VP wireless trouble shooting

Here is some info I received from Davis to help through a VP wireless problem.

Reception varies with the season, time of day, temperature and RF
environement. The following are things you can do to improve reception on your Wireless Vantage
Station.

  1. Move the transmitter or receiver closer to each other or to a different
    location.

  2. Avoid transmitting thru concrete walls, metal or other barriers.

  3. Purchase a repeater to relay the signal to the receiver.

  4. Place cordless phones at least 12 feet from the Davis display console.

  5. Place wireless speakers, mouses, keyboards, LANS, switches or other
    wireless devices far enough away from the display console such that they don’t cause
    interference.

  6. Change the ID code on the transmitter and receiver to another ID (only
    needs to be done if there is another transmitter in the same area using the same ID).

  7. Avoid placing the transmitter or receiver in an area where RF
    interference can be a problem (EX: microwave ovens, ham radios).

  8. Avoid placing the transmitter or receiver in an area where electric
    motors are operating.

  9. In the diagnostic page of the display console toggle the GAIN ON. To do
    this press
    and hold the TEMP key then press the TIME key. Press the HI/LOW key to
    toggle the gain ON and OFF. Press the DONE key to exit the diagnostic page. Refer
    to the Receiver Gain Status section of the Vantage Pro Weather Station Manual.

  10. Avoid installating the ISS down a hill or slope with the receiver above
    it.

  11. Adjust the antenna angle on both the receiver and transmitter.

    EXAMPLES:

    If the receiver and transmiiter are both at the same elevation, then
    adjust the antenna on both units to vertical.

    If the receiver is in a room in the home and the transmiiter is on the
    roof and the angle between the transmiiter and receiver is 30 degrees, angle the
    antennas 30 degrees.



NOTES:

INTERFERENCE

  A good way to determine whether radio interference is preventing
  reliable reception is to display the diagnostic page then read the CRC error
  field. If CRC errors are incrementing rapidly (several times a second) then the
  receiver is receiving packets but they are scrambled due to interference. For
  information on how to use the diagnostic page refer to the Vantage Pro Console Manual.

TESTING TRANSMITTER RANGE

  A quick check to determine if the transmitter is transmitting is to
  move the display console right next to the ISS. Press and hold the DONE key then
  press the - key to enter the setup mode. On the bottom of the display you
  will see "RECEIVING FROM".  While this setup page is displayed, the display will
  be in a forced reception mode. The display should start flashing a X in the
  lower right hand corner of the display if the transmitter is transmitting. In this
  mode you can walk around with the receiver and monitor the flashing X. When
  it stops flashing you are out of range. Every time the X flashes ON or
  OFF, a valid packet is received.

  Note that on the main weather page (the page you get when you press and
  hold the DONE key) you also see a blinking X in the lower right hand corner
  (when reception is good). In the main page, however, reception is gained in a
  time window (power to the receiver is only turned ON when a signal is
  expected). If the signal is lost a different letter will appear (instead of an X).
  These letters and there meaning are listed below...

  R: Indicates 40 missed packets in a row. Once R is displayed it will
  remain in the R state for 10 minutes unless reception is regained. If
  reception is regained the status will revert back to a blinking X. If reception
  is not regained the display status letter will change to a L after 10
  minutes. L: Indicates loss of reception. (Display will persist until "L" state
  is reached, then dashes will be displayed). While in L goto R every 10 minutes
  for a period of 2 minutes to try to regain signal. Note that while in the L state
  the display is essentially asleep for 10 minutes.
  
  X: Every time an X blinks on or off it indicates a successful
  reception. Note that if the display is in the L state and you walked right up to
  ISS, the display will remain in the L state until 10 minutes have elapsed. For
  this reason it is always a good idea to go into the setup mode where "RECEIVING
  FROM" is displayed to test receiver range. In the setup mode the receiver never
  goes to 
  sleep.

  Another way to determine if the transmitter is transmitting is to
  toggle switch 4 up on the transmitter board. The LED on the transmitter board should
  blink on and off every 2 1/2 seconds if the transmitter is transmitting.

  3V LITHIUM BATTERY

  The 3V Lithium battery on the transmitter board will last 1 year even
  without the solar panel hooked up. If you are loosing the signal at night, the
  battery either is dead or you are simply getting poor reception at night.
  Remember that the super cap will run the transmitter at night for several hours if it
  was charged by the solar panel during the day. New 3V lithium batteries
  measure about 3.28V. Anyting below 2.70 volts should be replaced. The message
  "Battery Low On Station" will be displayed on the ticker of the display console when
  the 3V lithium battery needs to be replaced.

  Care should be taken NOT to run the ISS transmitter board with switch 4
  in the up position. This puts the transmitter in a test mode which causes a green
  led to flash on the board. This will cause the board to draw extra current
  causing the battery to run down sooner.

  Note that the solar panel does not charge the 3V lithium battery. The
  solar panel charges a super cap which powers the ISS . When the super cap becomes
  discharged the ISS is powered from the 3V lithium battery. The solar power basicly
  provides an additional power source and prolongs the life of the 3V battery.

I like my weather wired :lol:

It seems to be a wonder that the wireless ones work at all in cities, when you look at all the problems above. :eyeslam:

We use a VP Plus Wireless and had to use two repeaters to go maybe 150 feet. In fact I had to mount one of the repeaters, as dumb as it sounds, right next to the console. I see that the VP 2 has tripled its range! I’d still wonder if it would pentrate through by building (it’s a school science building that for some reason does not allow signals in or out, not even our campus radios work through it). I think wireless is great because of what it is, wireless. However, it seems that wired is easier to get running once it is all set up unless you ever plan on moving the station.