La Crosse Ws 2300

mike72 · October 3, 2012

im trying to connect my la crosse ws2300 weather station and cant even get the protocol right. does anyone have an idea what protocol i should use?

thanks

mike

AzeoTech · October 4, 2012

I would start by asking the manufacturer for the specifications for their protocol.

mike72 · October 4, 2012

apparently they wont give out the protocol, and getting nothing but zeros from a null or ansi protocol. any other ideas?

thanks, mike

AzeoTech · October 4, 2012

Yeah, I didn't think they would. Many companies are silly about that. I think its either they don't want to release it because then they are stuck with it, or more likely because they want to leave the option of forcing you to buy their proprietary software. Silly either way. Anyhow, if you are getting all 0's then chances are you have the wrong comm port settings, baud rate or something else. You may need to play with it until you get something other than 0's. The other option is to sniff the comms while running their software. There are tools available to do that, or if you have a second PC, or one PC with several Comm ports, you can do it with DAQFactory.

mike72 · October 5, 2012

thanks for the reply, i got the com settings right, but still no luck. how would i check the protocol with daqfactory? i have 2 pc's and a few com ports to spare. it is a pity that no one has done this before, im really not clued up on protocols.

thanks again

mike

AzeoTech · October 5, 2012

Let's assume you have two computers. On the first computer you'd run their software, then run a null modem serial cable from that computer to one of the two ports on your second computer. That computer would run DAQFactory. Then you would run a cable from the other serial port to the LaCrosse unit. Start up DAQFactory, and create two serial devices, both with "NULL" for protocol and really short timeouts, say 50. Then create a sequence like this, where "softComm" is the comm port connected to the other computer, and "hardComm" is the one connected to the LaCrosse unit:


private string datain
while(1)
   try
      datain = device.hardComm.read(1)
      device.softComm.write(datain)
   catch()
   endcatch

   try
      datain = device.softComm.read(1)
      device.hardComm.write(datain)
   catch()
   endcatch
endwhile


[/CODE]
Then start up their software.  You may need to tweak the code, but at a minimum you should get the query from the software.  If it is a poll / response, you can get this query with one computer and two comm ports.  Just connect the two ports together with a null modem cable.  Have their software use one port, and have DAQFactory connect to the other.  You should see their queries in the monitor.

mike72 · October 7, 2012

ok....... i think ive just gone over my head with this one.

thank you so much for your help, ill keep an eye on the forum to see if anyone else reads this and sends the protocol.

thanks again

mike

AzeoTech · October 7, 2012

Yeah, its not particularly easy to figure out an undocumented proprietary protocol. You'd probably be better off just creating your own weather station. Have you looked at the LabJack stuff? They have a temperature / humidity probe, and you could easily wire the anemometer of your LaCrosse unit to a counter input. For that matter, you could probably just bypass all their data acquisition and use their sensors with an inexpensive LabJack U3. You'd probably get better results too.

mike72 · October 15, 2012

hi there guru

ive been thinking of a way around my problem, and the weather program logs to a file called currdat.lst. is there a way i can use this info and put it into DAQfactory? that way, the heavy weather program can just sit in the background. if i open the currdat.lst file in notepad, this is what i get:

[header]

programm_name = "heavy weather"

programm_version = "Ver. 2.0 beta release"

file_name = "currdat.lst"

file_format_version = "ver. 1.0"

[time]

start = 3559026877

start_date_string = "Fri Oct 12 12:34:37 2012"

last_actualisation = 3559276474

last_actualisation_date_string = "Mon Oct 15 09:54:34 2012"

next_actualisation = 3559276534

next_actualisation_date_string = "Mon Oct 15 09:55:34 2012"

[weather_picture]

comment = "-1=not valid, 0=rain, 1=cloud, 2=sun"

number = 1

[weather_tendency]

comment_1 = "-1=not valid, 0=no change of air pressure"

comment_2 = " 1=air pressure rising, 2=air pressure falling"

number = 1

[indoor_temperature]

deg_C = "19.6"

deg_F = "67.2"

[outdoor_temperature]

deg_C = "20.1"

deg_F = "68.1"

[indoor_humidity]

percent = "60"

[outdoor_humidity]

percent = "72"

[dewpoint]

deg_C = "14.9"

deg_F = "58.8"

[windchill]

deg_C = "20.1"

deg_F = "68.1"

[wind_speed]

mps = "0.0"

kmh = "0.0"

mph = "0.0"

knt = "0.0"

bft = " 0"

[wind_direction]

deg = "270.0"

name = "W"

[rain_total]

mm = "0.0"

inch = "0.00"

[rain_24h]

mm = "0.0"

inch = "0.00"

[rain_1h]

mm = "0.0"

inch = "0.00"

[pressure_absolute]

hpa = "1012.6"

inHg = "29.90"

[pressure_relative]

hpa = "1015.0"

inHg = "29.97"

[storm_alarm]

comment = "-1=not valid, 0=storm alarm not activ, 1=storm alarm activ"

number = 0

it will be great if i can get this working

thanks again

mike

AzeoTech · October 15, 2012

Sure. You can use the low level File. functions to open and read this file, assuming the weather program doesn't have it locked for writing. Then you just need to read and parse the file. I'd do something like this. This is off the cuff and doesn't show reading all values, but should get you started:


private string datain
private data
try
   private handle = file.open("currdata.lst",1,0,0,1)
   while(1)
      datain = file.read(handle)
      if (isEmpty(datain))
         break
      endif
      switch
          case (datain == "[pressure_absolute]")
             datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
             data = strToDouble(parse(datain,'"',1))
             data.time = systime()
             myPressureAbsoluteHPAChannel.addValue(data)
             datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
             data = strToDouble(parse(datain,'"',1))
             data.time = systime()
             myPressureAbsoluteINHGChannel.addValue(data)

          case (datain == "[pressure_relative]")
             datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
             data = strToDouble(parse(datain,'"',1))
             data.time = systime()
             myPressureRelativeHPAChannel.addValue(data)
             datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
             data = strToDouble(parse(datain,'"',1))
             data.time = systime()
             myPressureRelativeINHGChannel.addValue(data)
      endcase
   endwhile
catch()
   ? strLastError
endcatch

[/CODE]

mike72 · October 16, 2012

hi guru

we are getting there... slowly but surely

i get a NAN reply on the channels, and see it doesnt update. the lst file looks like it updates once a minute.

got any ideas to fix that?

mike

mike72 · October 16, 2012

hi guru

below is what i have so far. i had to add a delay at the bottom, otherwise it overloads a cpu. when i stop and start the sequence, i get one data set to the channels, and thats it. somehow it doesnt see the while loop, or i cant see where the problem is. think the problem is me. otherwise, it works great, all the data i need is comming into the right channel. just for info, its a test channel, with A-D and sequencial channel numbers.

thanks again for your help

mike

private string datain
private data
try
   private handle = file.open("c:\weather.lst",1,0,0,1)
   while(1)
		  datain = file.read(handle)
		  if (isEmpty(datain))
				 break
						   endif
		  switch
				  case (datain == "[pressure_absolute]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 pressure_rel.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[pressure_relative]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 pressure_abs.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[indoor_temperature]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 temp_in.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[outdoor_temperature]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 temp_out.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[wind_direction]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 wind_dir.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[wind_speed]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 wind_speed.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[indoor_humidity]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 humid_in.addValue(data)

				   case (datain == "[outdoor_humidity]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 humid_out.addValue(data)

				   case (datain == "[dewpoint]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 dewpoint.addValue(data)



		  endcase


		  delay(60)
		  endwhile
		 catch()
   ? strLastError
endcatch[/CODE]

AzeoTech · October 16, 2012

The problem is the delay(60). Each iteration of the while loop reads only a single line of the file, so a 60 line file would take an hour to read. Change that delay to 0.1. Then put another while loop outside that while with a delay(60). I truthfully am not completely sure the isEmpty() line will pickup the end of file. Add something like ? "Done reading" outside the inner loop. Also the file.open should be inside the loop. Basically:


while(1)
   try
      file.open(...)
      while(1)
          file.read(...)
          ...
          delay(0.05)
      endwhile
      file.close(...)
   catch()
      ? strLastError
   endcatch
   delay(60)
endwhile

[/CODE]
Make sure the delay(60) is AFTER the endcatch.

mike72 · October 16, 2012

thanks for the reply guru, it doesnt kill the cpu anymore but still doesnt update. any more ideas?

mike

private string datain
private data
while(1)
try
   private handle = file.open("c:\weather.lst",1,0,0,1)
   while(1)
		  datain = file.read(handle)
		  if (isEmpty(datain))
				 break
						   endif
		  switch
				  case (datain == "[pressure_absolute]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 pressure_rel.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[pressure_relative]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 pressure_abs.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[indoor_temperature]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 temp_in.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[outdoor_temperature]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 temp_out.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[wind_direction]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 wind_dir.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[wind_speed]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 wind_speed.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[indoor_humidity]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 humid_in.addValue(data)

				   case (datain == "[outdoor_humidity]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 humid_out.addValue(data)

				   case (datain == "[dewpoint]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 dewpoint.addValue(data)



		  endcase


		  delay(0.05)
		  endwhile
		  file.Close(c:\weather.lst)
		 catch()
   ? strLastError
endcatch
delay(60)
endwhile[/CODE]

AzeoTech · October 17, 2012

You probably need to either step through the code or add a bunch of print (?) statements so you know what is happening. I'm guessing the problem is that datain never equals any of the things you check for, probably because of a hidden character, like a space in the front or end. You might want to do:

datain = rtrim(ltrim(datain))

right after the read() to eliminate any spaces.

mike72 · October 17, 2012

the code reads the right values, but it doesnt update or loop the statement.

AzeoTech · October 17, 2012

You mean it reads it once, then that's it? Its probably stuck in the loop because it can't tell its at the end of the file. Try changing the isempty() line to:

if (datain == "")

mike72 · October 17, 2012

yip, it reads once then nothing else. tried replacing the (isEmpty(datain)) statement to (datain =="") but it doesnt read any values. its somewhere in the inner loop, but where?

mike

AzeoTech · October 17, 2012

Hmm, try just adding a counter:


try
   while(1)
       ...
       private count = 0
       while(count < 200)
          count++
          ....
       endwhile
       ....
   endwhile
   ...
catch()
   ...
endcatch

[/CODE]
That will make it so the inner loop will read a maximum of  200 lines.  If it gets to the end and gets stuck, it will repeat up to a maximum of 200 times and then go to the outer loop.  200 times with a 0.05 delay is only 10 seconds, and given your outer loop is 60, it shouldn't be a problem.  You can make it smaller if the files are smaller.  You also can make the outer delay() a wait() to make it run exactly every 60 seconds.  Just add a delay(0.1) inside the catch()

mike72 · October 17, 2012

hey..... well done guru. it works!!!! do you want a copy of the final code for others to see?

thanks again, would of never been able to do it alone.

mike

AzeoTech · October 17, 2012

Sure, though truthfully its kind of a kludge. I really need to figure out how you can tell the eof when working with text files. I suppose you could just do:


if (File.getPosition(handle) >= file.getLength(handle))
    break
endif

[/CODE]
You might try that instead of the counter.  Also, you can probably get rid of the delay(0.05) now that the inner loop isn't spinning indefinitely. Do it after you are sure its all working.

mike72 · October 17, 2012

ok, here it is... and still running. it logs a value between 2 and 4 times a minute. not too worried about it, as long as its logging ;-)

thanks again guru, now we dont need their protocol.

mike

While(1)
private string datain
private data
try
   private handle = file.open("c:\weather.lst",1,0,0,1)
   private count = 0
		   while(count < 200)
				  count++
			 datain = file.read(handle)
		   switch
				  case (datain == "[pressure_absolute]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 pressure_rel.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[pressure_relative]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 pressure_abs.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[indoor_temperature]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 temp_in.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[outdoor_temperature]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 temp_out.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[average_wind_direction]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 wind_dir.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[wind_speed_average]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 wind_speed.addValue(data)

				  case (datain == "[indoor_humidity]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 humid_in.addValue(data)

				   case (datain == "[outdoor_humidity]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 humid_out.addValue(data)

				   case (datain == "[dewpoint]")
						 datain = file.read(handle) // read next line
						 data = strToDouble(parse(datain,1,'"',1))
						 data.time = systime()
						 dewpoint.addValue(data)



				  endcase

		  delay(0.1)
		  endwhile
		 catch()
   ? strLastError
endcatch
delay(1)
endwhile[/CODE]

mike72 · October 18, 2012

^{hi guru, me again}

^{left the code to run the whole of the night and seen it stopped somewhere throughout the night, then restarted the whole program again. it stopped again, more or less after 5 hours, and gives an error : F0000 No Error Returned : w3 Line 5. looks like something in the count loop is causing it. got any ideas?}

^mike

mike72 · October 18, 2012

guru

it looks like the problem is somewhere else. even if i stop and start the sequence, i still get the error. even with playing with the count times. the .lst file i read from is still good, changing every minute so its not that. only thing that works is restarting DAQfactory. now im really confused.

mike

AzeoTech · October 18, 2012

Most likely the problem is that the other application is writing to the file in the middle of you reading it. You have a couple choices:

1) the error shouldn't matter. Does it completely stop the sequence? You may need to put the file.close() after the endcatch

2) do a file.copy() to copy the file to a temporary file that you then read instead of reading the file the other application is changing directly.

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