WXforum.net
Weather Station Hardware => Davis Instruments Weather Stations => Topic started by: dalecoy on July 23, 2015, 07:59:16 PM
-
The WeatherLink Network (WeatherLink.com) has a feature described this way:
Automatically upload data to third-party weather sites including CWOP (Citizen Weather Observer Program), Weather Underground, the GLOBE Program, and more.
I have not been able to find Davis Documentation telling how often these uploads are done.
It is my assumption that:
1. The uploads are done every 15 minutes.
2. There is no way that a subscriber (user) can change that.
I don't currently use the WeatherLink Network - but might want to do so in the future. However, those specifications might be important in my decision.
I would appreciate verification or correction of those assumptions, which of course will document it in this forum for future reference.
Of course, I could contact Davis and ask.............
-
If #1 and/or #2 would be true, both deal breakers for me. No contest.
-
I was trying to figure that out last week when some acu-link.com were having similar problems as weatherlink.com users getting information to wunderground.
I got nowhere, but I do wonder if wunderground imposes a 15-minute update interval on bulk-data feeders. Or maybe it's just coincidence.
-
I have not been able to find Davis Documentation telling how often these uploads are done.
I'm not aware of any Davis documentation that discloses this publicly. But in practical terms, the user can obviously only control those parameters that can be accessed via the wl.com web interface pages and there are no settings to control forwarding frequency to third-party website targets. So the only available upload times are the default ones.
It's difficult to see how WLIP, for example, is ever likely to be able to support WURF, at least not without a major firmware upgrade. WLIP uploads its current conditions data to wl.com every minute (as documented by Davis) which wouldn't chime with my definition of RF, though I guess some users might still prefer every minute or every 5 minutes to the 15-minute interval.
It's worth remembering that wl.com caters for uploads from all of WLIP, WL subscriptions and Connect sources and so eg a Connect even on a 5-min plan is never going to deliver RF data. But the point is that different data sources can have different upload characteristics.
Finally, wl.com has had only incremental enhancements over the past 2-3 years - the focus seems to have been on backstage improvements to make the service as robust as possible while scaling up to a load of 20,000 users and more. As far as I can judge, this seems to have been done pretty successfully. But I'm sure there will come a time, hopefully in the relatively near future, when the development attention will switch to the service itself and the range of features on offer will be extended.
-
Does anyone have any hard numbers? Some numbers being kicked around 5 and 15 minutes but no clarification, " So the only available upload times are the default ones." What are the default times?
Mainly looking at WU and CWOP upload times. Can any of the upload times be adjusted beyond the default, example 15 minutes changed to 5 minutes or are they all static with no adjustment.
We are looking for answers concerning another issue so need some clarification on weatherlink .com.
-
Can any of the upload times be adjusted beyond the default, example 15 minutes changed to 5 minutes or are they all static with no adjustment.
Please read my previous answer. To repeat: At present there is no option currently provided to vary the default times. What may happen when the next iteration of wl.com is released could obviously offer more flexibility, potentially.
-
Can any of the upload times be adjusted beyond the default, example 15 minutes changed to 5 minutes or are they all static with no adjustment.
Please read my previous answer. To repeat: At present there is no option currently provided to vary the default times. What may happen when the next iteration of wl.com is released could obviously offer more flexibility, potentially.
So default times are still a mystery, but we do know they can't be changed according to you.
Yesterday we had a member move CWOP from 15 to 5 minute uploads, I saw it myself so how is also a mystery.
-
Today I just checked again and his CWOP times are back down to 15 minutes. So maybe what I thought got changed to 5 minutes didn't actually happen. #-o
-
Today I just checked again and his CWOP times are back down to 15 minutes. So maybe what I thought got changed to 5 minutes didn't actually happen. #-o
If you're feeling sceptical, take a look at the attached image, which shows the relevant page on the wl.com web interface. I can't see any settings there that allow the interval to be changed and there are no submenus that only show if an upload is selected. The available settings really are pretty straightforward, so I'm dubious if there was any apparent change in the interval. It might conceivably be Davis doing some development work on the default settings of course, but I can't see that there's anything user-definable.
-
Today I just checked again and his CWOP times are back down to 15 minutes. So maybe what I thought got changed to 5 minutes didn't actually happen. #-o
If you're feeling sceptical, take a look at the attached image, which shows the relevant page on the wl.com web interface. I can't see any settings there that allow the interval to be changed and there are no submenus that only show if an upload is selected. The available settings really are pretty straightforward, so I'm dubious if there was any apparent change in the interval. It might conceivably be Davis doing some development work on the default settings of course, but I can't see that there's anything user-definable.
That clears that up. I sent a PM to dig a little deeper on how it was done. It may of been one of those flukes, he said he moved it so I checked and sure enough it updated after 5 minutes. But its back at 15 today.
-
This is exactly what I was asking about a few days ago, and my friend then eventually called Davis support and was told there is no way you can change the default interval for WU of 15 minutes.
-
Thanks, johnd (and others).
Now, perhaps one more clarification:
"Automatically upload data to third-party weather sites including CWOP (Citizen Weather Observer Program), Weather Underground, the GLOBE Program, and more."
What is/are the "and more" sites?
-
What is/are the "and more" sites?
None that I'm aware of, at least in the current iteration of wl.com. TBH I'm not quite sure that this original wording was quite thought through - the problem for Davis has been that they don't, perhaps understandably, want a free-for-all where anyone can ask for an upload link to their own pet network, but at the same time they haven't established clear criteria (and maybe fees) for adding selected new networks. Maybe the next version of wl.com will offer more options?
Of course the above assumes that 'and more' refers just to push uploads. Anyone in possession of specific account credentials can pull data from wl.com to populate their own databases and presentations (provided, presumably, that they don't stress the servers with too-frequent data requests).
-
Figured out the other members statement. The upload interval in WL to WL.com were confused with increasing upload intervals to CWOP. This has cleared up a bunch on WL and WL.com questions I had.
-
Hi Dale,
For the Weathelrink Network Subscription�the uploads to the third party sites happens fromm our servers, and is set at every 15 minutes. Unfortunately, that cannot be changed at this time.
Gerry Thrash
Technical Support
Davis Instruments, Inc.
510-732-7814
gerryt@davisnet.com
-
Hi Dale,
For the Weathelrink Network Subscription�the uploads to the third party sites happens fromm our servers, and is set at every 15 minutes. Unfortunately, that cannot be changed at this time.
Gerry Thrash
Technical Support
Davis Instruments, Inc.
510-732-7814
gerryt@davisnet.com
:roll:
-
The 15-minute upload limit to WU is why I added a Meteohub to the WL. The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds. Note that at times I may have to shut down the Meteohub for maintenance or setting changes and the WL serves as a back up uploader to WU because it is always running in the background at its 15-min interval.
-
The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds.
Why? [i.e., why is 10 seconds better than 1 minute or 5 minutes or ......]
-
The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds.
Why? [i.e., why is 10 seconds better than 1 minute or 5 minutes or ......]
Why not? Would you like your console to update every five minutes? I think not. As the saying goes, and it's certainly true, knowledge is power.
-
Shorter upload times on WU take precedence for display when stations are close together. Seeing as my station is senior, has superior siting and is of better quality (VP2 vs Ambient Weather WS-1200-IP), it is important that my weather data be displayed instead of the other station. It is better quality.
-
The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds.
Why? [i.e., why is 10 seconds better than 1 minute or 5 minutes or ......]
Why not? Would you like your console to update every five minutes? I think not. As the saying goes, and it's certainly true, knowledge is power.
So, the answer to "why" is "why not"?
OK, why not every 1 second or every 50 milliseconds?
[And yes, I'm quite willing to accept d_l's answer]
-
The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds.
Why? [i.e., why is 10 seconds better than 1 minute or 5 minutes or ......]
Why not? Would you like your console to update every five minutes? I think not. As the saying goes, and it's certainly true, knowledge is power.
So, the answer to "why" is "why not"?
OK, why not every 1 second or every 50 milliseconds?
[And yes, I'm quite willing to accept d_l's answer]
Your logic is confounding and you're seemingly arguing just for the sake of doing so. I'll put it this way, as far as I'm concerned, faster is better. Good enough?
-
I'll put it this way, as far as I'm concerned, faster is better. Good enough?
Certainly. And I truly am interested in the reasons why various people use the various settings that they do.
I apologize for offending.
-
I'll put it this way, as far as I'm concerned, faster is better. Good enough?
Certainly. And I truly am interested in the reasons why various people use the various settings that they do.
I apologize for offending.
Thank you for offering, but certainly no apology necessary.
-
The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds.
Why? [i.e., why is 10 seconds better than 1 minute or 5 minutes or ......]
Why not? Would you like your console to update every five minutes? I think not. As the saying goes, and it's certainly true, knowledge is power.
This is an interesting discussion. I would say that using any software, computer, meteohub, etc., defeats the sole purpose of WL-IP, which is the ability to upload weather observations without requiring anything else. So the desire for more frequent uploads overrides the design of WL-IP.
That being said, I have seen WL.com uploads to WU at 15-min intervals actually miss daily maxes in temperature. So one benefit to more frequent data is the capture of the daily extremes.
And I do wish WL.com had an almanac feature for the month, year, all-time, etc., to be able to look at climate records at ones location over time.
Anyway, neat discussion!
-
Shouldn't that 15 minute update include highs and lows?
-
I found out some more from CaptainGadget, with WLIP it does update automatically every 1 minute to WL.com. Davis information: http://www.davisnet.com/support/weather/faq/answer/index.asp?ProdFam=15&faqCat=1&faqid=49
I've watched his uploads and it does update every minute. Here is the station: http://www.weatherlink.com/user/DDWeather
And the default is 15 minute uploads to WU: http://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KNESTAPL2#history
I can see the Davis site reports a different high currently 72 vs 71.2 but think this was only because of the 12AM reset time. Normally highs and lows would be same I would think.
-
The 15-minute upload limit to WU is why I added a Meteohub to the WL. The Meteohub is set to upload to WU every ten seconds. Note that at times I may have to shut down the Meteohub for maintenance or setting changes and the WL serves as a back up uploader to WU because it is always running in the background at its 15-min interval.
I have a quick question for you regarding the quoted post above: Are you pushing data to WU through weatherlink.com and your Meteohub concurrently/simultaneously? Or do you just enable the weatherlink.com data push to WU when your Meteohub is down for maintenance?
Thanks in advance!
-
My Globe upload seems to only happen one time and after that I have to restart WeatherLink for it to upload again, is this working for you?
-
I'm using Davis WLIP and I've started get messages this week from WU that my station is offline, the back online, then offline, etc., etc., etc.
There's nothing wrong with my station so I assume this has to do with data transfer between WL and WU. I see that the default upload interval from WL to WU is set to the default of 15 mins. and I can't change it to 5 min. or 1 min. unless I give them my credit card number.
-
I'm using Davis WLIP and I've started get messages this week from WU that my station is offline, the back online, then offline, etc., etc., etc.
Think many users are seeing those messages to some degree or other. It's presumably continuing issues at WU and nothing to do with weatherlink.com.
I see that the default upload interval from WL to WU is set to the default of 15 mins. and I can't change it to 5 min. or 1 min. unless I give them my credit card number.
You mean unless you subscribe to the Pro plan? But I can't recall that being any different in the past - the free plan has always used 15min updates AFAICR. What's happened is that Davis have introduced the option of more frequent updates but these are only available to Pro users. Not sure that it's an unreasonable approach, ie you get basic features for free but if you want more than the basic features then you have to pay a little (eg the price of one coffee per month).
-
I'm using Davis WLIP and I've started get messages this week from WU that my station is offline, the back online, then offline, etc., etc., etc.
Think many users are seeing those messages to some degree or other. It's presumably continuing issues at WU and nothing to do with weatherlink.com.
I see that the default upload interval from WL to WU is set to the default of 15 mins. and I can't change it to 5 min. or 1 min. unless I give them my credit card number.
You mean unless you subscribe to the Pro plan? But I can't recall that being any different in the past - the free plan has always used 15min updates AFAICR. What's happened is that Davis have introduced the option of more frequent updates but these are only available to Pro users. Not sure that it's an unreasonable approach, ie you get basic features for free but if you want more than the basic features then you have to pay a little (eg the price of one coffee per month).
Thanks johnd. I guess I'll wait for WU to fix their problems and hopefully these offline messages will go away soon.