Cumulus Support

Hi all,

We have a Davis VP2 connected via a USB data logger to a Windows 10 PC running Cumulus 1 which then updates our website. We have acquired a David WeatherLink Live (WLL) module which is running alongside the existing configuration and updating WeatherLink.com.

We'd like to implement Cumulus MX to give a local interface to the WLL in case of a broadband outage (we're in a remote location) and also transfer over the existing Cumulus 1 weather history and extremes. Achieving this would enable us to retire the Davis VP2 console and Cumulus 1. We have a 100 volunteers, many of whom are not technical, and we want a system that needs minimum user interaction but which just displays the weather locally and also updates the web site for our broader local boating community.

This begs a few questions:
1. Is it possible to run Cumulus MX talking to WLL on the same PC as Cumulus 1 talking to the VP2?
2. Can we achieve the above without the cost of an upgrade to WeatherLink Pro (we're a charity with restricted funds)? If so, what's the best way to configure MX to talk to the WLL?
3. From what I've read, it's best to let MX build a new Cumulus.ini. How do I then transfer in the weather history files from Cumulus 1?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ed
National Coastwatch Hengistbury Head

Hi Ed,
Re your questions:
1. Yes
2. Yes, but with the free basic Weatherlink.com you will not be able to get historical data into CumulusMX in the case your computer or CumulusMX is shut down. Archive data access is only with the paid Pro subscription.
CMX will connect to WLL using the IP address that will be given when you setup WLL using the Davis Weatherlink App
3. Once you have CumulusMX running for the first time you can then stop CumulusMX, copy in the \data folder from Cumulus1 to CumulusMX. Do the same for the NOAA reports if you have these. Then start CumulusMX and it will continue on using all the copied-in data.

p.s. if you retire your VP2 console and USB logger then you could sell it and maybe get enough for a year's or more Pro subscription

Enjoy,
Paul

Paul,

Thanks for that. Very helpful.

My understanding was that the WLL buffers up to 5 days data in the same way the VP2 console does for about 28 days. With the VP2 console, if Cumulus is shutdown it retrieves the missing/buffered data on restart. Are you saying the WLL will not pass the buffered historic data direct to Cumulus MX in the same if there has been a shutdown and restart of the Cumulus MX software unless you purchase a WeatherLink Pro subscription?

Many thanks!

Ed

Hi Ed,
Yes that is correct. With the free WL.com subscription you can not retrieve that historic data. The data however does get logged at WL.com at 15 minute interval.
With the WL.com Plus paid subscription the interval is at 5 minutes or at 1 minute with the Pro Plus, and you can view that historic data and charts on WL.com.

Enjoy,
Paul

Just to clarify a little...

The WLL does have an internal buffer (*much* larger than the VP2 console - not 5 days), it uses this to buffer data when it cannot communicate to weatherlink.com.

The WLL internal buffer is not available to external users regardless of Basic/Pr/Pro+ subscription.

The Pro subscription allows CMX to download historic data from weatherlink.com if it is required. It also enables CMX to retrieve health information about the WLL (battery levels, reception stats, etc).