Trying 'Cumulus' while running 'Weathlink' software.

[Peter R W]

Hello, this is my first time using this forum.

I currently run a Vantage Pro which downloads onto my computer using 'Weatherlink' software.

Recently I was told about the cumulus software and while I'm quite happy with the weatherlink software I can see that cumulus offers a good range of charts and graphs etc so I thought I might give it a try. What I need to know however, is when I download cumulus, are there any particular procedures I should follow as I don't wish to stop using weatherlink until I've tried and tested cumulus. i.e. I want to download data to both sets of software. Is this possible, as I don't want to compromise my weather data at any time.

Thanks

Peter R W

[steve]

There's a good post in this thread which you should read: https://cumulus.hosiene.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5574

As long as you don't have a USB adapter set to USB Express mode, you shouldn't have any problems switching between WL and Cumulus.

[gemini06720]

Peter, as Steve stated, if you have setup the WeatherLink software using the USB option you cannot use any other weather software.

Here is what I mean (and meant in the message Steve point you to) - using the WeathreLink software version 5.9.3 as an example:

• - click on the 'Setup' pull down menu;
  - select the 'Communications Port...' option;
  - on the newly opened 'Communication Port' window, inside the 'Communications' box, which radio button is highlighted?

If the USB radio button is highlighted, then the WeatherLink software has installed the USBXpress drivers - the WeatherLink software has also modified some parameters inside the WeatherLink USB adapter to only use the USBXpress drivers - thus, the WeatherLink USB adapter cannot/will not communicate (pass its weather data) to any other weather software.

But the situation can be corrected. You will need to deactivate the USBXpress drivers and replace them with the CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP) drivers. Here is how:

• - first, ensure that the WeatherLink software has been terminated (is not running);
  - download and install the latest CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP) drivers from Silicon Laboratories (ie: version 6.3a released in 2011);
  - using a file browser such as Windows Explorer, navigate to the location where you have installed the WeatherLink software (I cannot remember where the WeatherLink software installs by default but I think it is 'C:\WeatherLink');
  - go down and open the 'Support' folder;
  - inside the 'Support' folder, go down and open the 'Utilities' folder;
  - inside the 'Utilities' folder you should have the file 'CP210X USB to Serial Converter.exe';
  - run the file 'CP210X USB to Serial Converter.exe' to convert the WeatherLink USB adapter back to its default settings.

Now, please follow the information (instructions) I posted in this Vantage Vue 6250 AU Prep message thread.

If you have any question/queries, please post them here...

[Peter R W]

Hello Steve and Ray

Many thanks for both your help and suggestions with this issue.

Ray I've looked at your instructions, but unfortunately I've hit a glitch at the start of them. I.m actually using Weatherlink 5.1 and It doesn't actually show in the communications box any radio buttons or which one I'm connected to. All it says is that I'm connected to Com port 6 and that the connection is ok. Am I looking in the right lace, sorry sound so stupid on this, but my technical skills are rather limited and I'm rather afraid of doing something I can't undo.

Peter.

[gemini06720]

Peter, are you really sure you are using version 5.1 of the the WeatherLink software... ...maybe version 5.8.1 ... anyway, you should really updated the WeatherLink software to version 5.8.3 - WeatherLink for Windows Update - lots of little bugs corrected since then...

OK, Peter, could you try something for me and give me the results:

• - right click on the 'My Computer' icon on the desktop;
  - select the 'Properties' option;
  - on the newly opened 'System Properties' window, click on the 'Hardware' tab;
  - then click on the 'Device Manager' button;
  - on the newly opened 'Device Manager' window, do you see a 'Multi-port serial adapter' among all the devices displayed?
  - if no, please report!
  - if yes, continue...
  - click on the '+' (plus sign) in front of the 'Multi-port serial adapter' line;
  - inside the 'Multi-port serial adapter' line, do you should see 'N8VB vCOM Virtual Serial Port Driver'?
  - if no, please report!
  - if yes, continue...
  - a bit further down, do you see a 'Ports (COM & LPT)' among all the devices displayed?
  - if no, please report!
  - if yes, continue...
  - click on the '+' (plus sign) in front of the 'Ports (COM & LPT)' line;
  - please indicated/report all the devices found under the 'Ports (COM & LPT)' line.

If you see something similar to 'Communications Port (COM6)' then that is good news - it means that the WeatherLink software has been/is using the virtual COM port (VCP) drivers - it also means that Cumulus should be/will be able to communicate with your weather station console...

One thing, thought, Peter, both the WeatherLink software and Cumulus CANNOT be operating at the same time - it has to be one or the other, BUT NOT BOTH!

Unless, you use SoftWx's VirtualVP software ... VirtualVP is a shareware software application that lets you connect up to 4 weather programs to a single Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station console (I have been able to connect as many as 8 weather related software to VirtualVP).

I shall be awaiting your reply...

[Peter R W]

Hello Ray,

Many help for your continued help on this:

A problem more or less right away I'm afraid. I haven't got a 'Multi-port serial adapter' among all the devices displayed.

Peter.

[gemini06720]

A problem more or less right away I'm afraid. I haven't got a 'Multi-port serial adapter' among all the devices displayed.

Peter, on the 'Device Manager' window, do you see a 'Ports (COM & LPT)' among all the devices displayed, and when you click on the '+' (plus sign) in front of the 'Ports (COM & LPT)' line, do you see something similar to 'Communications Port (COM6)'?

Do not worry about not seeing a 'Multi-port serial adapter' line among all the devices displayed - that line might only appear once the Silicon Laboratories 'CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP)' driver have been installed. But do NOT install them at this time ... not until I tell you to ... they might not be required...

[Peter R W]

Hello Ray - yes, COM port 6

Peter

[gemini06720]

Hello Ray - yes, COM port 6

OK, Peter try this...

• - ensure that the WeatherLink software has been terminated (is not running);
  - start Cumulus;
  - click on the 'Configuration' pull down menu;
  - select the 'Station' option;
  - on the newly opened 'Station settings' window you will need to make the following modifications:
  • - in the box titled 'Station Type', click on the radio button in front of 'Vantage Pro2/Vue' line;
    - in the box titled 'Settings', in the box beside 'COM Port' enter the number 6 (six);
    - in the box titled 'VP type', click on the radio button in front of 'Serial' line.
  - click on the 'OK' button to close 'Station settings' window;
  - terminate (exit) Cumulus;
  - wait a couple of minutes and restart Cumulus;
  - after a minute or two, some information should appear on the Cumulus main screen...

Once again, I shall be awaiting your reply...

[Peter R W]

Hello Ray,

So far, so good. I followed your instructions and the data from my consol has downloaded onto the cumulus software, everything looks to be OK.

Peter.

[gemini06720]

So far, so good. I followed your instructions and the data from my consol has downloaded onto the cumulus software, everything looks to be OK.

OK, Peter, that is enough for one night... You should go to bed and start again after a good night of sleep...

Remember, you cannot run both Cumulus and the WeatherLink software together, at the same time.

To run both weather software at the same time, as I wrote before, you will need to use SoftWx's VirtualVP software.

Have a good night...

[Peter R W]

Thanks for all your help Ray, I'll look forward to any other bits of advice you can give me.

Peter.

P.s. I'm just slightly puzzled why you asked me to click on the 'Vantage Pro2/Vue' button in 'Configuration', when I'm running the original 'Vantage Pro'?

[gemini06720]

P.s. I'm just slightly puzzled why you asked me to click on the 'Vantage Pro2/Vue' button in 'Configuration', when I'm running the original 'Vantage Pro'?

Oops... ...I should have checked your profile or re-read the complete thread to find out which weather station you had...

[Peter R W]

Not to worry Ray, I've switched over to Vantage Pro.

By the way, I've checked my weatherlink software and it is definately 5.1. I purchased the product in the summer of 2002.

Peter.

[gemini06720]

...I've checked my weatherlink software and it is definately 5.1

Wow! That is old...

How reliable has the Vantage Pro (circa 2002) been, any major problems, any 'misbehaviour' from the instruments?

You could still try downloading and installing the more recent release of the WeatherLink software...