> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mapir.gitbook.io/daq/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mapir.gitbook.io/daq/daq-e/capturing-light-sensor-data.md).

# Capturing Light Sensor Data

Recording with the DAQ-E is done in [Chloros](/daq/daq-e/daq-e-user-manual.md), the same as the DAQ-U and DAQ-M. Because the DAQ-E is a network device, you connect it once to your PoE network and Chloros finds it automatically.

## Before You Start

1. Connect the DAQ-E to a **PoE** injector or PoE switch with an Ethernet cable.
2. Make sure the computer running Chloros is on the **same network** as the DAQ-E.
3. Give the DAQ-E a moment to power up and join the network — Chloros discovers it automatically.

See [Network Setup](/daq/daq-e/network-setup.md) for IP addressing, discovery, and streaming modes, and [Time Synchronization](/daq/daq-e/time-synchronization.md) if you need spectra aligned to LATTICE camera frames.

## Recording

Chloros discovers the DAQ-E on the network, applies its onboard radiometric calibration, and records to a `.daq` file — the same self-describing format the DAQ-U and DAQ-M produce. Using the Chloros CLI, recording over Ethernet looks like this:

```
chloros-cli daq record --eth -d 60 -o ./out
```

If you have several sensors on the network, Chloros can record each one to its own `.daq` file at the same time. To measure object reflectance, pair the DAQ-E with a second sensor — one reads the ambient light while the other reads the object.

You can also record raw `.daq` files without the Chloros application using the free, open-source [Chloros Scripts](https://github.com/mapircamera/chloros_scripts) (Python, MIT licensed) — they rely only on the Python standard library, ideal for custom or embedded setups. The scripts record raw (uncalibrated) data only; Chloros is still required to calibrate and process it.

{% hint style="info" %}
This is an overview. For the complete, step-by-step software instructions — discovery, the desktop application, recording options, and reflectance — see the Chloros Manual at [docs.chloros.com](https://docs.chloros.com) *(link coming soon)*.
{% endhint %}