Cumulus Support

Hi guys.

I've been using the weather station for about 2 years without bigger issues (every now and then I had to restart the console, as the USB connection hanged, I cleaned the inside of the rain sensor, as the spiders like to do their web inside of it stopping the mechanism, I had to change the bearing of the wind speed sensor). Those were minor issues for me, as I like those little jobs, that makes it more interesting.

We've recently moved from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast. I carefully packed the sensors ant put them in the box in our trailer (We moved with a campervan and a huge enclosed trailer, filled with our stucf... It was a whole month roadtrip up the Australian east coast). The console was in the campervan during our trip. Every now and then, I checked it and I can recall, that all sensors were up (showing values on the consoles) till about the last week of our trip. I thought, that the batteries in transmitter got discharged by then.

When we arrived, I manually charged the batteries, put them in, pressed the down arow key for 4, 8, 10 seconds... Nothing. Whatever I did, no matter how long I have waited, I couldn't get the values from transmitter to show on the console. I've discovered this forum and tried everything, I've found here (disconnecting the solar pod, disconnecting all sensors, reseting transmiter, reseting console,changed the batteries for new rechargables and also tried with new normal alkalines...). Everything seems to be fine (the led on transmitter blinking every 48s, after holding down arrow key, the icon for wireless in upper right corner shows for about 3 minutes,... But I can't get any values at all. I even opened the transmitter and the console, but couldn't find any corroded or dodgy parts.

Is there anything else, i can try, before throwing it into a rubbish.?

Any ideas most welcomed
Thank you in advance

Skipper wrote:
Is there anything else, i can try, before throwing it into a rubbish.?

Any ideas most welcomed
Thank you in advance

Hi Skipper,
If you've handy with a soldering iron and know a little about electronics, then the WeatherDuino Pro2 system might interest you.
Basically, going down this path would involve you throwing out the console and transmitter and using it's sensors with the WeatherDuino Pro2.

See Werk_AG's forum here for details.
Start here: http://www.meteocercal.info/forum/Threa ... Duino-Pro2

Cheers UB

Hi,

Welcome to the forum. I can't really suggest anything that I haven't already posted on the forum, namely:

Unplug the Solar Pod and then plug the Rain sensor cable directly into the "Rain" socket on the transmitter unit. Remove the batteries from both units (and the USB cable) for a few minutes and then reinstall the batteries in the Console and the Transmitter.

Also, if you're in a "new" location, it's worth checking that there isn't a major source of radio interference in the vicinity (e.g, cellphone mast, taxi company or a "Ham" radio, etc.).

Cheers, Alan.

Hi.

Thanks to both of you.

I've already tried many times, what you're suggesting, Alan. I even tried it with all the sensors unplugged. No luck. I think, teher are no big interference sources close to the house. Would it matter, if the transmitter and receiver are both in the house, just a few centimeteres apart (when testing it) ? I'll try in the different location though, as this is the only thing, that I haven't tried yet.

What's bothering me the most is, that I don't even know, whether the transmitter is faulty or migt it be the consoles receiver :-\

Uncle_bob: a few years back, I've built a complete reef aquarium controller (pumps and lights regulation, temp and ph measures, dosing of different solutions to regulate ph,...) with arduino, including programing. I haven't done much work with arduino since, but I might again... Thanks for the link.

Best regards and will keep you guys posted
Cheers

I've just try to 'listen' on 432.900 Mhz, and I can hear a tiny sound, when the led on transmitter blinks and two tiny sounds, when the led on solar pod blinks twice. Looks like I have a problem on console. Will take it apart again today...

Cheers

Hi,

The frequency is (usually) 433.9 MHz but the bandwidth of the transmitter (and receiver) is not particularly narrow. What type of receiver did you use? The latest Fine Offset protocol uses simple AM ("On-Off-Keying") which may not be received well with a FM receiver. I would expect the signal to be received strongly with an AM/OOK receiver. Note that the Solar Pod (AFAIK still) only generates the modulation signal, the RF transmitter (in the "Solar Screened" box) is used for both the "normal" and Solar data packets.

Generally, the transmitter would be more expected to fail, in view of its outdoor environment, so with reasonable "evidence" it may be worth purchasing a replacement transmitter. However, the price of replacement Consoles is usually so high that it's better to purchase a complete new station (at the best available price) which will give a set of "spare" sensors that may well be required in due course.

Cheers, Alan.

Hi.

I was listening with Baofeng uv-5rc, which is FM. I tried with 433.9 now and I get preety much the same beeps, maybe a bit stronger/louder.

I agree, that the transmitter is more likely to fail first. I am slowly loosing hope with this set. I might as well buy a new set and use old one for spares. With new set I'd be able to identify the fault in the old set as well.

They are not very expensive, but still, 120$, for less then 2 years. A bit disappointed

Thanks for help
Cheers, Beau

Hi,

Have you checked the tiny "receive" icon on the LCD? It should flash when it expects to receive a signal (i.e. just before the red LEDs on transmitter or Pod flash). Not flashing (or out of synchronisation) would suggest a Console fault.

I wish we could get the Solar versions here in the UK for the equivalent of AU$120 (or ~AU$130 taking in account the VAT/GST difference). We do sometimes get the non-solar "touchscreen" versions "on offer" for about £50 (~AU$90) but I haven't seen the 308x Solar versions here much below £100 (~AU$180). I can't believe that the Solar Pod costs that much, but think our retailers got badly "stung" by the numerous design and manufacturing issues with the early 308x stations.

Cheers, Alan.

Hm... Where is that receive icon located? The only icon, that I'm aware of is the on on top right corner. When I'm holding down arrow key for 4 secs, that icon becomes visible for a few minutes. It probably means, that the console is trying to sync wit transmitter? That icon looks kind a like wifi computer icon. Is there supposed to be any other 'flashing' icon?

Cheers

Oh, now I see.
Its the same icon, as I described in the previous post. I wasn't aware, that it's actualy flashing afterward. Yes, mine is flashing approx. every 48 seconds, but it is not synced with the light on transmitter (it doesn't blinks a few moments before the transmitters ligh blinks).

P. S. Just won a new set on ebay auction for 106$. The jurney continues
Cheers

Hi,

Yes, that's it. It's labelled "10" in my version of the User Manual and although named "Outdoor reception signal", I think it actually indicates every time power is applied to the receiver module (the rest of the time the receiver is off to save battery power).

I don't recall the exact internal layout of the 3081 (and it may have been changed), but you might be able to measure/check the voltage pulse on the receiver module with a multimeter.

Cheers, Alan.