Lacrosse WS2010 users please comment

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1

Fellow WS2010 owners. Does anyone else out there have problems using Weather Display (or for that matter other sw as well)?

The WS2010, or Weather Display, not sure which intermittently looses outdoor temperature data for hours at a time (graph goes flat line at the last valid reading).

It then will mysteriously start working again with no intervention. Sometimes I can get temp data working again by doing a reboot, but that does not always work. Putting in new batteries does not help.

My system: P3-700, 384MB ram, Win XP Home, WS2010 on serial port 1. Fails with all recent versions of Weather Display. Currently using 9.50b.

Are other WS2010 stations having similar problems? Any opinion as to whether this is a SW problem, or is my computer interface defective?

2

In another thread Brian wrote:

humm
do you have the data logger as far away from the pc as you can?

Cheers
Brian

I have the logger about 10 ft away from the computer using a serial port extension cable. How does distance matter?

3

I wish I had an answer for you, but I have had no problems with my LaCrosse 2010. Are you also losing data on the console that comes with the 2010?

Keith

4

No, temp on the console is updating just fine and is located much farther away from the outdoor sensor than the computer interface. Most of the time, when the temp flatlines, I still receive wind, indoor, baro, and rain data. Only outdoor temp & humidity are affected.

5

Sorry to hear you are having problems. WD is working the best for me that it has done for some months.

I am using a LaCrosse repeater to boost my signal strength from the sensors. even so this is not always a guarantee. The LaCrosse equipment works at 433MHz, a licence free frequency band that is also used by Baby Alarms, Intercoms Garage Door Openers, Automobile Remotes and other equipment.

I live near the HQ of the US Atlantic Fleet and a major AFB. Sometimes I loose signal for no aparant reason, but this could be due to local transmission of high power military radio signals. Also, more and more we have other radio dependent equipment in the house. Cell phones (800MHz, 900MHz, 1.9GHz), Telephones (900MHz, 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz), WiFi network (2.4GHz, 5.8GHz), Video Senders (900MHz, 2.4GHz). Also, we have equipment that gives out EMF (electro-magnetic frequency) such as Microwave ovens, Televisions and Computers (this is why Brian says move the receiver as far from the computer as possible).

The LaCrosse transmitter/receivers are not complex items, they are built for a price using ‘sawtooth’ RF generators, also the housings are plastic and the circuits are not shielded from external radio sources.

This can have a major effect on peformance and transmitting, or more correctly receiving distances as can the location in the house and proximity to the wquipment already mentioned above. Equipment does not have to be on the same transmit/receive frequency to be interfered with. Harmonics of the frequency can cause problems as can broadband interference, such as that given off by a computer motherboard or the display monitor. Moving equipment or the receiver a few inches/cms can have a dramatic effect in signal reception, also try relocating sensors, if that is possible.

Make sure there is as clear a line of sight between the receiver and the sensor. A direct (visible) line is best, if not, make sure there are no metal or metallic objects between. Sometimes, dry-lining boards are made damp-proof by lining them with a metallic foil. You won’t be aware of this, it’s on the inside of the wall, but this creates a type of Faraday Cage effect. A Farady Cage is a room that is shielded from external radio waves.

I could go on and on, but basically Radio is NOT an exact science (bad choice of words). Trial and error is a MAJOR part of a reliable set up. As you can see, there is a trade off between ease of installation and reliability.

Also, it can take a number of hours for the receiver to pick up the transmissions fom the sensors. I have sometimes had to wait overnight. I did this because not so much radio equipment is used during the early hours of the morning and the receivers can pick up and lock onto the signals more easily. So, if you make a change, wait. Then check. If it doesn’t work, try again. It WILL work, but it needs patience.

I hope I have not discouraged you. WD is the best and most comprehensive program available. There are not many out there that work with the LaCrosse. Also, LaCrosse is not the most user friendly company to work with. Brian, and others on Brians behalf have requested assistance and the loan of equipment from LaCross, without success. For the price of the LaCrosse it’s pretty good. Not the best by a long shot, but the reward for budget oriented equipment usually means a compromise between functionality and reliability.

Let me know if I can be of any additional assistance, or if you need clarification of any of the above.

Bob

6

Bob,
You make some very good points and very thorough. Still, I really hope other WS2010 owners will comment on how their stations are working and what they had to do to get the computer interface to be reliable.

Brian commented something about the distance from the computer??? What is that all about.

Not to be argumentative, just a small corrections. 433MHz is not a license free band, it is actually smack dab in the middle of the Ham Radio 70cm band. I know, since I have been a ham for 30+ years (and an EE for 25yrs). Yes, the FCC does allow the use of many frequencies for low power devices, as long as these devices do not interfere with the primary user of the frequency. This device is one of those secondary users. And, I have checked for ham radio operation in the area on this freq. There are no repeaters or regular users on 433MHz in the area. 433MHz is reserved in the band plan for weak signal, low power ham communications.

Back to the WS2010, I find it odd that the “one” sensor that always fails is outdoor temp, rarely do I loose data on the others. The outdoor temp is line of sight through a window from the computer interface about 20ft.

I guess the key learning might be this, avoid the wireless weather stations. Just too much hassle.

I think I will invest in the repeater. That might be a solution. Anyone have one to sell?

7

I have been running LaCrosse WS-2010 since the beginning of January. I have had intermittant problems too, with the Outdoor Temp Sensor. I have tried various locations of both the Sensors and the Receiver/Logger computer interface. It seems that the logger is affected and not the console. I suspect it is some kind of RF coming out of my PC that interferes the most.

My Wind/Rain/Temp-Hum sensors are mounted on the roof of a 2 story condominium building and I am on the ground floor. My console consistantly receives data thru the roof and second floor of the building without a problem. I have tried several other locations, and actually in line of sight of the console and logger, and they haven’t worked as well as the roof mounted location. The only thing I am concerned with the roof mounted location is the Outdoor Temp reading once we get into the heat of summer. The roof is a tar and gravel roof and I suspect I will get much hotter readings there versus a shaded location.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at:

[email protected]

http://www.lakeparkweather.homestead.com

Hope this helps,
Brent Headberg
West Palm Beach, FL

8

Well guys…I have my logger/interface about 4 feet from my PC… about 1 foot above my monitor, and never had this problem. My temp/humid sensor is located 68 feet away through a 2x6 stud wall with kraft paper insulation. The only thing I can say that may be helping me is that I live in the boonies, and as such, am not as susceptible to interfering frequencies and harmonics.

And Brent… yes, you will have problems when the heat of summer arrives, unless your sensor is WAY above the roof surface.

Keith

9

Hi
having the pc interface as far away from the PC is to avoid interference from the PC

when the temperature flat lines, is there a star beside that value in the WS2000 data setup? (to indicate a sensor error)?

if so, then its a hardware problem…i think…

There are actualy lots of Ws2010 users in Germany who use weather display.
Either they have given up in disgust along time ago, or dont have any problems so we dont hear from them (the later I think is the case, LOL)

10
Hi having the pc interface as far away from the PC is to avoid interference from the PC

when the temperature flat lines, is there a star beside that value in the WS2000 data setup? (to indicate a sensor error)?

if so, then its a hardware problem…i think…

There are actualy lots of Ws2010 users in Germany who use weather display.
Either they have given up in disgust along time ago, or dont have any problems so we dont hear from them (the later I think is the case, LOL)

Here in geneva I’m using a ws 2200 wich should be the same as i can see, and there is no problems with temperature…

Good luck
:wink:

11

My temperature is normally OK. Generally my rain guage always shows an error, but it seems to register rainfall OK.

Bob

12

Brent,
Your station problem sounds a bit like mine. It does not seem to matter where the outdoor temp sensor is located I have problems. Less problems since I moved it to the current location nearer the computer interface. I have the solar cell separated from the sensor, to assure it gets a full charge while locating the sensor is in the shade.
One thing to keep in mind… You cannot always tell if the console is loosing data. The console reports the last valid data received and will not show an error until the sensor fails to send data for a long period of time (not sure how long, hours at least). The computer graph is very unforgiving… you can see the history of all readings and any lost data is obvious.

Brian,
Yes, when the graph flat lines, the data report has a star on the temp value. However, I also have a star on the outdoor temp sensor value when the graph data looks valid (such as right now).

I checked on the price of the repeater. At about $120, that is a pretty expensive fix. You can buy the newer WS2300 system for about $240. I wonder if that would be the better way to go.

Brian,
What weather stations do you find the best? If I was to upgrade, which would you recommend I get based on the problems you hear about?

Thanks,

13

The repeater does not guarantee success. I have one and after running for 2 to 3 days without a problem 2 hours ago my external sensor started showing an error and the grapg flatlined.

I think what I will try and do is open up the interface / receiver and solder am external antenna onto the PCB antenna. As it is only a receiver this should not present a problem. Any radio hams out there that can comment on the correct length for 433MHz or will the length not matter. Also, will this make the receiver more susceptible to interferance.

Bob

14

Bob,
I would have to look up the length of a 433 MHz antenna. 934/MHz is the usual rule of thumb for a dipole. And yes, it would likely be more susceptable to interference if that is one of its problems. I don’t know if the receiver has a selective enough design to reject off-freq interference.
I use my 433MHz antenna already, doing exactly as you suggest. I did not do a proper job of it though. I just extended a wire off the little antenna wire in the case and hooked it to my ham antenna. That gives me excellent receive of the farther away wind and rain sensors. It may also be the root cause of my temp sensor problems if interference is the reason the station goes wacky once in a while.

Thanks for the insight on the repeater. I might have wasted another c-note on the repeater. I think I will not.

I do remember a time when I did not have problems with the temp data. It is a problem that showed up in the past couple months. Initially, I suspected some change in weather display that led to this, but I guess not since many others do not have problems.

15

Hi
try not running WD for say 15 minutes when it is flat lining, as a test, to let the data logger resync with the sensors
let me know if that works

the new 2310/2300 is nice, 6 second update of windspeed to the pc if you use the wired option, 12 second update if wireless option

16

Brian,
I have tried shutting down weather display, and that works some times. Also tried rebooting the PC, and that works sometimes, but not always. Often, I get annoyed that it is not working so I just shut down weather display. Then later restart it. On restart, sometimes it is back to normal right away, sometimes not. No repeatable pattern that I have been able to determine in terms of when it starts to fail, and what happened that causes it to start working again.

17

the other is to try werner krens software pc_weather station and see if it has trouble when wd is having trouble

18

Here’s what LaCrosse say:

Q3) Why does my outdoor temperature (or other reading) display just “–.-”?
A3) The quick answer: remove the batteries from the base station for one minute. Reinstall and do not press any buttons for at least three minutes.
A3) The long answer: The remote sensors will assign a security code when it is powered up (i.e. when batteries are changed). Once the batteries are placed into the base station, it will lock onto this code and not read any other sensors (unless your station can read multiple sensors and they are set up at the same time).

Bob

19

Interestingly, this morning the status of the outdoor temp sensor shows an error, but there is a valid temperature shown after the data download. This temp reading is exactly the same as that shown on the console. However, there is no graph output, just a straight line. ( I have noticed this before).

I have confirmed this with Werners software. PC-Weatherstation, which interestingly shows the status of the sensors not as absolutes, but as a factor ranging from 0 to OK (OK=100). It is also possible to select a specific sensor and display the ‘plausible value’ and the actual ‘read value’.

Is it possible that if the ‘plausibility value’ of the data received by WD is not over a certain value (not displayed), then the sensor is reported with an ‘error status’, but can actually read data but not display it graphically?

Bob

20

There is a new new group on the Weather Matrix site specifically for LaCrosse WS2010 owners. This is really new! no postings yet, but it may gain popularity and be a good source of information in time.

http://www.weatherwatchers.org/bbs/ws-2010board/

Bob