[wxqc] Wireless Vantage Pro transmission drops

[Rex Pirkle]

Steve,
I would replace the Lithium battery and see if that resolves your
problem.  You have your station set to post on a one-minute interval,
and that places the highest possible demand on the transmitter battery.
Lithium batteries are only good for about 300-500 charge discharge
cycles, and develop a series resistance over time.  At 1-min transmit
interval, yours gets the smallest possible chance to recharge, and my
guess is that it stays undercharged. 

I think CWOP MesoNet only uses one data packet every 15 mins, so you
might consider increasing your data interval to 5, 10, or 15 min to
conserve transmitter battery power and extend the battery life. Davis
says the lithium battery is good for 8 mo (without sunlight) up to 2
years, but they don't say at what transmit interval that rating is
measured.    

Radio Shack has a $15.50 battery checker that will test 3V Lithium
batteries under a 1mA load. Catalog #: 22-080. 

Davis instructions says to point the solar cell to the South in the
Northern Hemisphere.  That sense to me for the winter months and
continuous daylight charging.  There is an AC power jack input on my
wireless VP2 transmitter, but I couldn't find any Davis accessories to
hard wire it, nor any reference to the use of that.  You might quiz
Davis about it.

If the battery is not the problem, check the console diagnostic screens
detailed in the console manual.  That data will get you some clues about
the reception problem, and will tell you if the station console battery
is low.  The problem can be in the receiver as well as the transmitter.
The VP2 has option to increase the transmitter gain, I do not know if
you have that option not on a VP.   

VP2 transmits within 902 to 928 Mhz FHSS.  I have 900Mhz phones that a
microwave interferes with, but the VP2 spread spectrum seems to have
good immunity from RF sources and interference.  Try changing your
station ID switches to a different setting if you think there is some
local source interfering with the transmissions.  Check your antenna
orientations too; both vertical if at the same height, and with as few
obstructions between them as possible. 
 
Rex K8CYJ-5 AR863