Failure to Communicate: Davis VantagePro2 and new MacMini

[saerc]

I'm still in Trial mode and don't want to spend money if I can't get this working. The VantagePro2 is working because we had it functioning with different weather software. At start-up WeatherCat seems to immediately recognize the unit and StationPludinManager names the VP2 (trying to connect) stops half way and reports Weather Station Not Found-  Click OK and the Station Communication Set-up appears. Station Type pre-filled to the the Davis model. Comms Port is set to Bluetooth-PDA-Sync (changing to Bluetoth Modem doesn't work either) Click Done--"Testing?this can take a few minutes" Then the error window with "No Weather Station Found" appears, with several suggestions, none of which seem to work.
Like the look of the software and the features, but that's not enough.
thanks

[elagache]

Dear Saerc,

Most likely you have an out-of-date driver for the Davis Station.  The instructions on downloading the latest driver can be found on the WeatherCat Wiki:

http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php/Obtaining_the_latest_drivers_for_use_with_Davis_data_loggers

You should be able to download the drivers at this link for Silicon Labs:

http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx

The latest version is: 3.1

In addition, the Wiki has a number of other troubleshooting tips that can get you out of most other jams involving Davis hardware.

http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php/Davis

Hope that's enough to get you unstuck and hopefully make you love WeatherCat as much as the rest of us! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[saerc]

Thanks Edouard, I was hoping it was something like that. Just needed the right place to look. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until Thursday to try out your suggestion but I will report back.
John

[WCDev]

Hi John,
Once you've installed/updated the driver, select it in the communications window in WeatherCat (see attached screenshot) - you should then be good to go.

[elagache]

Howdy Stu, John and WeatherCat fans,

Hmm, Stu that's the second time you've had to add that screenshot to a post in order to help somebody out  . . . . . . .  therefore,

It probably should be included in the WeatherCat Wiki entry about it.

So I went ahead and did just that! 

http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php/Obtaining_the_latest_drivers_for_use_with_Davis_data_loggers

Hopefully that will save all of us a little time!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[saerc]

Thanks all, I managed to get in early yesterday to try out the newest driver. I was on the right track, I had copied and installed the old driver from our previous set up. Installed the new driver, and just as CDEv suggested, the new communication option was in the drop down. Instant success. Nice to have a friendly and helpful community. I will take full advantage of the Wiki as well in the future. And now?back to my pancakes with fresh wild Nova Scotia Blueberries. Yum!
You can keep an eye on our site for the new weather cat station report, (may need help with that as well) the old one is still evident.
John Stub
http://saerc.tv

[WCDev]

Thanks Edouard 

[Blicj11]

I am just starting my 14-day trial period and I am also having trouble with WeatherCat finding my VP2. I am using the Davis WeatherLink IP data logger. When I select the Vantage, the IP address field is greyed out and won't let me enter the address. When I select the WeatherLink I.P. as the weather station, I can enter the IP address, but WeatherCat is unable to find it. I have successfully connected to it with another weather app (which is now turned off) so I know my IP address is correct. I called Davis and my VP2 is an older model that will not allow any firmware updates. As far as I know there are no drivers to update for the IP data logger. Any suggestions?

[elagache]

Dear Blicj11 and WeatherCat fans,

I am just starting my 14-day trial period and I am also having trouble with WeatherCat finding my VP2. I am using the Davis WeatherLink IP data logger. When I select the Vantage, the IP address field is greyed out and won't let me enter the address. When I select the WeatherLink I.P. as the weather station, I can enter the IP address, but WeatherCat is unable to find it. I have successfully connected to it with another weather app (which is now turned off) so I know my IP address is correct. I called Davis and my VP2 is an older model that will not allow any firmware updates. As far as I know there are no drivers to update for the IP data logger. Any suggestions?

Sorry, may not be able to give you a lot of help, but here are a few thoughts.  Are you sure that the address of the IP data logger wasn't changed?  One way this can happen is if you have an Home IP router and the Davis logger isn't on the same subnet.  One way to make sure you have the IP address correct is to simply type that IP address into your web browser and see if the Davis station comes up.  It has a tiny web server built into that you can use to do basic configuration.

Another trick is to solve the problem from the other direction.  There is software called network scanners.  One such program that Stu has recommended is Angry IP Scanner:

http://angryip.org/w/Download

If you run it, it will give you a list of all the IP devices on your network.  If the Davis IP logger can be reached from your computer it should be listed.

I'm one of the Davis guys with a USB logger so this is just advice I recall from other trouble-shooting sessions.  Hopefully someone else with the IP logger will chime in with more troubleshooting tips.

Cheers, Edouard 

[Blicj11]

Thanks for responding Edouard. I had already done all of that. Eventually, after I sat there for 30 minutes, without doing anything whilst I was thinking about what else to try, it actually connected and I have been able to proceed. I guess it pays to be patient.