data logger problem

[bumpy]

Hello
After many years service my Datalogger in the Vantage Vue 'died' a week or so ago. Rather than spend a fortune on a Davis replacement logger I bought a cheaper alternative from Prodata systems and this arrived today. The logger came with several A4 sheets of instructions most of which I dont think I need as I simply want the replacement logger to update CumlusMX by Wifi to my PC. On a separate sheet were instructions which led me to understand that it was a simple procedure to effect the change by locating the device's IP address. Eventually I found the IP address and assumed, probably wrongly, that I needed to update the Station settings from Serial and Com3 using the USB connection to Wifi. I altered the setting from Serial to TCP/IP
and entered the logger IP address and hoped it would work. Alas it didn't.
Obviously something is wrong as evidenced by no transfer of data and even my website www.farleigmeadows.co.uk, which for several days whilst the defunct logger was still connected, continued to update with zeros every 2 minutes has now stopped updating.
Can someone tell where I've gone wrong please.
Help will be very much appreciated.
Tony

[freddie]

I think you may have to change your station type within the settings - possibly to the Davis Weather Link Live one. There's likely more configuration to do beyond that step - but I'm not going to be any help with this as I have the VP2 Serial/USB logger. Perhaps take a look at the Wiki?

[PaulMy]

Hi,
What make/type specifically is your new logger?

Enjoy,
Paul

[bumpy]

Hello
I'm not sure that it has a name as such. It is made or imported from Poland by a British company called Prodata Systems as a cheaper alternative to the very expensive Davis Logger. Whereas the Davis logger is connected to the PC via a USB, the replacement logger works via WiFi. It addition to being a 'normal' data logger it does have Web Interface menus but can be used - apparently easily(!) - to transfer current and archive data from a Davis Vantage Vue to CumulsMX without problem. In the logger instructions at 'Connecting WiFi logger to local software it says that it requires two items of information: 1. the IP address of the logger and the port number which it then says is '22222 by default (exactly the same as for the WeatherlinkIP logger)' The information then says that the 'WiFilogger provides full emulation of the WeatherlinkIP logger'.
In my simplistic mind I thought that by altering the Station settings in the Dashboard from Serial connection to COMport3 to TCP/IP this would be all that is needed. The main problem I have is I cannot locate the logger IP address. The instructions say I cann access this via the ESP-Touch app. I have downloaded this but it times out before I can look for the IP address.
Oddly, as I run as a backup station, an Ecowitt GW1100, I have amended the Cumulus Station settings and this is quite happily updating data from that station to my website and Cumulus without problem. This is only intended to continue until I can get the Vantage Vue talking to CumulusMX.
I'm still assuming that I need to locate the IP address of the logger but how to do that I have no idea and so am stuck.
Tony

[freddie]

First step is to connect your logger to your WiFi network. Has that been done?

[PaulMy]

Hi,
You have the WiFiLogger, and I run CMX with the WiFiLogger as well.
After you have setup the WiFiLogger (as per the instructions that came with it, which likely is about the same as https://www.wifilogger.net/ Support and > Manual), there will be an IP address for the WiFiLogger. You should also be able to find that IP Address in your router configuration by looking for WiFiuLogger or whatever name you gave it during setup. You can then run WiFiLogger on its own by entering that IP address in a browser (mine is 10.0.0.166 and yours may be in the 192.168.x.x format) and as you mentioned, can do several uploads and settings.

Enter that IP address in CumulusMC Settings > Station Settings > Davis VP/VP2/Vue and select Connection type: TCP/IP > (the WiFiLogger IP address). That should be it.

Enjoy,
Paul

[bumpy]

Hello Paul

Thank you for your helpful input. This told me what I understood to be the correct procedure to get the wifi data logger to talk to CumulsMX in that I needed to change the input type from serial to TCP/IP - done. Then to amend the IP address to that of the logger - thought I done this but I've had enormous problems trying to locate the IP address. The instructions supplied with the logger tell me to log in to http://192.168.4.1/wifi.html which despite many attempts I keep getting a message saying 'too long to connect'. I've also tried to locate the IP by accessing the routers list of IP addresses. Easy enough to do but I cannnot find the logger listed unless it has a strange name. Even so Ive tried these IP addresses because of my desperation!
The instructions also tell me to change some settings by using the mobile and use the WiFiLoggerSetup app. This connects to my router but without internet access so yet again I am stuck.
What is so infuriating is the fact that if I simply change the Station settings to Ecowitt API, press save and wait a few minutes to reload Cumulus, my website updates and the dashboards both htm and html work perfectly.
I am now at the point that I will give up on the Vantage Vue and Cumulus connection and just use the Ecowitt data to populate my website. Not a step I want to take as the Ecowitt data is not as accurate as that provided by Davis. A few days short of 74 Im losing the will to live!
Tony
www.farleighmeadows.co.uk

[PaulMy]

Hi,

The instructions also tell me to change some settings by using the mobile and use the WiFiLoggerSetup app. This connects to my router but without internet access so yet again I am stuck.
What is so infuriating is the fact that if I simply change the Station settings to Ecowitt API, press save and wait a few minutes to reload Cumulus, my website updates and the dashboards both htm and html work perfectly.

I understand your frustration, the initial setup of the WiFiLogger can be a challenge for those of us not very familiar with the technical side, but I did get it connected with Wojtek's assistance when initially testing this for him in 2018. Without searching those instructions again, if I recall correctly I needed to use the phone and enter that 192.168.4.1 Ip address until it was found by the WiFi. I don't have time right now as need to prepare for an afternoon hockey game "Komoka Kings" but will have a look later if i can get that step-by-step instruction (possibly this has already been provided by Prodata).

Other Davis devices with CumulusMX work just as simple or easier than Ecowitt - i.e. USB logger or Weatherlink Live

Enjoy,
Paul

[Tailwheel]

I'm not very computer savvy but just a couple of days ago I was able to get the same WIFIlogger set up on my Vantage Pro2 console. It wasn't super smooth but this is what I did. (I did not use the "easy" setup phone app). The IP adddress for your wifilogger is available at the end of the process.
There is a two step process needed to get the wifilogger connected to your wifi network.
The first step is to get the logger "talking" to your computer (or phone). To do this the logger must be in setup mode. This done by pressing the red button on the logger for a few seconds - you should then see a flashing green LED above the red button. Once the logger is in setup mode it crreats its own local network, check for a new available WIFI network on your computer or phone - it will be identified as "DataLoggerSetup". Choose to connect to that network.
Once your computer or phone is connected to the "DataLoggerSetup" wifi network (your computer is now "talking" to the wifilogger), open a browser and you should be able to connect to 192.168.4.1 This will connect your computer or phone to the WIFILogger home screen- There you can select >setup > WIFI Setup . .
Now for second part of the process. (this part gets the wifilogger connect to your WIFI network)
On this WIFI Setup screen enter the SSID (the exact name of your WIFI network) and your WIFI password for the network. (note: the WIFIlogger is a 2.4 ghz device, if your home WIFI network is 5 ghz you may need to pause the 5 ghz).
Click the Save button. This will tell the wifilogger to connect to your WIFI network (the wifilogger will exit setup mode and close the "DataLoggerSetup" network). If successful, the screen should refresh with a connection now to your wifi network - below the save button you can see the connection status which should show "Connected"
Now (on the same page) go back to >setup >Network Info. On this page you will see the IP address for your wifilogger on your network. This IP address will take your to the wifilogger's page where you can see current data and status information. This is the address you need to connect your WIFILogger to CumulusMX.

Using my Windows 11 laptop I tried these steps a number of times, everything worked fine until the final "save" and the wifilogger would not connect the network. I tried a couple of factory resets (YouTube video) and multiple attempts with super careful typing for name & password but still no joy. Finally, I tired the exact same process using my phone - worked perfect on the first time and has been fine ever since (2 days). Currently the wifilogger is sending my data to the WeaterLink cloud and WU (on the wifilogger screen go to >setup >Data Export Setup) It is also connected my WeatherLink PC software. I was here because I would like to try CumulusMX (which I understand cannot be done at the same time as WeatherLink PC).

Best of luck to you -

[PaulMy]

Hi,
Excellent response That is what I wanted to look for.

Currently the wifilogger is sending my data to the WeaterLink cloud and WU (on the wifilogger screen go to >setup >Data Export Setup) It is also connected my WeatherLink PC software. I was here because I would like to try CumulusMX (which I understand cannot be done at the same time as WeatherLink PC).

Correct, you can only run one program at the same time with the Davis console-mounted logger. So a stop one and run the other can work but not ideal.

However, if you have the "cloud" Weatherlink.com Pro subscription then CumulusMX may ( ) work with that Weatherlink.com data. I know it works with Weatherlink.com account being updated with Weatherlink Live but have not tried it with Weatherlink.com being updated by IP Logger. And possibly Mark is able to come up with a solution to have CMX work without that restriction.

Enjoy,
Paul

[bumpy]

Hello again
Thank you to both Tailwheel and Paul for your helpful suggestions, particularly Tailwheel for the detailed instructions which were far more useful than those that came with the new logger.
After 4 more abortive attempts mainly because certain procedures timed out before I could get to the next stage, I finally succeed and all is now well. I've written down the IP address. Sometimes pen and paper is better than modern technology!
Grateful thanks.
Tony
www.farleighmeadows.co.uk