Error -32701

[gemini06720]

I reinstalled Weatherlink. It reinstalled the two SL drivers. I detect no change in devices found by Device Manager. Maybe it is created when you ask for a serial port in the software?

Graham, I do not think so - if you cannot see a COM port in the device manager, how do you want a software to detect what is not there?

OK, try this:

• - Start WeatherLink;
  - once the WeatherLink screen has been displayed:
  * click on the 'Setup' pull-down option (the second top left option);
  * select the 'Communications Port' option (third from the top);
  * click/select on the 'Serial' option in the 'Communications' box;
  * click on the 'Auto Detect' button.

What was the response of WeatherLink?

I have just installed WeatherLink CD version 5.8.2 on my portable computer (under Windows XP Pro) - there was no 'Ports (COM & LPT)' option in the device manager before I started the installation. After installation, there was still no 'Ports (COM & LPT)' option in the device manager. So, I disconnected the USB cable (connecting the Vantage Vue console to the computer) from the computer, waited a minute, then reconnected the USB cable to the computer. A new device icon showed up in the system tray. I checked the device manager and a new device (with a yellow tag) appeared in the device manager window. So, it appears that if WeatherLink is installed while the USB cable is connected, nothing happened, the virtual serial port is not activated.

In order to better help you, I decided to connect my Vantage Vue console to my Windows 7 development/work computer - WeatherLink had already been installed on that computer and had been communicating with my Vantage Pro2 console through the WeatherLink IP adapter/logger.

So, could you (desperately) try the following:

• - close (shut-down) WeatherLink if it is opened;
  - open the device manager window ('Control Panel' -->> 'Device Manager' );
  - disconnected the USB cable from the computer (that is the USB cable connecting the Vantage Vue console to the computer);
  - waited a couple of minute;
  - reconnected the USB cable to the computer;
  - look at the system tray - a new 'Driver Software Installation' icon should appear;
  - click on that icon to open the 'Driver Software Installation' window (while it is still looking for the driver);
  - hopefully your Windows is going to find and recognise the 'Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge' driver that has already been installed by WeatherLink on your computer;
  - if/when the 'Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge' driver is found, the new port number should be displayed in that window with a green check mark in front of 'Ready to use';
  - keep the 'Driver Software Installation' window opened until I tell you to close it;

At this point, I sincerely hope that a new communication port has been created on your computer...

If a new communication port has been created please note the number - probably COM3 as there appear to be no other communication device on you computer.

Here are the additional steps you have to go through:

• - restart WeatherLink;
  - click on the 'Setup' pull-down option (the second top left option);
  - select the 'Communications Port' option;
  - on the newly opened 'Communications Port' window, inside the 'Communications' box, click/select the 'Serial' option;
  - in the selection box beside 'Com Port' select the port number that is/was shown in the 'Driver Software Installation' window;
  - the 'Baud Rate' should be left at 19200 (that should be the default);
  - click on the 'Test' button;
  - hopefully, a new small 'Please Note' window should open with the 'A Vantage Vue station was found' message!!!
  - click on the 'OK' button to exit the 'Please Note' window;
  - click on the 'OK' button, this time to save the new port configurations and exit the 'Communications Port' window;
  - you can now close the 'Driver Software Installation' window.

If you go back to the device manager window ('Control Panel' -->> 'Device Manager' ), a new 'Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge (COM3)' should be found under the 'Ports (COM & LPT)' option.

OK, it has been difficult to get to this point as I kept my fingers crossed throughout the above operations...

Please, please, please report that your WeatherLink is now communicating with your Vantage Vue console, pretty please...

Concerning a reply I gave you in my previous post:

The amount of data saved inside the Vantage Pro2/Vue console is controlled by WeatherLink (the software):
- click on the 'Setup' pull-down option (the second top left option);
- select the 'Set Archive Intervcal' option (eight from the top);
- on the newly opened 'Set Archive Interval' window, selecting the '5 min'
--- 5 minutes logging interval is more than adequate for most users (including you);
- click on the 'OK' button to save (upload) the modified setting to the console.

Be informed/warned that by changing the archive interval time, all the data that had been stored on the internal Vantage Vue memory chip will be deleted!

Self control and patience are tricky things. We are into instant gratification round here!

No that was not meant as gratification but as perseverance when self control and/or patience are running short...

[steve]

Ref. data storage, how much can it store? At 5mins, how long will it go between downloads before starting to over-write the oldest data?

It can hold 2560 entries, so at a 5-minute interval, that's just under nine days.

Are you using the USB/serial driver provided by Davis, or the latest one downloaded from the Silicon Labs site? The link was given earlier in the thread, before you joined, so you may have missed it? I understand there have been problems with the Davis one with Windows 7.

Here's the link again, just in case: http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Page ... ivers.aspx

[Paragon]

Steve, Thanks for the number of readings. I will have to crank up the old XP notebook and leave it connected to the console while away. Maybe it will still be going when we get back.

Ray, here is what I did.

Unplugged the cable. Fetched the console and plugged it in again. "Bong bing!" the computer said.

Device Manager says there is a Ports item! Yay! Silicon Labs bla bla COM5 it says.

Started WeatherLink, Setup, Communications Port, Serial, AutoDetect, found COM5. YAY!

"TEST" found a Vantage Vue station. YAY!

So then I shut down weatherlink and unplugged. "Bing Bong!". Device Manager has no Ports item.

Plugged in and started Cumulus. Error -32701 bla bla.

Configuration, Serial, COM5, Vantage Pro2, and the data comes through. YAY!

Then I set the locations etc. and most of the display looks like what I expect.

Only thing is, the console shows 1.0 mm rainfall today, 25 mm last 25 days, and Cumulus shows 0 for all rainfall fields.

What might that be caused by? Could WeatherLink have downloaded the data and Cumulus is starting from scratch, so there has been no rain since it started?

I'll look again in the morning. I suspect that is the reason (i.e. there is no problem).

Thank you very much for your patience and forebearance. At last we have a solution.

Regards
Graham

[steve]

Could WeatherLink have downloaded the data and Cumulus is starting from scratch, so there has been no rain since it started?

Yes - Cumulus always starts 'from scratch' when you install it. You can force it to use the existing data in the logger - see the FAQ - but I don't really recommend it.

[gemini06720]

Finally, another problem solved!

[gemini06720]

Graham...

So then I shut down weatherlink and unplugged. "Bing Bong!". Device Manager has no Ports item.

Why did you unplug the USB cable?

Remember, that this COM port is a virtual serial port, meaning that the port does not really exist (or is not created) unless (until) the Silicon Laboratories 'Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge' driver sees an adapter/logger connected to a USB port.

So, unless you need to move the Vantage Vue console somewhere away from the computer or unless you have to move the computer away from the Vantage Vue console, the USB cable between the Vantage Vue console and the computer does not have to (should not) be disconnected...

Enjoy your new weather toy...

[gemini06720]

It can hold 2560 entries, so at a 5-minute interval, that's just under nine days.

Steve, where did you find that information - I looked through both Vantage Pro2 and Vantage Vue documents and found nothing about the amount of data kept in the internal FIFO memory?

[steve]

Steve, where did you find that information

It's mentioned in a number of Davis documents (all available on the Davis web site), most notably in the Weatherlink Specification

[gemini06720]

It's mentioned in a number of Davis documents (all available on the Davis web site), most notably in the Weatherlink Specification

Steve, I have all the Davis documentation (that I could download) on my computer. I went through both Vantage Pro2 and Vantage Vue documentation and found nothing about the internal memory nor the quantity of data stored inside the consoles. But I did not think of looking into the WeatherLink documentation as, in my mind, the quantity of data saved should be mentioned in the Vantage Pro2 and Vantage Vue documentation...

Thank you for the link, thought...

[Paragon]

Hello Ray,
Re unplugging... I unplugged after closing the software. The console is on the sideboard in the entrance here so everyone can see it. The computer is in my play-room (aka "study"), so at the moment I bring the console in here each day and download it.

My intention is to connect it to the old notebook, which would be in the drawer below the console. My other secret dream is to post it on the net. But the old notebook will not connect to the 'net. I have put a PC Card into it to connect, but for some reason it won't work. I have spent hours playing with it.

My next thought was to retransmit to another console, but the amount of money spent is sneaking up a bit by then. (I am a bit annoyed I couldn't find the USB plug without having to buy WeatherLink, but then I thought it included memory, and you have since told me it doesn't.) Hohum.

Steve,
Re the number of data readings the console stores, I thought I had searched the weatherlink information quite well. Clearly I was wrong. Well done and thanks for that.

Many thanks Gentlemen for your help. At least I am running. Other games can now be played to improve things.

Regards
Graham