Topic: WS-2000 screen freezing

[Shelldrake]

Hi,

Last few days the console for my WS-2000 station has been freezing.  The screen remains on, but doesnt update nor does it report online.  I've tried multiple factory resets, firmware as been updated to Ver 2.0.4 (from ambient site) yet the problem persists.

Ambient website suggests that the power adaptor could be at fault, I doubted this, but purchased another (not from Abmbient) the problem persists.  Time between freezes can be minutes or hours, no pattern.  Waiting for Ambient support to get back to me but I doubt they will offer much assistance.  The station isnt 3 years old and spent a year packed away whislt renovating.  Disappointed for such an expensive piece of kit that its being let down by the console.

I've had a look at the must read wiki for replacement options, but my brain is still taking it all in, so not sure which one to investigate should Ambient not be able/want to assist.  The price that Ambient charge for shipping from the USA to Australia is extortion, so I wont be buying any replacements from them.

Cheers for any suggestions

[Gyvate]

an unstable power supply is an often observed reason for the HP2550/WS-2000 console to freeze or to be in a restarting loop.
A stable 5V/1A supply helps.
My HP2550 consoles have been flawlessly active for years, but of course the built-in components can fail, even with high quality products.

I suggest the following procedure
1. reset the console (small hole under the power-supply entry)
2. put it on latest device firmware with a microSD card - description in the WiKi - upgrade files also in the WiKi
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#the_upgrade_procedure
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#console_firmware_device_wifi_-_latest_versions
and see what it gives
As a replacement, if needed, an Ecowitt WS3900 display console or a GW3000 gateway might be interesting for you.
Only caveat, you can no longer (directly) post your data to AWN but instead to ecowitt.net
Your outdoor array can be read by the Ecowitt consoles.
Have a look at the model descriptions in the WiKi (table of contents)

[Shelldrake]

Thanks for your reply.  Seems strange that the display is still doing it with a new adaptor.  The new one is definately 5V/1A.

Does the reset button differ from factory resetting via the console?  I've only reset it via the console reset menu at this stage.

I've installed the lastest firmware V2.0.4 from the 'download tab' of this page https://ambientweather.com/ws-2000-smart-weather-station

I will have a further look in the Wiki as well

Thanks

an unstable power supply is an often observed reason for the HP2550/WS-2000 console to freeze or to be in a restarting loop.
A stable 5V/1A supply helps.
My HP2550 consoles have been flawlessly active for years, but of course the built-in components can fail, even with high quality products.

I suggest the following procedure
1. reset the console (small hole under the power-supply entry)
2. put it on latest device firmware with a microSD card - description in the WiKi - upgrade files also in the WiKi
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#the_upgrade_procedure
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#console_firmware_device_wifi_-_latest_versions
and see what it gives
As a replacement, if needed, an Ecowitt WS3900 display console or a GW3000 gateway might be interesting for you.
Only caveat, you can no longer (directly) post your data to AWN but instead to ecowitt.net
Your outdoor array can be read by the Ecowitt consoles.
Have a look at the model descriptions in the WiKi (table of contents)

[Gyvate]

let's have a look at what "freezing" means for you ...
is nothing shown at all ?
does the sunrise/sunset information show (under the dotted arc) ?
Does the moon phase show ?
Is there a little radio transmitter symbol in the top line ?
As you could do a factory reset from within the console - can you post a picture of the main display and of the sensorID page !? (gear wheel --> More [Setup] --> SensorsID)

[Shelldrake]

Of course now I'm watching the display, its not going to freeze.

Attached is a picture of the sensorID.  I still have the plastic protection cover on the screen (I like to keep things new )

When it does freeze again, I'll attach another picture, but when its frozen, it has all data from the second it stopped if that makes sense, just imagine you are looking at a picture of the screen.  When it does this it also stops uploading data.  A power cycle brings it back online.  It still shows as connected to the WiFi network when it happens.

let's have a look at what "freezing" means for you ...
is nothing shown at all ?
does the sunrise/sunset information show (under the dotted arc) ?
Does the moon phase show ?
Is there a little radio transmitter symbol in the top line ?
As you could do a factory reset from within the console - can you post a picture of the main display and of the sensorID page !? (gear wheel --> More [Setup] --> SensorsID)

[Shelldrake]

OK, I've attached a photo of the screen when 'frozen'.  I rebooted after taking this photo and it froze again immediately.

I can still see the console on the network and I can ping it, but no data is updating on the screen, nor is it updating to CWOP or AW

[Rover1822]

This still seems like a power supply issue, and I have no idea what kind or quality of new power supply you bought. Bizarre "new" power supplies can also have issues. You could also try another one , I know , again...

But, I would also try this , if you have an SD card in the console... remove it. Do not put anything in. Power off/ power on again, the unit does not require a card. Just looking for something that may interrupt whatever flow (which I don't know) that the software has. I am not suggesting you run out and buy a new SD card , just the test.

Physically, there is not much else you can do with the unit. I did , early on have a display that failed after a year, slightly different symptoms . I did end up buying a new one. And yes  is WS-2000

[SamiS]

A failing memory card could very well be behind the freezing of the console.

I personally think it is quite unexpected to have two different power supplies that could cause exactly the same freezing behaviour. If the console would reboot or be in boot loop, then I would believe in this possibility, but in this case no.

Also for the original poster, have you upgraded the wifi firmware as well?

[kheller2]

So does the clock seconds change or is that frozen too?

[Shelldrake]

I've taken the sd card out, will see how it goes.

A failing memory card could very well be behind the freezing of the console.

I personally think it is quite unexpected to have two different power supplies that could cause exactly the same freezing behaviour. If the console would reboot or be in boot loop, then I would believe in this possibility, but in this case no.

Also for the original poster, have you upgraded the wifi firmware as well?

[Shelldrake]

The seconds stop counting, all data, wind speed etc, all stop

So does the clock seconds change or is that frozen too?

[Gyvate]

do you have the most recent WiFi firmware installed ? -> should be AMBWeatherPro V.5.2.1
as your console isn't that old yet, it should be the version with the new WiFi modem (hence AMBWeatherPro WiFi firmware).
You should be able to access the WiFi firmware section with your webbrowser via http://IP-address-of-your-console and check and upgrade the WiFi firmware from there;
or, via the About page (4 x gear --> About [Display])

[Gyvate]

Apart from the WiFi firmware - I have checked the issue with the manufacturer and they see a possible hardware issue - that the oscillation crystal has stopped working properly.
Sometimes it helps to clean it with alcohol (isopropanol).
For this you have to open the console housing (screws) and open it with the screen down.
Use cotton swaps (cotton buds UK).
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
let's see what it gives

for orientation see
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?cache=&media=hp2560-console-antenna.jpg
it's from a HP2560 model, but just to get the idea 

[Shelldrake]

I dont think this is the latest version of the console, the console doesnt load via the IP address.  From reading the Wiki, I think this is one of the older models?

Attached is the picture of the current firmware.

do you have the most recent WiFi firmware installed ? -> should be AMBWeatherPro V.5.2.1
as your console isn't that old yet, it should be the version with the new WiFi modem (hence AMBWeatherPro WiFi firmware).
You should be able to access the WiFi firmware section with your webbrowser via http://IP-address-of-your-console and check and upgrade the WiFi firmware from there;
or, via the About page (4 x gear --> About [Display])

[Shelldrake]

Very interesting, I'll give this a go tomorrow night, too late now.

The only thing I've done different today is (as suggested above) to remove the SD card.  I've done that and rebooted and its been online without a freeze for about 12 hours now.

You might be onto something there though as I've noticed the seconds seem to "glitch" a bit when they are counting up, stutter is probably a better word for it.

Apart from the WiFi firmware - I have checked the issue with the manufacturer and they see a possible hardware issue - that the oscillation crystal has stopped working properly.
Sometimes it helps to clean it with alcohol (isopropanol).
For this you have to open the console housing (screws) and open it with the screen down.
Use cotton swaps (cotton buds UK).
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
let's see what it gives

for orientation see
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?cache=&media=hp2560-console-antenna.jpg
it's from a HP2560 model, but just to get the idea 

[Shelldrake]

I think the problem was indeed the SD card.  After reformatting it and putting it back in, its been over 24 hours and hasnt missed a beat.

Ambient support got back to me and believed it to be a problem connecting to the Wi-Fi, which isnt the case.

To be honest, I didnt even think of the possibility of the SD card being the cause.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions 

[Gyvate]

I think the problem was indeed the SD card.  After reformatting it and putting it back in, its been over 24 hours and hasnt missed a beat.

Ambient support got back to me and believed it to be a problem connecting to the Wi-Fi, which isnt the case.

To be honest, I didnt even think of the possibility of the SD card being the cause.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions 

in our WiKi, in the Troubleshooting section, we have marked that as a possible reasons ... 
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=faq2#console_screen_freezes_hp25x0_and_ws-2000_4000_5000

[SamiS]

I think the problem was indeed the SD card.  After reformatting it and putting it back in, its been over 24 hours and hasnt missed a beat.

I would suggest you to replace the card with a new one, because reformatting the card does not fix damaged areas of the card. When emptied it will work for some time, but the problem will most likely reappear when the amount of saved data again reaches the same memory cells that caused the freeze at the first place. Of course in theory it could have just been a logical error in the filesystem, but I find it unlikely.

[Rover1822]

Not a bad suggestion. SD cards do have a limited write lifespan.
Although we don't know if it was the card, or rather that contacts were not right on, and simply reinserting took care of it.

But if it was me, I would probably replace.

On the other hand , you could let it go a while to see if the issue resurfaces, only been 24 hrs.
Before we all jump on that was it!, give it some time.
This is really only true for those of us that are curious, frankly , I would as I said, just replace.

[Shelldrake]

Thought I'd give an update for anyone who was following.

I formatted the SD card and placed it back into the console.  The console hasnt frozen since my last post on 2 June.  So it does indeed look like the card was the cause, I kept using the same card to test if the card itself is failing.