WL IP doesn't transmit to website? RESOLVED!

[m77]

Just got my ISS talking to my console - happy days - dead easy  

I then switched the console off and plugged in the datalogger, then connected to an internet port.

I rebooted and got the console working ok and a green light flashing erratically on the datalogger.

I then went to weatherlink.com and tried to register using the DID and key (which I have triple checked).

I got the following error message:

"Could not find any data from your device."  

any suggestions?

[d_l]

Have you checked that there is any data available for the Weatherlink software?

How long has it been plugged in?  I think you would need several minutes to have passed for it to have uploaded its current data to weatherlink.com and at least an hour for it to have uploaded any archived data.

Is your router set to be a DHCP server?  There is a possibility that the WLIP logger might not have the correct gateway to upload out of your network.

Edit: Have you re-checked all the set up steps on the yellow slip?  Sorry, I've thrown mine away so I can't remember if there was an easy way to make a mistake on those.

[m77]

I plugged it in two hours ago - it is at work and i am at home now.

I have not even touched the WL software - i was hoping to do that remotely by downloading from the website.

I have no idea about the gateway - it is a port in a school that we plug ethernet cables in for laptops to use the network and internet. the ict guy checked the spec that i sent him and said it would work.

?

[m77]

yes the set up steps on the yellow slip are basically

unplug the console, plug in router, plug into port, reconnect power, try to register on website.

[m77]

when entering the DID, i substituted the zeroes for letter Os just in case, but this was an "invalid DID", so at least I know that I have the correct DID and Key.

[d_l]

OK, a wrong gateway IP in the WLIP is a possibility that should be checked.  It needs that to get out to the internet.  Also it needs a DNS server IP to look up weatherlink.com.

The weatherlink software can find the WLIP's IP (if it has one) for you in the Communications Port option under the Setup menu item.  Then you would need to browse (http) into that WLIP IP to check the other network parameters to verify that they are correct and set them if not.  Sometimes the internal http server is a little slow to send its complete web page so give it some time to load in your browser.

[m77]

thanks Dave, that is a little over my head, but are you saying that i need to link my pc and WL software up to the console directly rather than through the net?

don't i need a cable for that?

[m77]

i follow the bit about
setup
comms port

then what do i click? can i do this remotely from home?

apologies for being a complete novice! 

[d_l]

You would need to do this from work over the school's LAN.   If the the WLIP's IP or gateway or DNS IPs are the problem, then fixing those should enable the uploads to the weatherlink.com site.

Even if you had them set correctly now, you probably couldn't access the datalogger from your home unless you had made provisions with the IT guy for remote access to it.  Otherwise any hacker in the world could also be doing the access to your logger.     So the school's security policies in the firewall router would keep you out.

[m77]

Thanks dave. How do I set up the equipment for the software to talk to the console at work? Which cable to I need or is there another way? Sorry!

[d_l]

Install the weatherlink program on a computer connected to the school's LAN.  The presumption here is that the WLIP is also properly connected to the LAN (a good patch cable, etc.).

At that point you go to the previously mentioned Communications Port window in the WL software, select the TCP/IP radio button in the Communications area, enter 22222 in the TCP Port entry box, select the Local Device IP radio button, and then click the Find button.  The WL software should find your WLIP, automatically enter the MAC address in the entry box, AND find the WLIP's IP and enter that in the Remote IP Address entry box. From that point on, you would be able to access the current and archive weather data in the WLIP logger AND also make any necessary configuration changes in the console, e.g., archive interval length, etc. with the computer that has the WL software while on your school's LAN.

Then knowing the WLIP's IP, you can browse into the WLIP server using that IP number as an address in the browser to check those other IPs, i.e, gateway and DNS.

[m77]

Thanks dave I will have a go when I get to work in a couple of hours. Sounds clear what I need to do. Fingers crossed.

[m77]

Install the weatherlink program on a computer connected to the school's LAN.  The presumption here is that the WLIP is also properly connected to the LAN (a good patch cable, etc.).

At that point you go to the previously mentioned Communications Port window in the WL software, select the TCP/IP radio button in the Communications area, enter 22222 in the TCP Port entry box, select the Local Device IP radio button, and then click the Find button.  The WL software should find your WLIP, automatically enter the MAC address in the entry box, AND find the WLIP's IP and enter that in the Remote IP Address entry box. From that point on, you would be able to access the current and archive weather data in the WLIP logger AND also make any necessary configuration changes in the console, e.g., archive interval length, etc. with the computer that has the WL software while on your school's LAN.

Then knowing the WLIP's IP, you can browse into the WLIP server using that IP number as an address in the browser to check those other IPs, i.e, gateway and DNS.

ok - here's how far i have got:

I installed the software on my work PC which is on the LAN
I have got the IP address of the logger using the find function

In the comms port:
I have TC/IP box checked
TCPort is 22222
Local device ID is the mac code -  this was auto entered - it's actually my DID with some colons in.
I then manually entered the remote IP address part

still no data received when i try to register with weatherlink?

[d_l]

So when you clicked the Find button along with the MAC address, the pop up window also gave you that remote IP, right?

You might also click the Test button to see if that checks out OK and then try the Download choice under the File menu item OR the Bulletin choice under the Window menu item to verify if there is any data passing from the ISS into the logger.

After that, then you must browse over to check on the WLIP's settings as I described before.

[m77]

Yes the pop up came up with the ip address and the test found the station. That was over the LAN. I then pasted the ip address into a browser to find that it didn't find anything. I have successfully got data flow from the logger to the software via LAN. However I still cannot get it from logger to the net. John d suggested that my school network was jamming it - something to do with firewalls and port numbers. A conversation with the school tech guy probably confirms this. He says the school has no control over its ports but the company that runs our servers does and this may take a while! John also suggested that I bring the logger and console home to see if my internet connection permits the upload of data to Weatherlink.com albeit just internal temp data as it is obviously out of range of the iss at work 5 miles away.

does this sound about right?
Any other ideas?
Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks so far dave and john.

[m77]

ok - the WLIP setup worked a treat on my home internet no problem, so i have created a WL account that has data streaming to it showing the temperature of the room that i am sat in.

It must be something to do with the school ports. how annoying!!! 

[d_l]

Congratulations! 

Can you browse to the WLIP's IP now on your own network?  I think checking the WLIP's settings while on your school's LAN might be necessary to clear up the problem.

I was looking at my router logs trying to figure out what port the WLIP uses to contact weatherlink.com. It may use port 80 for all I can tell.  If so, then your school's firewall wouldn't be restricting outbound port 80 traffic.  You couldn't browse the internet while at school if it did.  The port 22222 traffic is only between the local computer and the WLIP.

So I don't think the problem at the school is due to a firewall port block.

[m77]

yes, i feel as if i am getting there thanks to both of your help. 

ok, this is a massive learning curve for me......

(1) yes i can browse to the WLIP IP on my network - it gives me loads of data.

(2) you suggested checking the WLIPs settings at school - how do i do that please in simple terms?

(3) are you suggesting trying port 80 at school? if i go into internet explorer it tells me the port is 8080. should i try this (i'm pretty sure that i have tried it already?)

[d_l]

When you browse to the WLIP's IP are you seeing this screen?:

You should be able to do the same on your school's LAN.  Simply enter the WLIP's IP in the address bar and the browser will take you to that page.

[m77]

Also the green logger light is constantly lit at home yet it was erratic at work. Does this indicate that the packets of data are not being sent out?

[d_l]

I think the LED only blinks when a data packet is sent.  Mine blinks all the time because I have another device, a meteohub, constantly querying it for data.

[m77]

Yes I get that at home but not at work.

[d_l]

OK I'm not sure why you can't browse into the WLIP at school.

You mentioned something about port 8080 and I didn't understand.  Does the school restrict outbound browsing to port 8080?

[m77]

i know nothing about ports.

on my IE at school i clicked on tools, connections, lan settings and saw the port was 8080 - I figured if it worked for my laptop would it work for the logger?

as i say i don't really understand all about ports.

when i browsed the IP address at work it did not work.

[sflindsey]

The ports can be blocked.  Here at work we cannot go out to the internet if directly logged onto one of our servers.  Personal workstations are okay.