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Frequently asked questions

Technical Support

While we design our products to be as plug-and-play as possible, a certain level of technical competency is still required. Smithtek provides support with programming, interface configuration, and guidance on interpreting the installation manual. Installation, wiring, and on-site electrical work remain the responsibility of the installer or client. If you do run into issues, give us a call on (08) 6118 9176, we’d love to help you get back on track. IoT, telemetry, automation, it’s what we live for.

Software, Manuals & User Guides

Find user manuals, quick start guides, technical documentation and software downloads for the Mako PLC, PassPort Gateway, Smithtek.Cloud and V-NET programming environment below.

DOCUMENTS

CAPABILITY

BROCHURE

A technical capability brochure outlining Smithtek’s end-to-end telemetry architecture, including edge devices, gateways, cloud systems and deployment use cases.

MAKO v2 PLC CONTROLLER

MAKO V2 USER /

SETUP MANUAL

Complete installation, configuration and programming guide for the Mako V2 PLC, including wiring, RF setup and V-NET programming.

MAKO V2 & PASSPORT RF INTERGRATION GUIDE

Guide for configuring Mako and PassPort LoRa RF communication, Modbus integration and Smithtek.Cloud data transfer using Node-RED.

MAKO V2

DATA SHEET

A concise technical overview of the Mako V2, including specifications, IO, communications, power requirements and dimensions.

Solaris rtu rf PLC CONTROLLER

SOLARIS RTU PLC

USER GUIDE

A concise technical overview of the Solaris RF PLC, including specifications, IO, communications, power requirements and dimensions.

V-NET PLC PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE

V-NET COMPONENT

LOOKUP TABLE

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A quick reference showing V-NET components, functions, and data types to simplify program design and navigation

V-NET PROGRAMMER

FOR MAKO & SOLARIS PLC

A drag-and-drop programming environment for creating automation, control logic and communications for the Mako & Solaris RF PLC.

PassPORT internet gateway

PASSPORT

MANUAL

A practical guide covering PassPort installation, configuration, RF communications, Node-RED integration and cloud connectivity.

PASSPORT 

QUICK SETUP GUIDE

A quick start guide to get the PassPort Gateway powered, connected and communicating in minutes.

PASSPORT TO

SMITHTEK CLOUD

Instructions for connecting a PassPort Gateway to Smithtek.Cloud for real-time monitoring, control and visualisation.

CLOUD SCADA - 3DM.Space & Smithtek.Cloud

3DM.SPACE

USER GUIDE

A step-by-step guide to using 3DM.Space for monitoring, visualisation, and remote control of connected devices

SMITHTEK.CLOUD

USER GUIDE

A step-by-step guide to using Smithtek.Cloud for monitoring, visualisation, and remote control of connected devices

Tutorials & Explainer Videos

Training session for the Mako PLC and the

PassPort IGW

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
✔ Navigating V-NET
✔ Navigating Pass-Port Node Red
✔ Using MQTT & LoRa RF
✔ Interfacing a HMI SCADA

𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗼 𝗣𝗟𝗖 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴

𝗩-𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 & 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
✔ Navigating V-NET
✔ Understanding properties & tools
✔ Wiring your first flow
✔ Uploading & testing with Mako PLC

V-NET Tutorial No2, counters, timers,

delays and more

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
✔ Understanding how to use counters
✔ Understanding how to use delays
✔ Understanding how to use timers
✔ Overview of how to use sinkpins, AKA set points

V-NET Tutorial No 3, Analog inputs,

packet data visualise.

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
✔ Set up 4–20mA and 0–5V inputs
✔ Simulate level or pressure sensors
✔ Trigger outputs using value compares
✔ View live data with gauges and LEDs

NEW! Smithtek RF Node for the Mako PLC

in Node-RED

A short video introducing the new Smithtek Mako RF node for Node-RED. The nodes allow the PassPort gateway to communicate with the Mako PLC over RF or hardwired RS-485. The video covers the basics and can be used as a quick introduction or simple training guide for the new nodes.

V-NET Snapshots & Examples

Develop your skills with
Node-RED Academy

We highly recommend that all of our clients take advantage of the free training offered via the Node-RED Academy, especially if you’re working with IoT, automation or remote telemetry solutions (like those we deliver at Smithtek).

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Why it’s worth it

  • The Node-RED Academy is developed by the team behind Node‑RED and is designed to take you from beginner through to confident user. 

  • The first course, Node-RED Fundamentals is completely free and covers roughly 90 minutes of focused content. 

  • Subsequent courses (e.g., Node-RED Advanced) are available free to register and build on that foundation.

  • Completing the courses gives you shareable certification, good for your career, and for your team’s capability.

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How to get started

  1. Visit the Node-RED Academy at node-red-academy.learnworlds.com (free sign-up required). 

  2. Start with “Node-RED Fundamentals”, register, work through the lessons, and complete the recap quiz.

  3. Once completed, explore “Node-RED Advanced” and further modules.

  4. Apply what you learn: whether you’re wiring up a flow on a remote tank‐monitor, or building your next operator dashboard, this training makes your work smarter.

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Our recommendation

Because Smithtek’s solutions often integrate Node-RED flows, dashboards, and IoT systems, we strongly encourage every client + their operations/support staff to complete the Fundamentals course.

 

It ensures you:

  • Understand how flows work and can modify or troubleshoot them if needed

  • Get the most value from our deployments (e.g., the Mako PLC flows, PassPort gateway logic)

  • Can confidently engage with and customise dashboards, alerts, and automation logic

Node-RED flow based logic

​Connect with us

T: (08) 6118 9176

E: info@smithtek.com.au

A: Unit 2/13 Mackinnon Street, 

     Rockingham, WA 6168

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