Topic: Ecowit 2550-C Data backup not working

[NormanW]

I installed a new Ecowitt 2550C system at the end of December.

Today I have tried to download the data to a new micro  SD card.

Using the manual 3.13.7n Backup Data, I have navigated to the field, confirmed the selection and got a box up showing % Download complete.

After an hour, where the box still shows 0% Complete, I have backed out and given up.

Is anyone having similar problems downloading data?

[Rocketman]

I did a backup just before I upgraded to firmware version 1.8.7
Sorry I don't know what version the original was

Try putting the SD card on your PC and see if you can copy something onto it .
make sure the card is not bigger than 32GB

[Gyvate]

I installed a new Ecowitt 2550C system at the end of December.

Today I have tried to download the data to a new micro  SD card.

Using the manual 3.13.7n Backup Data, I have navigated to the field, confirmed the selection and got a box up showing % Download complete.

After an hour, where the box still shows 0% Complete, I have backed out and given up.

Is anyone having similar problems downloading data?

What does "a new SD card" mean ?
It has to be a SDHC type SD card formatted as FAT32.
SDXC cards won't work.
Did you verify that you are using the proper type and format ?

[NormanW]

Hi Gyvate

What does "a new SD card" mean ?
Brand new, unopened packet, not installed on any other device, nothing written to it.  Checked on a PC to make sure it was formatted.

It has to be a SDHC type SD card formatted as FAT32.
Micro SD V30 XC1 10 3 A1 64 GB FAT32

SDXC cards won't work.

Did you verify that you are using the proper type and format ?
My manual says nothing about the type and format.  Where do I find that information?

[NormanW]

I did a backup just before I upgraded to firmware version 1.8.7
Sorry I don't know what version the original was

Try putting the SD card on your PC and see if you can copy something onto it .
make sure the card is not bigger than 32GB

Thank you for replying

Yes I can write to the card, however the card is 64GB.  My manual says nothing about a limitation on the size?

[Gyvate]

I did a backup just before I upgraded to firmware version 1.8.7
Sorry I don't know what version the original was

Try putting the SD card on your PC and see if you can copy something onto it .
make sure the card is not bigger than 32GB

Thank you for replying

Yes I can write to the card, however the card is 64GB.  My manual says nothing about a limitation on the size?

your PC only shows that the card works - it won't show that it works with the HP2550 console as your PC doesn't have the SDHC restriction.

where to find: we have created a MUST READ thread - on top of the forum page - if you had read that, you would have found that information - marked even with exclamation marks
there are good reasons why we marked the thread MUST READ 
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.0

in the manual which I have it says on page 6
Note: The console can store historical data on a memory card. This
memory card is not included. If you want to use one you will need
a microSD memory card. The supported max capacity of the card is
32G (Format: FAT32).
SDHC cards have a maximum size of 32 GB 

your card is definitely not SDHC as SDHC cards with a size >32 GB do not exist.

[NormanW]

Yes I can write to the card, however the card is 64GB.  My manual says nothing about a limitation on the size?

your PC only shows that the card works - it won't show that it works with the HP2550 console as your PC doesn't have the SDHC restriction.

where to find: we have created a MUST READ thread - on top of the forum page - if you had read that, you would have found that information - marked even with exclamation marks
there are good reasons why we marked the thread MUST READ 
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.0

in the manual which I have it says on page 6
Note: The console can store historical data on a memory card. This
memory card is not included. If you want to use one you will need
a microSD memory card. The supported max capacity of the card is
32G (Format: FAT32).
SDHC cards have a maximum size of 32 GB 

your card is definitely not SDHC as SDHC cards with a size >32 GB do not exist.

Thank you for replying

I read your "must read" before I purchased my new system in December.  It was useful and I downloaded your comparison chart, also very useful.  Yesterday when I encountered the problem, I did a forum search using "memory Card" and similar terms.  In the forum area it found 32 examples of the term, but none in the "Must Read".

I'm a Commercial Pilot.  I read and live by manuals.  I have just opened the "Must Read", searched for "Memory Cards" and it found no examples.  I then searched using the term "Historical" and it found one example of the word under the Ecowitt API section, so I still can't find it in the document.

I'm in Europe and my manual is both in German and English.  I have a different page 6, and re-reading the manual, nowhere, neither in German or English does it talk about the SD card restrictions.


It was as a last resort that I asked the question in this sub-forum.  It was not because I didn't read / couldn't be bothered to read, it was because after searching using the forum software search, I couldn't find the answer!

[Gyvate]

that's Froggit - and the Froggit version of the manuals in German is sometimes unfortunately not always helpful and misses important points.
On the other hand, otherwise, we wouldn't need such a thread like the MUST READ.

I quote from our thread - chapter 3.a console firmware:

console/device firmware update for the HP2551 and HP350x consoles is done via microSDcard. Download from Ecowitt.com or ambientweather.net [https://help.ambientweather.net/help/ambient-weather-ws-2000-firmware-download-center/]. Copy the file user.bin (HP2551 or clone) or firmware.bin + picture.bin (HP350x)  or factory.bin (WS-2000/WS-5000 console) to the FAT32 formatted SD card's ( SDHC type only max 32 GB ) root directory on a PC and insert it into the console. HP350x will need a power-cycle [switch off/on].
The microSD card can only be properly inserted in one direction. Looking at the console display, the contacts of the microSD card have to go in first and have to be visible for you, the printed side of of the microSD card will have to show away from you.


If you know German, you can also read https://www.wetterstationsforum.info/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:wetterstationen:ecowitt-stationen
Admittedly you have to look under firmware update for the HP2551 console in the meanwhile largely grown MUST READ thread, where the SD card issue is mentioned.

Anyhow - the English manual mentions the SD card and indirectly also the SDHC (via the 32 GB limitation). It could be clearer - no objection.
I have already asked Ecowitt several tims to include this information into the HP2551/HP2560 console or station manual, but so far it hasn't happened. And Froggit are rather resistent against suggestions "from outside".

The solution will be a SDHC card e.g.  enter "SDHC 32GB micro" into the search field of https://www.amazon.de/

[Rover1822]

Along with that, buy a decent, well known quality brand. Lot of bad ones out there that makes life more difficult.

[alanb]

I suppose all of the Fine Offset Clone manuals are different. For my Ambient Weather WS-2000 manual, the only place I found mention of the micro SD card restrictions was in the section 7.2 on updating the console firmware: "File may download as User.bin rename to Factory.bin and then copy the Factory.bin file to your Micro SD Card (the SD card must be empty and format FAT32 and only up to 32gb in storage space.)"

[olicat]

Hi!

Along with that, buy a decent, well known quality brand.

And I would like to add that it is very helpful to have even TWO SD cards.
This way you can save on one the firmware update while the other one logs the data in the console and thus minimise downtime.
The SD cards can be exchanged during operation and within a few seconds.

I, at least, attach great importance to saving the data as a CSV file with as few gaps as possible. This is much better with two SD cards in alternation.

Oliver