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Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Discussion and questions about Cumulus weather station software version 1. This section is the main place to get help with Cumulus 1 software developed by Steve Loft that ceased development in November 2014.
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

This is connected to a Dell P4 desktop running Windows 7 (32 bit)
Investigation showed a bad connection on one of the temperature inputs (corrected a week ago).
Here is .009 file as text:
16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : Cumulus 1.9.4 Build 1098 startup
16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : "C:\Cumulus\cumulus.exe"
16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : Appdir = C:\Cumulus\
16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : Working directory = C:\Cumulus

=============================== OS version info =================================
Platform : Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, or Windows Server 2003/8 family.
OS Name : Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2 (Service Pack 1)( (Terminal Server Personal))
(Major Version[ 6 ] Minor Version[ 1 ] Build Number[ 7601 ] Platform ID[ 2 ])
===================================================================================

16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : System Uptime: 12 minutes 3 seconds
16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : Locale = 2057 ENG: United Kingdom (English (United Kingdom))
16/09/2014 15:51:06.848 : List separator=, Decimal separator=. Date separator=/ Time separator=:
16/09/2014 15:51:06.849 : User = John Say
16/09/2014 15:51:06.849 : Reading cumulus.ini file
16/09/2014 15:51:06.851 : Cumulus start date: 22/04/2013
16/09/2014 15:51:06.864 : Looking for strings file: C:\Cumulus\strings.ini
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : WindUnit=mph RainUnit=mm TempUnit=°C PressureUnit=hPa
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : YTDRain=78.500 Year=2014
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : RainDayThreshold=-1.000
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : Offsets and Multipliers:
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : PO=11.000 TO=0.000 HO=0 WDO=0 ITO=0.000 DAO=0.000
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : WSM=1.000 WGM=1.000 TM=1.000 TM2=0 HM=1.000 RM=1.000
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : Spike removal:
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : TD=999.00 GD=999.00 WD=999.00 HD=999.00 PD=999.00
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : MR=999.00 MH=999.00
16/09/2014 15:51:06.865 : WMR200TempChannel=1 VP2SleepInterval=0 GraphHours=48 ChartMaxDays=31
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : Debug log is off
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : NoSensorCheck=1
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : UseDataLogger=1
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : Station type: Instromet
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : COM port = 1
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : Short date format: 16/09/2014
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : Long date format: 16 September 2014
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : Short time format: 15:51
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : Long time format: 15:51:06
16/09/2014 15:51:06.868 : VarToDateTime is using this format to convert dates: dd/MM/yyyy
16/09/2014 15:51:07.173 : Creating backup folder C:\Cumulus\backup\20140916155106\
16/09/2014 15:51:07.220 : 625 web tags initialised
16/09/2014 15:51:07.285 : Showing main form
16/09/2014 15:51:07.453 : Todaydatestring = 16/09/14
16/09/2014 15:51:07.453 : Looking for C:\Cumulus\data\today.ini
16/09/2014 15:51:07.454 : Today.ini exists
16/09/2014 15:51:07.454 : Time now = 16/09/2014 15:51:07
16/09/2014 15:51:07.455 : Read today file: Date = 16/09/2014, LastUpdateTime = 16/09/2014 15:50:00, Month = 9
16/09/2014 15:51:07.462 : Todayfileraindaystart = 2.40000009536743
16/09/2014 15:51:07.467 : Todayfile is for today
16/09/2014 15:51:07.477 : ReadTodayfile: set notraininit false
16/09/2014 15:51:07.483 : Finding raintoday from logfile C:\Cumulus\data\Sep14log.txt
16/09/2014 15:51:07.604 : Midnight rain found in the following entry:
16/09/2014 15:51:07.604 : 16/09/14,00:00,13.3,99,13.1,2.8,7.8,125,0.0,1.3,1018.0,2.3,0.0,0,1.8,13.2,13.3,0,0,0.00,0.00,13.4,0,0.0,140,0.0,0.0
16/09/2014 15:51:07.607 : Setting raintoday from logfile = 0
16/09/2014 15:51:07.607 : Calculating rain counter = 2.40000009536743
16/09/2014 15:51:07.607 : Midnight rain found = 2.29999995231628
16/09/2014 15:51:07.608 : Read yesterday file: Date = 16/09/2014 Date now = 16/09/2014
16/09/2014 15:51:07.608 : Yesterday file is valid
16/09/2014 15:51:07.623 : Loading all time records file C:\Cumulus\data\alltime.ini
16/09/2014 15:51:07.630 : Set Default Monthly Highs And Lows
16/09/2014 15:51:07.630 : Read month.ini file
16/09/2014 15:51:07.639 : Set Default Yearly Highs And Lows
16/09/2014 15:51:07.639 : Read Year.ini file
16/09/2014 15:51:07.648 : Getting rain totals, rain season start = 1
16/09/2014 15:51:07.649 : Rainthismonth from dayfile.txt: 18.5
16/09/2014 15:51:07.649 : Rainthisyear from dayfile.txt: 18.5
16/09/2014 15:51:07.649 : Adding YTD: 78.5
16/09/2014 15:51:07.960 : Diary log file = C:\Cumulus\data\log.xml
16/09/2014 15:51:08.367 : 15:51:08 EWUSB Form Create
16/09/2014 15:51:08.762 : Imet: Attempting open on COM1
16/09/2014 15:51:08.783 : Imet: ComPort opened
16/09/2014 15:51:09.069 : Loading last N hour data from data logs: 16/09/2014 15:50:00
16/09/2014 15:51:09.189 : Loaded 9 entries to last hour data list
16/09/2014 15:51:09.311 : Loaded 33 entries to last 3 hour data list
16/09/2014 15:51:09.435 : Loaded 279 entries to last 24 hour data list
16/09/2014 15:51:09.670 : Loaded 1999 entries to recent data list
16/09/2014 15:51:09.681 : Setting log interval to 5 minutes
16/09/2014 15:51:09.881 : Response: wrst,11,300,182
16/09/2014 15:51:09.881 : Setting station clock
16/09/2014 15:51:09.881 : WRTM,20140916,155109
16/09/2014 15:51:10.082 : Response:
16/09/2014 15:51:10.282 : Read station clock: rdtm,20140916,155109,248
16/09/2014 15:51:10.282 : Last update time = 15:50
16/09/2014 15:51:10.285 : Downloading history from 16/09/2014 15:50:00
16/09/2014 15:51:10.485 : Checksum valid
16/09/2014 15:51:10.485 : Regressing logs to before 16/09/2014 15:50:00
16/09/2014 15:51:10.693 : Get next log
16/09/2014 15:51:10.894 :
16/09/2014 15:51:10.896 : Error in timestamp, unable to process logger data
16/09/2014 15:51:11.096 : Checksum valid
16/09/2014 15:51:11.096 : Logs available = 1
16/09/2014 15:51:11.096 : Number of history records = 1
16/09/2014 15:51:11.096 : Get next log
16/09/2014 15:51:11.296 :
16/09/2014 15:51:11.297 : Error in earliest timestamp, unable to process logger data
16/09/2014 15:51:11.297 : Drawing initial graphs from data logs
16/09/2014 15:51:11.716 : Finished drawing initial graphs from data logs
16/09/2014 15:51:11.716 : Closing Please Wait form
16/09/2014 15:51:11.743 : Last hour data list count = 9
16/09/2014 15:51:11.744 : Temp trend: 0
16/09/2014 15:51:11.744 : Temp change last hour: -0.1
16/09/2014 15:51:11.744 : Pressure trend: -0.1
16/09/2014 15:51:11.744 : Rain last hour: 0.0
16/09/2014 15:51:11.744 : Rain last 24 hour: 0.2
16/09/2014 15:51:11.744 : Initial data processing complete
16/09/2014 15:51:11.745 : 15:51:11 Starting Timers
16/09/2014 15:51:11.747 : 15:51:11 Realtime FTP login start
16/09/2014 15:51:11.793 : Starting Instromet thread
16/09/2014 15:51:11.913 : 15:51:11 Realtime FTP login end
16/09/2014 15:51:11.913 : Drawing initial graphs from data logs
16/09/2014 15:51:12.928 : Finished drawing initial graphs from data logs
16/09/2014 15:51:49.274 : Invalid checksum:
16/09/2014 15:51:49.275 :
16/09/2014 15:52:45.350 : Invalid checksum:
16/09/2014 15:52:45.351 :
16/09/2014 15:53:41.436 : Invalid checksum:
16/09/2014 15:53:41.436 :
16/09/2014 15:54:52.997 : Invalid checksum:
16/09/2014 15:54:52.997 :
16/09/2014 15:55:00.620 : Writing today.ini, LastUpdateTime = 16/09/2014 15:55:00 raindaystart = 2.40000009536743 rain counter = 2.40000009536743
16/09/2014 15:55:00.620 : Latest reading: rdlv,16.2,15.1,69.9,1006.8,0.0,129,36.28,2.39,53

There seems to be problems with checksums and date stamps.
There was an earlier thread on this and I said then that the download seemed to be working. Test runs today prior to going away have shown the whole issue starting again.
The connection to the PC is via RS232 onto COM1.
The program functions perfectly in all other respects and I've been enjoying using it
I hope there is something simple I have overlooked..... :groan:
Regards
John
User avatar
steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
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Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by steve »

The problem is the same as before; when Cumulus sends a command to request data, the logger isn't always responding, either with logger data or live data. As this isn't the same PC as the one you were having the problem with before, and you have the com port settings correct, and you've tried increasing the time that Cumulus waits for a response, then the most likely reason is that the logger is at fault. If you're using the same cable as before, then it's possible that's the problem.

Actually, it looks like you still have the wait time set to the default 200ms?

The invalid checksum and timestamp messages are because there is no response at all, rather than a problem with the response.
Steve
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Ah Yes. I did not change that when moving to the Desktop.
Changed it now and I'll retest and let you know.
Regards and thanks
John
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Left it with Cumulus of for 40 mins.
No Download.
Must be a logger fault. I will check all connections and wiring esp the RS232.
Regards
John
User avatar
steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by steve »

You could try connecting to the logger with puTTY or similar, and manually typing a few commands. Typing RDLG,1 for example should return one entry from the logger. Instromet contacted me a while ago about a user who had a similar problem (commands sometimes apparently having no effect) and the user was able to reproduce the problem using puTTY, thus demonstrating that the problem was nothing to do with Cumulus.
Steve
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Interesting about Putty, I'll try that.
In the meantime, I checked all connections.
It downloaded and put one line in the monthly log which seemed to be out of sinc:

17/09/14,11:15,13.5,86,11.2,5.5,10.5,356,0.0,0.0,1016.5,2.4,0.0,0,1.1,13.0,13.5,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.2,552,0.0,350,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,11:20,13.3,86,11.0,5.2,10.5,356,0.0,0.0,1016.6,2.4,0.0,0,6.3,12.8,13.3,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.0,555,0.0,355,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,11:30,13.5,86,11.2,5.2,10.5,359,0.0,0.0,1016.2,0.0,0.0,0,5.4,13.1,13.5,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.3,560,-36.8,360,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,11:35,13.4,87,11.3,5.8,13.2,354,0.0,0.0,1016.2,0.0,0.0,0,6.5,12.8,13.4,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.0,562,-36.8,360,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,11:40,13.3,85,11.0,5.2,13.2,353,0.0,0.0,1016.1,0.0,0.0,0,0.0,12.8,13.3,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.0,563,-36.8,0,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,11:41,13.2,86,10.9,3.5,6.5,357,0.0,0.0,1016.1,0.0,0.0,0,4.1,13.2,13.2,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.4,563,-36.8,3,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:25,13.4,86,11.3,5.9,11.2,356,0.0,0.0,1015.9,0.0,0.0,0,0.2,12.8,13.4,0,0,0.00,0.00,11.9,561,-36.8,341,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:30,13.5,87,11.4,4.8,11.6,355,0.0,0.0,1016.0,0.0,0.0,0,6.5,13.2,13.5,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.4,559,-36.8,1,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:35,13.4,87,11.1,5.1,12.5,353,0.0,0.0,1016.0,0.0,0.0,0,2.7,13.0,13.4,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.2,557,-36.8,4,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:40,13.5,87,11.4,5.5,12.5,353,0.0,0.0,1016.0,0.0,0.0,0,6.0,13.0,13.5,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.2,554,-36.8,360,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:45,13.3,87,11.2,5.1,12.3,354,0.0,0.0,1016.0,0.0,0.0,0,8.5,12.8,13.3,0,0,0.00,0.00,12.1,551,-36.8,360,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:50,13.2,88,11.3,5.4,12.8,353,0.0,0.0,1016.0,0.0,0.0,0,6.0,12.6,13.2,0,0,0.00,0.00,11.9,548,-36.8,360,0.0,0.0
17/09/14,12:55,13.1,89,11.3,5.6,12.8,353,0.0,0.0,1016.0,0.0,0.0,0,5.1,12.5,13.1,0,0,0.00,0.00,11.8,544,-36.8,328,0.0,0.0

Turned off again and waited. Restarted Cumulus and no download.
Now contacting Instromet and having a go with Putty.
Regards
John
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Used HyperTerminal. RDLG,1 produces line by line logs:

rdlg,19793,1,300,13:05:40,17/09/2014,12.8,13.7,13.3,12.1,13.5,12.8,86.6,90.0,88.
6,1004.9,1004.9,1004.9,0.0,4.7,1.7,331,0.08,0.00,92
rdlg,19794,1,300,13:10:38,17/09/2014,12.9,13.8,13.2,12.1,13.4,12.8,86.3,89.2,87.
8,1004.9,1004.9,1004.9,0.9,5.9,2.8,357,0.08,0.00,58
rdlg,19795,1,300,13:15:36,17/09/2014,13.0,13.8,13.3,12.3,13.4,12.9,86.7,89.5,88.
2,1004.7,1005.0,1004.9,0.0,5.3,2.8,0,0.08,0.00,192

Regards
John
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Restarting Cumulus after running HyperTerminal produced a perfect download!!
So: testing again.
Regards
John
User avatar
steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by steve »

In that case I have no idea why Cumulus doesn't get the same response, sorry. I did extensive testing of the code while I had the Instromet station, and had no problems, even with the default wait time of 200ms. Others are using the same code without any problems. You could try increasing the wait time to 1000 - the spec says the maximum time for a response is 500ms.

The result you're getting doesn't actually agree with the protocol spec. Reading a log doesn't move the read pointer, so repeated RDLG,1 commands should actually return the same log entry. After a RDLG,1 the spec says you have to issue a 'progress logs' command, e.g. PRLG,1 to get the next entry.

Cumulus does issue other commands before doing the RDLG,1 - perhaps it is one of those commands which causes the logger to subsequently not respond to the RDLG command. It sets the logger interval, sets the clock and reads it back again, and then it 'regresses' the logs to before the last time Cumulus was running. It was the 'regress logs' command that was causing the problem with the other user that I mentioned.
Steve
User avatar
steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
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Location: Vienne, France
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Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by steve »

seggins wrote:Restarting Cumulus after running HyperTerminal produced a perfect download!!
Perhaps HT did something to the com port which meant that it then worked properly for Cumulus.
Steve
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Thanks for all your help.
Lets hope in continues to work!
Regards
John
User avatar
steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by steve »

I would expect that if it was something that HT did to the com port, then the effect would be lost after a Windows restart.
Steve
Hobbyist
Posts: 83
Joined: Mon 30 Jun 2014 12:02 pm
Weather Station: Instromet Mk 3
Operating System: Raspberry Pi Zero & CumulusMX
Location: Kent

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by Hobbyist »

seggins wrote:Used HyperTerminal. RDLG,1 produces line by line logs:

rdlg,19793,1,300,13:05:40,17/09/2014,12.8,13.7,13.3,12.1,13.5,12.8,86.6,90.0,88.
6,1004.9,1004.9,1004.9,0.0,4.7,1.7,331,0.08,0.00,92
rdlg,19794,1,300,13:10:38,17/09/2014,12.9,13.8,13.2,12.1,13.4,12.8,86.3,89.2,87.
8,1004.9,1004.9,1004.9,0.9,5.9,2.8,357,0.08,0.00,58
rdlg,19795,1,300,13:15:36,17/09/2014,13.0,13.8,13.3,12.3,13.4,12.9,86.7,89.5,88.
2,1004.7,1005.0,1004.9,0.0,5.3,2.8,0,0.08,0.00,192

Regards
John
Just for reference I too am using an Instromet Data logger and Cumulus and can't report any problems with the set up.

I am no expert on Cumulus but noted that in your HyperTerminal down load you are getting a 5 minute time interval.

I thought the Instromet was set at 10 minutes and was also set up by Cumulus.

I may be totally off path here and it may have absolutely no effect on the outputs.

Good luck

Dave
User avatar
steve
Cumulus Author
Posts: 26702
Joined: Mon 02 Jun 2008 6:49 pm
Weather Station: None
Operating System: None
Location: Vienne, France
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by steve »

Cumulus sets the station logger interval to the same as the interval configured in Cumulus each time it starts up. It's good to hear from someone that isn't having any problems - I sent the Instromet station that I was loaned back, as I'd been using it for a long time without any issues.
Steve
seggins
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat 12 Jul 2014 4:26 am
Weather Station: Instromet
Operating System: Windows 10 1903
Location: Cullercoats
Contact:

Re: Instromet datalogger continuing problems with download

Post by seggins »

Instromet are sending a new chip. The download does sometimes work but quite unpredictably.
The chip is supposed to arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know what happens.
Incidently the USB card on the logger did not work from the start so drivers are arriving for that.
I'm sure we'll get there in the end!
Regards
John
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