Author Topic: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter  (Read 3453 times)

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Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #50 on: April 13, 2019, 02:05:55 PM »
Thank you very much for the response! I haven't been more excited about getting something up and running related to Davis in quite some time. 

I did everything in your message except the 2nd high power entry  (the void statement one). I decided to start from scratch, so I unzipped a brand new set of files and made all the changes per your message. I am still getting the same thing happening. To better explain it, all the numbers are zero when I boot up the console and go to the diagnostic screen. When data starts being received, it starts at 100% and then immediately to 50, and then 33, and it just drops down to there and ends up at 5 or 6%

I think I have it set up correctly for the most part. I let it run all last night and an outside temperature showed on the console but it wasn't updating, but a good packet or 2 must have made there way in there at some point overnight. When I look at the serial info, it looks like everything is working as it is supposed to.

Any other thoughts on anything I could be missing or should check?

Thanks Again!!!


1578423100   T   85-00-00-2E-CD-00-6A-EE-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   38   -   -   2937452   ok   -   -   temp   74.8 (23.8)
1578443584   R   52-00-00-FF-71-00-C3-1B-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   16   -82   6   2689892   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1581133492   R   A2-00-00-16-3D-00-E8-62-FF-FF   3   168492656/3926025225/2466393097/187.2   17   -76   6   2689908   ok   -   -   hum   79.0
1581298188   T   E5-00-00-35-05-00-19-99-FF-FF   6   ---------/----------/----------/----   39   -   -   2875088   ok   -   -   rain   53
1583111596   R   97-00-00-00-05-00-F9-10-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   6   -40   1   1978104   ok   -   -   gust   -
1583823352   R   82-00-00-2A-1D-00-6B-48-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   18   -75   6   2689860   ok   -   -   temp   67.3 (19.6)
1584173264   T   55-00-00-FF-75-00-0B-5A-FF-FF   6   ---------/----------/----------/----   40   -   -   2920644   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1586114008   R   87-00-00-2E-C9-00-E1-AE-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   7   -39   2   3002412   ok   -   -   temp   74.8 (23.8)
1586513216   R   E2-00-00-35-01-00-D1-D8-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   19   -75   6   2689864   ok   -   -   rain   53
1587048264   T   65-00-00-38-05-00-8F-E8-FF-FF   6   ---------/----------/----------/----   41   -   -   2911864   ok   -   -   solar   394
1589116668   R   E7-00-00-80-05-00-87-D6-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   8   -40   2   3002660   ok   -   -   rain   -
1589923260   T   85-00-00-2E-CD-00-6A-EE-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   42   -   -   2903412   ok   -   -   temp   74.8 (23.8)
1591892988   R   A2-00-00-16-3D-00-E8-62-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   21   -76   6   5379772   ok   -   -   hum   79.0
1592119372   R   57-00-00-FF-75-00-80-1A-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   9   -37   2   3002704   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1592798336   T   E5-00-00-35-05-00-19-99-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   43   -   -   2894788   ok   -   -   rain   53
1594582888   R   82-00-00-2A-1D-00-6B-48-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   22   -84   6   2689900   ok   -   -   temp   67.3 (19.6)
1595122016   R   A7-00-00-BD-19-00-E0-E8-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   10   -42   2   3002644   ok   -   -   hum   44.5
1595673308   T   55-00-00-FF-75-00-0B-5A-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   44   -   -   2886236   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1598548364   T   A5-00-00-BD-1D-00-6B-A8-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   45   -   -   2875056   ok   -   -   hum   44.5
1599962640   R   52-00-00-FF-71-00-C3-1B-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   24   -77   10   5379752   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1601127316   R   E7-00-00-80-05-00-87-D6-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   12   -37   1   6005300   ok   -   -   rain   -
1601423384   T   85-00-00-2E-CD-00-6A-EE-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   46   -   -   2934668   ok   -   -   temp   74.8 (23.8)
1602652524   R   62-00-00-7C-41-00-8B-08-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   25   -75   5   2689884   ok   -   -   solar   874
1604129980   R   57-00-00-FF-75-00-80-1A-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   13   -40   2   3002664   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1604298372   T   E5-00-00-35-05-00-19-99-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   47   -   -   2926188   ok   -   -   rain   53
1607132668   R   A7-00-00-BD-19-00-E0-E8-FF-FF   8   2018642277/158880815/1601659250/9.0   14   -37   2   3002688   ok   -   -   hum   44.5
1607173436   T   55-00-00-FF-75-00-0B-5A-FF-FF   6   ----------/---------/----------/----   48   -   -   2917560   ok   -   -   r_secs   -
1608032320   R   E2-00-00-35-01-00-D1-D8-FF-FF   3   151715440/3926025226/2466393097/187.2   27   -83   5   5379796   ok   -   -   rain   53

Offline seaman55

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #51 on: April 13, 2019, 03:56:07 PM »
Can you list each of your transmitter and console ID's, and what they are? It almost sounds like you have a conflict, or another device nearby using the same frequency that may be jamming your moteino.
http://seamanville.com/pws
Davis Vantage Pro 2 Plus Daytime-FARS/Meteobridge Pro/ weather34 template on Raspi v3 B+/PurpleAir AQI sensor
Wireless ISS sitting ground/Wireless Wind, Solar, UV sitting roof
Monroe, Washington USA
WU:     KWAMONRO94
CWOP: FW4493
PWS:   FRYELANDS01

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #52 on: April 13, 2019, 05:59:08 PM »
Originally, I was trying to connect to ID 6 on the console (5 in the sketch). My ISS for wind/rain/uv/solar was 3 (2 in the sketch) and my temp/hum was 7 (6 in the sketch).

After reading your post, I switched everything around and it is doing the same thing. I set the temp/hum to ID 1 so it wasn't "in the way" and then used 7 for the console (6 in the sketch) and used 3 for my ISS for everything but wind (2 in the sketch) and 2 for wind (1 in the sketch) which is my anemometer transmitter.  I have two consoles running right now with the exact same results (5% good packets).

I am dying to get this working and feel like I am so close, but now out of ideas.


Could it be an antenna issue? If I take the antenna off completely, shouldn't the board still work if it is only a few feet from the ISS and console?

Does firmware version matter? I have the latest 4.30.

Also, is the "packet_counts" column supposed to be all hyphens/dashes for the transmit columns and populated for the receives. Is this normal behavior?

Code: [Select]
time Rx/Tx raw_packet_data              id packet_counts chan rssi fei delta_t batt wind dir sensor value

99925944 R 52-00-00-FF-71-00-C3-1B-FF-FF 3 16907888/3926025217/2466393097/187.2 1 -84 5 0 ok - - r_secs -
102615748 R 62-00-00-07-41-00-A3-F1-FF-FF 3 168492656/3926025224/2466393097/187.2 2 -88 5 2689804 ok - - solar 51
102807404 T 56-00-00-FF-71-00-09-7E-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 34 - - 2937012 ok - - r_secs -
105744436 T A6-00-00-00-01-00-5F-F8-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 35 - - 2937032 ok - - hum -
107995380 R E2-00-00-35-01-00-D1-D8-FF-FF 3 168492656/3926025225/2466393097/187.2 4 -86 4 5379632 ok - - rain 53
108681540 T 86-00-00-FF-C1-00-B3-C7-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 36 - - 2937104 ok - - temp -
110685192 R 52-00-00-FF-71-00-C3-1B-FF-FF 3 168492656/3926025225/2466393097/187.2 5 -86 5 2689812 ok - - r_secs -
111618520 T E6-00-00-35-01-00-1B-BD-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 37 - - 2936980 ok - - rain 53
113375020 R 42-00-00-00-01-00-1E-A5-FF-FF 3 168492656/3926025225/2466393097/187.2 6 -88 5 2689828 ok - - uv 0.0
114555540 T 56-00-00-FF-71-00-09-7E-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 38 - - 2937020 ok - - r_secs -
116064820 R 82-00-00-26-C9-00-0B-0E-FF-FF 3 168492656/3926025225/2466393097/187.2 7 -85 5 2689800 ok - - temp 62.0 (16.7)
117492632 T 66-00-00-07-41-00-69-94-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 39 - - 2937092 ok - - solar 51
120429708 T 86-00-00-26-C9-00-C1-6B-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 40 - - 2937076 ok - - temp 62.0 (16.7)
123366708 T E6-00-00-35-01-00-1B-BD-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 41 - - 2937000 ok - - rain 53
124134272 R 92-00-00-00-05-00-BA-11-FF-FF 3 168492656/3926025225/2466393097/187.2 2 -86 5 8069452 ok - - gust -
126303688 T 56-00-00-FF-71-00-09-7E-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 42 - - 2936980 ok - - r_secs -
129240708 T 46-00-00-00-01-00-D4-C0-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 43 - - 2937020 ok - - uv 0.0
132177692 T 86-00-00-26-C9-00-C1-6B-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 44 - - 2936984 ok - - temp 62.0 (16.7)
135114716 T E6-00-00-35-01-00-1B-BD-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 45 - - 2937024 ok - - rain 53
138051744 T 56-00-00-FF-71-00-09-7E-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 46 - - 2937028 ok - - r_secs -
140988724 T 96-00-00-00-01-00-70-74-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 47 - - 2936980 ok - - gust -
143925720 T 86-00-00-26-C9-00-C1-6B-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 48 - - 2936996 ok - - temp 62.0 (16.7)
146862748 T E6-00-00-35-01-00-1B-BD-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 49 - - 2937028 ok - - rain 53
149799748 T 56-00-00-FF-71-00-09-7E-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 50 - - 2937000 ok - - r_secs -
152736776 T 66-00-00-07-41-00-69-94-FF-FF 7 ---------/----------/----------/---- 0 - - 2937028 ok - - solar 51
« Last Edit: April 13, 2019, 06:24:28 PM by twcmaster »

Offline seaman55

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #53 on: April 14, 2019, 12:49:33 AM »
Looks like you are pretty close. Always have an antenna connected to a transceiver when it is live, it is possible to cause damage if not.
Notice the R and T in the Rx/Tx column, and the id number in the id column, that is telling you which ID's it receiving from and transmitting to (the Davis ID's). notice toward the end you were only transmitting, looks like you lost signal from your ISS and other stations. Which antenna are you using? rssi you'll want to try to get below 75, 40s and 50s are pretty good, but not always possible.
In the console, you've set (q) somewhere around 400 the get these results? If so, probably a good time to start adjusting your (t) values. In the beginning I'd go with bigger jumps and give no less than 1 minute and no more than 5 minutes for it to pick up, until you get into the ballpark, then start fine tuning. Remember you can always use "?" to see what your current values are set at in case you forget where you left off.

The best I was able to get was 99% good packets, but can't really complain there.  :grin:
http://seamanville.com/pws
Davis Vantage Pro 2 Plus Daytime-FARS/Meteobridge Pro/ weather34 template on Raspi v3 B+/PurpleAir AQI sensor
Wireless ISS sitting ground/Wireless Wind, Solar, UV sitting roof
Monroe, Washington USA
WU:     KWAMONRO94
CWOP: FW4493
PWS:   FRYELANDS01

Offline seaman55

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #54 on: April 14, 2019, 12:51:25 AM »
For the technical side of t values, see this quote;

The "standard" interval according to Davis is...
(41 + TX_ID) * 1000.0  / 16.0)

Where TX_ID is the zero relative transmitter Id.

You can set the timer correction the same as the frequency adjustment, via the serial port...
t0.99987   - Would set the timer adjustment to 0.9987
q-430        -Would set your frequency adjustment.

The advantage of using the serial interface is you can tweak things on the fly and see the effect. All settings are stored in the non-volatile RAM so they survive power cycles, and even re-flashing, so long as you don't update the version number.
http://seamanville.com/pws
Davis Vantage Pro 2 Plus Daytime-FARS/Meteobridge Pro/ weather34 template on Raspi v3 B+/PurpleAir AQI sensor
Wireless ISS sitting ground/Wireless Wind, Solar, UV sitting roof
Monroe, Washington USA
WU:     KWAMONRO94
CWOP: FW4493
PWS:   FRYELANDS01

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #55 on: April 14, 2019, 01:08:22 AM »
Thank you for the replies, I definitely appreciate it! I am really itching to get this working properly.

Are you saying it is normal that I am at 5% good packets and then once I tweak my q or t values it will get much, much better? I got the impression everyone had 50's/60's/70's as far as % good packets right away and then they tweaked from there. I just want to make sure I don't have a bigger issue before I start tweaking.

Thanks again!

Offline seaman55

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #56 on: April 14, 2019, 04:41:21 AM »
Correct, mine was actually very bad at first. I don't think I had a successful packet until I set q to 450, but then it wasn't very good. I think I posted it, but if I recall correctly, my percentages were like 20% or 30%, then I adjust t some more, then a bit of q, dialed it in to 99%. Don't be afraid to adjust those 2 settings.
http://seamanville.com/pws
Davis Vantage Pro 2 Plus Daytime-FARS/Meteobridge Pro/ weather34 template on Raspi v3 B+/PurpleAir AQI sensor
Wireless ISS sitting ground/Wireless Wind, Solar, UV sitting roof
Monroe, Washington USA
WU:     KWAMONRO94
CWOP: FW4493
PWS:   FRYELANDS01

Offline kobuki

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #57 on: April 14, 2019, 05:15:45 AM »
Just to note, you get RSSI values below -80 which is not much higher than the default of the sketch IIRC, which is -90. I think you might want to try lowering the RSSI threshold to catch more packets.

Offline seaman55

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #58 on: April 14, 2019, 05:27:53 AM »
Just to note, you get RSSI values below -80 which is not much higher than the default of the sketch IIRC, which is -90. I think you might want to try lowering the RSSI threshold to catch more packets.
Now that may have been a setting I missed. Is there a block in the sketch that covers that?
http://seamanville.com/pws
Davis Vantage Pro 2 Plus Daytime-FARS/Meteobridge Pro/ weather34 template on Raspi v3 B+/PurpleAir AQI sensor
Wireless ISS sitting ground/Wireless Wind, Solar, UV sitting roof
Monroe, Washington USA
WU:     KWAMONRO94
CWOP: FW4493
PWS:   FRYELANDS01

Offline kobuki

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #59 on: April 14, 2019, 05:30:44 AM »
It should be:
Code: [Select]
DavisRFM69::setRssiThreshold()

Offline seaman55

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #60 on: April 14, 2019, 04:20:10 PM »
It should be:
Code: [Select]
DavisRFM69::setRssiThreshold()
Doesn't look like that was included in the sketch by default.

Am I correct in assuming I should put it in this section?;
Code: [Select]
// DavisRFM69 radio base class;
DavisRFM69 radio;
DavisRFM69::setRssiThreshold();
http://seamanville.com/pws
Davis Vantage Pro 2 Plus Daytime-FARS/Meteobridge Pro/ weather34 template on Raspi v3 B+/PurpleAir AQI sensor
Wireless ISS sitting ground/Wireless Wind, Solar, UV sitting roof
Monroe, Washington USA
WU:     KWAMONRO94
CWOP: FW4493
PWS:   FRYELANDS01

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #61 on: April 14, 2019, 04:21:08 PM »
It should be:
Code: [Select]
DavisRFM69::setRssiThreshold()
Doesn't look like that was included in the sketch by default.

Am I correct in assuming I should put it in this section?;
Code: [Select]
// DavisRFM69 radio base class;
DavisRFM69 radio;
DavisRFM69::setRssiThreshold();

It is in the DavisRFM69.h file

Offline kobuki

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #62 on: April 14, 2019, 04:47:37 PM »
Quote
It is in the DavisRFM69.h file

The declaration is, the definition (func body) is in the cpp.

@seaman55: use it after radio.initialize() somewhere in Arduino setup(). radio.initialize() sets all the defaults.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2019, 08:23:55 PM by kobuki »

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #63 on: April 14, 2019, 08:21:52 PM »
I've been laser focused on trying to get my % of good packets received to stay at anything above 5-6% with absolutely zero luck. I have left t at 1, but adjusted q in increments of 5 from -300 to -475. Every time I adjust q, I reboot the console. Within a minute or two, it captures 1 packet at 100%, then goes to 50%, 33%, 25%, 20%, 16%, 14%, 12%, 10%, 8%, 6%, 5%. Once the maximum number of bad packets without sync hits 20, it stops and that is it. Nothing on the screen changes. When I leave the diagnostic screen, there is a temperature that was recently updated on the screen (I know because it has been steadily dropping all day and it is always within a couple tenths of a degree of where my production console shows (and different from the last reading). There is also a wind on the console, but it is static and doesn't update speed or direction.

Any ideas on where to go from here? Should I keep trying beyond -300 or -475 for q, or start messing with T? Could my board be defective or am I just not being patient enough?

Offline kobuki

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #64 on: April 14, 2019, 08:25:40 PM »
IIRC timing is the more prominent problem with this sketch, so I suggest trying to adjust that now as your frequency adjustments are not helping.

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #65 on: April 14, 2019, 08:34:38 PM »
Ok, thanks! What increment would you suggest changing each time?

Offline kobuki

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #66 on: April 15, 2019, 02:40:12 AM »
I think mcrossley will be able to answer that, this timing method is his own.

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #67 on: April 15, 2019, 02:44:58 AM »
Ok, thanks again!

Offline twcmaster

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #68 on: April 16, 2019, 02:55:01 AM »
I have been borderline obsessed with figuring this out. I got no sleep this weekend and now I am sick with a cold  #-o, but I am finally happy to report I have some traction.

 I started changing T values in .0001 increments and I finally got it to stop throwing up so many errors. It was so thrilling to watch the reception % actually go up for once!

I am currently at q-450 and t1.0010 and I am getting 99-100% reception and -9/-10 frequency correction  (have to still work on this).

I still have a lot of tweaking to do as I am traveling and not at my house with my "production" environment (yes, I took a console, and transmitter with me ](*,)). Anyway, at least I know it is possible and that it is possible and my board is not broken.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this project and jumped in on this forum to help me!




Offline kobuki

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #69 on: April 16, 2019, 04:42:48 AM »
That's some serious dedication here :shock: Anyway, congrats to you with your new toy!

Offline mcrossley

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Re: UV and Solar sensors on Wireless Sensor Transmitter
« Reply #70 on: April 16, 2019, 07:37:44 AM »
I *think* (it was some time ago!) that I captured some output logs, imported them into Excel and averaged the time between packets that the Ardunio saw (which depends on its clock speed and the transmitter accuracy). Then used the difference between that and the theoretical value to set the initial "t" value, I tweaked from there.
Mark