Spotter Buoy Specs | Wave Buoy Sensor Technical Data | Sofar Ocean
Spotter Platform
Spotter Buoy
Rapidly deploy the solar-powered Spotter buoy — either moored or free-drifting — to capture real-time data on waves, weather, and sea surface temperature.
Sensor Specifications
Dimensions
- Width: 42 cm (16 in)
- Height: 31 cm (12.2 in)
Weight
- 7.45 kg (16 lb 7 oz)
Connectivity
- Satellite (Iridium SBD) and Cellular
Primary Power Source
- Solar-powered, 5 × 2 Watt, 6 Volt solar panels
Battery
- Rechargeable lithium-ion, 13,400 mAh capacity, 3.7 Volts
Motion Sensing
Motion Data Format
- Easting (mm), northing, elevation, latitude, longitude
Wave Frequency Range
- 0.03 – 0.8 Hz (30 s – 1.25 s)
Wave Direction Range
- 0 – 360°
Sampling Rate
- 2.5 Hz
Wave Displacement Accuracy
- Approximately ±2 cm (accuracy depends on field of view, weather conditions, and GPS system status)
Additional Onboard Sensors
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
- Accuracy: ±0.1°C absolute
- Resolution: ±0.02°C
- Range: -5°C – 50°C
Barometer
- Accuracy: ±0.5 mbar at 25°C
- Range: 700 – 1100 mbar
Data Outputs
Standard Mode
- Significant Wave Height
- Peak Period
- Mean Period
- Peak Direction
- Mean Direction
- Peak Directional Spread
- Mean Directional Spread
- Variance Density Spectrum
- 3D Displacement Time Series
- Geographical Coordinates (lat, lon)
Data Storage
Onboard (SD Card)
- Records time series of 3D displacement data, ships with 16GB SD card (supports up to 2TB, FAT32 format required)
Cloud Storage (Online Dashboard)
- Online account includes real-time and historical data outputs, Spotter configurations, alerts, maps, and two-way communication
Misc. Specifications
System Monitoring
- Battery voltage, solar panel power, internal humidity
Firmware Updates
- USB-C and over-the-air updates (cellular only)
Advised Mooring Depth
- 5 - 300m
Usability
- Physical on/off switch, run/idle magnetic toggle, user LEDs, and integrated grab handles
Visibility Light
- 0.5s flash every 2.5s (configurable), minimum 1 mile visibility in normal conditions
Measure the Surface
Multi-Parameter Monitoring
Comprehensive measurements including waves, wind, sea surface temperature, and barometric pressure.
Scalable
Significantly lower total cost of ownership vs. traditional platforms. Easily deploy a network to maximize spatial density.
Rugged & Reliable
Engineered to operate continuously in harsh marine conditions, from polar ice to extreme heat.
Data Access & Analysis
Spotter Dashboard View real-time data and insights
API Access Retrieve data programmatically with our secure API
Onboard Storage Download data via SD card for offline analysis
Transmission Satellite and cellular options