VP2 Hardware and Firmware Requirements

[chuck29]

I am running a Windows 8 machine, no serial ports and have a VP2 that has no data connection at this time. I have several questions as I am interested in using Cumulus Software.
1. Is VP2 firmware 1.9 sufficient? If not, then what?
2. If I have WeatherlinkIP and connect my local computer through a TCP/IP connection at the same router as the VP2 will I be able to use Cumulus?
3. From posts I have read it would seem that if I obtain a serial connection for my VP2 (with or without data logging capability) I would have to use a serial to USB adapter (No serial ports) and then install software so the USB looks like a com port. Do I have that correct? Is there a preferred adapter?

Thanks for any help you can provide. Anxious to get started after all the years w/o computer link.

chuck29

[steve]

1. Is VP2 firmware 1.9 sufficient? If not, then what?

Yes, 1.9 is fine. Better in some ways than later firmware versions, in fact.

2. If I have WeatherlinkIP and connect my local computer through a TCP/IP connection at the same router as the VP2 will I be able to use Cumulus?

Yes. Note that if you want your WLIP to upload to weatherlink.com, you'll need to set a disconnect interval on the Cumulus station settings screen to cause Cumulus to disconnect once a minute to allow the WLIP to upload. You may need to experiment with the value to get it as low as possible

3. From posts I have read it would seem that if I obtain a serial connection for my VP2 (with or without data logging capability) I would have to use a serial to USB adapter (No serial ports) and then install software so the USB looks like a com port. Do I have that correct? Is there a preferred adapter?

I'm not aware of any particular ones that work better. But why get a serial adapter rather than a USB one?

[chuck29]

I had my eye on a 3rd party adapter that is only available for serial data. The only other USB adapter I am aware of is thru Davis and is quite a bit more money (although it does add data storage).

[BCJKiwi]

Note that at this time, 3rd party serial adapters only work with 1.9 firmware so if you go that route, you will not be able to upgrade your firmware should you want (or need) to in the future. Going rate for the Davis serial or USB logger is around US$118 (including Weatherlink Software).

[belfryboy]

Note that at this time, 3rd party serial adapters only work with 1.9 firmware so if you go that route, you will not be able to upgrade your firmware should you want (or need) to in the future. Going rate for the Davis serial or USB logger is around US$118 (including Weatherlink Software).

That is not the case, i used my homebuilt 3rd party usb logger to upgrade my console to 3.12 and everything works fine. PM me if you would like more information.

[BCJKiwi]

Well that's interesting as I had not seen any updates reflecting that breakthrough on wxforum.net - did I miss it????

[mcrossley]

I think the thing you are missing is that 3.12 works with 3rd party loggers and older base stations. New stations will not. That's what I understand anyway, version 3.00 and 3rd party didn't work with new or old stations.

Edit: and I understand 3rd party serial interfaces have been made to work, but only by 'borrowing' an encryption key from a genuine logger.

[BCJKiwi]

I believe it is even more complicated than that.

BB has said he has a clone logger working without noting any limitations. He has done a lot of work on these and sold them. Perhaps he could clarify this.

They definitely won't work on the newer VP2s shipped with FW 3.x, and I believe the newer VP2s with 1.9 back to a certain manufacture date code.

I have lost track of the in-depth thread on wxforum.net and there has definitely been no action on this issue for some significant time. The only recent developments involve adding extra hardware loaded with an encryption key to the original clone logger.

[prodata]

I have lost track of the in-depth thread on wxforum.net and there has definitely been no action on this issue for some significant time. The only recent developments involve adding extra hardware loaded with an encryption key to the original clone logger.

I agree - I haven't spotted any definitive recent update that would suggest that clone adapters/loggers will work with the newer so-called 'green dot' consoles (even though they no longer have a green dot on them!), other than using the encryption workaround. But there are several relevant forum threads and they're not always the easiest to follow, so I might have missed it.

But maybe Rob has some more recent information?

[belfryboy]

Many apologies for the delay in responding to the above posts, I'm working from a remote site with limited time at the moment.

The opening poster (chuck29) has version 1.9 and asked whether this was sufficient, Steve posted that it was and BCJKiwi commented that the 3rd party logger only work with version 1.9. I agree it is rather complicated but with regards to chuck29s setup a 3rd party logger would work, and a "green dot workaround" communications lead (which has no logging facility) would also work.

The benefit of buying a genuine Davis logger should be obvious, since you will have all the guarantees and support from Davis which is great in the US but not so hot in the rest of the world

Depending on the manufacturing date of the console it may not be wise to upgrade to 3.12, since models made before April 2006 have non-compatible barometric and temperature sensors in the console.

I have succesfully updated my console running firmware version 1.9 to 3.12 without any communication problems.

The clone apapters do now work with the newer consoles, but are still in their infancy and undergoing continuous testing to ensure stability, but as yet do not have logging ability.

[prodata]

The clone apapters do now work with the newer consoles, but are still in their infancy and undergoing continuous trsting to ensure stability, but as yet do not have logging ability.

Thanks Rob, this is the piece of the jigsaw that's been missing. Anyone who's bought a new Davis station in the past 6 months or so will likely have a newer 'green-dot' unit so the aim is just to make threads like this relevant to everyone, including new owners and prospective purchasers. Otherwise, newer owners can read the thread and maybe get the wrong idea.

So if I try to sum up the situation right now, it is that: previous adapters /clone loggers will definitely not work with green-dot consoles (at least not unless you get involved in some relatively heavy-duty hacking), but you may have some forthcoming news about a new version that will work (and that will keep working after eg a console reset)?