Cumulus MX, Raspberry Pi & Davis VP2 questions

[GlynH]

Not sure whether I should post this here or in the Davis forum but figured as I will have some follow-up questions on Cumulus on Raspberry Pi I might as well keep all related stuff in one place!

I have an existing VP2 Plus that has been feeding WeatherLink via 6555 WeatherLink IP fitted to 6132 console with a Pro subscription for a couple of years now and I would like to get back into Cumulus again having last used it over 10 years ago so forgive me if I have forgotten more than I used to know!

I am looking to reconfigure my weather station by splitting the anemometer from the ISS in the back garden and relocating it on the chimney as it is sheltered in its current location.

I would also like to obsolete the 6555 and use the 6100 WLL but as I understand it if I do that I would lose my historic data on the WeatherLink website?

I’m looking for a dummies guide on the best way to proceed bearing in mind some of the following points;

1. Should I setup Cumulus on the Raspberry Pi as a first step? If I do this can I import the last 2 years worth of data from the WeatherLink website or will that be gone for good?

2. Should I split/relocate the anemometer first and if I do would it be best to setup the 6100 WLL before, during or after followed by introducing CMX?

3. Anything else I might have missed or need to be mindful of please?

4. Finally I would much prefer to setup Cumulus MX from scratch on a new Raspberry Pi 4 4GB as it’s only role rather than use an image. Main reason for this is I already have a few Pi’s running different tasks and a hot spare already setup running Buster and a few utilities so all I need to do is clone the SDCard and change the IP address & name and I’m all ready to install CMX & Mono and I’m ready to go with minimum Pi configuration.

I have been reading the Raspberry Pi mega-thread but I’m at the age now where the more I read the more confused I get!

Are there any disadvantages to setting up from scratch vs using the image?

I have another Pi acting as a Virtual Radar and didn’t take the image route preferring to learn more about how things work in Pi-World so although not an expert by any means I do have previous form getting my hands dirty!

Any hints/tips/tricks gratefully received.

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

[GlynH]

Forgot to mention I also have a 7210 Air Quality Sensor that uploads directly to the WeatherLink website so not sure how CMX will integrate with that if at all?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

[PaulMy]

Hi,
The Davis AirLink will integrate into CumulusMX just fine. Just need to do the settings correctly.

Re your initial questions:

I would also like to obsolete the 6555 and use the 6100 WLL but as I understand it if I do that I would lose my historic data on the WeatherLink website?

Not quite, as I have experienced the Weatherlink Live setup creates a new Weatherlink.com account. So now I have both original KomokaWeather account on WL.com and still being updated by my IP logger setup, and the newer KomokaWeather Live account on WL.com being updated by WLLive. The newer WL.com KWLive can import from previous:

Code: Select all

Import
Import historical data from the WeatherLink Computer Software to the WeatherLink Cloud. Before you begin, please make sure that you have already installed all of the sensors you intend to import data into and that your WeatherLink Live settings below are correct.

Note: You will need to upgrade your WeatherLink Live to Pro or Pro+ to access historical data. However, if you import data and your WeatherLink Live is not upgraded, the data will still be used in the “Almanac” area of the WeatherLink mobile app, where highs and lows for years, months, and days are shown.

For a detailed walkthrough of the import process, download the instructions.pdf.

I’m looking for a dummies guide on the best way to proceed bearing in mind some of the following points;

1. Should I setup Cumulus on the Raspberry Pi as a first step? If I do this can I import the last 2 years worth of data from the WeatherLink website or will that be gone for good?

I have no experience with using RPi, but CMX has a WeatherlinkPC data import tool. CMX can catchup data from WL.com (with a paid subscription) for several months depending on your WL.com data interval.

2. Should I split/relocate the anemometer first and if I do would it be best to setup the 6100 WLL before, during or after followed by introducing CMX?

I don't think it matters. Doing it first has the benefit of doing it with an install you are more familiar with. Sensor settings are likely easier in WLL as it is capable of many more options.

3. Anything else I might have missed or need to be mindful of please?
As indicated, I have two WL.com accounts but only one paid subscription. I can reallocate that paid subscription from my main WL.com KWWLL account, which can have a 5-minute logging interval, to my WL.com KW original account, and go back to the other as often as you wish. But when you change from/to the other the default is at the 15-minute logging interval so your data can have both 5-minute and 15-minute logging. Of course you can get both on a paid subscription and then no concern on logging interval.

4. Finally I would much prefer to setup Cumulus MX from scratch on a new Raspberry Pi 4 4GB as it’s only role rather than use an image. Main reason for this is I already have a few Pi’s running different tasks and a hot spare already setup running Buster and a few utilities so all I need to do is clone the SDCard and change the IP address & name and I’m all ready to install CMX & Mono and I’m ready to go with minimum Pi configuration.

A benefit with the WLL is that you can have more than one connection to the data compared to the USB or IPloggers which are limited to only one at a time. So you can continue your existing setup and install/learn/experiment with a separate PI/CMX install.

Enjoy,
Paul

[GlynH]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Paul.

Another complication is my ISS is from the US and my 6100 is a UK model and the fact that I will end up with two accounts and have to import data from my existing to the new one is the reason the 6100 WLL is still in the box!

My plan is to relocate the anemometer first and reconfigure my console to receive the new channels data before I even think about introducing the WLL to your point about making sure it is working in a familiar environment first.

If I do it all at once and something goes wrong it will only complicate the fault-finding process.

The idea of going to the WLL is to allow CMX to receive data from it locally without disconnecting/pausing or resorting to some other trickery to get the existing setup to talk to more than one device.

Well that and a newer, more capable device that has a faster update interval and allows for easier future expansion etc.

I can also obsolete the existing console and the IP logger as they are both quite archaic and I can't remember the last time I actually looked at it. It's also taking up valuable wall space in my office whereas the WLL can sit out of sight in the loft plugged into the switch.

Just a pity the 6100 WLL wasn't PoE so it doesn't have to be located by a power outlet and I could lose one of the cables going to it...

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

[PaulMy]

I can also obsolete the existing console and the IP logger as they are both quite archaic and I can't remember the last time I actually looked at it.

And it has some value if you wanted to sell it

Enjoy,
Paul