Posts: 8
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Joined: Dec 2018
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30-12-2018, 21:05
(This post was last modified: 30-12-2018, 21:07 by
chsims1.
Edit Reason: More info
)
Hi all,
a bit of history .... 2008 FO weather station worked immaculately (nearly) for 10 years logged by pywws. Didn't need to do a thing other than present the data on my website as I like ..bliss I've recently replaced the station by a 3080 clone and I'm suddenly plagued by problems of console USB lockups, missing outdoor sensor data etc. So, this looks a very attractive prospect as a reliable alternative. What I want now is someone to explain to me why I need such a thirsty transmitter unit less than 4m away from a receiver. I don't want to be adding a substantial battery or wired power connection for the transmitter .. I am used to two AA batteries doing their job for a year. I'm not criticising in any way, just wondering why my needs seem to be so different from other users on the forum?
Hello btw,
Ian
Edit: didn't mean to hijack thread, but this seemed a good jumping off point
Posts: 8
Threads: 4
Joined: Dec 2018
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Indeed you are correct, but it is a bit of a inconvenience to set up outside power supplies. I guess I need to turn my thoughts to alternative low power solutions .. thanks for your input, and good luck with the project.
Ian
Posts: 168
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Weather Station: Fine Offset (various)
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30-12-2018, 23:47
(This post was last modified: 30-12-2018, 23:52 by
AllyCat.)
Hi,
Yes, sadly it appears that Fine Offset applied an aggressive "Cost Reduction" exercise, combined with some incompetent software re-design. The well-known "USB lockups" appear to be associated with all of the more recent (OOK since c2012) USB versions.
The "problem" with the Arduino is not just the off-the-shelf hardware (bright LEDs hard-wired across the power supply rails, etc.) but the Operating System (Environment) which uses a 16 MHz clock (hence 5 volt supply rail) to support the High Level Language (C++) with fast interrupts, etc. and no "sleep" mode.
I refer you back to my post #5 in this thread, but must emphasis again that it's only a long-term project. One of the key aspects is starting with the "Auriol" wireless protocol which is intrinsically a "low power" transmission protocol. The Weatherduino project grew from the "Auriolduino" project, which is still supported by the present receivers.
I will also just add that I have modified my own Weatherduino Transmitter(s) to be broadly "compatible" with the FO transmitter hardware, and using only a low power 5 volt USB supply ("wall wart"). I plan to post some details in due course, but it's still not really suitable for economical solar-powering in UK.
Cheers, Alan.