 3 ways to get answers:

1. Search within this HydroPoint knowledgebase

2. Visit the HydroPoint support page

3. Call 800-362-8774 or email support@hydropoint.com, hours are Mon-Fri 3:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT and Sat 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT.