Topic: WS5000 console and sensors signal strength

[Ahill]

This should apply to both ambient and  Ecowitt for the most part i think. But in this particular instance the ws5000 console and sensors are always in the same location. Usually always have a full signal strength in bars on the console screen. Occasionally notice that one, sometimes two different sensors go from full signal strength down to a couple bars and even all the way down to no bars for a bit then back all the way up to full.

I know the cell phones will do that as well as signals fluctuate. But if two of the sensors are on the same pole why would one of them go down to none while the other right next to it stays at full bars. At times two or three out of four will show different, where all four are at full, then one is at half and another at none. Or three at full and one at none etc.

Shouldn’t all of them be basically the same all the time and what would cause one or two to fluctuate and not the others.
Idk if its sensor related, console related or both. Anyone else having this same thing happen.
I am speculating it has to do with the 900mhz frequency it is on but puzzled as to how it reacts differently.

[kheller2]

It isn't so much a signal strength measurement, but a packet loss measurement.  If the console misses a sensor broadcast, or the broadcast is corrupted or doesn't reach the console, the level drops.  I believe that is how it works.

[Ahill]

So it has 4 bars similar to a cell phone with all 4 being full strength signal or (full packet signal) as you say. Sometimes it three bars, sometimes 2, or one. When its only two or three bars, then its only getting partial packets and when it has 0 bars its not getting any?

[Rover1822]

I believe, and @Gyvate or someone will confirm, it is based on how many received. For instance, when you first connect a sensor it may show 1 bar as the console has only received one, the bars will increase with time. And reduce as if didn't receive a usable transmission over some period of time

At least that is what I remember.

[Gyvate]

yes, correct - it indicates the reception and successful processing of the four past subsequent data packet transmissions - whereas in a mobile phone it is signal strength (field strength).

In other words - if the past four subsequent transmissions were properly received and successfully processed (no signal loss or corruption --> EMI), you will see four bars. If one is dropped, it will be three bars, next processed again - four bars.

You can easily observe it with a WH31 sensor (or any other, just take the sensor transmission interval into account):

take off the battery and within 4 minutes (WH31 transmission interval = 61 seconds) no bars will be visible anmore. Re-insert th batteries and after one minute the first bar should re-appear and after four minute, four bars should be visible again (unless there was a drop-out in between).

[Ahill]

Thats a great clarification as i assumed it was field signal strength to and from the sensor and console.
So is it normal to occasionally fluctuate from full signal(5bars), down to 1 or 0 then back up again to full. What would cause it to lose packets, interference?
If its normal is one thing but if its something thats causing it that is correctable is another.

[Rover1822]

Interference, range, battery going bad in the sensor, something else... all of them. I mean it is a very low power radio transmission, for a reason, you run afoul of regulations , etc if the transmit power is too high. Also , the sensors for the most part (other than solar) are battery powered, increased power of transmission , lower battery life. Same reason some sensors that are battery only , have longer intervals between transmissions, battery conservation. The manufacturer has to work through all of that to get to  a workable solution.

Edit: A good example in this is the WH41 and WH43, both PM2.5 sensors, but the WH43 is meant for indoor and should be USB powered and has a transmission rate of 1 minute (10 minutes if just running off batteries, in case of power outage I guess). The WH411 , OK, is meant for outdoor use, and although it has a solar panel, and rechargeable batteries, has a transmission rate of 10 minutes only. The difference is the WH43 was meant to be plugged in all the time, the WH41 not. (Although some of us have worked out a permanent power solution for the WH41, it will not alter the transmission interval). Other than power source, usb plug location, solar panel, both units are identical.

[Ahill]

In other words, electronics lol.
When i had metal detectors there was a delicate balance between transmitting power due to regulations, interference, power supply, size etc. i guess it’s all the same lol