wview migration: serial server compatibility?

[Chris Alemany]

Hi all,

I am thinking of finally making the switch from wview to weewx but one fundamental difference that seems to remain is support for a serial server connection.  

I am using the GW21E Serial Server to take the serial output from my wireless VP2 Plus.

I don't see much talk about it on the forums. Have others found a way to make this work or found alternatives?

Thanks very much for your help,

Cheers,

Chris

www.alberniweather.ca

[vince]

On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 8:23:03 AM UTC-8, Chris Alemany wrote:

I am thinking of finally making the switch from wview to weewx but one fundamental difference that seems to remain is support for a serial server connection. 

I am using the GW21E Serial Server to take the serial output from my wireless VP2 Plus.

Not understanding the question.....

What are you trying to wire up exactly how ?

[Chris Alemany]

Hi Vince,

Thanks for the reply.

WView allows one to get the data from a Vantage Pro 2 console with a serial connector by having that serial connector plugged into a serial server that plugs into a local network on ethernet.

The advantage being the Vantage station and the host wview (or weewx) computer need not be physically connected to the VP2 box.

Cheers,

Chris

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[vince]

On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 2:11:08 PM UTC-8, Chris Alemany wrote:

WView allows one to get the data from a Vantage Pro 2 console with a serial connector by having that serial connector plugged into a serial server that plugs into a local network on ethernet.

The advantage being the Vantage station and the host wview (or weewx) computer need not be physically connected to the VP2 box.

Well the weewx.conf Vantage driver part of the config file has this in it, which leads me to believe 'maybe':

[Vantage]

    # This section is for the Davis Vantage series of weather stations.

    # Connection type: serial or ethernet

    #  serial (the classic VantagePro)

    #  ethernet (the WeatherLinkIP)

    type = serial

    # If the connection type is serial, a port must be specified:

    #   Debian, Ubuntu, Redhat, Fedora, and SuSE:

    #     /dev/ttyUSB0 is a common USB port name

    #     /dev/ttyS0   is a common serial port name

    #   BSD:

    #     /dev/cuaU0   is a common serial port name

    port = /dev/ttyUSB0

    # If the connection type is ethernet, an IP Address/hostname is required:

    host = 1.2.3.4

What's the worst that can happen if you give it a try ?

[Thomas Keffer]

​The weewx vantage driver uses the Python "serial" library, which, in turn, expects a Unix file descriptor (such as /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyS0). If your serial connector provides that, there should be no problem.

However, if it provides an IP address and port, then... I'm not so sure. The Vantage driver can connect to a WLIP logger through an ethernet address/port, so that might work. You'll have to experiment.

-tk​

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[Thomas Carlin]

This should work just fine.  I have my Vantage Pro2 hooked up via IP using a home brewed ESP8266 for a WiFi connection.  Essentially, it takes the Serial stream, and converts it directly to IP, and the reverse for sent commands.  Just make sure your IP and port are correct in your configuration, and you should be good to go.  

[vince]

On Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 10:43:21 AM UTC-8, Thomas Carlin wrote:

This should work just fine.  I have my Vantage Pro2 hooked up via IP using a home brewed ESP8266 for a WiFi connection.  Essentially, it takes the Serial stream, and converts it directly to IP, and the reverse for sent commands.  Just make sure your IP and port are correct in your configuration, and you should be good to go.

I'd be very interested in writeups of these kinds of setups that enable the VP2 console to be situated far away in the house from the actual computer running weewx.

[Thomas Carlin]

On Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 1:41:41 PM UTC-7, vince wrote:

I'd be very interested in writeups of these kinds of setups that enable the VP2 console to be situated far away in the house from the actual computer running weewx.

It's not really a write up but:

My setup is very simple.  I took the work that Dekay did here: http://madscientistlabs.blogspot.com/2011/10/build-your-own-davis-console-datalogger.html, and addapted it to an ESP8266 module: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13678.  Both systems run 3.3 volt logic, so no shifting is necessary.  Simply connect GND to GND RX to TX, and TX to RX, and power the module.  I added a 3.3v regulator to the board, and then tied off the 5v brick provided for the Vantage to avoid extra wall warts.

Flash the ESP8266 with JeeLabs esp-link, https://github.com/jeelabs/esp-link, and configure it for your network. Finally, set the IP and Port in weewx.conf, and that's all she wrote!

Obviously, you need good wifi signal, and this comes with all the downsides of most other homebrew connections, no local storage, so if Weewx stops running, that data is lost, requires software archiving, etc.  But it comes with the benefit of no unsightly cables.  It will also only work with the consoles that were released before they started baking in the DRM, (green dot consoles as they have been referred to)  I'm sure that both of these can be addressed with the rest of the work that DeKay has done, but I haven't taken the time to do so for my module.

The OP's solution is even easier, although more expensive, but also much more robust.  Take the Vantage Serial module from Davis, plug it into a Serial Server: https://www.ebay.com/i/292322627039?rt=nc, plug in a network cable, and get it on the network, again configuring Weewx for IP, with the correct address and port.  This *shouldn't* have any of the same limitations that my solution does.  Since you are using the 'proper' module, DRM isn't an issue, and the storage is there, ready to be accessed.  

A third option is to purchase Davis's Weatherlink IP: https://www.davisnet.com/product/weatherlinkip-for-vantage-stations/  which does the same as the OP's solution, without any adational hardware.  Depending on your needs and pocket book, this may be the 'best' solution, as there are less peices to fail, and Davis has presumably spent many hours and $$ engeniering the solution.

PS. Sorry for the hijack!

[Devonian]

Another alternative is with an RF link to/from your console and computer.

I use Belfryboy's XRF PCB's, but with an xbee 2.4Ghz module(s) configured for serial data, Tx & Rx.

https://oshpark.com/profiles/belfryboy

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/exploring-xbees-and-xctu

My VP2 console is on a wall in my dining room with a Belfryboy 'XRF to Console' RF data logger module plugged into the original logger port (and totally concealed).

My Linux box (with weewx) is across the room in my utility room with a USB connected Belfryboy 'XRF2FTDI' module (and connected by a wired LAN cable to my Router in the same room).

I bought the modules from Belfryboy when he was developing them with XRF 2.4GHz modules.

They never seemed popular and I used xbee modules as at the same time the XRF disappeared from the market (pin for pin compatible).

I don't think Belfryboy offers them right now, but might be worth contacting him if you don't fancy 'hacking' for yourself.

http://belfryboyweatherbits.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-belfryboy-clone-usb-logger.html

Another RF possibility is with a pair of 433MHz serial modules available on eBay, lots more hacking, but do-able.

Nigel

[Christopher Joseph Alemany]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I had not noticed the IP Address option. Now the only thing left to do is find enough time to try it out! When I do I will report back!

Thanks again weewx community. :)

Chris

Chris Alemany

3854 6th Ave

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e: chri...@gmail.com

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w: www.alberniweather.ca

w: www.vifreightbyrail.ca

On Nov 18, 2017, at 10:43, Thomas Carlin <thomas...@gmail.com> wrote:

This should work just fine.  I have my Vantage Pro2 hooked up via IP using a home brewed ESP8266 for a WiFi connection.  Essentially, it takes the Serial stream, and converts it directly to IP, and the reverse for sent commands.  Just make sure your IP and port are correct in your configuration, and you should be good to go.  

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[Chris Alemany]

After a little bit of battling with Python (which I'll post a description of in a different thread once I'm all up and running) to get prereqs installed, it appears WeeWX is speaking to my serial server connected Vantage Pro 2 just fine.

Thanks all for the help!

Now for the fun part...

Chris

On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 8:23:03 AM UTC-8, Chris Alemany wrote: