WeatherLink IP logger/Weathercat vs. Mac OS Monterey

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Hi All

I am looking for help fixing my  Weathercat software please.

All worked until I upgraded to Monterey (v. 12.1) a few days ago. The software sees the IP logger but will not import any data, all parameters are reported as 0 (Data is reported correctly on the  vantage vue console). The IP address is set correctly and the logger shows up normally on the network, at its assigned static IP address.

I do not get the usual ‘importing historical data’ event after I fire up the software.

 I tried resetting the logger (old, 6555 variety) as per Blic’s brilliant wiki page but this didn’t help.

I know that the 2015 MacBook, like me, is a bit too old I’m but hoping for a few more years usefulness.

Thanks in advance

Peter

[elagache]

Dear Peter and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

. . . .
All worked until I upgraded to Monterey (v. 12.1) a few days ago. The software sees the IP logger but will not import any data, all parameters are reported as 0 (Data is reported correctly on the  vantage vue console). The IP address is set correctly and the logger shows up normally on the network, at its assigned static IP address.

. . . .

Unfortunately, I'm still back on macOS Mojave and using a Davis USB data logger, so I don't have any direct experience to help you with.  However, I just noticed a pattern reported by one WeatherCat user on Monterey.

Reviewing the active macOS Monterey thread, I see that PeggyD had some trouble getting WeatherCat to work with the Silicon Labs driver at first on Monterey.  Here is that first post:

https://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=3345.msg32116#msg32116

She was forced to roll back to an earlier version of macOS.  She later upgraded a second time and finally was able to make everything work as reported in this posting:

https://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=3345.msg32143#msg32143

Her problem is with the USB driver, but she also reports problems with historical downloads.  I agree that this could just be coincidence, but perhaps there is some sort of macOS installation issue that can cause WeatherCat to not work properly with some upgrades to Monterey even with the IP data logger.

Sorry, not much help I'll admit, but perhaps something to pursue.

Edouard

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Thank you Edouard
I checked out those posts.
I have made some progress in that I am now getting the correct parameters displayed on the weathercat interface. However there is a blank rectangular box displayed at all times centrally in the display, with a horizontal black stripe at the top, not sure what this is. And it will not download historical data.
I am not sure what a silicon labs USB driver is…would it be relevant to my IP logger (Davis) which does not plug in to a USB port?
Also, 2217 comms errors are reported. Good data 18.
So I am still adrift!

[xairbusdriver]

Looks like you are making good progress!

there is a blank rectangular box displayed at all times centrally in the display, with a horizontal black stripe at the top, not sure what this is.

Could you please upload an image (screen shot) for us to see?

[WC] will not download historical data

Double-check the "Delete Log After Historical Download" is UN-checked. Note also that changing the DataLogger Interval will "clear any historical data currently in your station". Have you changed that interval recently? That download can be extremely fast if there is a relatively small amount of data. Even on your 2015 MBP, it could be so fast you don't see the text displayed unless you are looking exactly at the spot on your monitor.

would [the SiLabs driver] be relevant to my IP logger (Davis) which does not plug in to a USB port?

I would doubt it. You did say the "IP address is set correctly". I assume that means in the "Station Communications" window. Plus, you said you are now getting "correct parameters displayed on the ... interface".

2217 comms errors are reported. Good data 18.

I assume that is on bottom portion (WeatherCat Core") of the "WeatherCat Status" Window?

[elagache]

Dear Peter, X-Air, and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

X-Air, has given you some helpful advice.  If you could manage to take some screenshots that would be extremely helpful.  We might be able recognize what what this blank rectangular box should be.

. . . .
I am not sure what a silicon labs USB driver is…would it be relevant to my IP logger (Davis) which does not plug in to a USB port?
. . . .

No you have absolutely no use for the USB driver.  Indeed you connect to your station via your local area network.  However, I was concerned that there some sort of a problem in macOS Monterey itself that was interfering with both your IP data logger and those WeatherCat users using the USB data logger.  I'm extremely puzzled that PeggyD would have tried once to upgrade to Monterey and had difficulty while the second upgrade worked.  That definitely suggests issues in the operating system itself.

Please do keep us posted on your continued troubleshooting.

Edouard

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Thank you both for your very helpful replies.
I have added a screeenshot. Bizarrely the blank box has now vanished for the first time in days! I restarted for the screenshot, thinking that the box would return, but it didn’t. The comms errors are stacking up, over a few minutes they have just gone to 78.
As you will see all the parameters are zero at the moment, it seems that it takes a long while for them to display correctly.
I set the IP address in the ‘configure station comms ‘ menu.
I’m not sure which is the ‘Weathercat status window’. The comms errors are displayed on my weather station gauges window, is this the window you mean?
Where is the delete log after historical download option?
No, I havent changed the data logger interval recently, again, where is that option?
I have just heard back from a support request to Davis, who suggest I upload the IP logger firmware, I will tackle that next.
Thank you again.

[xairbusdriver]

Thanks for the followup! Please let us know how the firmware update goes.

not sure which is the ‘Weathercat status window’.

It is titled "Status" in the "Tools" menu. The actual window is labeled "WeatherCat Status". There are three divisions in that window: "FTP", "On-Line Services" and "WeatherCat Core". The info in this window is described on pages 62 & 63 in The Manual.

Where is the delete log after historical download option?
 ... where is that option?

Select the "Station Hardware Options..." item in the "Tools" menu. The top section titled "Station Datalogger" has the DataLogger Interval setting choices, just below that is the checkbox for "Delete ... After ... Download".

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Hi Again
The IP logger update was straightforward and I am now version 115, but no noticeable change in behaviour. The weather parameters are still very slow to load. I found those menus and checked them….all OK there…thanks.
The box reappeared….see attachment.
On the Davis site there is mention of an IP logger firmware update for IOS….is there a weather cat version for IOS, as opposed to Mac OS?
Peter

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Further to my last post, if I fire up activity monitor, I see that Weathercat is using a whopping 77% of CPU time, but is still not providing the goods, because after 15 minutes there is still no display of weather parameters…
See screen grab.

[xairbusdriver]

The box reappeared

Couple of suggestions:
With that "black" box showing, open your System Prefs, "Accessibility".  Select "Display" in the left-hand column and check the "Invert colors" and see if the text becomes more readable. "Increase contrast" may also help.
Also in System Prefs, you might also try looking at the "Zoom" functions, check the "Enable Hover Text" checkbox and then move your cursor over the text in that "black" box. Now, press the command key and see if the text is enlarged.
Lastly, again in System Prefs, select the "Displays" icon in and select the "Night Shift" tab.

Back to WC "Tools", use the "Log" menu to see all the notes WC has done. If you can recognize any words text in that "black" window, you can look for them in the log. That log can also tell you how often WC is actually fetching data; just look for the "Fetching data from weather station...". Immediately after one of those entries will be any data: ie; 

Temperature: 27°F  Dewpoint: 17°F  Windchill: 21°F Pressure: 30 inHg 
Av. Windspeed: 5 MPH from 11.3°  Current Conditions: Light Clouds

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Thanks….you may have cracked it…
I read the message using the increase contrast option….”WC has detected that the connection to your hardware has failed”
Then I checked out the log, which shows an ISS battery fail, so maybe that is it…I will venture on to the roof and change it…

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Maybe spoke too soon, new battery now but the faults persist and log report is the same. And a check of the ISS status prior to battery change reported it as OK. And we are in bright sunshine at the moment…..Guess the replacement battery may be a dud but it is a Duracell dated until 2024.

Attachment is screen grab  prior to battery change.

[Blicj11]

This is a LONG shot, and I do NOT think this is your issue, but I had the transmitter board in my ISS go bad and it took a LONG time to figure it out. If you don't have anything else to do, the saga is documented here.

https://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=1828.0

I suggest you go back to Davis to see if they can think of anything else you could check.

[elagache]

Dear Peter, Blick, and WeatherCat troubleshooters,

Unfortunately, the symptoms that you are describing seem very ambiguous.  If the problem was only between your ISS and your console then the communications between the console and your computer shouldn't be showing errors.  They should appear as sensor errors.  That is what appears to be displayed in your log entries.

Can you bring up the Live Data? (under the WeatherCat Tools menu 4th from the bottom.)  The tool is described on page 85 of the current WeatherCat manual.  If you are seeing most of the sensor channels reporting data errors than your problem is most likely with either the ISS transmitter board or one or more of your sensors.

Please do keep up posted on your investigations

Cheers, Edouard

[peterjenningsmd@gmail.com]

Well, the hardware options now report transmitter battery status all good, but the log shows repeated ‘DavisWLIPdriver-comms have stopped responding. I get intermittent erroneous parameters; at 10 pm here the temperature was reported as 9 degrees Centigrade on the weathercat log, when it was 1 degree.
The live data option does not mention sensor errors, but the figures are wrong from the ISS, but seem correct for the internal parameters, eg internal temperature. 7000 comms errors are reported.
Not really sure where to go now….
The console seems to be acccurate, ie external temperature reported correctly,  which I guess tends to clear the ISS of being faulty?