DAVIS Wireless Repeater User Manual

Wireless Repeater

Installation Manual

AC-Powered and Solar-Powered Repeaters

Models 7626 and 7627

For use with Vantage Pro2™ and Vantage Vue™ wireless weather stations

$AVIS)NSTRUMENTS$IABLO!VENUE(AYWARD#!53!ssWWWDAVISNETCOM

3465 Diablo Avenue, Hayward, CA 94545-2778

510-732-9229 • Fax: 510-732-9188

E-mail: info@davisnet.com • www.davisnet.com

FCC Part 15 Class B Registration Warning

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Changes or modification not expressly approved in writing by Davis Instruments may void the warranty and void the user's

authority to operate this equipment.

FCC ID: IR2DWW7626 IC: 3788A-765Y

EC EMC Compliance

This product complies with the essential protection requirements of the EC EMC Directive 2004/108/EC; Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC; and Eco-Design Directive 2005/32EC>.05 watt no-load adoater. RoHS Compliant.

Wireless Repeater Manual

Rev. E, August 25, 2009 Document Part Number: 07395.238 For Wireless Repeaters: 7626, 7627

Vantage Pro®, Vantage Pro2™ & Vantage Vue™ are trademarks of Davis Instruments Corp., Hayward, CA.

Transmitter and Repeater ID Worksheet

List the transmitter types and circle the transmitter IDs used:

Transmitter Type Transmitter ID

Circle last Repeater ID used:

ABCDEF GH

Table of Contents

Wireless Repeater Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Included Components and Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Repeater Board Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Wireless Repeater Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Wireless Repeater Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Repeater Configuration/Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Repeater Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Single Repeater Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Advanced Repeater Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Applying Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Single Repeater Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Verify Transmitter ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Verifying Repeater ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Verifying Communication with a Transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Testing a Proposed Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Advanced Repeater Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Multiple Repeater (Daisy-Chain) Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Multiple Transmitters/One Repeater Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Combination Network (Multiple Transmitters/Repeaters) Installation . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Choosing Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Testing Proposed Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Mounting the Wireless Repeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

General Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Installing the Repeater on a Flat Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Installing the Repeater on a Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Console and WeatherLink Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Repeater Information on the Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Repeater Functionality in WeatherLink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Maintenance and Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Normal Repeater Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Repeater Troubleshooting Error Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

First In Chain Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Communication Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Repeater Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Appendix B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

First in Chain Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Changing First In Chain Jumper Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Verifying Communication with a Transmitter and Repeaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

First In Chain Repeater Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Wireless Repeater Overview

Davis Wireless Repeaters can be used with any Vantage Pro2 wireless station to retransmit weather data to a Vantage Pro2 compatible receiver (Vantage Pro2 or Vantage Vue console, Weather Envoy one station and a receiver, or in conjunction with other repeaters to create a flexible network of stations and repeaters.

Note: These repeaters are fully compatible with Vantage Vue weather stations. Please refer to your Vantage

Vue Console Manual, Appendix C: Repeater Configuration, for specific Vantage Vue configuration

instructions. (The manual can be found on our web site at www.davisnet.com/support.) Please note that the illustrations in this manual often depict multiple transmitters which are only supported in Vantage Pro2 and Envoy.

Note: If your Vantage Pro2 console or Envoy has firmware older than May 2005, it does not have the capability

to see and configure wireless repeaters. To check your console’s firmware, press the DONE and up arrow (+) keys. The firmware revision date displays in the ticker tape section of the console. To check your Envoy’s firmware in WeatherLink, select Console Diagnostics from the Reports Menu and view the firmware date displayed. If the console or Envoy firmware version is older than May 2005, a Vantage Pro2 Updater must be used to update the console or Envoy. Contact Technical Support about acquiring an Updater for your console or Envoy. See “Contacting Davis Technical Support” on page 39.

Included Components and Hardware

The Wireless Repeater comes with the components and hardware shown in the following illustration. Some of the hardware might not be used, depending on how the repeater is installed.

solar-powered

Shelter for

unit

™

). The wireless repeater is used to extend the distance between

U-Bolts

1/4" Flat Washers

1/4" Lock Washers

1/4" Hex Nuts

- OR -

Shelter for

AC-powered

unit

AND

110 Volt AC

Power Adapter

8" Cable Ties

1/4" x 1-1/2"

Lag Screws

3-Volt Lithium

Battery

Repeater Board Contents

Transmitter

DIP Switches

Repeater

DIP Switches

Repeater Test Switch

LED

Status

LED

3456

Solar Power Input AC Adapter Socket

Battery Socket

First In Chain Jumper

The board contained within the repeater enclosure has the following components:

The components of the board are:

Default First In Chain Jumper Position (top two pins)

• Solar Power Input (used on #7627 models only) — Connects the solar panel on the cover of the enclosure to the repeater board.

• AC Adapter Socket — Used to connect the optional 110 volt AC power adapter to the repeater board. The AC adapter is available primarily for AC-powered (#7626) repeaters but is available for solar power models as well. You can purchase an optional AC power adapter (#6625) for solar power models as an alternate source of power.

Note: Using the AC power adapter with a solar power model disables the solar-power charging circuit and

makes the AC adapter the main source of power.

• Battery Socket — Used to back up solar or AC power when the provided 3-volt lithium battery is inserted.

• Transmitter DIP Switches — An eight-position switch used to set the transmitter IDs the repeater listens to and repeats. The repeater comes with station ID 1 turned on and all other transmitter IDs are turned off.

• Repeater DIP Switches —The first three positions in this four-position switch are used to give the repeater a unique ID. All three positions are initially in the off position, giving the repeater the ID of A.

Note: All station IDs are identified using numbers 1-8, and repeater IDs are identified using letters A-H so that

they are easily identifiable from each other.

• Repeater Test Switch — The fourth position in the four-position Repeater DIP switch enables the TX and STAT LEDs to observe repeater and communication behavior. Initially this switch is in the off position.

• First In Chain Jumper — A three-pin header that can enable a repeater with a unique ID other than A to become the first repeater in a chain if two or more repeater chains are required in a given network. See “First in Chain Applications” on page 41 for more information.

Note: Any repeater with ID A or any repeater in a standard single-chain network should have the first in chain

jumper left in the default position (pictured above).

• TX LED — This green LED verifies transmission from the repeater to a receiver or used in correlation with the STAT LED, displays error codes related to repeater communication. See “Repeater Troubleshooting Error Codes” on page 36 for more information.

• STAT (Status) LED — This multi-colored LED describes the status of the radio packets received from stations or other repeaters or, used in correlation with the TX LED, displays error codes related to repeater communication. See “Repeater Troubleshooting Error Codes” on page 36 for more information.

Tools for Setup

The following tools and materials are required to set up and install the wireless repeater:

• Ratchet with 4'' (100 mm) or longer extension, 7/16'' (11 mm) size socket

• Paperclip

Wireless Repeater Introduction

The wireless repeater extends the range of a Davis Instruments weather station network and can help overcome obstruction or interference problems present in a given network. The transmission distance between a station and a receiver (known as radio-link range) can be impaired by walls or other objects. When planning to use repeater(s) to lengthen transmission distance from a station to a receiver keep the following information in mind:

• The typical radio-link range of all Vantage Pro2 stations and repeaters (models #7626, #7627 only) is:

• Line of sight: 1000' (300 m).

• Under most conditions (some visibility but small obstructions): 500 - 800' (150 -

250 m).

• Through Walls/Around Large Obstructions: 200 - 400' (60 - 120 m).

• The range for a standard wireless repeater has the same range limitations as all Vantage Pro2 stations.

There are many things that can affect radio-link range and performance, and they should also be considered when planning a network. They fall into two categories, obstructions, and interference.

• Obstructions — These can include but are not limited to: walls, structures, rocks, land, trees, foliage, any metal including mounting poles, fences, etc. For example, your console or Envoy receiver will most likely be indoors. That means that there is one or more walls between the receiver and the station(s) it is listening to. Depending on the number and construction of these walls, the radio-link range can easily be reduced to only a few hundred feet. While land (terrain) will completely block radio signals, other items like trees and foliage will only reduce the radio-link range. Wet or snow covered trees, foliage or walls will further reduce radio-link range.

• Interference — This can include: cordless phones, baby monitors, cell phones, cell towers, ham radios, or any high-powered transmitter nearby. This can reduce the range, because the radio can only receive what it can decipher over other transmissions.

Antenna height can also affect radio-link range. Generally, the higher the better. Mounting the radio/antenna as high as possible will not only get better radio-link range, but it will be more likely to create a line-of-sight over some obstructions.

By placing repeaters between station transmitters and your receiver, you can increase the range of your weather station network, keeping in mind the limitations discussed here. You can go around obstructions, extend line-of-sight distances, or increase the signal strength in noisy environments by placing radios closer together.

Note: Even longer line-of-sight distances can be achieved with the Long-Range Wireless Repeaters #7653,

#7654. See our website at www.davisnet.com for more about our Long-Range Wireless Repeaters.

Wireless Repeater Installation Overview

The following is a overview of the steps involved for installing a repeater or series of repeaters as part of your Vantage Pro2 wireless network:

• Determine the repeater/station configuration best suited to your wireless network.

• Apply power (battery or AC power).

• Verify communication with a station(s).

• Choose a location(s) for repeater(s).

• Test proposed location for signal strength.

• Configure the console or Envoy (and WeatherLink software, as needed) for repeater identification.

Repeater Configuration/Architecture

Vantage Pro2 wireless repeaters are used to enhance the transmission range and capabilities between a station, or multiple stations, and a receiver (console or Envoy). A repeater receives signals transmitted from a Vantage Pro2 station and retransmits it to a console, wireless Weather Envoy, or another repeater. Depending on transmission distance, one repeater or several repeaters can be used to collect and retransmit weather data.

This section describes some of the repeater transmission situations and station networks in which a repeater or set of repeaters can be used.

Repeater Architecture

Two repeater configurations are discussed in this section:

• Single Repeater Configuration — Any situation in which one repeater is needed to transmit data from one station to one receiver (i.e., console or Envoy).

• Advanced Repeater Configuration — Any architecture where one or more stations and/or one or more repeaters are combined to form a network of repeaters. For example, if a station is placed further away from a console than the range of a single repeater, multiple repeaters can be set up across the distance to transmit weather data to the console in a chain. Another advanced repeater configuration might involve one or more stations transmitting to a repeater. It is also possible to create a network using a combination of multiple transmitters and repeaters.

Note: All range estimates used in the examples below are based on the idea that the distance between a

station and a repeater is a “radio-link”. See “Wireless Repeater Introduction” on page 4 for more information about the real-world range of a radio-link.

Single Repeater Configuration

Any Vantage Pro2

Station

Repeater

Vantage Pro2

Console/Receiver

Weather Envoy

AND/OR

Use a single repeater as part of a single station/single receiver setup when the distance is so great that a station alone can not successfully communicate with a receiver. The distance is greater than one radio-link but less than three.

The diagram below shows the typical single repeater configuration , with each arrow representing a radio-link.:

This configuration permits greater distances between a station and a receiver.

Note: If the distance between a station and a receiver is more than two radio-links, see “Multiple Repeater

(Daisy-Chain) Configuration” below. If more than one station exists, see “Multiple Stations/One Repeater Configuration” on page 8.

Advanced Repeater Configurations

Multiple Repeater (Daisy-Chain) Configuration

If the distance between a station and receiver is greater than the single repeater configuration distance can provide range for, or if the station, repeater and receiver are not in line of sight of each other, more than one repeater should be used to transmit weather data. A multiple repeater daisy-chain configuration has the capability to transmit up to nine radio-links between the station and a receiver, but should be limited to four repeaters (five radio-links).

Note: Although the maximum of eight repeaters is based on the number of unique repeater IDs (A-H) available

in a network, the limit of four repeaters in a daisy chain is based on communication/timing issues.

The above diagram displays an example daisy-chain configuration of one station and

1 1

1B1

Any Vantage Pro2

Station

Repeater Repeater

Repeater

Vantage Pro2

Console/Receiver

Temp/Humidity

Station

Temperature

Station

Leaf & Soil Moisture

Station

Anemometer

Transmitter Kit

Vantage Pro2

Station

Repeater

Vantage Pro2

Console/Receiver

three repeaters, creating a total line of sight transmission distance of four radio-links. This configuration allows more flexibility between a station and a console, especially around obstructions or interference.

Multiple Stations/One Repeater Configuration

One repeater can be used to transmit weather information from multiple stations to a receiver if the repeater is within a radio-link radius of each station. The repeater can receive and repeat weather data from up to eight different weather stations.

Note: The limit of eight stations is based on the number of unique transmitter IDs (1-8) available in a network.

The diagram on the previous page shows a multiple transmitter configuration of three stations and one repeater, with the repeater within a radio-link of all three stations and the receiver, extending the distance between the repeater and the three stations.

The repeater can receive signals from up to eight stations/transmitters of any type. However, there are some limitations as to how many and what type of transmitters the receiver can listen to.

The table below lists the maximum number of stations allowable for a receiver:

Station Type Maximum Number

Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) 1

Anemometer Transmitter Kit* 1

Leaf & Soil Moisture/Temperature Station 2**

Temperature Station 8

Temperature/Humidity Station 8

Maximum Number of Transmitters in a Network

*Replaces the ISS anemometer.

**Two are allowable only if both stations are only partially populated. For example, A network can either have

both a Leaf Wetness/Temperature station and a Soil Moisture/Temperature station, or it can have one com-

bined Leaf Wetness and Soil Moisture/Temperature station.

Combination Network Configurations

Given the flexibility of the repeater to listen to more than one station and to transmit to other repeaters, both stations and repeaters can be set up to create a variety of transmitter networks to transmit to one receiver. Up to four repeaters and eight stations can be configured to transmit to one receiver in a variety of ways.

Any Vantage Pro2

Station

Repeater

Repeater Repeater

B C

Vantage Pro2

Console/Receiver

Leaft & Soil Moisture

Station

Anemometer

Transmitter Kit

Temp/Humidity

Station

Temperature

Station

The above diagram displays a multiple transmitter/repeater configuration with five stations and three repeaters, with each repeater listening to a station or multiple station also to the previous repeater. Each repeater and station must be within a radio-link of another repeater or receiver.

See “Maximum Number of Transmitters in a Network” on page 9 for the receiver limitations.

There is also a maximum of four repeaters allowable in a network.

Note: Although one repeater can listen to multiple transmitters at a time, it can only listen to one other

repeater. The repeaters have to be in alphabetic order, with A being first. Each repeater after repeater A looks for the repeater with the previous ID and any transmitter IDs it has been assigned.

Implementing a Configuration

Now that you understand the possible repeater configurations, sketch or map out your proposed weather network. Tools to assist you include:

• Maps — paper or electronic, purchased or online, regular, topographic and/or satellite imagery.

• Measuring devices — tape measures, string, range finders (optical or laser), handheld GPS receiver, etc.

Start by showing the placement of the stations and the location of the receiver(s) in your network. Note any obstructions or potential interference sources. Also note that the repeater might be limited by height. Using one type or a combination of network types described previously, plan your repeater placement to get around any obstructions, cover the required distances, and assure adequate signal strength between radio-links for your anticipated conditions.

Once a configuration has been chosen that best suits the needs of the desired station/ receiver setup, installing and verifying communication between the station(s) and repeater(s) is the next step. Set up and test your network configuration as described in the next sections before installing in the field.See the section for the installation process best suited to the configuration type chosen:

• See page 13 for a single repeater installation.

• See page 20 for a “daisy-chain” installation.

• See page 23 for a multiple station/single repeater installation.

• See page 26 for a combination network installation.

Note: Many of the basic steps for installing and configuring your repeater network are discussed in detail as

part of the single repeater installation. Please review “Single Repeater Installation” on page 13 even if you are installing an advanced network of repeaters.

Applying Power

Applying Battery Power (for both units)

1. To view the wireless repeater board, open the shelter enclosing the wireless repeater.

2. Insert the 3-volt lithium battery into the battery socket at the top of the board. Be sure to match the “+” sign on the battery with “+” sign displayed in the battery socket.

Once the battery is installed, it begins powering the board.

You may hear a high pitched sound as the repeater charges up.

Once charged, the repeater performs the Power-On Self Test (POST) using the two LEDs located at the bottom of the board. The STAT LED blinks red, yellow and then green, followed by the TX LED blinking green once, indicating that the repeater is powered up and has passed POST.

Note: On battery power alone, it can take up to two or three minutes for the board to charge before the

repeater begins POST and the LED lights blink their pattern. With sufficient solar power or with the AC adapter, the repeater powers up and is ready to communicate immediately.

3-Volt Lithium Battery

Once the POST light sequence displays, the repeater is ready to communicate. If the repeater does not display the POST light pattern within three minutes, see “Maintenance and Troubleshooting” on page 36 for more information.

Applying AC Power (# 7626 AC-Power units)

Solar Power Tab AC Adapter

1. To view the wireless repeater board, open the shelter enclosing the wireless repeater.

2. Thread the power adapter plug through the square black grommet into the repeater shelter.

Every Davis shelter has two of these grommets at the bottom of the shelter to provide weather-resistant entrances for cables. If it is too hard to thread the power adapter cable through the grommet in its current position, remove the grommet, thread the power adapter plug through it, and replace the grommet in the shelter.

3. Insert the AC adapter plug into the repeater power jack at the top of the board above the battery socket. Make sure the AC adapter is plugged into the outlet.

If the battery has not already been installed, the wireless repeater begins powering the board. The repeater immediately performs the Power-On Self Test (POST) using the two LEDs located at the bottom of the board. The STAT LED blinks red, yellow and then green, followed by the TX LED blinking green once, indicating that the repeater is powered up and has passed POST.

4. Once the POST light sequence displays, the repeater is ready to communicate. If the repeater has not displayed the POST light pattern, unplug the AC adapter from the repeater, wait for about a minute and plug it back in. If the repeater has still not performed POST and displayed the light pattern, see “Maintenance and Troubleshooting” on page 36 for more information.

+ 33 hidden pages