Finally here is a graph that illustrates the period of the outage:
(http://www.canebas.org/misc/Voila_images/Cooling%20graph%202015-03-06.jpg)
Edouard, is that the only chart parameter that drops out?
Speaking as a complete 'noobie', that signal strength value could be a useful number. I doubt that that value is recorded anywhere. It would be really helpful if you could no that value the next time you have the problem.
Perhaps more useful suggestion, would be to create an AppleScript that could alert you with a sound when this happens.
I'm thinking (uhoh) that your best clue might be the consistency in the time of occurrence, as you originally thought. However, interpreting it as a temperature trigger is still open to question. A cold solder joint could be affected by temperature in such a consistent manner.
Or, there might be an unrelated high powered harmonic frequency causing interference, such as an illegal ham radio or CB radio being used at the same time.
. . . .
Look around your neighborhood. Any new antennas gone up since this started?
I've gone 3 days without a problem using the station console.
Good news on the console then? U/S Envoy?
I think I'd give it a few more days before shelling out for another Envoy. I don't suppose Davis could service it?
I'm also surprised the battery is draining when plugged into the mains. Having said that, console batteries also lose their voltage even though plugged into the mains adaptor, so maybe they have some weird power management going on...
If I have to pay a Davis tech to work on this thing am I going to save any money?
If I have to pay a Davis tech to work on this thing am I going to save any money?
Ask them how much they would charge to look at it.
It sounds like you are inching closer to the finish line on this.
Is your Davis Cabled or wireless?
We had no power outages during the 18 days when the ISS board managed to consume 0.1 volts out of a 123 battery.
Since you guys have been so helpful, I just wanted to pass along <a link (http://www.batteryjunction.com/panasonic-cr123a-1200qty.html)> to those who might be needing lots of those batteries. I think $ 11,520 for 9,600 Panasonic batteries is a pretty good deal! And the shipping is FREE!! [cheer] They may offer a cash & carry discount, also... 8)
Perhaps he meant that the battery or super cap would never be used as long as AC power was available. :) As most of us learned, "assuming" things is a great way to create confusion! :P
"Cheer up!"
"Oops! :o I thought you said, 'Gear up'!" :-[
It is wireless. If it was cabled I couldn't have the problems I'm struggling with. It is the station transmitter that is having the power supply switching "abnormalities."I'm a bit (OK, a LOT) confused. What does the AC Adaptor have to do with the wireless board on the ISS? I thought the only adaptor for the wireless model was for the Console (or the data logger, if used). I think there is a jack for the power/communications cable on all the Vantage models, however. Of course, I don't even have physical access to the thing, so consider the source! :-[
QuoteIt is wireless. If it was cabled I couldn't have the problems I'm struggling with. It is the station transmitter that is having the power supply switching "abnormalities."I'm a bit (OK, a LOT) confused. What does the AC Adaptor have to do with the wireless board on the ISS? I thought the only adaptor for the wireless model was for the Console (or the data logger, if used). I think there is a jack for the power/communications cable on all the Vantage models, however. Of course, I don't even have physical access to the thing, so consider the source! :-[
Hey, I recognize one of Herb's batteries in your photo.
This has got to be driving you bonkers. I guess you still have hope that Davis will catch something when they look at that board you sent them. Hang in there.
AhHA! You added the AC adaptor while I wasn't paying attention! ::) I obviously missed that logical plan for trouble-shoting. That's not exactly fair to Herb, however...
1. Is the 'power adaptor' just a small 'wall wart' that plugs into a standard AC receptical? If so, is it warm/hot to the touch?
2. Did you have the 'battery eating' problem before adding the extra temp/humidity sensor?
3. Is it possible to get another cable for that sensor?
4. Can Davis tell us what would happen if any cable had an intermittent short?
5. Are the cable connectors the standard RJ45 type?
Please write your answers on the back of $20 bills and mail to the address I'll PM you. [lol2]
PS: if needed, you can use $10 bills. You're welcome! ::)
that cannot be the problemNever say "never" (or "cannot").
That sort of thing should be happening at any time of day.Likewise, "should be" are the two most over-used, and connected words in the English language (and I suspect all others)! I always loved "intermittent" problems in the airplane. Maintenance loved them even more. Write up: "Engine 'intermittently' flames out". Maintenance write off:"Intermittently corrected." [lol] Changes in temperature and humidity are often causes for intermittent shorts and other problems. Especially in buried cables. With low voltages, it may simply drain a battery/capacitor or cause signal noise. With high voltages, you can usually smell the burning house! :o
You - still - haven't paid our consulting fees yet!Oops! I just missed the mailman today! I want to hand-deliver the letter to him, to be sure he gets it. OTOH, his truck caught fire a few weeks ago, so that might not be the safest way to get your check to you... I'll go look for my check book, in the mean time... I know it's around here somewhere! [bounce]
WeatherCat reports errors only on the temperature and wind speed only, and has always been consistent in that.And those cables were also "spliced"? Exactly how did you "splice" the cable; by crimping on a new male or female connector or by cutting the individual wires?
Since the temperature/humidity probe is brand new. It seems extremely unlikely that brand new piece of equipment would behave like the old oneIs it using a new cable? I assume it comes with a short one which is why you needed to "splice" them, assuming you even did that on this particular cable.
[behavior is duplicated] when station transmission stops by removing the battery and unplugging the AC adapter.Returning to my first quotation, are you saying that the "temperature and wind speed" are the only sensors that stop transmitting when you remove these two power sources?! Are you saying that solar power is not enough, even with Sunlight, but without the battery and AC? Or are you saying that the Super Cap/Solar power can run all the other sensors except the temp and wind speed?
QuoteWeatherCat reports errors only on the temperature and wind speed only, and has always been consistent in that.
And those cables were also "spliced"? Exactly how did you "splice" the cable; by crimping on a new male or female connector or by cutting the individual wires?
QuoteSince the temperature/humidity probe is brand new. It seems extremely unlikely that brand new piece of equipment would behave like the old oneIs it using a new cable? I assume it comes with a short one which is why you needed to "splice" them, assuming you even did that on this particular cable.
Quote[behavior is duplicated] when station transmission stops by removing the battery and unplugging the AC adapter.Returning to my first quotation, are you saying that the "temperature and wind speed" are the only sensors that stop transmitting when you remove these two power sources?!
My simplest suggestion is to change the station/Console ID's and watch/wait. That only requires a dip switch change and probably entering the Console/Envoy settings. But it will rule out the possibility of another station on the same ID. Apparently, the freq is not adjustable, only way to differentiate one transmitter from another is with the 8 different IDs probably assigned to each data packet.
Your station has been in the elements for over 5 years. Mechanical connections can corrode/oxidize with just humidity. That would include the RJ connectors, of course. The battery contacts are relatively easy to clean, the RJ one could be difficult, but it's another possibility you can eliminate with a little elbow grease.
I'm not sure the drain you are seeing is anything more than what you'd see in a battery sitting on a shelf in your house.
OK. Thanks for the update. Since you now have the original board in the ISS, at least look at the battery contacts with the battery out. It should not hurt to lightly us a rubber (pencil) eraser on them and the battery itself.
Sorry I can't help. :'(
maybe you could talk some friend into starting his own weather station and letting you use hisI'll volunteer Herb's! I'm just a newcomer wanting to help you guys out... 8) :o ;D I'll even see if I can get a FedEx discount for you! (oops. there's no "You're Welcome" smilie! :'( )
This would be amazing if it turns out to have been an interference problem all along!
I thinks it is time for a wal;k to see if you can find that new station
Another transmitter with the same ID is definitely a problem, unless the two of you want to "combine" your data...
⅛ of a mile is well within the range Davis claims. As I understand it.
The Envoy is simply a repeater to the Console, therefore, the data logger is in the Console.
If that assumption is true, you should be able to take the Envoy to the general area of that other Station and determine exactly what ID it is using. That seems to be the easiest way to narrow down the problems; eliminating things you can control or affect. ;)
Check that warranty thing for info about customer perseverance... you've shown enough of that to earn a new data logger, not just an upgraded one! [rockon] [cheer]
In the meantime I'm stuck without WeatherCat
I haven't gotten any emails even if they have the old data logger already.Not sure what you mean. I think you said they had received the old logger back in post #69. I thought they said it was an old one and they didn't normally "update" them, anyway. So they probably just put in the circular file. Are you expecting them to notify you of the status of the old logger, other than its arrival?
Just ask them for the tracking number and the shipper; it may be a free exchange, but they should give you that info.
All these mechanical drives working hard at once, perhaps they do produce enough EMI to interfere with the signal from the console.
Aluminum foil, I tell ya! More aluminum foil!!! Don't forget to completely cover the monitor, either! [rockon] [tup]
Aluminum foil, I tell ya! More aluminum foil!!! Don't forget to completely cover the monitor, either! [rockon] [tup]
Holy sensor errors Batman! When is this ornery thing going to be identified? Sorry for your frustration.
It's been a while since I've read anything about the major weather disaster in California, and I'm not talking about the water shortage... the last report from Edouard is now a month old! Can we safely assume that his hardware is now operating normally? [cheer] Or, has his problem infected more of the web, even <Apple (http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/06/02/icloud-itunes-again-hit-with-global-outages-impacting-important-services)> specifically?!! :o
I'm certain now this is some sort of radio interference problem.Portable wireless house phones? Cross talk with cables around the hardware? I have a pertty good sized 'rats nest' behind my stuff... I think I may just buy some stock in Reynolds Wrap... and don't ever watch NASA TV!
Portable wireless house phones? Cross talk with cables around the hardware? I have a pertty good sized 'rats nest' behind my stuff... I think I may just buy some stock in Reynolds Wrap... and don't ever watch NASA TV!
Interesting discovery. Let us know if this cures all that ails your patient.
What was the drive connected to? USB 2.0, Firewire, Firewire 800, USB 3.0, or Thunderbolt?
That reminded me that using the higher numbered Davis device IDs were more likely to have this sort of problem.
That reminded me that using the higher numbered Davis device IDs were more likely to have this sort of problem.
Interesting. Davis tech support told me to use the higher numbers in trying to sort out my issue in the companion thread. Does anyone have the actual frequencies used by each ID? I can only find the range used by all 8 IDs. I was told that very old wireless telephones can conflict with ID#4.
The range for all IDs, which you already have, is copied below from the ISS Installation Manual.
902 - 928 MHz FHSS for North America
868.0 -868.6 MHz FHSS for overseas versions: EU, UK, and OV
Old 900 MHz phones are a problem for it in the US, it appears.
Part 97.303
A: 902.000 - 904.000 Non-Multilateration
B: 904.000 - 909.750 Multilateration
C: 909.750 - 919.750 Non-Multilateration
D: 919.750 - 921.750 Multilateration and Non-Multilateration
E: 921.750 - 927.250 Multilateration
F: 927.250 - 927.500 Narrow band associated with sub-band E
G: 927.500 - 927.750 Narrow band associated with sub-band D
H: 927.750 - 928.000 Narrow band associated with sub-band B
So my guess: the individual channels are probably mapped digitally onto the same frequency using Davis's proprietary communications protocol.
Part 97.303
A: 902.000 - 904.000 Non-Multilateration
B: 904.000 - 909.750 Multilateration
C: 909.750 - 919.750 Non-Multilateration
D: 919.750 - 921.750 Multilateration and Non-Multilateration
E: 921.750 - 927.250 Multilateration
F: 927.250 - 927.500 Narrow band associated with sub-band E
G: 927.500 - 927.750 Narrow band associated with sub-band D
H: 927.750 - 928.000 Narrow band associated with sub-band B