1-wire network stability

[JimTolbert]

I am in the process of getting my network setup. I am having some stability problems and read somewhere ( I can’t find it now) that the serial network adapter offered more stability than the USB adapter. My main questions are, is it likely that a serial adapter will improve the stability of the network? And, the desktop that I would switch to would also be running Win Xp. Would a later Windows OS be better? I am also considering change to Linix, but I do not currently have any facility with Linix. The software interrogating the network is based on Tim Bitson’s WeatherToys.

Below is my current network. All the modules are reporting consistently expect the temperature sensors. The humidity sensors in the in the same modules continue to report. Note also that modules further out the string from the temp sensors report reliably. If I restart the program ( which initializes the network adapter) I usually get all sensors reporting ( including the temp sensors) for 1-3 hours (polling every minute).

Any other ideas or suggestions?

RiverRidge Weather Station 1-wire network
Laptop running Win Xp in house
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USB Adapter for 1-wire network
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House Power Injector
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Barometer module
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150’ run to hoop house
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Hoophouse Temp/Humidity module
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50’ to Chicken Coop
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Coop Temp module
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200’ run to field station
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Field Power Injector
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Field Temp/Humidity/Solar module
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Inspeed Anemometer
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Rain gauge
Planned additions are a 8 channel I/O board to control irrigation valves and four –six soil moisture modules

Many thanx.............. jt

Jim Tolbert
Jim at SquirrelRidgeFarm dot com

 

[JimTolbert]

Well.... I found the problem. I had been using several commercially produced ethernet cables, including one with a ferrite core. Once I replace ALL of the commercial cables with cables I had built, the network settled down and is working great!

Now onto other problems like trying to get the serial adapter to work instead of the USB adapter....

Also... trying to figure out why two temperature sensors laying next to each other differ by 4-5 degrees F

Later............. jt

 

[electron]

What USB adapter are you using? Are you still having issues with the serial adapter?

 

[JimTolbert]

I have the network working with a laptop and a USB adapter. I have not yet been able to get the desktop with the serial adapter working. This is on a desktop computer with a clean install of Win Xp Professional with all the updates.

I have a serial port listening program (comtest) and a loop back adapter that shows that the serial port work is working. I have installed, uninstalled, and reinstalled the 1-wire drivers from Maxim. I have tried various settings for the serial port, but have not had any joy.

The last series of thing I tried was:

I uninstalled everything and ran CCleaner to be sure it was all gone.

I downloaded the onewireviewer install file from Maxim and ran it.
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Plugged in Serial Adapter to serial port
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Ran OneWireViewer.exe
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In OneWireViewer.....

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Selected {DS9097U - DS948X}
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Selected COM1
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Clicked Next button
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Left the check in the 1 second choice for Polling rates
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clicked on Next
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Left Show Normal Devices marked
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Clicked on Finish

The window closed, but no main program window ever opened.

Looking at the file structure, NO ".onewireviewer" directory was created and NO "onewireviewer.properties" file was created

Looking at the Windows Task Manager, "OneWireViewer.exe" is listed in processes using memory of 33,152k.

I am not really sure what to try next..... Any suggestions?

Many thanx............. jt

 

[sda]

Also... trying to figure out why two temperature sensors laying next to each other differ by 4-5 degrees F

The accuracy of the DS18S20 temp sensors is 0.5*C. That's about 0.9*F. You shouldn't be off by more than 2 degrees F between any two uncalibrated sensors. Of course nothing is made to spec any more so I wouldn't make book on it.

The HB temp sensor boards with humidity/solar use a LM7805 to convert the +12V to +5V. That creates heat. The regulator and temp sensor are right next to each other on the board. Put your finger on the regulator(s) and see if you can feel warmth.