diff --git a/src/pysofar/sofar.py b/src/pysofar/sofar.py
index 2673022..35ef2e7 100644
--- a/src/pysofar/sofar.py
+++ b/src/pysofar/sofar.py
@@ -574,19 +574,20 @@ def __str__(self):
 
 
 # ---------------------------------- Util Functions -------------------------------------- #
-def get_and_update_spotters(_api=None):
+def get_and_update_spotters(_api=None, _processes=None):
     """
     :return: A list of the Spotter objects associated with this account
     """
     from itertools import repeat
 
     api = _api or SofarApi()
+    processes = _processes or 16
 
     # grab device id's and query for device data
     # initialize Spotter objects
     spot_data = api.devices
 
-    pool = ThreadPool(processes=16)
+    pool = ThreadPool(processes=processes)
     spotters = pool.starmap(_spot_worker, zip(spot_data, repeat(api)))
     pool.close()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_sofar_api_class.py b/tests/test_sofar_api_class.py
index 8d41070..5ec5d60 100644
--- a/tests/test_sofar_api_class.py
+++ b/tests/test_sofar_api_class.py
@@ -1,30 +1,37 @@
 """
-This file is part of pysofar: A client for interfacing with Sofar Oceans Spotter API
+This file is part of pysofar: 
+A client for interfacing with Sofar Ocean Technologies Spotter API
 
 Contents: Tests for device endpoints
 
-Copyright (C) 2019
+Copyright (C) 2019-2023
 Sofar Ocean Technologies
 
-Authors: Mike Sosa
+Authors: Mike Sosa et al
 """
+import os
+import pytest
+
 from pysofar import wavefleet_exceptions
 from pysofar.sofar import SofarApi
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
+# try to read custom token from environment.
+# if absent, default to hard-coded value in this source module
+custom_token = os.getenv('PYSOFAR_CUSTOM_TOKEN', 'custom_api_token_here')
+custom_spotter_id = os.getenv('PYSOFAR_TEST_SPOTTER_ID', 'SPOT-30344R')
 
 # The custom token will fail to authenticate so use a mock to bypass the `_sync step`
 with patch.object(SofarApi, '_sync', return_value=None) as mock_method:
-    custom_api = SofarApi(custom_token='custom_api_token_here')
+    custom_token = os.getenv('PYSOFAR_CUSTOM_TOKEN', 'custom_api_token_here')
+    custom_api = SofarApi(custom_token=custom_token)
 
 def test_custom_api():
     # test that custom api token is set
-    assert custom_api.token == 'custom_api_token_here'
-
+    assert custom_api.token == custom_token
 
 api = SofarApi()
-latest_dat = api.get_latest_data('SPOT-0350', include_wind_data=True)
-
+latest_dat = api.get_latest_data(custom_spotter_id, include_wind_data=True)
 
 def test_get_latest_data():
     # test basic that latest_data is able to be queried
@@ -41,7 +48,7 @@ def test_get_and_update_spotters():
     from pysofar.spotter import Spotter
     from pysofar.sofar import get_and_update_spotters
 
-    sptrs = get_and_update_spotters(_api=api)
+    sptrs = get_and_update_spotters(_api=api, _processes=2)
 
     assert sptrs is not None
     assert all(map(lambda x: isinstance(x, Spotter), sptrs))
@@ -49,8 +56,8 @@ def test_get_and_update_spotters():
 
 def test_get_all_wave_data():
     # Test that all wave data is able to be queried in a time range
-    st = '2019-05-02'
-    end = '2019-07-10'
+    st = '2023-05-02'
+    end = '2023-05-10'
     dat = api.get_wave_data(start_date=st, end_date=end)
 
     assert dat is not None
@@ -61,8 +68,8 @@ def test_get_all_wave_data():
 
 def test_get_all_wind_data():
     # Test that all wind data over all time is able to be queried
-    st = '2021-05-02'
-    end = '2021-07-10'
+    st = '2023-05-02'
+    end = '2023-05-10'
     dat = api.get_wind_data(start_date=st, end_date=end)
 
     assert dat is not None
@@ -70,11 +77,10 @@ def test_get_all_wind_data():
     assert 'wind' in dat
     assert len(dat['wind']) > 0
 
-
 def test_get_all_tracking_data():
     # Test that all tracking data is able to be queried in a time range
-    st = '2021-05-02'
-    end = '2021-06-10'
+    st = '2023-05-02'
+    end = '2023-05-10'
     dat = api.get_track_data(start_date=st, end_date=end)
 
     assert dat is not None
@@ -82,13 +88,13 @@ def test_get_all_tracking_data():
     assert 'track' in dat
     assert len(dat['track']) > 0
 
-
+@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="A Spotter will return no frequency data if it was not in Waves:Spectrum")   
 def test_get_all_frequency_data():
     # Test that all frequency data is able to be queried in a time range
-    st = '2021-06-08'
-    end = '2021-06-10'
+    st = '2022-07-26'
+    end = '2022-08-04'
     dat = api.get_frequency_data(start_date=st, end_date=end)
-
+    print(dat.keys())
     assert dat is not None
     assert isinstance(dat, dict)
     assert 'frequency' in dat
@@ -96,7 +102,7 @@ def test_get_all_frequency_data():
 
 
 def test_get_all_data():
-    # Test that grabbing data from all spotters from all data types works
+    # Test that grabbing data from all Spotters from all data types works
     st = '2019-01-18'
     end = '2019-01-25'
 
@@ -112,12 +118,13 @@ def test_get_all_data():
     
 def test_get_sensor_data():
     # Test that getting sensor data in a time range works
-    spotter_id = 'SPOT-9999'
-    st = '2021-07-18'
-    end = '2021-07-19'
+    spotter_id = 'SPOT-30081D'
+    st = '2022-08-01'
+    end = '2022-08-02'
     
     dat = api.get_sensor_data(spotter_id, start_date=st, end_date=end)
     
     assert dat is not None
+    print(dat)
     assert 'sensorPosition' in dat[-1]
     
diff --git a/tests/test_spotter_class.py b/tests/test_spotter_class.py
index 4754c91..92b1d6b 100644
--- a/tests/test_spotter_class.py
+++ b/tests/test_spotter_class.py
@@ -1,23 +1,26 @@
 """
-This file is part of pysofar: A client for interfacing with Sofar Oceans Spotter API
+This file is part of pysofar: 
+A client for interfacing with Sofar Ocean Technologies Spotter API
 
 Contents: Tests for device endpoints
 
-Copyright (C) 2019
+Copyright (C) 2019-2023
 Sofar Ocean Technologies
 
-Authors: Mike Sosa
+Authors: Mike Sosa et al
 """
+import os
+import pytest
+
 from pysofar.sofar import SofarApi
 from pysofar.spotter import Spotter
 
 api = SofarApi()
 
-device = Spotter('SPOT-0350', '')
-
+device = Spotter(os.getenv('PYSOFAR_TEST_SPOTTER_ID', 'SPOT-30344R'), '', session = api)
 
 def test_spotter_update():
-    # tests the spotter updates correctly
+    # tests the Spotter updates correctly
     device.update()
 
     assert device.mode is not None
@@ -67,18 +70,17 @@ def test_spotter_edit():
 
 
 def test_spotter_mode():
-    # test the spotter mode property is set correctly
+    # test the Spotter mode property is set correctly
     device.mode = 'track'
     assert device.mode == 'tracking'
 
     device.mode = 'full'
     assert device.mode == 'waves_spectrum'
 
-
-def test_spotter_grab_data():
-    # test spotter can correctly grab data
+@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="will fail if device is not owned by the token making the request")
+def test_spotter_grab_data_with_limit():
+    # test Spotter can correctly grab data with limit
     dat = device.grab_data(limit=20)
-    print(dat)
 
     assert 'waves' in dat
     assert len(dat['waves']) <= 20
diff --git a/tests/test_wave_query_class.py b/tests/test_wave_query_class.py
index 930f8a5..4bc9808 100644
--- a/tests/test_wave_query_class.py
+++ b/tests/test_wave_query_class.py
@@ -3,16 +3,18 @@
 
 Contents: Tests for device endpoints
 
-Copyright (C) 2019
+Copyright (C) 2019-2023
 Sofar Ocean Technologies
 
-Authors: Mike Sosa
+Authors: Mike Sosa et al
 """
+import os
+
 from pysofar.sofar import WaveDataQuery
 
-st = '2019-05-02'
-end = '2019-05-10'
-q = WaveDataQuery('SPOT-0350', limit=100, start_date=st, end_date=end)
+st = '2023-05-02'
+end = '2023-05-10'
+q = WaveDataQuery(os.getenv('PYSOFAR_TEST_SPOTTER_ID', 'SPOT-30344R'), limit=100, start_date=st, end_date=end)
 q.wind(True)
 
 
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ def test_query_execute():
 
 
 def test_query_no_dates():
-    # resturned latest data first
+    # returned latest data first
     q.limit(10)
     q.clear_start_date()
     q.clear_end_date()
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ def test_query_no_dates():
 
 
 def test_query_no_start():
-    # resturned
+    # returned
     q.limit(10)
 
     q.clear_start_date()
@@ -70,18 +72,17 @@ def test_query_no_end():
     assert 'waves' in response
     assert 'wind' in response
 
-# TODO: need to get a viable spotter for testing
-# def test_query_surface_temp():
-#     q.surface_temp(True)
-#     q.limit = 10
-#
-#     q.clear_end_date()
-#     response = q.execute()
-#     q.set_start_date(st)
-#
-#     assert response is not None
-#     assert isinstance(response, dict)
-#
-#     assert 'waves' in response
-#     assert 'wind' in response
-#     assert 'surfaceTemp' in response
+def test_query_surface_temp():
+    q.surface_temp(True)
+    q.limit = 10
+
+    q.clear_end_date()
+    response = q.execute()
+    q.set_start_date(st)
+
+    assert response is not None
+    assert isinstance(response, dict)
+
+    assert 'waves' in response
+    assert 'wind' in response
+    assert 'surfaceTemp' in response