Repeating 'Error reading data from station' Problem

[edmanley]

I've been having problems with maintaining a connection to my Fine Offset weather station. I'm running Cumulus MX (v3) on a Raspberry Pi 2, with a Aercus WS3083 station, connected by USB to the Aercus base station. I've had no issues with reporting of data between the weather station and base station.

Typically I'll set the connection up and it will work for a couple of weeks before dropping. Looking at the log files, I'm getting the following issues at the point of failure.

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2016-10-16 11:50:00.664 Writing log entry for 16/10/2016 11:50:00
2016-10-16 11:50:00.666 Written log entry for 16/10/2016 11:50:00
2016-10-16 11:50:00.673 Writing today.ini, LastUpdateTime = 16/10/2016 11:50:00 raindaystart = 183.6 rain counter = 185.4
2016-10-16 11:50:00.673 Latest reading: 6668: 08 4A CE 00 44 B3 00 4D 27 07 0E 00 04 6A 02 00
2016-10-16 11:56:01.402 Ignoring bad data: inhum = 192
2016-10-16 11:56:01.403 Ignoring bad data: pressure = -3.80000000000007
2016-10-16 11:56:01.403                    offset = 0
2016-10-16 11:56:01.403 Ignoring bad data: outhum = 218
2016-10-16 11:56:01.461 New monthly record, month = 10: 2016-10-16 11:56 17.013 "High dew point" 2016-10-16 10:48 15.075
2016-10-16 11:56:01.532 New monthly record, month = 10: 2016-10-16 11:56 26.385 "High apparent temp" 2016-10-03 12:13 24.853
2016-10-16 11:56:01.580 Warning: large difference in rain gauge tip count: 618
2016-10-16 11:56:01.581 Ignoring reading 1
2016-10-16 11:56:14.247 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-16 11:56:14.248 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-16 11:56:17.248 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-16 11:56:17.248 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-16 11:56:20.249 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-16 11:56:20.249 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-16 11:56:23.250 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-16 11:56:23.250 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-16 11:56:34.245 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-16 11:56:34.245 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting

The connection does not self-recover. So when I do a hard reset of the station, or the base station, and restart the Pi etc, I get the 'Error reading data from station - it may need resetting' message and the service does not restart. The following log file output is produced.

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2016-10-22 09:32:09.050 Calculating rain counter = 0
2016-10-22 09:32:09.050 Midnight rain found = 0
2016-10-22 09:32:09.056 Getting rain totals, rain season start = 1
2016-10-22 09:32:09.057 Today = 22/10/16
2016-10-22 09:32:09.067 Rainthismonth from dayfile.txt: 22.5
2016-10-22 09:32:09.067 Rainthisyear from dayfile.txt: 22.5
2016-10-22 09:32:09.076 Looking for Fine Offset station, VendorID=0x1941 ProductID=0x8021
2016-10-22 09:32:09.374 Fine Offset station found
2016-10-22 09:32:09.448 Stream opened
2016-10-22 09:32:09.448 Reading pressure offset
2016-10-22 09:32:12.633 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-22 09:32:12.681 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-22 09:32:15.683 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-22 09:32:15.683 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-22 09:32:18.683 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-22 09:32:18.683 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-22 09:32:21.684 The operation has timed-out.
2016-10-22 09:32:21.684 Error reading data from station - it may need resetting
2016-10-22 09:32:21.685 Rel pressure = 0

I've tried flashing the Pi and reinstalling from scratch, the issue has returned.

Does anyone have any ideas about what I can try here?

Thanks!

[mcrossley]

Maybe try a powered USB hub between the pi and the station?

[edmanley]

Thanks, but I'm not sure... Given the connection holds for a few weeks before breaking, how will the powered USB help?

[rogerthn]

If you have or can connect a screen to the PI, check for a rainbow symbol in the upper right indicating low power.

[mcrossley]

Thanks, but I'm not sure... Given the connection holds for a few weeks before breaking, how will the powered USB help?

Grasping at straws, if the power is marginal then it may just dip occasionally.