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Weather Station Hardware => Davis Instruments Weather Stations => Topic started by: belfryboy on September 04, 2017, 04:20:31 PM
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I have been playing around this week with a Wi-Fi to serial bridge and have successfully connected my Envoy to weather link over my home wireless network. Is this something that would be of use to anyone? I have so far used it with WeatherLink and Cumulus. It fits very neatly into the expansion port of the console. Connection is on port 23.
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Sounds cool!
Images please :grin:
Regards
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Sounds cool!
Images please :grin:
Regards
it's still a little ugly for photo's, but I have spun a PCB, and hope to have a small cover fitted with just a pair of LEDs showing WiFi connection status and serial data activity.
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Sounds really interesting.
Is it something along the lines of an ESP8266?
I've often wondered if I could connect a serial data logger to one of my ESP-01's.
But never got past thinking about it.
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Is it something along the lines of an ESP8266?
That's the one. I was surprised at how simple it was.
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I have been playing around this week with a Wi-Fi to serial bridge and have successfully connected my Envoy to weather link over my home wireless network. Is this something that would be of use to anyone? I have so far used it with WeatherLink and Cumulus. It fits very neatly into the expansion port of the console. Connection is on port 23.
Got a simplified block diagram?
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Got a simplified block diagram?
I'll try to work on one, but essentially it replaces the cable between the console and the PC. In theory you could use port forwarding to connect to your console, using a remote PC running your weather software of choice from anywhere in the world.
In weatherlink I set up the console selection using the "TCP/IP" selection, then added the IP address of my link (as found in my connected devices on my home router) and selected port 23 (instead of 22222)
It downloads the logs, posts current conditions, in fact so far it has seamless functionality as if the console was connected via USB.
It is powered by the console, so might be a little bit power hungry, so I am running my console from the wall wart.
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Sorry if :roll:, but just to clarify, this will work with a console, not just an Envoy?
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Bluewave is back??
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Sorry if :roll:, but just to clarify, this will work with a console, not just an Envoy?
I hope just a console will work. I am tired of my console losing connection with my computer via USB!
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Moxa 5110a can do the same thing using the standard serial logger (and maintains normal WeatherLink functionality/logging etc) with the option of remote TCP/IP (via Router) or WiFi via a standard serial port configuration.
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Sorry if :roll:, but just to clarify, this will work with a console, not just an Envoy?
It will work with a VP1, VP2, envoy and Vue. I haven't got an 8X to test it with, but I don't see any reason that it wouldn't work with that either.
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Moxa 5110a can do the same thing using the standard serial logger (and maintains normal WeatherLink functionality/logging etc) with the option of remote TCP/IP (via Router) or WiFi via a standard serial port configuration.
I've used the Moxa 5110a before and it's great, just a little large to fit into the expansion slot. And it lacks its own Wi-Fi interface. They are nice and reliable, and I've used them in remote locations for monitoring seabed sensors.
The link I'm using still has all the logging functionality too, but I will have to do some reliability testing over the next week or so.
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Sorry if :roll:, but just to clarify, this will work with a console, not just an Envoy?
It will work with a VP1, VP2, envoy and Vue. I haven't got an 8X to test it with, but I don't see any reason that it wouldn't work with that either.
Thank you. Sounds very promising. :-)
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I'm very interested!
I want to move my WeeWx instance off of a Raspberry Pi and onto a linux VM running under Hyper-V. But Hyper-V does not allow passthrough of physical COM ports to linux, so I need to access the data using IP. I briefly experimented with a couple of options to use the Pi itself to convert USB serial port data to IP, but couldn't find anything reliable. I was afraid that a Weatherlink IP was going to be my only option.
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FWIW I think this will be an incredible seller. I hooked mine up to a RPi and used its Wifi to connect, but this is far more elegant and cheaper.
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Sounds very interesting!
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Is it something along the lines of an ESP8266?
That's the one. I was surprised at how simple it was.
Very interested.
Do you have a Web interface to configure it?
Not sure if this is relevant, but I use ESP-Link in all of my ESP8266's that are serial to Wifi links.
https://github.com/jeelabs/esp-link
Cheers
Phil.
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Phil23, I've been using esp-link too, it's a very capable interface. I'm hoping to tweak the pages to make them more relevant, but it's a steep learning curve.
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Hi
What a about a logger with RJ45 like the WeatherlinkIP, can you make that? :grin:
Kind Regards
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It's possible, but surprisingly a bit more awkward than the WiFi logger. I will spend some time on that once I have a stable design for the WiFi logger. I need to find a suitable module, with magnetics and a nice form factor.
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Hi
What a about a logger with RJ45 like the WeatherlinkIP, can you make that? :grin:
Kind Regards
Davis would probably respond with "red dot" consoles/loggers.... :roll:
I do like the WiFi idea, not sure if I have an immediate need, but it sounds cool. 8-)
Greg H.
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I *think* I'm interested, too, but I'm not quite sure that I understand how it fits into the whole data stream path...hence, why I asked for the block diagram. Gotta SHOW me...and I ain't even from Missouri.
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I *think* I'm interested, too, but I'm not quite sure that I understand how it fits into the whole data stream path...hence, why I asked for the block diagram. Gotta SHOW me...and I ain't even from Missouri.
+1
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I *think* I'm interested, too, but I'm not quite sure that I understand how it fits into the whole data stream path...hence, why I asked for the block diagram. Gotta SHOW me...and I ain't even from Missouri.
Think of it as wireless "Wire" that connects the console to the PC...
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You mean the router?
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I *think* I'm interested, too, but I'm not quite sure that I understand how it fits into the whole data stream path...hence, why I asked for the block diagram. Gotta SHOW me...and I ain't even from Missouri.
Think of it as wireless "Wire" that connects the console to the PC...
But, in MY case I have NO wire between my VUE console and my PC; the VUE plugs directly into my router/modem via its WL-IP cable.
My PC is obviously also plugged into the router/modem and I retrieve MY WL data from the DAVIS WeatherLink website via my PC, but with the WL-IP dongle (memory buffer) plugged into the VUE, there is NO WAY to directly connect anything else to the VUE (that I know of).
However, I definitely WOULD like my PC also connected to the VUE if it were possible, but at the moment I don't see that as doable.
About the ONLY way I can envision the WiFi helping me is if it were configured as a " T " where one leg connects to the VUE, the other to the WL-IP and the 3'rd is the WiFi. The SINGLE connection point into the VUE console is the problem.
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....My PC is obviously also plugged into the router/modem and I retrieve MY WL data from the DAVIS WeatherLink website via my PC, but with the WL-IP dongle (memory buffer) plugged into the VUE, there is NO WAY to directly connect anything else to the VUE (that I know of)....
Well anything that is pluggable to your router/switch can effectively also communicate with the Vue/WLIP via the network, if it's designed as such. MeteoBridge is one such example
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If you use a Meteobridge box, the WLIP talks to it and your PC can connect to the data via Port 22222
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Let me preface the below by admitting that I am NOT a wiz on WiFi.
To me, it looks like all the WiFi device would do is eliminate the ethernet CAT cable between the WL-IP dongle and my router/modem; ie: just as SLOweather stated, a "wireless" wire connection. That'd be nice for cases where: (1) the VP2 Console is physically distant from the router/modem so much that the cable length is a problem or (2) the cable cannot be 'fished' through walls, etc. My two devices are literally within two feet of each other.
Our router/modem has built-in WiFi, as does our printer, but until DAVIS™ changes the software in either the VP2 or VUE consoles, I don't see it being useful (to me). I want/need two-way communication, not just one-way data dumping...because...currently everything goes thru that dongle in a single stream down to the router with NO upward communication that I'm aware of. The dongle is memory buffering and IP download only.
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I believe you have the incorrect impression of the device that belfryboy is developing, but you are correct here:
I don't see it being useful (to me).
The reason it's not useful to you, is that you want to use your WeatherLinkIP.
The device (essentially) replaces a cable (serial or USB) connecting the console to the PC. It does that by allowing a wi-fi connection between the console and "the world" (i.e., the router). Then the PC connects to the console through the router (however it is connected to the router).
Using the WeatherLinkIP is great. It's another way to connect the console to "the world" (i.e., the router), so it performs the same function as the device that's being developed here - PLUS being able to send data to WeatherLink.com.
I hope I have that right.
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Think of it as wireless "Wire" that connects the console to the PC...
Network geek speak: A wireless bridge is an arrangement of devices (minimum two) that link two wired network segments, wirelessly. In bridged mode, the access point would not normally accept connections from other wireless devices.
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Im not sure if i have read the above examples correctly but if i am, does this mean adding this will allow me to;
1). Be able to turn off PC and still send data to say WU?
2). No longer need the Envoy to replace the console when wanting the console in another room?
Or, have i lost total grasp on reality?
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Bashy, to answer your questions;
1) this does not currently replace the "always on pc" scenario. It does not have the ability to upload directly to the internet.
2) it could replace the envoy in your situation. By that I mean that a console fitted with this link could remain connected to your PC whatever room it's in.
Dalecoy has the right idea, this may not be of use to anyone with a weatherlink IP. But in the future I may be able to modify the firmware to directly load to the internet, but that is a long way off yet.
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Thank you, that's good to know :)
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And THAT is why I asked about a possible "block diagram" so as to see the data flow directions and connections...input to output.
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And THAT is why I asked about a possible "block diagram" so as to see the data flow ....
Understood, but:
....flow directions and connections...input to output.
It's bi-directional.
Wireless connection between console and LAN
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And THAT is why I asked about a possible "block diagram" so as to see the data flow ....
Understood, but:
....flow directions and connections...input to output.
It's bi-directional.
Wireless connection between console and LAN
OK, but as I noted above, until DAVIS™ does something to the VUE software, in my application, it would only be ONE way data flow...unless there was some 'intelligence' in that device...AND/OR...a "tee'd" input/output.
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Wireless connection between console and LAN
OK, but as I noted above, until DAVIS™ does something to the VUE software, in my application, it would only be ONE way data flow...
Which way? [That's a serious question, not a snipe - I do not quite understand what you are saying]
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Wireless connection between console and LAN
OK, but as I noted above, until DAVIS™ does something to the VUE software, in my application, it would only be ONE way data flow...
Which way? [That's a serious question, not a snipe - I do not quite understand what you are saying]
On both the VP2 Console and VUE console, the ONLY communication port is thru that WL connector, which *IS* bi-directional when a WL-USB dongle is used. So, MY interest is something that fits BEFORE/AFTER the WL-IP dongle connection into the console allowing access to and use of that bi-directional communication capability. Hence, my continued use of the word "Tee"...as in data-direction splitting.
Because of the "depth" of the memory-buffer, it should/could be possible to interrupt downstream (output to ISP) for "short" periods of time, to allow PC access back up into the console...for time and data parameter "adjustments" which NOW can only be done using the console buttons, but IS possible from a PC when a WL-USB dongle is in use. I have BOTH the WL-ISP and the WL-USB dongles in use now, although connected to two different receivers: VUE console @ WL-IP and Envoy8X @ WL-USB.
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I understand that, Old Tele man. But you said:
"OK, but as I noted above, until DAVIS™ does something to the VUE software, in my application, it would only be ONE way data flow..."
I asked a simple question: Which way?
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I understand that, Old Tele man. But you said:
"OK, but as I noted above, until DAVIS™ does something to the VUE software, in my application, it would only be ONE way data flow..."
I asked a simple question: Which way?
1) WL-IP is OUTWARD data flow only...
2) WL-USB is BI-DIRECTIONAL data flow...
3) Either one plugs into the SAME connector port in VUE and/or VP2 Console.
4) Thus, that connector port in VUE or VP2 Console *IS* bi-directional.
I'm hoping something like that WiFi unit might possibly achieve the WL-USB bi-directional capability without hindering the WL-IP direct to ISP-ethernet connection...and...in my mind there seems to be numerous ways to accomplish that. But, like I said, I'm no WiFi wiz.
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I understand that, Old Tele man. But you said:
"OK, but as I noted above, until DAVIS™ does something to the VUE software, in my application, it would only be ONE way data flow..."
I asked a simple question: Which way?
1) WL-IP is OUTWARD data flow only...
It's clearly BI-DIRECTIONAL data flow... when you use PC software to communicate with the console (settings), and/or to obtain current data to upload to sites that are not supported by WeatherLink.com
Footnote: it's also clear that belfryboy's device would replace the USB logger in your Envoy8X, if you desired to have it connect wirelessly rather than through the USB cable.
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WLIP uploads to wl.com are indeed outbound only, as far as anyone knows.
But the IP logger is still obviously receptive to inbound commands, so as dalecoy says the IP interface is bidirectional. There are a number of folk who typically just turn off the wl.com uploads and use the IP logger as an alternative logger type but with an Ethernet interface, when it seems to deliver exactly the same data functionality as eg a USB logger.
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.... There are a number of folk who typically just turn off the wl.com uploads and use the IP logger as an alternative logger type but with an Ethernet interface, ...
Which would be the same as the device that belfryboy is working on, except with a wi-fi connection rather than Ethernet.
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I have received the circuit boards now and have built 3 WiFi loggers, using ESP-link as the serial-TCP/IP link. It all seems to work well, and I have had Weatherlink and Cumulus working using my envoy and Vantage pro consoles.
I am working on instructions to enable direct connection and connection over a home network.
Are there any "guinea pigs" that would like to give one of these a try and give me some feedback?
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Are there any "guinea pigs" that would like to give one of these a try and give me some feedback?
I'd be happy to be a guinea pig. I use weewx -- https://fm3k.com
My test setup would an Ubuntu VM running under Hyper V with a wired ethernet connection to the switch. Wifi data logger would connect to an access point on the same switch.
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Are there any "guinea pigs" that would like to give one of these a try and give me some feedback?
I'd love to test it. Still waiting for my cabled logger to arrive from you via our dreadful postal system.
VP2 should be here next week.
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Are there any "guinea pigs" that would like to give one of these a try and give me some feedback?
Australia is probably a bit far.
Is that your final board design? Using an ESP-01?
Even though I have 8 ESP-01's running here on PICs, I do wonder if I'll get better reliability is I replace them with ESP-12's.
It's just occasionally that one or another drops off line & needs reboot to reconnect.
I've got a handful of ESP-12F's that I've got to get around to mounting & flashing.
The only real appeal they have over the ESP-01's is the metal can shielding the chips.
It must be of some importance, as it's found in almost all WiFi devices in some form.
Phil.
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Edit:-
Their dimensions are closer than I thought,
ESP-01 - 14.3x24.8mm
ESP-12F - 16.0x24.0mm
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Phil23, I do have a design in the pipeline for the ESP-12, but I do like the simplicity of the ESP-01. The screening can is probably necessary for the FCC and CE approvals.
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Are there any "guinea pigs" that would like to give one of these a try and give me some feedback?
I'd certainly love to.
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Also interest option are LORA serial wireless interfacing, long range and low data rating speed
This is one of lowest energy interfacing very capable battery sourcing
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=282623601184&category=4660&pm=1&ds=0&t=1507988848650&cspheader=1
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=172233206398&category=4660&pm=1&ds=0&t=1507989021466&cspheader=1
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I have received the circuit boards now and have built 3 WiFi loggers, using ESP-link as the serial-TCP/IP link. It all seems to work well, and I have had Weatherlink and Cumulus working using my envoy and Vantage pro consoles.
I am working on instructions to enable direct connection and connection over a home network.
Are there any "guinea pigs" that would like to give one of these a try and give me some feedback?
Do you mean that with this, you can use different weather software at the same time, connected to the same weather station?
I don't mind testing it and count me in for a potential buy :)
Season greetings
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I have a USB logger on order, but if you are still looking for testers I'm willing