:roll: I think if this question could be answered with 100% sure thing , the answer to world peace or at least the winning lottery ticket numbers would be not far behind.
I had been getting real great reception percentages from the local ISS. However, when I changed over the transmitter for the soil/leaf sensor to the just soil moisture, the values went all up and down the scale. I am beginning to think that regardless of having a repeater, that the more stuff running interfers with the overall iss percentage. Unless I need to change some of the transmitter ID’s a bit . But I do get data and I am beginning to think that unless I lose significant number of packets ( archive is 5 min) not to lose any sleep. Definitely I am thinking that the next station will be a cabled one or not …
I think if conditions permit a cabled installation then by all means go that route. Wireless is very difficult to troubleshoot. From the sound of your post it sounds like you’re confirming my thoughts on the cabled versus wireless discussion earlier.
I have a cabled WMII system now. It worked fine after first installed, but when I tried to move the sensors to different location and tried to add davis-made extension cables I had all sorts of problems. I finally found a place where I could install the sensors without requiring the additional cables and it has been rock-solid ever since.
I also have a WMII in storage (basement). It was wireless and no problems from that unit, even with its internal antenna. Comparing the two units at this time ( not the VP2) it is better constructed than the VP. The reason I didn’t go cabled, was at I would have to have buried a rather long run of cable and the the wife gave me the hairy eyeball :roll:
[quote author=aardvark link=topic=6320.msg41774#msg41774 date=1101012305]I am beginning to think that regardless of having a repeater, that the more stuff running interfers with the overall iss percentage.
While out and about I noticed that about 6 blocks over there is this HAM tower. I am wondering if ‘nature boy’ has decided to boot the thing up and I am getting RF interference.
The other item comes to mind that I might have moved the ISS on the pole a bit much (which could be a mm here or there) and not getting in a direct line of sight, since nothing else has moved. Finally I could re do the channel assignments. The only thing changed is that I added a new 4 lead soil moisture station. I am going to play with this one for a while.
Did find out that my wireless temperature station is a bit off. Temps of 1720F is a bit high with frequent your battery is low is a real indicatior that puppy is going back to the store.
I have a soil moisture / leaf wetness / soil temp station, and a remote anemometer transmitter, and I too have quite wide ranging reception levels. The soil station is the furthest away from my console (around 35m), and I have a feeling it is the furthest station which causes the ISS reception figure to drop. Today my lowest reading has been 64%, and the highest has been 100%.
If I turn the soil station off, the readings are always higher.
Hopefully this will be sorted with the VP2.
Your transmitters must be pretty close to your console I guess Tom.
I am presently trying to get the soil moisture capacitor to discharge, been two days in the process so far, but you can see that the reception is doing better. It seems that the signals, I am guessing “walk” on each other. Davis is to send me an updater . They think maybe something in the receiver is screwy with the firm ware. What ever works? We’ll see later.
Of course the tech at Davis did say that as sensors are added that there is a decrease in reception because of the walk on.
I am curious as well to see how the new VP pans out over time. So far not much out there being said. I have heard both ways with it and am curious to see how many firmware updates there will be.
So how do you really turn off your soil moisture station? I thought trying to unplug the solar panel and take the battery out and turn on dip 4 and wait it out was the only way. Is there some other way that actually works?
PS I had been gettiing 95-99 % reception before a month and half ago.
