SDR, rtl_433, WH65B, and WH32B

[G Hammer]

I have an Ambient Weather which has the WH65B outdoor sensor and since I have the WS2000 console, I have a WH32B indoor temp/humidity/barometer.

I get good data from the outdoor sensor using this:

rtl_433 -M utc -F json -p 39.741 -R 78 -f 914980000
{"time" : "2019-02-02 19:21:57", "model" : "Fine Offset WH65B", "id" : 172, "temperature_C" : -0.300, "humidity" : 35, "wind_dir_deg" : 105, "wind_speed_ms" : 0.255, "gust_speed_ms" : 0.510, "rainfall_mm" : 1316.228, "uv" : 1000, "uvi" : 2, "light_lux" : 35448.000, "battery" : "OK", "mic" : "CRC"}

Does anyone know if the WH32B sensor is supported and if so, how to capture it? It would be required to get the barometer reading.

This would be great for getting away from sniffing data from WiFi if the WH32B data can be captured as well.

[tor...@torrin.org]

I have been researching this and I cannot find the WH32B either on 915mhz (which it is supposed to be on) or 433mhz.  I am working with the rtl_433 folks trying to figure it out.  In the mean time, I picked up a WH25, which is supported in rtl_433 and is only $16 at AW.

[G Hammer]

That may be just the ticket until the 32B is supported.

So, you've done the steps to get a new device added?

[tor...@torrin.org]

Yup, but I am seeing and error and not capturing any data from the WH32B.  I created an issue, but no one has picked it up yet.  I will post back if I get anywhere.

[G Hammer]

Thanks to Matthew and Tor for the idea of getting data via an SDR and for assisting in getting the WH65B and WH25B recognized.

I have the data flowing now and will configure WeeWX to use it later this evening.

Finally, no more sniffing WiFi, which has been the bane of my existence for months what with router/PWS combo that just do not want to play well together.

This is MUCH simpler than hostapd and dnsmasq configuration. Personally, I'd recommend this method over sniffing for anyone who can't do a simple redirect of their data.

[Tor rin]

I was happy to help, good luck with the rest of the configuration, I have mine working fairly seamlessly now. 

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[G Hammer]

Updated to 3.9.1, installed the weewx_sdr driver, edited the config file, started weewx, presto!

All looks good on my website and the various services I report to.

I'll monitor it for any unusual behavior, but it looks good right now.

I do see this logged each time I use the driver directly or when weewx starts. No harm that I notice, weewx runs and the data is captured.

Feb  6 22:22:16 weewx1 upowerd[1536]: unhandled action 'bind' on /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.7/usb1/1-5/1-5:1.0

[G Hammer]

It seems that data collection is not my sweet spot.

Yesterday, WH65B data stopped being recorded.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, had changed.

The WH25B still was being seen/recorded so I know the SDR portion is fine.

Perhaps low battery or some other failure with the outdoor sensor?

No, since it uses the console to report to WU and Ambient Weather a quick check of those show live data flowing with no gaps.

Set debug = 1 and restart weewx. Nothing interesting.

Run weewx directly, no WH65B data is seen.

Run rtl_433 directly no WH65B data is seen.

Moved the USB and antenna closer to the outdoor sensor, no WH65B data is seen.

Move weewx back to the Interceptor, normal data is seen again.

Since the console sees the WH65B and the SDR sees the WH25B on the same frequency, anyone have an idea? I'm at a loss.

[tor...@torrin.org]

Try running rtl_433 from the command line:  rtl_433 -q -M utc -F json -p 39.741 -G -f 914980000

Check all of the packets received.  I ran into an issue where the SDR was reading WH24 instead of WH65B, I had to move my antenna around a bit to get it to read the WH65B and it has not been and issue since.  I am assuming you are still receiving data to the console, so you know the sensor array is transmitting?

[G Hammer]

As I outlined in the original post, yes the console is receiving data fine. 

I tried running rtl_433 and weewx directly with no WH65B received. 

Then, decided it was a signal issue at the SDR location. Maybe having a ground plane would help. 

So with the antenna perched atop a tomato soup can in the same location, I have good data from both sensors. 

Thankfully it was the signal and not a software issue.