Davis Vantage Pro Locks Up

[propolis]

Hi,

This is what I use:

Laptop with Windows XP (latest SP and Updates)
2GB Memory
Davis Vantage Pro Wireless
USB Connection
54MB Internet Connection
WD Version 10.37P build 44
WDL 1.0.8.7
www.stonesailingclub.org.uk/weather/

My problem:

Between 15min and 4 hours the weather connection will stop working.
I have replaced the laptop
Sometimes when I log into the PC I see a message that I have never seen before:  Your system has recovered from a critical Error
Sometimes I have to restart WD itself
Other times the 'Client raw real time ftp vers 5.5 has stopped' which I have to restart manually

Any suggestions much appreciated and any further information can be posted

Eddie

[niko]

Sounds like the typical Davis USB lockup problem, have you tried the various published fixes for that?

[Weather Display]

one of the best things you can do is change the usb data logger to a serial data logger

[propolis]

Thanks for the information.

The laptop we are using does not have a serial connection.  Does this mean the USB solution is Faulty or has a BUG

If we use a PCMCIA serial card, would that be OK for the laptop.  I can get the data logger exchanged from USB to Serial

The only PC that has a serial connection is a desktop thats not close to the Data Logger - 20m away.  Can you convert a serial cable for long distances

Thanks

Eddie

[niko]

Thanks for the information.

The laptop we are using does not have a serial connection.  Does this mean the USB solution is Faulty or has a BUG

A small % of users have problems maintaining a solid connection with the USB logger. Davis believes this is due to electrical interference and most solutions are pointed in that direction too. There are plenty of postings but the usual highlights are ensure any and all power saving settings are disabled (especially on a laptop), swap the usb cable for a high quality one, or add extra ferrite chokes to the one supplied, try the console on batteries. Even so, swapping for a serial appears to be the only definitive solution in some cases.

If we use a PCMCIA serial card, would that be OK for the laptop.

Yes, be sure it is a real serial card with a UART chip, some use the same USB/Serial chip so you are not much better off.

The only PC that has a serial connection is a desktop thats not close to the Data Logger - 20m away.  Can you convert a serial cable for long distances

I haven't tried it but 20m should be OK for a serial connection. Use good cable, route away from power etc.

[propolis]

Thanks for the response.

I am still trying to find what is creating our problems.  The 'Client raw real time ftp vers 5.5 has stopped' which I have to restart manually.

This seems to happen often.  Is this part of the USB problem.

Eddie

[4wd]

The fixes for the USB lock-up issue are inexpensive and harmless - worth trying.
Download the driver from this page and install it.
http://www.davisnet.com/support/weather/software_driver.asp
Direct link: http://www.davisnet.com/support/weather/download/CP210X_USB_Serial_Converter_ver2.exe

Then acquire two clip on ferrite chokes like these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32799
Put one on the USB lead, often you can loop it through twice which is good.
You might put the other one on the other end of the USB, or try it on the console power lead.
It's worth trying running the console on battery power as this would help eliminate interference from the mains power lead (as a test).
You also want to keep anything that might be a source of stray RF away from the console and lead - cordless phone base stations, TVs, radios, even fluorescent light fittings have been known to cause problems.

You may have suitable chokes already, they are often fitted to other devices - for example I found one on an old camcorder lead, and another on a canon camera USB lead I don't even use because I have a card reader to connect it.

[kb5bfa]

I experienced the same problem you are describing and the ferrite chokes fixed the problem. You can find them at Radio Shack or online. Simply wrap the USB cable a through the choke, one on each end. I also installed the choke on the power adapter cable. Hope this helps.