Wouldn't it be cool to graph - radio reception quality between ISS and console?

[elagache]

Dear Stu and WeatherCat fans of really kewl stuff! 

I was thumbing through the Davis Vantage Pro, Vantage Pro-2 and Vantage Vue Serial Communication Reference Manual trying to understand a bit more of what WeatherCat reports as sensor errors when I came across an interesting entry in the back called: Calculating ISS reception.

It describes a method by which you can use anemometer data from the Davis ISS (or dedicated anemometer transmitter) to compute the quality of transmission between the ISS (or anemometer transmitter) and the console.

This information is provided in the diagnostic controls of the console, so the only folks who would have a practical use for it are the Weather Envoy crowd.  On the other hand, the graphs of the Console are - shall we say - primitive?  While the graphing capabilities of WeatherCat are stunning!

So I toss the idea to Stu and you'all.  It is really silly in a way, but on the other hand, it would allow us WeatherCatters to put a graph on our websites that I don't think any other weather station software can provide - at least on the Mac.

Graphs like that would make WeatherCat . . .  da' kewlest of da' cool!

Tossed out for everyone's consideration . . . . . . .

  . . .  Or should I say in search of exactly how vain and decadent we are prepared to go with our beautiful graphs! . .    . . . 

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S. The method for computing the reception is at the end of the section XIV Common tasks which is page 51 on version 2.6.1 of the manual dated: March 29, 2013

P.P.S. Unfortunately, the technique uses anemometer data, so those of you with separate anemometer transmitters would be graphing that instead.

[Bull Winkus]

Good find there, Edouard! Actually, it might come in very handy for us weather catters with separate anemometer transmitters. It just might show us a decay trend for determining when we need to replace the battery. Dat guy is up on a roof. I want proof before I get on a roof!

[Blicj11]

So that's what a live weathercat looks like?

[elagache]

Dear Herb, Blick, and WeatherCat "new feature-oholics" . . . . .

It just occurred to me that there is one other group of folks who wouldn't get much out of such a graph.  If you use your console to retransmit the ISS signal then that graph would probably be pointless.  Although, it would probably lead to better bragging rights since the signal quality would be better.

Good find there, Edouard! Actually, it might come in very handy for us weather catters with separate anemometer transmitters. It just might show us a decay trend for determining when we need to replace the battery. Dat guy is up on a roof. I want proof before I get on a roof!

  . . . . Awe shucks Herb, you just need to think differently about climbing that ladder to get motivated.  After all, every time you climb that ladder, you get another battery commission!!  . . .

Cheers, Edouard 

[WCDev]

Sounds interesting - I'll add it to the list of things to look at 

[mcrossley]

That technique requires you to read the logger data. For normal running the reception stats may be a better option? The number of missed packets and bad packets are cumulative since midnight (I think they also reset when the clock is set), so a graph of the cumulative errors - or the difference over a period - could be plotted.

[Bull Winkus]

Lol! Must be, Blick! 

Edouard, I made so much commission off of you, I've retired from that. 

[elagache]

Howdy Stu, Mark, Herb, and WeatherCat "new feature-oholics" . . . . .

Sounds interesting - I'll add it to the list of things to look at 

Thanks Stu!  It isn't worth a lot of work, but the description suggested that it was straightforward.

That technique requires you to read the logger data.

Is that a problem?

For normal running the reception stats may be a better option? The number of missed packets and bad packets are cumulative since midnight (I think they also reset when the clock is set), so a graph of the cumulative errors - or the difference over a period - could be plotted.

Are those stats available from the data logger?  I wasn't aware that the reception stats from the ISS to the console were also available.  However, since I just thumbed through that manual quickly - that's hardly a surprise! 

Good find there, Edouard! Actually, it might come in very handy for us weather catters with separate anemometer transmitters. It just might show us a decay trend for determining when we need to replace the battery. Dat guy is up on a roof. I want proof before I get on a roof!

Why is your transmitter up there on the roof?  Couldn't you have extended the cable of your anemometer to bring the box down to an easier to reach location?  Is the problem that you wanted the box to get some solar exposure?

Thanks gang!

Cheers, Edouard 

[Bull Winkus]

Why is your transmitter up there on the roof?  Couldn't you have extended the cable of your anemometer to bring the box down to an easier to reach location?  Is the problem that you wanted the box to get some solar exposure?

Yes. With the front of the house facing south, there was no easy way to put the transmitter in direct sunlight with easy access from the ground. 

[xairbusdriver]

Bull, does your life insurance agent know about that ladder?!
Just hope you're good friends with that neighbor! Or that he checks what's behind him before he backs out!!! Oops!

[Bull Winkus]

Xair buddy, don't tell my insurance agent. He'll take my ladder away. Then I'll be back to stacking cinder blocks again.

My neighbor is the one holding down the bottom while I squirrel up to the top. The white knuckle part is when transitioning from ladder to roof or roof to ladder. No place to tie it off, and nothing to grab that feels solid. One of these days, I'm going to give in and buy a used industrial bucket lift (man lift). I figure, besides getting me on the roof, I can use it to give my oak trees a limbacure.