Does WeatherCat need WeatherLink to communicate to Davis Vantage Vue

[elagache]

Dear southwye, Blick, and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

My original vantage pro gave up the ghost several years ago and not being able to afford a replacement I resorted to good old pen and paper.

Now with the funds to do so I thought it would be a simple task to swap over the two consoles.
. . . .

As Blick has said, we will need more information to properly diagnose your problem.  However, I have a hunch.  So Davis replaced your console?  If so, did you attempt to use the data logger that originally came with the old console?  If I remember correctly, there is a change in the consoles that makes the old data logger incompatible.  You might try calling Davis technical support.  I had the same problem when I replaced my Weather Envoy and Davis allowed me to purchase a new data logger at a considerable discount.  Here is the technical support number:

(510) 732-7814

Please do keep us posted on your investigations.

Cheers, Edouard

[southwye]

Thank you for your speedy reply.


Mac - 27in late 2015 model
OS latest Big Sur update 11.5
 Silabs latest usb driver as per Weathercat linked page
Vantage pro 2 including console and weather link usb dongle
Weathercat 3.12

Having swapped out the console and restarted the computer and new console - the normal console boot up occurred and the Weathercat logo in the dock was replaced by a red weather value.

I then applied the new driver thinking that Big sur required the replacement.

The outcome was the same - no error message, just a red weather value.

I hope this helps.

Many thanks

Mike

[southwye]

Further to my last message

I purchased the Vantage Pro 2 along with the latest dongle last week.

[Blicj11]

What is the red weather value in your dock?
Does it ever change?
In WeatherCat Preferences Units/Misc 1, which boxes do you have checked in the Dock Icon Shows section?
Please verify the colour you have selected in that section is red.
How many seconds is in your Dock Icon Update Time?
I have attached a screen shot of the boxes about which I am inquiring.

[southwye]

The value in the dock steps  through each of the selected values - all show red


Default colour for all data - black

[southwye]

Further info:

Weather link 6510USB
Vantagepro 2 6152UK

[Blicj11]

Are the values in the dock correct?

Try changing the default dock colour to yellow and see if it changes to Yellow in your Dock or stays Red.

[southwye]

Sorry to report that chnging colour does not change the dock colour NOR do the values shown reflect current weather conditions.


mike

[elagache]

Dear Mike, Blick, and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

. . . .
Having swapped out the console and restarted the computer and new console - the normal console boot up occurred and the Weathercat logo in the dock was replaced by a red weather value.

. . . .

Do you have any normal weather reporting windows coming up at all?  Is there the standard or custom gauges?

There are two diagnostic tools you can check.  WeatherCat as a log window  (Tools menu -> Log)  Most error messages that aren't so critical as to cause WeatherCat to shutdown will be displayed there.  The second tool to check is the Live Data (Tools -> Live Data).  It is almost completely at the bottom of the menu.  If there are any problems getting data from your weather instruments they will be reported in the Live Data window.

I assume that the console is working fine and what it is displaying looks like correct data to you.

Please do keep us posted on what you discover.

Cheers, Edouard

[southwye]

Good morning Edouard

I attach the error log from Weather cat
Live data shows instruments as being invalid

Console is showing correct weather data

On start up Weathercat briefly shows a display of station gauges with no readings.

Cheers,

Mike

[elagache]

Dear Mike and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

. . . . .
I attach the error log from Weather cat
Live data shows instruments as being invalid

Console is showing correct weather data
. . . . .

Your console log indicates that you have selected the Davis IP data driver.  However, you have a Davis USB data logger.  You might have selected the wrong driver and that could cause your problems.  Go back to the Configure Station Comms option of the Tools menu.  It will ask you if you want to reset the communications parameters and that WeatherCat has to quit to do that - follow those instructions.  Then restart WeatherCat and it should bring up a dialog box allowing you to reset the communication parameters.  Unfortunately, the manual does not have exactly what that screen should look like, but you can find more information in the manual starting on page 20.  Under the USB driver, you should be able to choose the option: dev/cu/SLAB_USBtoUART  That would confirm that you are selecting the Davis USB driver.

If the procedure above doesn't solve your problem, there is one more thing to try.  You might try removing and reseating the USB data logger in the console.  This is a sensitive operation so remove the AC adapter, the batteries, and do this in a place with low risk of static electricity (putting the console on a piece of aluminum foil is a good precaution.)  Remove the data logger and as an extra precaution, you might try cleaning the contacts with a regular pencil eraser.  If you do that carefully blow away any eraser residue.  The same trick can be done on the console with the same precautions.  Finally, put the data logger and make sure it is firmly seated.  Yes, this is something of an extreme effort, but we have had people suffer from the same problem as you and all the problem was poorly seated data logger.

Let us know if either procedure finally gets you finally back in business.

Cheers, Edouard

[southwye]

Thank you Edouardo and all those who offered assistance,

I amended the parameters as suggested and then for good measure disconnected all the hardware.   Connected everything again and rebooted my Mac and pulled up Weathercat - everything is now doing what it should.

I had forgotten how friendly and supportive this group has been in the past.

Thank you once again.

Mike

[elagache]

Dear Mike and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

Thank you Edouard and all those who offered assistance,

You are most welcome! 

I amended the parameters as suggested and then for good measure disconnected all the hardware.   Connected everything again and rebooted my Mac and pulled up Weathercat - everything is now doing what it should.

That's what we like around here!  Happy endings! 

I had forgotten how friendly and supportive this group has been in the past.

Well we aim to please, but the real credit goes to the reliability of WeatherCat itself.  Thankfully, most users don't need the forum because WeatherCat runs so well! 

Glad your weather station is back in full operation!

Cheers, Edouard 

[Blicj11]

I love it when a WeatherCatter finds a solution!