transmission problems

[SchoolHouse]

Can you explain what DHCP lease time is?  I'm not a computer expert.

[d_l]

If so, that might indicate that the "DHCP lease time" is 6 hours. 

I thought that the WLIP with problems might be issued private IPs by their modem-routers.  That's why I added that I was using a static private IP in my previous post. 

So fellows, are your WLIPs being issued a private IP by the DHCP server in your modem? 

[Lite]

I too am lost in acronyms. DHCP? I am pretty much a plug and play person for the most part and I thought this was what I was getting with WLIP. I believe my IP address is changing . When I looked at my past posts they show two IP #'s

[SchoolHouse]

Just got off the phone with Davis and they are logging the issue.  He suggested that I go back and install 1.0.6 until the issue is resolved.  I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not as I don't know what the issues were with 1.0.6.

[d_l]

Well, when people with the this problem ask, "What is DHCP?", that says you are almost certainly using the WLIP with its out-of-the-box defaults, DHCP-enabled.  So my question is answered.   

I believe muppet77 is using a 1.0.7 WLIP set to a static private IP with the Vue console without any problems.  At least I thought he had set a static private IP at one time (lost track of all the changes there  ).  Definitely there is a 1.0.7 WLIP on a Vue console with no 6-hour problem.

[SchoolHouse]

How do I set this to static IP?  I don't recall this anywhere in the set-up?  I should give it a shot.

[dalecoy]

Can you explain what DHCP lease time is?  I'm not a computer expert.

Maybe.  Computer experts - this isn't going to be totally precise, but it's intended to explain what's going on.  

Any device that's going to connect to the internet needs an IP address (don't worry about what that means - you just need a unique address.  And don't worry about the "static" address, or private address, etc.  That's not important to the immediate discussion).

When your computer - and the WLIP is really a computer - first tries to connect to the internet, it will "ask" the "router" for an IP address. That process is called "DHCP".  Again, don't worry about the initials, or what a "router" is.

The router tells your computer (in this case the WLIP) what unique IP address to use - AND when that address "expires".

That's called the "lease" - and after the lease expires, the WLIP should try to RENEW the lease from the router.  Usually, the router will allow a renewed lease for the same IP address - but that's not a requirement.  The router might issue a new/different IP address.  

Frequently, routers issue leases with long lease times - as long as a month.  But again, there's no standard.  So (wild speculation) perhaps these particular routers are issuing 6-hour leases.

*IF* you know how to get a command prompt on your Windows PC, I'll describe how to find out the lease time.

Hope that helps, without being too confusing.  And yes, I know I glossed over a LOT of stuff.  

[dalecoy]

How do I set this to static IP?  I don't recall this anywhere in the set-up?  I should give it a shot.

Don't. 

Simple answer.

Unless you understand how to GET a static IP, don't do it.

Getting a static IP involves either configuring your router, or buying a static IP address from your ISP.

[Lite]

I spoke to a fellow named Ira at Davis and he pretty much confirmed what has been relayed here as well. He thinks that by having our logger plugged into our modem the IP address gets changed. To remedy this he recommends installing a router. He was partial to a lynksys. He said that a router will have a "static" or unchanging IP address.

He also walked me through a fairly detailed method for powering down our VP2 consoles and warned that not doing it this way could  corrupt the unit

He said we should

1. close the WL program on our computers
2. press done plus the minus (-)key simultaniously.
3. once console says receiving from (shouldn't have your iss at this point)unplug the doggle from the modem.
4. remove 1 battery then unplug. WAIT #) SECONDS TO ONE MINUTE then remove logger from console.

to install router
1.start router and make sure it is working properly
2.plug logger into console
3. leave unplugged from router and plug in console
4. LISTEN FOR 3 BEEPS If you get less than 3 something is wrong!
5. set time and anything that is not correct in your setup. push and hold done
6.install battery
7.plug into router

Go into weatherlink on your computer
setup
communication port
find
It should find your logger in your router and that IP address should never change and hopfully our problem solved

[Lite]

dalecoy

Thank you for your explanations, it is making our problems easier to understand I can assure you. The lease you mentioned is what seems to be shutting down the WLIP updates.

[dalecoy]

dalecoy

Thank you for your explanations, it is making our problems easier to understand I can assure you. The lease you mentioned is what seems to be shutting down the WLIP updates.

You're quite welcome.  However, I wouldn't (yet) jump to that conclusion. 

On the third hand, a Google search seems to indicate that FIOS providers (particularly Verizon) frequently have set really short lease times - like 2 hours, etc.

And, in any case, the WLIP should be capable of handling a change of IP address without any difficulty.  It's a really basic capability for a device that is supposed to communicate over the internet.

[d_l]

How do I set this to static IP?  I don't recall this anywhere in the set-up?  I should give it a shot.

Getting a static IP involves either configuring your router, or buying a static IP address from your ISP.

Dale, we are talking about a static private address behind the router here.

[TampaFL]

Sure dalecoy

My ISP is Verizon Fios, my modem and router are all in one.
It is an Actiontec M1424-WR . It runs flawlessly wirelessly with my notebook and any other wireless devices and hard wired to my PC.

I to have the same router/modem from Verizon Fios. It is an Actiontec M1424-WR REV.C

Looks like there may be some issue with the type of router/modem??

All I know is for all the money that I spent it is getting old that I have to reset the router & console every six hours 

Robert

[dalecoy]

How do I set this to static IP?  I don't recall this anywhere in the set-up?  I should give it a shot.

Getting a static IP involves either configuring your router, or buying a static IP address from your ISP.

Dale, we are talking about a static private address behind the router here.

...which would require configuring the router to assign a static IP address to a particular MAC - or knowing the router's DHCP settings so that a static IP address outside that range could be assigned.

At least that was my thought.  If you can tell SchoolHouse how to set up a static private address without that information, please do, and I'll learn another new thing.  I'm always willing to learn.

[dalecoy]

I spoke to a fellow named Ira at Davis and he pretty much confirmed what has been relayed here as well. He thinks that by having our logger plugged into our modem the IP address gets changed. To remedy this he recommends installing a router. He was partial to a lynksys. He said that a router will have a "static" or unchanging IP address

Perhaps somebody misunderstood.  Your "modem" (supplied by your ISP) is actually a modem/router (modem plus a router).  If it's the Actiontec M1424WR, it's a wireless modem/router.

Adding an additional router (Linksys is a good brand) would probably solve the problem, and might not require additional configuration for your home network, and might not cause new problems on your home network.  

On the other hand, if your modem/router has wireless capability that you are using, and you add an additional wired router, you may experience problems.  And that's just one example of where you might cure the WLIP problem while creating other problems on your network.  Or, everything might go just fine - or go just fine until next year when you add something else.

***OR*** we may be jumping to conclusions, and identifying the wrong cause...

But the bottom line is that the WLIP firmware should work right without having to introduce an additional piece of hardware (router).  And, if the problem is that the IP address is changed by DHCP, then that's a rather routine thing to happen, and the WLIP firmware should be taking care of it.

Go into weatherlink on your computer
setup
communication port
find
It should find your logger in your router and that IP address should never change and hopfully our problem solved

"Hopefully?"  It would be a good diagnostic, but it could also be a case of you installing some additional hardware to fix Davis' problem.

[d_l]

...which would require configuring the router to assign a static IP address to a particular MAC - or knowing the router's DHCP settings so that a static IP address outside that range could be assigned.

At least that was my thought.  If you can tell SchoolHouse how to set up a static private address without that information, please do, and I'll learn another new thing.  I'm always willing to learn.

Dale most routers can't handle static DHCP assignments. 

My thinking about this problem is that because everyone seemed to have to power cycle their WLIPs to get re-connected.  Doing this would force the WLIP to re-acquire an IP from the modem-router.  Maybe the modem-router has been trying to issue new private IPs to the attached clients for some strange reason on the FiOS system and the WLIPs won't accept the IP without a reboot.

If the user knows what private IP subnet the modem is using, e.g. 192.168.1.x,  and can select an IP that is out of the modem's issuing range, then all they have to do is set a static private IP on the WLIP's web server configuration page.

Edit: You would have to pick up the modem's subnet and DHCP range on the modem's configuration page.

[SchoolHouse]

Lite,

Do you have another router to attempt this exercise?  Please reply back with your results.

[dalecoy]

...which would require configuring the router to assign a static IP address to a particular MAC - or knowing the router's DHCP settings so that a static IP address outside that range could be assigned.

At least that was my thought.  If you can tell SchoolHouse how to set up a static private address without that information, please do, and I'll learn another new thing.  I'm always willing to learn.

Dale most routers can't handle static DHCP assignments. 

Most LinkSys, NetGear, and Buffalo routers can.  Also, see below about the Actiontec.

My thinking about this problem is that because everyone seemed to have to power cycle their WLIPs to get re-connected.  Doing this would force the WLIP to re-acquire an IP from the modem-router.  Maybe the modem-router has been trying to issue new private IPs to the attached clients for some strange reason on the FiOS system and the WLIPs won't accept the IP without a reboot.

If the user knows what private IP subnet the modem is using, e.g. 192.168.1.x,  and can select an IP that is out of the modem's issuing range, then all they have to do is set a static private IP on the WLIP's web server configuration page.

Edit: You would have to pick up the modem's subnet and DHCP range on the modem's configuration page.

Yes, as I said: "Getting a static IP involves either configuring your router" -- but perhaps I should have said "logging into your router and getting several pieces of information".

Footnote:  The Actiontec M1424WR user manual is at

http://support.actiontec.com/doc_files/MI424WR_Rev._ACD_User_Manual_4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11.3_v6.pdf   (or other revisions)

It indicates that the Actiontec (1) can do static private IP assignments, given the MAC address; and (2) that the lease time is configurable. 

However, I don't think we should remotely (in a forum) get into discussing how to do that - unless we are totally convinced of the problem, and unless Davis refuses to fix their WLIP firmware.

[dalecoy]

Just got off the phone with Davis and they are logging the issue.  He suggested that I go back and install 1.0.6 until the issue is resolved.  I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not as I don't know what the issues were with 1.0.6.

Did the Davis person say that going back to 1.0.6 would fix the problem?

...or just suggest that as something to try?

[SchoolHouse]

Just got off the phone with Davis and they are logging the issue.  He suggested that I go back and install 1.0.6 until the issue is resolved.  I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not as I don't know what the issues were with 1.0.6.

Did the Davis person say that going back to 1.0.6 would fix the problem?

...or just suggest that as something to try?

He just suggested this.  He did not say if it would work.  Not sure if I want to try that or not.

[TampaFL]

I agree that we should not have to do any thing (i.e getting a modem, etc.) With all the complaints Davis is now receiving they should rectify the problem. We should not have to figure it out for them, but if that is what it takes then so be it!

I wonder if Davis reads this forum????


Going to reset once again!


Robert

[Lite]

I to agree that we shouldn't have to pay for additional hardware. I just wonder if Davis will spend the time and resources to fix a problem that seems to be tied to one ISP . Schoolhouse, I do not have a router around anymore that I could use to test this and it kind of bugs me that I would have to buy additional hardware for a system to work that I already paid top dollar for. I could see if I was using dated technology, but Fios is anything but.

I also agree that adding another wireless router could create more problems than it might solve. I'm begginning to wonder if I could just program my WLIP to upload to weatherunderground or somewhere else rather than the proxy Davis site.

[SchoolHouse]

I to agree that we shouldn't have to pay for additional hardware. I just wonder if Davis will spend the time and resources to fix a problem that seems to be tied to one ISP . Schoolhouse, I do not have a router around anymore that I could use to test this and it kind of bugs me that I would have to buy additional hardware for a system to work that I already paid top dollar for. I could see if I was using dated technology, but Fios is anything but.

I also agree that adding another wireless router could create more problems than it might solve. I'm begginning to wonder if I could just program my WLIP to upload to weatherunderground or somewhere else rather than the proxy Davis site.

I agree...i was just hoping maybe someone had one laying around that they could use without purchasing.  I am going to send another email to thier support line providing a link to this board.  I have to beleive there are many others out there in our same position given the popularity of Verizon FIOS.  I would think this would be one area that they would want to fix promptly or it could affect future sales of the product if word gets out that this is not compatible.

[m77]

hi there school - thanks for the pmail.

i am sorry, i have no idea how to help. i am a complete amateur. all i can say is keep battling - it will work!

my best advice is try ringing Davis (i rang them from the UK and they agreed to phone me back on my mobile! (which i may of paid for??!))

once you get an email from one person, keep responding to that person, rather than the general email, but i think ringing is the best option.

good luck.

[Lite]

Ok, so I dug an old router up from my neighbor, plugged everything into it the way I was told and my WL software didn't even see my WLIP doggle. I'm plugged back into my verizon router/modem and everything works (until about 5 hours I bet). Davis has to get on board with this. I recommend we all keep calling them, be nice and keep this problem on their laps where it belongs.