Cumulus stops sending realtime.txt, but not othr web uploads

[DanielF]

I'm running Cumulus 1.8.8 build 855 on a Win2k Pro SP4 PC with a broadband connection. For several weeks now I've been using the web html file upload facility to populate a weather website (each 5 minutes), as well as the realtime.txt facility for a 'real-time' wind data display (each 45 seconds). My ticked Web Settings are (arrived-at after much trial-and-error):
Auto Update
Use FTP rename
Delete before upload
Enable Realtime

Most of the time, no problems. But...

Every now and then (twice in recent weeks), at a time when I'm asleep and not using the PC (apart from playing music in the bedroom via SqueezeCenter/Squeezebox) the transmission of realtime.txt stops, but the html uploads continue.

All I have to do (once I'm alerted to the problem, the next day) is close Cumulus and start it again, and both uploads then proceed correctly again.

Anybody experienced this, or have any idea what might cause it, and what to do to fix it?

[steve]

Use FTP rename
Delete before upload

There's normally not much point in using these together - 'rename' renames to an existing file, so there's no break in the file being available, and 'delete before upload' ensures that the file can't exist! Use rename (only) if your server supports it, and 'delete before upload' (only) if your server won't let you overwrite an existing file. If your server requires you to use both, it's broken.

You could try turning on the ftp logging, the log may help when it happens again.

Also, there's an option to periodically disconnect the realtime ftp connection, which can help if your service provider or your connection to it is a bit flaky, or doesn't like connections being open for long periods.

[DanielF]

Use FTP rename
Delete before upload

There's normally not much point in using these together...

When first setting-up this web facility, I thought I tried every combination of options before we found one that worked reliably. Now that it's on-line and used by hundreds of wind-surfers, I don't want to muck around with it any more. But if I can't fix this problem any other way I might have to.

I've turned on FTP logging, so we'll see what that turns up.

Also, there's an option to periodically disconnect the realtime ftp connection...

Steve, I couldn't find this option in the Internet Setup dialogue box - is it hidden somewhere else?

Thanks, as always, for your continuing support.

[steve]

Steve, I couldn't find this option in the Internet Setup dialogue box - is it hidden somewhere else?

Sorry - I'd forgotten that it was one of the still-undocumented ini-file only settings. In the [station] section of cumulus.ini, add a line:

RTdisconnectcount=N

where N is the desired number of realtime uploads between disconnections. So, with your realtime upload interval of 45 seconds, an N of 80 would make it disconnect once an hour.

[DanielF]

Ah, that's why I couldn't find it.

OK, I've added that line with N=80, so we'll see how it goes from here.