Vaisala 555 Frequently Asked Questions

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Clyde Davis, Technical Service Engineer

555 series, general


555 with a GOES radio

Q – My 555 equipped with a GOES radio, multicom board, and a telephone modem stopped transmitting via GOES and will not answer the telephone. When I went to the site and connected my laptop computer using Online 2000, the only response I get is Error 2, DCP Comm ERROR, DCP may not be connected.

A – There are a number of things besides not having your cable connected between the laptop computer and the 555 Data Collection Platform (DCP) that can cause this message or in some cases the “ERROR 64, Retry ERROR”. Check the battery voltage and fuse F3. Restart Online2000, if this does not bear fruit, try disconnecting the multi-colored 9-wire ribbon cable, called the “HSB cable”, from the GOES radio and any other option cards that are installed (modem, radio-voice, etc.). If you are then able to communicate with the 555, reconnect them one at the time until you find the offending device. Test your computer and programming cable by connecting to another 555.

Date/time set-up

Q – Whenever I reconnect power to my 555 DCP the date is set to 1 Jan 1990 and the clock time starts at 00:00:00.

A – Either you have a very old motherboard that did not have an onboard clock battery or the lithium battery on the motherboard is dead. If the lithium battery is dead, a new one can be bought at most radio supply stores including Radio Shack and many convenience stores. Replace with a 3-volt Duracell DL2032 battery or equivalent.

Watchdog timer

Q - What exactly is a "Watchdog Timer" and what causes it to be "detected as having timed out"?

A - The "watchdog timer" is a hardware timer and a software routine that resets the timer periodically before it times out as long as the program is running correctly. If for any reason the program stops functioning and no longer services the "watchdog timer" reset, the timer times out and resets the 555. The problem is in trying to figure out what causes the program to stop running. A serious voltage sag, usually caused by a bad battery, will do it. Nearby lightning strikes or other sources of electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause it to happen.

Time tags vs. actual time

Q – When I download data logged in the 555, the time tags often don’t match up with the actual time the data was collected. What can I do about this?

A - If not the enhanced board, the fix is to install firmware version 4.10 and the associated U-12 device. Contact hmehelp@vaisala.com to get the replacement U-12 device and the firmware version 4.10.

Battery voltage output

Q – I have a HANDAR 555 that appears to have problems with battery voltage output. When hooked to a 12 volt battery in the field, the readout is all funny, even when the battery tests out fine with a multimeter.

A - You could have a bad battery with an intermittent condition, there could be a bad resistor in the voltage divider on the motherboard that is used to measure the battery voltage, you could have something else connected to analog 8B externally, or there could be a problem with the analog to digital converter on the motherboard.

High date rate messages

Q – How do I find out which GOES channels are set aside for the new high data rate messages?

A: GOES channels

NOTE: SOME PLATFORMS REQUIRE THE USER TO PROGRAM IN THE 1200 BPS CHANNEL NUMBER FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION. FOR ALL CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS, GIVE USER BOTH NUMBERS.

WHEN PLATFORM IS ASSIGNED IN DAPS, AND WHEN USER IS DOWNLOADING DATA, THEY MUST USE THE REGULAR (100/300 BPS) CHANNEL NUMBER.

ALTERNATE CHANNELS FOR 1200 BPS ASSIGNMENTS ARE BLOCKED (CODED AS INTERROGATE, OR I IN DAPS, BECAUSE 1200 BPS REQUIRES 2 CHANNELS TO OPERATE.

STANDARD 300 BPS WINDOW WILL BE 15 SECONDS. PLEASE CONSULT WITH KAY BEFORE ASSIGNING WINDOWS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS.

NO 1200 BPS ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH KAY.

555A

Q – I am trying to write a program that includes the integral display. This is a 555A with an enhanced motherboard and the built-in display. I am unable to assemble the program.

A - Due to a software anomaly at least one intermediate process must be included in your display process in answer to the “Process IDs” prompt. This can be satisfied by using at least one “interval posted data” process and pointing to that.

555 DCP

Q – I want to use a trip-wire to make the 555 DCP make an emergency transmission to alert us that a hillside has begun to slide. The trip-wire is placed so that when a slide begins the wire will break and the circuit will become open. How should the trip-wire be connected to the 555?

A – One end of the trip-wire is connected to ground (common) at the 555 and the other end to one of the digital inputs. The digital inputs all have pull-up resistors on them. By connecting the trip-wire between the digital input and ground (common), the digital input is held low as long as the tripwire is intact. As soon as the tripwire is broken, the internal pull-up resistor pulls the digital input high. This provides a positive and reliable signal that the event has occurred.

555F Alert

Q – I am using a 444A rain gauge connected to a 555F ALERT station; the ALERT transmissions for precipitation are only sending the value 2047

A - Change your rain gauge sensor definition units from .01 inch per tip to 1mm per tip. The result of doing that will be a simple count of the tips; each time the bucket tips, the count will increment by one. The ALERT doesn't transmit decimal point information anyway, so instruct the ALERT base station to move the decimal two places to the left. That leaves us to fix the data sent to GOES. Use an intermediate math process to multiply the tipping bucket count by .01 to get the decimal place correct for GOES.

Don't be concerned that in the sensor definition, the tipping bucket units are labeled inches and millimeters; the resolution of the 444A is .01 inches per tip and that's what determines the actual units

Charging Systems


High battery voltage

Q – The battery voltage in my 555 DCP is very high when force scanned (over 32 volts), what is going on?

A - When you saw 32 volts reported as the battery voltage, the voltage was actually very low. When the battery voltage drops below the value that can support the Analog to Digital converter, the magic number 32,768 is reported. When formatted for battery voltage that becomes 32.76 volts. You probably have a bad battery or charging system. Please check the battery using a load tester if possible, otherwise, disconnect the solar panel and measure the voltage after about 1 minute and again after about 30 minutes. Also check the solar panel by connecting a current meter capable of measuring current greater than the maximum output capacity of the solar panel directly across the solar panel output in full sunlight. Make sure the solar panel is not connected to any battery when you do this. The short circuit current from the solar panel should be near the maximum output capability of the panel.

GOES Satellite Radios


Baud rate

Q - When setting up a 555 to transmit, do I have to program the baud rate for the GOES? I would like to have one transmit at 300 baud. Do I have to set this up, or does it transmit at a default rate.

A - If you have one of the newer high data rate GOES radios, you must set the baud rate as well as the NESDIS ID code, the first transmit time, and the transmit interval. This must be done using Online 2000 while connected to the 555. You must also be using the current version of Online 2000.

Missed GPS acquisitions

Q – I have a high data rate GOES radio installed in a 555 DCP at one of our sites. We are seeing a lot of missed GPS acquisitions. This seems to be an intermittent condition. Could my GPS antenna be at fault?

A - Before you try another antenna, let’s make sure that the cable from the GPS antenna connector on the GOES radio is good. The GPS antenna has an amplifier built-in, so it requires 3-volts supplied by the GPS receiver in the GOES radio module. If you remove all power from the 555 and then restart it (put it into the run mode) with the antenna disconnected, you should be able to measure 3-volts from the center pin of the GPS antenna connector to ground (battery minus) if the cable from the GPS to the outside antenna connector is good. If you do not get the three volts at the outside antenna connector, repeat the test at the connector directly on the GOES radio module inside the 555. If you get the three volts there but not on the outside, then that short cable is bad. Bear in mind that the voltage supplied to the GPS antenna is only there when a GPS signal acquisition is in progress, that's why you need to restart the 555 with the antenna disconnected for this test.

If the voltage test passes, check to be sure that there are enough threads showing outside of the 555 DCP so that the male antenna connector can be screwed down all of the way without butting against the nut that holds the DCP female GPS antenna connector. If there is any doubt about the connectors mating properly, temporarily remove the nut and washers from the female box connector and reconnect the antenna. By now you will know whether the problem is the GPS receiver inside of the GOES radio, the cable from the GPS in the GOES radio to the female box connector on the 555, or the antenna. Of course if all these tests pass, then you still don't know if it is the GOES module or the GPS antenna. At this point substitution of the individual components is required.

Forcing a transmission

Q – For the new enhanced 555 motherboard and high data rate GOES radio, is there a program or a method to force a transmission? These are units that have the 100/300/1200 baud GOES radios.

A - There is a test utility built-in to the online software. Click on the Satellite icon at the top right of the online screen, then click on the diagnostics button, you'll then see buttons for a number of transmitter tests.

Installation


Sealing the connector

Q – Is it a good idea to tape up the sensor connectors to prevent water from getting into the connectors?

A - You have to be very careful when trying to seal off outdoor connectors using any kind of tape. Too often the taping seals up the drainage but doesn't prevent water from getting into the connector often causing more harm than good. Too often I've unwrapped the tape from a sensor connector to have water run out. Done right, sealing the connector can be a good thing. The safest way would include a short length of tubing from inside the connector housing extending down beyond the sealing to allow any water that does get in to leak out.

Extending the cable

Q - The new transmitters with the GPS antenna are going in fine but we have one slight problem. One site has an abundance of pines which are interfering with the signal (we cannot cut them). Therefore, we need to extend the wire a bit. Can we splice in more wire into an antenna or should we make an extension with plug connectors? We have been hesitant to cut the wire on the new antennas to find out what it looks like.

A - If these are the new HDR 1200 baud GOES radios, then the antennas that came with it are only antennas. The GPS receiver is built into the GOES radio module. There is an amplifier built into the antenna and the power for that goes up the coaxial cable. Although I have never done it, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to extend the cable as much as 100 feet using low-loss 50-ohm coax. Don’t extend it any more than necessary. Use the proper connectors and/or adaptors. Do not try to splice the coaxial cable.

Sensors


Humidity and dew point channels

Q – The humidity and dew point channels are not functioning properly. Any thoughts as to what to look for to correct this problem?

A - The dew point value depends on the temperature and relative humidity values being correct, as it is a calculated value. It is also necessary that the temperature and dew point units be the same. In older versions of the programming software they had to be in degrees F. In order to troubleshoot a bad dew point value, you should first determine which of the temperature or humidity sensors is in error. In most cases recalibrating the bad sensor will correct the problem.

Lake level and wave height sensors

Q - What sensors would be necessary to measure lake level and wave height?

A – Wave height and lake level can both be derived from an under water pressure sensor. Wave height is calculated by taking the difference between the maximum instantaneous water level and the minimum instantaneous water level over a time greater than the wave period. The lake level is determined by averaging the instantaneous values of water level over the same period. The 555 is capable of performing the necessary calculations.

Calculating sigma-theta

Q - I was wondering if you have used the WXT510 sensor to calculate sigma-theta while interfaced to a 555?

A - The 555 can use wind speed and wind direction as well as any of the other parameters from whatever source in any of its processes.

Finding out the installed firmware version

Q – How do we find out what version of firmware we have in our wind sensors (425A).

A - To find out what version is currently installed in your 425 wind sensor, you will need to make a cable according to the schematic below. P1 is a CPC connector to mate with the 425 and P2 is a DB9 connector to mate with the RS-232 port on your computer. Then following the procedure found in the 425 user's guide to configure the 425, after the "open" command the firmware version will be displayed. The actual upgrade is not a field operation. The sensor will have to be returned to Vaisala on a return materials authorization (RMA) to have that done.

Schematic

Value of 999

Q – What causes my 425A wind sensor to report all nines occasionally, usually in the peak wind data?

A - Anytime that the acoustical path between the transducers on the 425 wind sensor is blocked for any reason, the sensor returns a value of 999. This is to indicate that a reading of the wind speed and direction was not completed. The reason that this shows up more often in the peak wind data is because in your program peak wind is a running value of the highest wind speed within the most recent two-hours, updated every minute. Average wind, on-the-other-hand, is only a two-minute average value, updated every two-minutes. If during the most recent two-hours there has been at least one blockage of the acoustical path, the large value of 999 will be saved as the peak wind. Since the average wind speed and direction is updated every two-minutes, a 999 value will only be available for the voice message for two-minutes before it is replaced by a new good value.

The most likely things to cause the sensor to report a value of 999 are: 1. A bird sitting on the sensor (note that birds sometimes sit on mechanical sensors too, but the mechanical sensor has no way to report that its value is in error). A cat sitting on the sensor would do the same thing, but I've never heard of that... birds though, are common. 2. Heavy rain driven horizontally by high wind. 3. Ice. I suspect that one or more of these things may have caused the problems you related.

Programming


Latest version of 555

Q – How can I get the latest version of the 555 programming software complete with manuals and users guides?

A - The installation disk can be downloaded from our FTP site. Use this link: ftp://ftp.vaisala.com/sunsoft/555_windows_software/complete installation package/

Dialing calls

Q – I have programmed my 555 with a modem installed to dial out to a telephone number list when the water level has exceeded a preset level. The 555 is not dialing the calls. My telephone list has the phone numbers in this format, (555) 123-8765.

A - Remove all non-numeric characters from the telephone number. This process dials all digits until it encounters a non-numeric character. The numbers in your telephone list should be in the format, 5551238765, followed by a carriage return and line feed.

HANDAR 555 configuration

Q – I understand that persons unknown provided the HANDAR 555. Therefore we do not have any of the program configuration/templates associated with the setup of the 555.

A – The person that created the original program would likely have the *.pgm file if he kept it. It could still be in the computer on which it was created. In any event, it sounds like the program might be quite old. Many of the sensor definitions and processes have been improved and many new ones have been added. It would probably be best to start from scratch with a new program if you add new sensors and program capability.

Program file (*.pgm)

Q – Regarding the program file (*.pgm); would the person that setup the 555 have it in their possession or is it created by running the Vaisala Online2000 program?

A – Not necessarily, the program is initiated by choosing the desired sensors and processes from nested menus while running the Vaisala 555 WinPro program. These choices are collected into a file with the extension “.pgm”. The WinPro software uses that file to create the *.bin file that is uploaded to the 555 to make it behave as programmed. While we can glean a great deal of information about the program from the 555 with the *.bin file loaded, we can only modify or add to the original if we have the *.pgm file and any other files associated with it such as the template file.

Updated firmware

Q – How can I get a copy of the updated firmware for my 555 data collection equipment?

A - This is the link for the enhanced motherboard: ftp://ftp.vaisala.com/sunsoft/555_windows_software/enhanced_555e_firmware/
This is the link for the classic motherboard: ftp://ftp.vaisala.com/sunsoft/555_windows_software/classic_555_firmware/
This is the link for the configuration files: ftp://ftp.vaisala.com/sunsoft/configuration_files/

Registering tenths of a degree

Q - With the 555B I don't seem to be able to get the sensor to register tenths of a degree (72.1 etc.) it only wants to read whole degrees. In the processes I REFORMATTED the reading from the 433F TEMP to 1 decimal place and 4 bytes but I still keep getting whole decimal readings (72.0, 73.0 etc.) Can you give me a clue as to what I have left out so I can go back and change the program?

A - That is normal for the 555 when the units are degrees F. If you use degrees Celsius you get a choice. To get tenths of a degree F, select tenths of degrees C in your sensor definition. In the process category, “Intermediate Data Processing”. Select “Convert Degrees C to Degrees F”. Make the output decimal count equal to one (1).

Display process error message

Q – After adding a display process I am getting error messages when trying to assemble my program.

A - The display process requires that at least one process be included in addition to the sensors. In your program you left the number of processes at zero.

SDI-12 Sensors


SDI-12 data 0.00

Q - Any ideas why I'm unable to get the SDI-12 data to come across to the DCP? When I'm in the 'Online' program I can communicate with the sensor. The address for the sensor is currently "0" -- and I'm able to acknowledge and identify the sensor. However when the DCP goes out to take a reading the response logged is "0.00" instead of the value simulated in the shaft encoder.

A – Thanks for sending a copy of your program. In your program, in the sensor definition, you specified the SDI-12 sensor address as “1”. The address programmed in the sensor and the address in the sensor definition must match.

Replacing Setra 270

Q - Regarding the two PTB210 pressure transmitters we've recently acquired from Vaisala, I have a few questions. They will be replacing Setra 270's in our 555B's. Do they need to be connected to the 555-6002 Baro Power Supply board as the Setra's did?

A - The Setra barometric sensor required 24 volts to operate and the power supply and signal ground wires had to be isolated from each-other. The Setra power supply board accomplished both of these things.

The Vaisala PTB210 cannot use more than 18 volts for operating power. The Setra support board must be removed along with the Setra barometer when replacing with a PTB210.

Otherwise the analog version of the PTB210 can be wired with the power supply grounds connected directly to power ground and the signal output connected to the analog input, usually analog 8A. The power for the sensor is connected to switched power #1 or #2 as appropriate.

High battery voltage

Q - Any ideas why I'm unable to get the SDI-12 data to come across to the DCP? When I'm in the 'Online' program I can communicate with the sensor. The address for the sensor is currently "0" -- and I'm able to acknowledge and identify the sensor. However when the DCP goes out to take a reading the response logged is "0.00" instead of the value simulated in the shaft encoder.

A – Thanks for sending a copy of your program. In your program, in the sensor definition, you specified the SDI-12 sensor address as “1”. The address programmed in the sensor and the address in the sensor definition must match.