What is the latest version of the Weatherlink software?

The latest official Weatherlink version for the VP stations is v5.4 as at 29 April 2004 and is available as v5.4V from http://www.davisnet.com/support/weather/software.asp

Versions 5.4 and later are also compatible with classic stations such as the Weather Monitor II, but for these classic stations a special upgrade from v4 software to v5.4 must be bought. (Note that versions 5.4 and 5.4V are distinct. The latter v5.4V will work only with VP stations). Davis's policy to date on Weatherlink v5.x software has been to offer free downloads of the latest version from the web address noted above.

The latest free upgrade for classic stations remains at v4.04.

There is a v5.5B available as a public beta and downloadable from the Davis site as above.

You can tell the version of your current Weatherlink installation by looking at the Help | About menu option in the Weatherlink software.

Can I link a PC or Mac directly to the Davis console without using the Weatherlink package?

The short answer is a firm NO, whether for VP or classic (eg WMII) ranges. The reason is that the Weatherlink hardware module is much more than just a cable adapter or junction box and contains complex interface electronics in addition to its role as a data logger.

To explain this in a little more detail, the interface on the console that the Weatherlink module connects to is of proprietary design (ie it is NOT a standard PC interface type such as serial/parallel/USB etc) and Davis have not publicly revealed the technical details of this console interface. To avoid misunderstanding, let's underline that we're talking about the socket/interface from the console to the WL module here - the onward link from the WL module to the PC is very definitely of standard RS232 serial type and Davis have indeed documented this aspect of the PC interface in detail.

Both the electronic design and the data formats available direct from the console are quite different from those present in the serial link from WL module to PC and so the WL module plays an essential role in converting the raw console data into a form that PC software can readily interact with. The WL module is emphatically not a superfluous little box that sits in a standard cable between console and PC, as some users seem to think! (Additionally, of course, the VP WL module is able store up to around 2500 records (or snapshots) of data without requiring any linked PC to be switched on - or even linked at all.) So while in theory it should be possible to link directly to the console, this would require the design and building of some additional circuitry to convert the console output into a form that could be interfaced to a PC and, in practice, given the complete lack of any electronic and data documentation for the console interface, this would be a time-consuming and challenging project even for a professional electronics engineer.

Can I buy just the Weatherlink hardware and save money by not buying the Weatherlink software?

Unfortunately, no. The Weatherlink package is just that - a package of hardware plus software, with no option to split the two. This is a Davis decision and not something any dealer can easily alter. Since the Weatherlink hardware is effectively essential for linking the console to a PC you can think of buying Weatherlink as buying the hardware, with the software thrown in for free. However, once you have the Weatherlink hardware, it is possible to buy additional licences for the software, so that more than one PC can download data from a single Weatherlink station.

Will my current datalogger and software work with the new Vantage Pro?

 No. The Vantage Pro has its own unique DataLogger and software and you cannot use the previous Weather Monitor II Weatherlink logger with a VP station. However, you can copy your current data from your WeatherLink 4.0x software over to the new WeatherLink 5.0 for Vantage software.

Will I be able to use my Weatherlink Toolbox software with the Vantage Pro and Weatherlink version 5.1?

WeatherLink version 5.1 and later effectively includes the WeatherLink Toolbox functionality and so a separate Toolbox utility is no longer needed. The WeatherLink Toolbox software cannot communicate with the Vantage Pro.

Will 3rd party software work with the Vantage Pro?

The Vantage Pro has a different command set than the Weather Wizard III, Weather Monitor II, GroWeather, Energy and Health EnviroMonitor. Any third-party software must therefore be available in a version specially written to support the VP stations - versions supporting only eg classic WMII stations will not work. Currently, of the mainstream third-party software, both Virtual Weather Station and Weather Display do support the VP stations. Weatherview32 is not available for the VP station

How do I move my old Weatherlink 4.0x data to the new Weatherlink 5.1 software?

Load the version 5.x software. Create a station with the exact name of the station in the old software. This will create a WeatherLink folder and another folder in the WeatherLink folder with your weather stations name on it. Open up Windows Explorer. Find the PCLink4 folder and open it. Find the folder with your weather stations name on it. Open that folder. When you open that folder on the right side window of Windows Explorer you will see all the data files. The data files are in this format 2002-01.xxx. Drag and drop all of these data files into the folder with your weather stations name on it, which is in the WeatherLink folder (Do not drag and drop any other files or folders into this folder except for the data files).

I cannot communicate with the Vantage Pro from a PC:

The following steps should be taken if you cannot communicate with the Vantage Pro through the software. First check to see that the Vantage Pro is passing it's self diagnostics. These diagnostics are run on the initial power up. Remove the 3 "C" cell batteries if installed and then remove the AC adapter from the Vantage Pro Display Console. The screen should go blank. At this time make sure the datalogger is firmly connected to the display console. Wait about 30 seconds and then plug the AC power back in. You should hear 3 beeps. Each beep should occur within 1 second of each other. You should see every segment on the LCD Screen light up and then "Congratulations and Thanks for Choosing Davis Instruments" and then the Rev Number will scroll across the bottom. The screen should then go blank and read Receiving From on the bottom. Press the "BAR" button and let go. The screen should say "Serial Baud Rate 19200". If you see this press and release the "DONE" button four times to go to the "Time and Date Screen". Make sure the time and date are correct. Press the "DONE" button down and hold it until you go back to the "Current Reading Screen". If you do not see this but see "Rain Season Begins Jul 1", then the Vantage Pro Display Console does not recognize there is a datalogger plugged into it. Unplug the power again and then unplug the datalogger and carefully but firmly plug it back in to the receptacle marked Expansion. Re-power again. If you get the same results there may be a problem with the datalogger. In this case, please contact your supplying dealer (UK) or Davis themselves (US).

Next unplug the datalogger cable from the 9-Pin PC adapter (which is plugged into the computers serial port). Now plug in the loopback test cable into the 9-Pin PC adapter. From the Software choose "setup" and then "Serial Port". Make sure the Baud rate selected in this window is 19200 (or make it match whatever baud rate is selected on the Vantage Pro Display Console, the default is 19200). In the Serial Port Window choose "Loopback". If the software finds the loopback test cable it will tell you what Com Port it is on. If it finds the loopback cable unplug the loopback connector from the 9-Pin PC adapter and plug the datalogger cable back in. Now choose "Test" and the software should tell you that you are connected to a Vantage Pro Station. Choose OK to close the "Serial Port" Window. You should now be able to communicate with the Vantage Pro Station. If the software finds the loopback cable and the Vantage Pro Display Console passes its diagnostics and you still cannot communicate with the Vantage Pro then the datalogger could be faulty. If the software does not find the loopback test cable then there is a conflict with the Com Port and/or IRQ. You will have to consult your PC Technical Support.

I cannot communicate via modem with the Vantage Pro:

When attempting remote communications (via modem) there are two important things that you must do. You must use the Davis Modem Adapter for the Vantage Pro. It is part number 6533. It is not included in the WeatherLink for Vantage Pro Package. This is a blue modem adapter. Do not confuse it with the older black modem adapter. The black modem adapter will not work. The other thing you must do is to initialize the remote modem with the Vantage Pro Weather Station.

If you are having problems you should proceed as follows.

First do a direct connection to the PC to make sure the WeatherLink Hardware and Software are working correctly. You can do this by following the directions in the previous question "I CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH MY VANTAGE PRO FROM A PC". If you can communicate with a direct connection then disconnect the datalogger from the PC and power down the Vantage Pro again. Connect the Vantage Pro Datalogger to the modem via the modem adapter. Power up the modem first and the weather station last. You should hear 3 beeps. Each beep should occur within 1 second of each other. You should see every segment on the LCD Screen light up. "Congratulations and Thanks for Choosing Davis Instruments" and then the Rev Number will scroll across the screen bottom. The screen should then go blank and read "Receiving From" on the bottom. Press the "BAR" button and let go. The screen should say "Serial Baud Rate 19200". If you see this press and release the "DONE" button four times to go to the "Time and Date Screen". Make sure the time and date are correct. Press the "DONE" button down and hold it until you go back to the "Current Reading Screen". After doing this procedure the modem is initialized with four commands. The commands are ATS0=4 E0 Q1 &W0. You can tell if the modem took these commands by dialling up the modem. If it received and took the commands then the modem should answer on 4 rings.

From the software choose "setup" and then "serial port". . Select the COM port the PC's modem is on. Check the "dial up Connection" box. Put in the phone number to the phone line that is connected to the remote modem. Change the "Wait After Connect" box to 10 seconds. The default modem Init String should be fine. Choose "Modem Test". A window should appear that saying "Modem is OK". You should now be able to communicate with the weather station via the modem.

It appears my data has been downloaded ok but when I go to browse the data I get a message that says: ‘you have no data to browse’.

This is a problem where the Vantage Pro Display Console is not fully recognizing the datalogger that is plugged into it. We can check this by doing the following: Press the "DONE" button and hold it down at the same time push the "-" button. This brings you into the setup screens. The bottom of the screen should read "Receiving From". Press the "BAR" button and let go. The screen should say "Serial Baud Rate 19200". If you do not see this but see "Rain Season Begins Jul 1", then the Vantage Pro Display Console does not fully recognize there is a datalogger plugged into it. You will need to re-power and reseat the datalogger by doing the following:

Remove the 3 "C" cell batteries if installed and then remove the AC adapter from the Vantage Pro Display Console. The screen should go blank. At this time disconnect the datalogger and wait a few seconds then carefully but firmly reconnect it to the display console. Wait about 30 seconds and then plug the AC power back in. You should hear 3 beeps. Each beep should occur within 1 second of each other. You should see every segment on the LCD Screen light up. The words "Congratulations and Thanks for Choosing Davis Instruments" and then the Rev Number will scroll across the bottom. The screen should then go blank and read Receiving From on the bottom. Press the "BAR" button and let go. The screen should say "Serial Baud Rate 19200". If you see this press and release the "DONE" button four times to go to the "Time and Date Screen". Make sure the time and date are correct. Press the "DONE" button down and hold it until you go back to the "Current Reading Screen". After the archive memory stores up some data (depending on what your archive interval is) you should be able to browse your data after you download.

How does the archive interval correlate to the storage capability of the Vantage Pro datalogger?

The VP datalogger has 128K of memory. It can hold 2560 records. (The older WMII logger has lower capacity and stores ~1000 records).

If your archive interval is 1 minute you get 1.5 days worth of storage space. If it 5 minutes you get 8 days, 10 minutes is 17 days, 15 minutes 26 days, 30 minutes 53 days, 1 hour is 106 days and if your archive interval is 2 hours you get 213 days worth of storage space.

How do I get my weather data on the web?

This is best answered by reviewing the online Help within the Weatherlink software, where the various steps are described in detail. But in outline the process for creating a web page with WeatherLink v5.x is as follows:

1) Obtain web space from your Internet provider. When you do this you will be given a host name, users name and password.

2) Setup the software by going to the INTERNET SETTINGS menu item towards the bottom of the SETUP main menu item.

3) Click on INTERNET CONNECTION SETTINGS. Enter you host name, user name and password in the edit boxes provided. Enter a path for the uploaded files to be uploaded to (optional although this may be necessary with some providers). Under INTERNET CONNECTIONS check the appropriate connection type. Check INTERNET TRANSFER ENABLED and LOCAL TRANSFER ENABLED. Also select a path for your local files to be stored to (for this you might want to create a directory called INTERNET either under the WeatherLink directory or under the station directory). Do not check PASSIVE MODE unless you know you are using it. Passive ftp is a more obscure mode of file transfer.

4) Exit the INTERNET CONNECTIONS DIALOG box. Prepare to select templates and gifs by clicking on one of the CONFIGURE buttons for profile 1, 2 or 3 (you only need 1 profile/the other profiles are used for work in progress or other pages).

5) Select the template by clicking on the SELECT TEMPLATE FILES. Make sure you have already copied the template file to the TEMPLATE directory under the station directory. If you have not done this yet the template will not appear in the template selection box when you click ADD. Specify a path if necessary. The extension for the converted template file should remain as HTM unless you are doing something special.

6) Select images by clicking on either of the SELECT IMAGES buttons (one is for current gifs and the other is for historical gifs). Specify a path if necessary.

7) Exit back to the DATA UPLOAD dialog box and select the interval for uploading and the start time.