Introduction

This page contains notes on various additional areas of specifications for the VP stations. Please let us know is there are any further entries you would like to see here. Current topics include:

• Additional VP console key combinations;
• Sensor update frequency;
• Permitted combinations of wireless sensors;

Additional VP console key combinations

There are a few useful key press combinations for the VP console that aren't prominently documented:

Light all display elements

If you suspect that you may have a console display fault, it is possible to light all elements on the display for detailed inspection as follows:

• Place the console into Set-up mode by pressing Done and the cursor '-' key simultaneously;
• Press 2nd and then the cursor '+' key. All display elements should light;
• A longer press on the Done key will exit Set-up mode and return the console to normal operation;

To zero wireless diagnostic parameters

The radio transmission diagnostic screen for monitoring wireless reception is entered by holding down the Temp key and pressing the Time key and is described on p50 of the console manual. This is a very useful screen for troubleshooting wireless reception problems but by default the parameter values only zero themselves at midnight each night. Consequently, it's often difficult to monitor quickly what effect any changes you may have made to the wireless set-up may have had on wireless reception. However, it is possible to zero the reception parameters manually as follows:

• Enter the radio transmission diagnostic screen by holding down the Temp key and pressing the Time key;
• Press 2nd and then press and hold down the Clear key. Over the course of a few seconds the display should flash three times, progressively clearing more parameters with each flash. When all parameters are zero the Clear key may be released and the reception parameters will begin to increment;

Sensor Update Frequency

Notes:

• Remember that these are console update frequencies. The update period of parameters read from the Weatherlink display on a linked PC will be significantly different and will also depend on whether current data (eg in Bulletin mode) or downloaded archive data is being viewed. The update periods with third-party software may be different again;
• On wireless stations, if a sequence of data packets is not successfully received due to transient poor reception, the accumulated rainfall value will correct itself with the next packet that it correctly received. In other words, the ISS keeps its own record of total rainfall, which it transmits whenever possible, and a limited series of missed packets during a period of rainfall does not lead to any inaccuracy in the rainfall totals maintained by the console;
• Barometric pressure may be updated on demand by pressing the console Bar button twice;

Permitted Combinations of Wireless Sensors

Wireless Vantage Pro stations allow various supplementary sensors to be attached, but there are limitations on the combinations of such additional sensors that are permitted. The total number of wireless channels in the VP system is 8 and, whatever other limitations may apply, there can never be more than a maximum of 8 different transmitters in a single installation. Note also that only one instance of each type of station may be included in a single installation, with the exception of Temperature (6370) and Temperature/Humidity (6380) stations, for which up to 8 instances may be installed.

For the Temperature and Temperature/Humidity stations, the Weatherlink data logger cannot currently log data from as many stations as can be read by the console. (Conceivably this may change in a future revision of the logger firmware.)

Notes

• Where both Temperature and Temperature/Humidity stations are installed, Weatherlink will log a maximum of one Temperature and two Temperature/Humidity stations;
• Remember that using the Retransmit option for repeater displays on a VP console will use up one channel;
• The Leaf & Soil Moisture stations can be configured wholly or partly as temperature-only stations and in this form can allow multiple temperature sensors to be monitored while using up only one or two wireless channels;