Author Topic: How to update WS-2902A firmware?  (Read 1347 times)

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Offline renormalize

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How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« on: March 01, 2019, 01:03:31 PM »
I recently installed a new Ambient Weather WS-2902A station. During initial setup with the awnet Android app I took the opportunity to update the firmware to v4.1.1 using the update button. Now I see according to this forum that newer firmware versions are available up through v4.5.6. Unfortunately, my awnet app does not currently show any "Upgrade Firmware to x.x.x" button. So how do I go about updating my firmware from v4.1.1 to the latest version?

Offline Platokidd

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2019, 04:26:09 PM »
I have WS-2902A and I did update  to V4.1.1 through the awnet app weeks ago. Not since then have I seen any other updates.
Maybe the update is not for this pws??
Ambient
1-WS-5000 1-WS-2902A 2-WS40/RAIN 1-WH31L 
1-METEOBRIDGE 1-PM2.5 (WH41B) 3-WH31 1-SRX100LX

ECOWITT
2-HP2550 2-HP2560 2-GW2000 2-GW1100
2-WS68 1-WS80 1-WH32EP 10-WH31 1-WH40
1-HP10 2-WH45 4-WH55 5-WH51
1-WN30 1-WH41

1-DAVIS 7714
1-STRATUS
1-Fisher Barometer 1436R-22
PWS at 2 locations.
1- Storm Sensor-Zelda the dog ;)

Offline renormalize

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2019, 05:25:14 PM »
Maybe the update is not for this pws??

Yes, I believe you're right and I misunderstood. I think that the latest firmware updates must only be intended for the more sophisticated WS-2000 console.

Offline galfert

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2019, 02:14:28 PM »
The confusion is that the firmware that you read version 4.5.6 is not for the WS-2902A console. It is for the ObserverIP. That thread that mentions the firmware for the ObserverIP is also a thread that talks about using the WS-2902A outdoor sensor array with the ObserverIP as the console.

Some of the Ambient Weather (Fine Offset clones) have interchangeable components to create a new weather station with different capabilities. If you mix and match some of these components then you match what some complete kits get sold as with their own model name. But the components are still the same, so you can add components from a slightly different complete kit and end up with new capabilities.

The WS-2902A is two parts. The outdoor sensor array called WS-2902A sensor or also called Osprey sensor or WS-2902-ARRAY or also called WH65B. The other part is the console called the WS-2902A-CONSOLE.

For example:
  • WS-2902A = WS-2902-ARRAY + WS-2902A-CONSOLE
  • WS-2000 = WS-2902-ARRAY + WS-2000-C + WH32B
  • WS-1900 = WS-2902-ARRAY + WS-1900-CONSOLE
  • WS-1550-IP = WS-2902-ARRAY + ObserverIP + WH32B ....technically it doesn't come with the WH32B but you need to add it

So if you start with a WS-2902A but later decide that you want the functionality offered by the ObserverIP console you can add just that part and keep using your existing display also. So the thread you read about the ObserverIP firmware mentions the WS-2902A because it uses the same outdoor sensor array as what you have. The firmware is for the console parts only.

You can also create a station with parts that are not sold together...

For example:
WS-2902-ARRAY + ObseverIP + WS-1000-BTH (these parts never sold as a kit... thus has no complete model name)

This last example works but that configuration was never sold. It is basically a WS-1550-IP with a WS-1000-BTH instead of WH32B. So it is using the older version of the WH32B...which works....it just has older sensor but the signal it sends is the same.

And there is no limitation of how many of these components you can have. Some people started off with a WS-1400-IP which is:
WS-1400-IP = WS-1001-ARRAY + ObserverIP + WS-1000-BTH
Then those people when their outdoor array dies instead of replacing like for like outdoor array they can just buy a new WS-2902-ARRAY and they are back in business without having to buy a complete new station and they don't have to replace with the old sensor array that is now superseded by a newer better version which is the WS-2902-ARRAY.

I have the following components, and yes, they all work at the same time as one station with all these different parts:
WS-2902A-ARRAY + WS-2000-CONSOLE + WS-2902-CONSOLE + ObserverIP + ObserverIP + WH32B (yes 2x ObserverIP devices ...to run different firmware and capture data sent to other network server).

The following are just consoles. You can have any number of these with one WS-2902-ARRAY as you want:
  • WS-2902A-CONSOLE
  • WS-2000-CONSOLE
  • WS-1900-C (same as WS-2902A-CONSOLE but no Internet capabilities...good cheap extra display)
  • ObserverIP

* The advantage of having an ObserverIP is that it can then send data to a WeatherBridge which is an Ambient branded Meteobridge. You can also do other things with an ObserverIP like run it with old firmware that supports telnet (to modify internal WU server settings) and then send data directly to a WeeWx server without need of complicated network traffic interception. You can also run non-Ambient firmware on the ObserverIP like from Aercus (which works even though the frequencies are different).
« Last Edit: March 15, 2019, 12:12:33 AM by galfert »
Ecowitt GW1000 | Meteobridge on Raspberry Pi
WU: KFLWINTE111  |  PWSweather: KFLWINTE111
CWOP: FW3708  |  AWEKAS: 14814
Windy: pws-f075acbe
Weather Underground Issue Tracking
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Offline renormalize

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2019, 02:40:40 PM »
Thank you galfert for your explanation.

Offline Platokidd

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2019, 12:46:52 PM »
Okay good to know! I'm just a rookie here still trying to wrap my head around all this.

So if I got this right,  to add another console to my pws for viewing I could just buy these items in blue. Think Im leaning to  the 2000 console.

WS-2000 = WS-2902-ARRAY + WS-2000-C + WH32B
WS-1900 = WS-2902-ARRAY + WS-1900-CONSOLE

Now, will this be a problem with  2000 console uploading second time to the internet?? As in having to 2 reads for one station.
Where can I find best prices on these items?
« Last Edit: March 03, 2019, 12:49:36 PM by platokidd »
Ambient
1-WS-5000 1-WS-2902A 2-WS40/RAIN 1-WH31L 
1-METEOBRIDGE 1-PM2.5 (WH41B) 3-WH31 1-SRX100LX

ECOWITT
2-HP2550 2-HP2560 2-GW2000 2-GW1100
2-WS68 1-WS80 1-WH32EP 10-WH31 1-WH40
1-HP10 2-WH45 4-WH55 5-WH51
1-WN30 1-WH41

1-DAVIS 7714
1-STRATUS
1-Fisher Barometer 1436R-22
PWS at 2 locations.
1- Storm Sensor-Zelda the dog ;)

Offline galfert

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2019, 01:04:03 PM »
platokidd,
Yes you can add either of those console items in blue. The reason for the WH32B with the WS-2000-C is because it doesn't have built in indoor Temperature, Humidity, and Pressure as the WS-2902-CONSOLE and the WS-1900-CONSOLE. So the WS-2000-C gets that data from the WH32B.

No matter how many consoles you have you should only configure each online service to receive uploads from just one of your consoles. Each console may treat each service a bit differently and so you can mix and match which console is responsible for uploading to each service.

For example I have a preference for Weather Underground. The WS-2902A and the WS-2000 each report rain rate using a different method. I prefer the way the WS-2902A reports rain rate. So for me the WS-2902A reports to Weather Underground.
UPDATE: The newest WS-2000 firmware gives it instant rain rate method like the WS-2902A. So I now can use the WS-2000 for WU.

The WS-2000 is capable of extra sensors. So for AmbientWeather.net I prefer the WS-2000 as then I can make use of the extra sensors.

I have not found a difference between them for WeatherCloud.

The ObserverIP is my least favorite as it is delayed the most. It only uploads every 30 seconds to Weather Underground. So I just use my ObserverIP to feed my Meteobridge which then it sends to a few more sites including CWOP, PWSweather, AWEKAS and WOW and more.

Yes AmbientWeather.net is capable of sending to PWSweather also....but I prefer the Meteobridge to send there because I can change the upload interval to 10 minutes where the graphs then look better than having 1 minute uploads and their graphs are terrible and look like chicken scratch if you upload every 1 minute as is the case when AmbientWeather.net sends data there.

So just make sure that each service is only getting data from one console. If you do this though you'll want to make sure they are all calibrated to show the same data. Which can be a bit of a challenge but I manged to do it. Just be patient and realized that each console will show trends differently. Meaning I've seen that the WS-2902A updates its sensors more quickly...so they aren't gong to match 100% but if you were to graph them you would notice that the lines overlap and they are tracking the same.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2019, 11:17:19 AM by galfert »
Ecowitt GW1000 | Meteobridge on Raspberry Pi
WU: KFLWINTE111  |  PWSweather: KFLWINTE111
CWOP: FW3708  |  AWEKAS: 14814
Windy: pws-f075acbe
Weather Underground Issue Tracking
Tele-Pole

Offline galfert

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Re: How to update WS-2902A firmware?
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2019, 01:19:01 PM »
I should clarify that you can actually have each console send to the same online service as long as it is for a different station ID. For example with Weather Underground for me to do simultaneous testing and comparison of the consoles I set up a separate ID for each console and I placed them on the WU map near me but not on top of a neighbor's house. I put them on the map in the woods nearby. You also want them far enough apart so that they aren't on top of each other - 500 ft apart works well.

For AmbeintWeather.net all the consoles can send there because they automatically upload to their own MAC address related device under that service.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2019, 01:21:06 PM by galfert »
Ecowitt GW1000 | Meteobridge on Raspberry Pi
WU: KFLWINTE111  |  PWSweather: KFLWINTE111
CWOP: FW3708  |  AWEKAS: 14814
Windy: pws-f075acbe
Weather Underground Issue Tracking
Tele-Pole