Installazione Cumulus per Davis

[donato06]

it is Virtual w.s
I have not been able to run Cumulus: ((

[steve]

Do you configure VWS to drive the station via a virtual serial port? I think that's the case, as Davis don't publish the USB protocol, so as far as I'm aware, all third-party software like VWS and Cumulus have to use a virtual serial port. Cumulus should work with the same settings (same COM port) that you use with VWS. If you try that - make sure you don't run VWS at the same time as Cumulus - and then zip up the Cumulus diags folder and attach it, I'll see if I can see what's happening.

[donato06]

vws in the Davis works with the drive USBExpress but will not accept CP2101 drive ....

I think this is the reason why it does not work with Cumulus

[steve]

vws in the Davis works with the drive USBExpress

Oh. I wasn't aware that anything other than Weatherlink could use a VP2 in USB mode. But I don't know very much about other weather station software at all.

In theory, the Davis DLL which Cumulus uses should allow USB mode, that's why Cumulus has a setting for USB. But I'm not aware of anyone who has been able to get that to work, so as far as I know, everyone installs the Silicon Labs virtual serial port driver and uses that.

[gemini06720]

Oh. I wasn't aware that anything other than Weatherlink could use a VP2 in USB mode.

Steve, here is an excerpt from the Ambient Weather Wiki pages:

• Problem
  WeatherLink software communicates fine but Virtual Weather Station does not.
  
  Solution
  1. Both Virtual Weather Station and WeatherLink can not communicate to the same communication port at the same time. Make sure only one program is running at the same time.
  2. Make certain the comport and baud rate settings are identical for both programs.
  3. If you are using the WeatherLink version of the data logger, USB driver software was included. If the driver software assigns a communication port greater then 9, you will have to reinstall the drivers.
  
  The problem is related to the DLL that Ambient Weather utlizes and is written by Davis Instruments. This DLL does not allow comport assignments greater then Port 9. The WeatherLink software does not have the same problem because Davis does not use the DLL, they use direct communication protocols. The reason we use the DLL is it is much more reliable then their direct communication protocal. The direct communication protocal has a number of band-aid fixes that only Davis is aware of, and makes writing softwar cumbersome.
  If you unistall and reinstall the USB driver software, in general, this will reassign the comport to 1-9 and allow the DLL to work.

I bought the Virtual Weather Station software a few years back - I have just installed the latest beta release on my new computer (version 14.01p46 - updated October 19, 2011). I can confirm that the 'VantagePro.dll' is in the 'vws' directory (same version number as the one used for Cumulus, ie: 2.4.0.3). I have never used the USB port connection as I have always used the Silicon Laboratories CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP) drivers.

Here is an other excerpt, this time from the Ambient Weather Beta Version modifications page:

• P55. Added direct USB communication for the 6510USB (as opposed to using USB to serial converter drivers). If you are having issues with operating a 6510USB in serial mode, I would recommend switching to USB mode.

So, it appears, the Virtual Weather Station software can indeed communicate directly with the console through the USB port without conversion drivers (I cannot confirm as my computer was never setup for USB communication).

[steve]

So, it appears, the Virtual Weather Station software can indeed communicate directly with the console through the USB port without conversion drivers (I cannot confirm as my computer was never setup for USB communication).

I hadn't realised that VWS uses the VantagePro.DLL like Cumulus; that's presumably how it is able to talk directly using USB. In theory, Cumulus should be able to do the same.

[gemini06720]

Steve, I just tried connecting Cumulus to my Vantage Pro2 console using the USB port, but, unfortunately, all I got when restarting Cumulus was the dreadful "Error -32701..." error window.

A while ago, I installed the Virtual Weather Station software on my new 'weather' computer. Once the installation was completed, I selected the USB option (to connect the VWS software to my USB connected Vantage Pro2 console). To my greatest surprise, the VWS software asked me to first install and setup the WeatherLink software - to select the USB option! This means that the VWS software is (would be) using the USBXpress driver installed by the WeatherLink software! Yeach!

It is no wonder anymore that user 'donato06' can connect to the VWS software but cannot connect to the Cumulus software... ...the problematic USBXpress driver!

[steve]

Ray, could you please tell me what versions of VantagePro.dll and SiUSBXp.dll VWS has installed? Right-click -> properties -> details tab should tell you.

[gemini06720]

Steve, as mentioned in a previous message, the version number for the 'VantagePro.dll' file found in the 'vws' directory is the same version number as the same file found in the Cumulus directory, ie: version 2.4.0.3 (2009-11-13).

The version number for the 'SiUSBXp.dll' file found in the 'vws' directory is the same version number as the same file found in the Cumulus directory, ie: version 3.1.0.0 (2008-07-11).

One file in the 'vws' directory seems to be out of place: 'weatherlink.dll'

[steve]

It looks like I may have made an error in translating the C calls into Pascal for USB stations. Could you please try this zipped Cumulus.exe to see if it works in USB mode?

http://nybbles.co.uk/downloads/Cumulus.zip

[gemini06720]

Steve, downloaded the ZIP, replaced the Cumulus EXE file but could not test/try the USB option as, as soon as plug in the USB cable from the console (even when changed to another USB port), the Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge drivers took over the USB port!

I would need to completely uninstall the Silicon Labs drivers, something I have no intention of doing as the console is now connected to the network server (Note: All the computer in the network have the Silicon Labs drivers installed so the console can be moved around as needed).

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Something came to mind thought... ...not only would have I to uninstall the Silicon Labs drivers, but I would also have to uninstall the WeatherLink software (as it relying on the Silicon Labs drivers) and reinstall the WeatherLink software using the incompatible USBXpress drivers...

[steve]

OK, thanks anyway, I fully understand. Perhaps "donato06" could try it...

[mcrossley]

Can you create a temporary VM Ray? - just a thought

[gemini06720]

Mark, I have not installed any Virtual Machine software on the server computer (nor on any of the other new computers) - did not planned to...

I remember, on my old 'development' computer, with Windows XP and Windows Virtual PC installed, access from/to any of the USB ports was very unreliable - used the Windows XP mode a few times for test purposes only.

[mcrossley]

I remember, on my old 'development' computer, with Windows XP and Windows Virtual PC installed, access from/to any of the USB ports was very unreliable - used the Windows XP mode a few times for test purposes only.

I understand not wanting to 'pollute' a machine. It is best to use VMplayer (I use VMware Workstation because work pay for it! but you can download a trial licence) or VirtualBox, their USB handling is way better than VPC.