Topic: Ecowitt HP2550/WS2000 extra sensor integration (AQM and Soil Moisture)

[K7RMK]

Does the HP2550 support multiple AQM and Soil sensors like the GW1000 and if so, how does it display them? Or does it just support one of each?

[Mandrake]

The HP2551 currently only displays and supports one WH-41 (PM2.5 AQM sensor) and one WH-291 (Soil Moisture sensor).
However it is expected that in a future firmware update it will support up to 8 Soil Moisture sensors but there is no timeline for this at present.

Hope this helps

[G.Brown]

Hi - did a quick search for threads about the soil moisture sensor and ended up here.
I am wondering about the compatibility of similar looking sensors from china - there's one called WH51, transmitter for WH0291 with frequency of 868 - would it be likely to work with the Ambient 2000 console?
Thanks.

[Mandrake]

Sadly not.
Two things prevent this....
1. Frequency. In North America weather stations use the 915Mhz frequency range. The sensor advertised is 868Mhz which is mostly used in Europe.
2. Ambient Weather stations which are technically identical use a hobbled firmware that means only AW sourced sensors can be used. This means that you are tied to what AW sells and the prices that they charge.

Hope that helps and sorry to disapoint!

[Gyvate]

The WH0291 is sold by Ecowitt in all three frequencies - 915, 868, 433 MHz - you have to choose the frequency of the model in the order process.
You can get both (WH291 and WH51) and use them, but the WH51 won't show on the WS-2000 console.
To marry the Ambient and the Ecowitt world has got obstacles (and like every marriage compromises  ) ...
A HP2551 console (Ecowitt) (=WS-2000/WS-5000 console but with Ecowitt firmware) can read and display all your Ambient sensors and all Ecowitt sensors - but cannot post to ambienweather.net.
Same with a GW1000.
An Ambient console cannot display non-Ambient sensors. Obstructed by firmware.
You'll find more about this in our overview and compatibility post https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.0
Look at the footnotes.

A GW1000 console is almost the same price as the WH091 console. Its 915 MHz version could receive the WH51 (915 MHz) and the outdoor array of your Ambient console.

Remains the question of display as the GW1000 is a display-less console. The Android PWT (Personal Weather Tablet) app on smartphone, better on a (even old) tablet would do.
Of course, as long as you stay in the reach of your local WiFi the GW1000 would be connected to, you can see all the sensors (from the osprey array and a WH51 and ....) in the
WSView app (similar to the awnet app).

[G.Brown]

sorry I was generalising saying a Ambient 2000 so people knew what I was talking about but I am in England so its called a Watson 8686 so the frequency is 868.
Perhaps I should have just asked if anyone knows which soil moisture sensors are compatible with a Watson 8686 and a link would be appreciated.

[wvdkuil]

sorry I was generalising saying a Ambient 2000 so people knew what I was talking about but I am in England so its called a Watson 8686 so the frequency is 868.
Perhaps I should have just asked if anyone knows which soil moisture sensors are compatible with a Watson 8686 and a link would be appreciated.

This station https://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/product/watson-w-8686/  is a real FOSHK / Ecowitt station.

It can use the soil-moist sensor as sold by froggit.de which uses its own numbering system
https://www.froggit.de/product_info.php?info=p437_dp100-mehrkanal-bodenfeuchte-funksensor.html

Or you can directly order from China at ecowitt.com
https://www.ecowitt.com/shop/goodsDetail/19

Succes,
Wim

P.S. Here you can find all compatible parts for your station, yours is the same as the black one in the first column  :
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.0

[G.Brown]

hmmm confused now - the comparatism chart says the 2000 console is compatible with a WH51 probe,  but Gyvate reply says "but the WH51 won't show on the WS-2000 console"

[Gyvate]

hmmm confused now - the comparatism chart says the 2000 console is compatible with a WH51 probe,  but Gyvate reply says "but the WH51 won't show on the WS-2000 console"

you have to read the fine print - even though (superficially looking) the matrix says that a HP2551 console type is generally compatible with a WH51 of the same frequency, it is also said in the footnotes,
that Ambient consoles only display Ambient sensors, whereas Ecowitt consoles display sensors of Ecowitt (and clone) and Ambient origin !
That's why the consoles (and sensors) are split into the three main resellers in the table/matrix: Ecowitt, Froggit, Ambient.
There are also other resellers, most mentioned in the matrix with the consoles, some in the footnotes.

The Ambient console of a WS-2000/5000 could only read the Ambient version of a WN51, the WH31SM in Ambient terms - however it is no longer produced because of shortcomings in the ceramic probe.

OK - and when you have a Watson W8686, a HP2551 console clone, this console can of course display the WH51 sensors
see also the console pictogram:  https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.msg420959#msg420959

Because of this different behaviour of Ambient branded FineOffset hardware and other (non-Ambient) FineOffset clones, you have to clearly state what your exact situation is.
Otherwise you can get the info from/for the other "camp".

So, what I said/wrote was correct: a WS-2000 or WS-5000 console is an Ambient console, and it cannot display the WH51.
The Watson W8686 is a non-Ambient (rebranded) version of the original FineOffset HP2550 console, sold by Ecowitt as HP2551 console. Hence the Watson W8686 console can read the WH51.

[G.Brown]

I must admit I was using a spot of diplomacy in my original question - fact is I have said WH51 and it doesn't show on my Watson 8686 console.
Would  it need a firmware update?

[wvdkuil]

I must admit I was using a spot of diplomacy in my original question - fact is I have said WH51 and it doesn't show on my Watson 8686 console.
Would  it need a firmware update?

Yes it should show its data just below the date time line at the top-right.
At least if you are using recent firmware as the soil-sensor are more recent than the first batch of the 2551-similar consoles.

So a firmware update could solve the problem.

Wim

[G.Brown]

the firmware I am using is Firmware Pro - V1.6.9

and the wifi firmware Easyweather V.1.4.0 ....I know there is a later version but needs a mobile phone to update which I neither own or have access to....

could that be my problem?

[Gyvate]

Even though firmware 1.7.1 is the most recent, V. 1.6.9 should do the job.
The WiFi firmware is only responsible for posting to the weather networks (ecowitt.net, weather underground, weathercloud, wow, and to a customized server).
It could be that the WH51 won't be published to Ecowitt.net due to the rather old WiFi firmware, but for the sensor display on the console it has no impact.

In your console settings (Gear wheel --> More (setup) --> sensors ID) all sensors are shown. The WH51 sensors would be in the 3rd (the very right) column.
It is possible that next to Ch1 and also Ch2-Ch8 it says "disable". Then you can't see the sensor. In this case select the "disable" field and in the window opening select
"Register" (and press the (-) magnifying glass symbol). Then the console should look for a new WH51. It's also good to disconnect the battery of the WH51 briefly and
reconnect. Then it will be in pairing mode.

If you don't have a mobile or smartphone, you can install an Android emulator e.g. NOX on your windows PC and install (and use) the WSView app there. Also for updating the WiFi firmware.

[G.Brown]

Hi - Thanks for bearing with me on this.
Ive gone into that menu but in the right column 3 it just says soil moisture and i have gone into No 1 and is asks to set sensor ID - now the sensor has a label on it ...ID: 00DDA9 but I cant figure any way of entering those figures ?


found out how to do it but it asks for a hexedecimal ID ??  of less that 6 figures?

[Gyvate]

just take the last four characters ("letters"): in your case DDA9.
You can enter them as normal letters/numbers - it will be interpreted as a hexadecimal value. 
Once you have entered it, disconnect and reconnect the battery of the WH51 again as described earlier.
The top piece should blink with a red light every 20 seconds (later on every 70 seconds).

[G.Brown]

"If you don't have a mobile or smartphone, you can install an Android emulator e.g. NOX on your windows PC and install (and use) the WSView app there. Also for updating the WiFi firmware."

Hi - I have the lightning detector but nothing showing on the Ecowitt site and notice from another thread that I will need to update the Wifi firmware.
I have downloaded two NOX 'things' and now have shortcuts to nox multidrive and just plain nox - I haven't got a clue what they are or what to do next - could you give me an idiot guide so I can use this method to update my firmware.
Thanks.

[Gyvate]

 "If you don't have a mobile or smartphone, you can install an Android emulator e.g. NOX on your windows PC and install (and use) the WSView app there. Also for updating the WiFi firmware."

Hi - I have the lightning detector but nothing showing on the Ecowitt site and notice from another thread that I will need to update the Wifi firmware.
I have downloaded two NOX 'things' and now have shortcuts to nox multidrive and just plain nox - I haven't got a clue what they are or what to do next - could you give me an idiot guide so I can use this method to update my firmware.
Thanks.

OK - first of all - what's your console ?
If it's a HP2551 or a HP2551 clone like a Watson 8686 or Froggit HP1000SE Pro, the firmware update is done by downloading the firmware (user.bin) from Ecowitt.com, copying it on a SDHC microSD card and inserting it into the console. see also  https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=41575.0

If it's a GW1000/WH2650, the update is via the WSView app.
If you don't have an Android phone, you can install the NoxPlayer Android emulator software on a Windows PC. https://www.bignox.com/
There is a bit of work involved.
After the NOXPlayer installed you have to open it and find via browser inside the NoxPlayer the Google Play Store app.
If not already installed, you will have to install it.
Once the Google Play Store app installed, you have to open it and look for the WSView app, install it and open it.
Then you should see your GW1000 in the device list and the firmware update will be offered once you tap on your device entry in the device list.
In fact (almost) all these steps you have to do on an Android smartphone too - with the difference that the Google Play Store app is usually pre-installed.

[G.Brown]

Hi Thanks for getting back to me.
It is a Watson 8686 and I have updated the firmware in the past using the SD card but was under the impression that you can not update the Wifi firmware that way but need to use an smartphone.
If I can do it using the SD card then problem solved?

[Gyvate]

For the WiFi firmware you are correct - it needs the WSView app.
If the NoxPlayer is too much trouble for you, ask a friend, family member ... to lend you their smartphone,
or have them do the update for you. They'll have to download the WSView app and need to be connected to the WLAN where your console is in.
It's a 1 minute affair once WSView is installed.

But potential issues with the lightning detector have nothing to do with the WiFi firmware.
Only with the console firmware.

There's another recent post reading which could be helpful for you - contains a lot of hints.
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=42426.0

[G.Brown]

from a previous post the person was not getting his lightning data on the Ecowitt site and updated his wifi firmware which cured the problem?
i am on the old firmware that was mentioned in the tread.

[G.Brown]

here is the thread

https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40354.0

[galfert]

Getting Nox Player to work involves a number of steps. It is important to bridge the network settings of the Nox Player. You can reference this thread for setting all of this up.
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=36792.0

[G.Brown]

OK thanks - its way beyond my capabilities, Ill just do without lightning data.

[Gyvate]

from a previous post the person was not getting his lightning data on the Ecowitt site and updated his wifi firmware which cured the problem?
i am on the old firmware that was mentioned in the tread.

That was a different situation - he could see his lightning sensor in the console but it would not show at Ecowitt.net.
For this posting the WiFi software is needed - but for displaying on the console it's the console software.
Of course, ideally, both are updated.

And even if you think it's beyond your capacities - getting someone with a smartphone involved could do the job.
For this you don't need any computer, smartphone etc. skills - just need to find a person who knows how and is willing to do it.

[G.Brown]

"Hi - I have the lightning detector but nothing showing on the Ecowitt site and notice from another thread that I will need to update the Wifi firmware."
This is what I said above - you may have missed it.
Thanks all the same.