Add 128 to a number !

logjam · Post by **logjam** » Sun 17 Nov 2013 11:23 pm

For days now I've noticed that the 'memory indicator' on the console (the wheel) remains empty. As far as I can tell it wasn't saving any data. I wondered if something strange was happening to the logging interval so I checked it with 'Set Logger'. A figure of '129' came up, so I tried to use 'Set Logger' to change it to a lower figure. After trying a few values it became obvious that every time I set the interval to a particular number, the console was adding 128 to that number. So if I set a value of '10' it was actually actually '138'. If I set it for '5' then it comes up with '133' etc.

I'm not certain that the console is actually logging data every 2 hours or so, but it isn't very helpful even if it is.
Although if I leave it alone Cumulus seems happy to log the current data every minute, it sometimes objects if I have to restart it. (The console interval value being way above the recommended limit)

Can anyone think why the console should behave in this way?

Is it possible to factory reset the console to get it operating normally?
(I have tried the usual battery and USB removal - with no effect on this problem)

Post by **steve** » Mon 18 Nov 2013 8:07 am

Adding 128 just requires the setting of an extra 'bit', so perhaps that memory location is broken and always has that bit set. I'm no hardware expert, so I don't know whether that explanation is even feasible!

logjam · Post by **logjam** » Mon 18 Nov 2013 5:45 pm

I agree Steve. Something is independently causing that 8th bit to set, and keeps on setting it. Unless someone out there has any thoughts on a cure, I'll have to get a new one. I would spend more time on it, but because that means disconnecting from Cumulus I'm losing weather data. Once I have a new one I'll see if I can get this one working again. If I can't, it still displays the current data, so it isn't completely useless.

Any suggestions anyone?

AllyCat · Post by **AllyCat** » Mon 18 Nov 2013 7:30 pm

Hi,

Have you tried using both Easyweather and Steve's utility to change the period, just in case they work differently?

It's probably the EEPROM (memory) chip which can eventually "wear out", but any component can fail for no obvious reason. I guess it's the 8 pin chip in the 11th photo of this thread, but replacement is only to be attempted by an "expert", even if the exact part number can be identified.

Cheers, Alan.

logjam · Post by **logjam** » Mon 18 Nov 2013 9:26 pm

Thanks for your comments. I tried 'Easyweather' first. The figure was a greyed out at '129'. Same problem I think.

14 months seems to be a rather short time for it to wear out, but I can well believe it.
I have a 1954 Marconiphone radio which I still use.
I wonder how many of these units will be celebrating their 60th anniversary

A trip to Maplins in the morning I think.

logjam · Post by **logjam** » Tue 19 Nov 2013 4:26 pm

Just to finish this - I got the new weather station and the console works fine with the old transmitter. It even works with my original computer. The old console stopped working with it a few weeks ago due to USB problems. This suggests that the old console was experiencing multiple problems. Looking on the bright side I suppose I now have a box of spares which might be useful. I hope I don't have to do this too often though.

I can confirm that the old console is still displaying current data from the transmitter, but will only log data to its memory once every 129 minutes.

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