[Grant]

Another revisit to WD and unfortunately some more issues.

I have a WM918 connected to Ubuntu 9.10 via a physical serial port.
The serial port works and I can run other equipment off it in Ubuntu without issue.
The WM918 connects using virtualbox and an XP client to both Cumulus and VWS and works fine with /dev/ttyS0 being directed to COM1 in the serial pass through.
The linux version of WD (10.37L) will not pick up the data stream from the WM918, with the exception of about a hour last night. I got it working just by changing and swapping settings. Eventually it picked up from COM 1 (as it should) but it stopped working again after a save and exit.

The COM port is fine, it even picks up as being connected using the 2500 option in WD, but for some reason WD is not responding. I have tried the other OS settings within WD to see if that helps. I have tried releasing the COM port etc, without success. I can start virtualbox back up and everything will work fine again on other software. The WM918 console is mains powered.

I've read through a lot of other historical 918 threads and they all say its not WD, its the Linux setup. I think I've done enough to rule this out as the COM port works in other applications on the Ubuntu platform and the weather data comes through in other software. Would appreciate some help and suggestions please

Thanks in advance

[Grant]

Some additional info:

I have followed the instructions for udev on the ubuntu platform as listed in the wiki http://wiki.weather-watch.com/index.php/Linux_Weather_Display_Manual
I can confirm that the permissions on the COM ports are 777 and so is the WeatherD file.

Within WD itself, in the WS2500 tab, I get the following:

Loaded all time records
Connecting com port
trying to open comport 1 8
Com port connected OK

[Tornado Tim]

Grant, on 10 March 2010 - 06:07 PM, said:

Some additional info:

I have followed the instructions for udev on the ubuntu platform as listed in the wiki http://wiki.weather-watch.com/index.php/Linux_Weather_Display_Manual
I can confirm that the permissions on the COM ports are 777 and so is the WeatherD file.

Within WD itself, in the WS2500 tab, I get the following:

Loaded all time records
Connecting com port
trying to open comport 1 8
Com port connected OK

Hmmm have you contacted Brian via email? or Posted in the relevant forum for WD?

[Grant]

Yep, upto post number 8 now. No help at all in any of Brian's comments so far. Another member has made some suggestions, but nothing I have not already covered.
WM918 Connection issues in WD

[Grant]

I noticed in previous comments on the support forum that people have been advised to get a USB to SERIAL and it has worked in many instances, but you shouldn't need to do that.

I am thinking along the lines of there being a communication error from within the WD programming when using COM1 with a WM918 that may not be apparent when using another COM port. I am thinking along these lines because:

1) WD detects COM1 as open when looking at the WS2500 settings, but does not receive data
2) The COM1 port works correctly across other hardware
3) The COM1 port works correctly across other software
4) All external testing programs and comand line returns indicate there are no issues, with comminications or permisisons on COM1
5) The combination of COM1 and WD is the only thing that does not work as intended (on my setup)
6) WD is detecting other equipment using other COMS (ie it picks up the data output from my LD250 on COM2)

As a test I will use the same physical port but assign it to /dev/ttyS2 in Ubuntu when I get home then select COM3 from within WD. If that works out OK, then I think that will give a clear indication as to where any issues lie.

[TokWW]

The whole issue stems sometimes around the weak interference suppression from most common USB cables. The placing of a ferrite RF suppression sleeve on the cable both ends has cured issues for some of those having hesitant or broken connections with data transfer from console to the PC. Jaycar stock them.

Graeme

This post has been edited by TokWW: 11 March 2010 - 02:00 PM

[Grant]

I am not using USB, I am physical SERIAL on COM1 :)

[TokWW]

Sorry - I didn't read or it didn't click - but it is an option... :)

This post has been edited by TokWW: 11 March 2010 - 04:47 PM

[Grant]

OK results of testing

setserial -g /dev/ttyS*
/dev/ttyS0, UART: 16550A, Port: 0x03f8, IRQ: 4
/dev/ttyS1, UART: 16550A, Port: 0x02f8, IRQ: 3
/dev/ttyS2, UART: 16550A, Port: 0xdff0, IRQ: 21

with the above settings
WD picks up a green data light from my LD250 lightning detector on COM3, COM2 and COM1
WD picks up a green data light from my WM918 Station on COM3 COM2 but not on COM1

Other software picks up LD250 on COM 1,2,and 3
Other software picks up WM918 on COM 1,2 and 3

A bios change to give COM1 a different address,

setserial -g /dev/ttyS*
/dev/ttyS0, UART: 16550A, Port: 0x02f8, IRQ: 3
/dev/ttyS1, UART: 16550A, Port: 0x03f8, IRQ: 4
/dev/ttyS2, UART: 16550A, Port: 0xdff0, IRQ: 21

the results are the same as above.

In my case, I appear to have identified an issue with the WM918 on COM1 using WD Linux. Where the problem is exactly I do not know, but it does seem interesting that others have experienced this also. For me, I am just going to swap the devices over on their COM ports, but I do hope that this testing has gone some way to helping others who have had connectivity issues with this particular setup.

[Grant]

OK so having spent a lot of time on this project over the last week and having posted my findings both here and on the support forum at WM918 Connection issues in WD in an effort to assist others and help Brian debug, the end result is the product has been withdrawn without any notice or explanation.

Quite frankly I find the response disgraceful.

[pablo]

Howdy,

I was banned from WD Linux forum several months back. I read your posts on WD and on here and reached the same conclusions: providing constructive feedback to Brian (windy) is fruitless. I can go on but really, there's no point. The only reason I mention it because I wanted to add another voice of reason to this discussion: it's not you, it's Brian.

btw, when I was banned, all it meant was I had to clear my WD Forum cookie and I could have re-joined. But there was no point.

I do use WD Console however it is heavily propped up with ancillary Linux scripts in order to get it to function half-way decent. Even so, WD Console has plenty of bugs. I wrote some freeware RRD graphs as well and if you go to my weather website, there's a link for people to download the software (Linux only. :icon_arrow:

You can see my (wimpy?!) weather website: http://weather.hillsandlakes.com

Cheers,
-pablo

[Derek]

pablo, on 05 April 2010 - 04:07 PM, said:

Howdy,

I was banned from WD Linux forum several months back. I read your posts on WD and on here and reached the same conclusions: providing constructive feedback to Brian (windy) is fruitless. I can go on but really, there's no point. The only reason I mention it because I wanted to add another voice of reason to this discussion: it's not you, it's Brian.

btw, when I was banned, all it meant was I had to clear my WD Forum cookie and I could have re-joined. But there was no point.

I do use WD Console however it is heavily propped up with ancillary Linux scripts in order to get it to function half-way decent. Even so, WD Console has plenty of bugs. I wrote some freeware RRD graphs as well and if you go to my weather website, there's a link for people to download the software (Linux only. :icon_arrow:

You can see my (wimpy?!) weather website: http://weather.hillsandlakes.com

Cheers,
-pablo

Hi Pablo - good to have another member from Canada. I had a quick look at your website and it is a nice clean presentation.

[Tornado Tim]

pablo, on 05 April 2010 - 04:07 PM, said:

Howdy,

I was banned from WD Linux forum several months back. I read your posts on WD and on here and reached the same conclusions: providing constructive feedback to Brian (windy) is fruitless. I can go on but really, there's no point. The only reason I mention it because I wanted to add another voice of reason to this discussion: it's not you, it's Brian.

btw, when I was banned, all it meant was I had to clear my WD Forum cookie and I could have re-joined. But there was no point.

I do use WD Console however it is heavily propped up with ancillary Linux scripts in order to get it to function half-way decent. Even so, WD Console has plenty of bugs. I wrote some freeware RRD graphs as well and if you go to my weather website, there's a link for people to download the software (Linux only. :icon_arrow:

You can see my (wimpy?!) weather website: http://weather.hillsandlakes.com

Cheers,
-pablo

Hmmm Thats only 1 side of the story...
I suggest looking up this guys posts on Weather-Watch b4 passing judgement.
This topic is now closed because it will start to cause arguments if it continues.
If you have an actual issue with WD picking up your W918 contact the Staff (eg:me/Tokww/Grant) to unlock this topic.

This post has been edited by Tornado Tim: 05 April 2010 - 08:44 PM