Constantly losing RF signal

[wwmiller3]

Hi,

My Meteobridge PRO cannot maintain reception of RF signals for more than a few hours at a time. I get constant dropouts: sometimes lasting minutes; sometimes hours. The tell-tail sign of a problem shows up in the log as "restart meteostick (301 secs no valid rf signal)". A more complete copy of the log from a recent restart attempting to clear another long period of no RF reception is as follows:

oled (14.01.2017 13:36:47): process started.
database (14.01.2017 08:38:20): process started.
wnetd (14.01.2017 08:38:22): process started.
system (14.01.2017 08:38:22): start of logging process initiated.
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:22): databases connected. Update interval 3600 seconds.
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:22): Historical data loaded (0 records).
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:22): data logger (version 5.0t, build 10783) started.
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:24): connect station 0 (Meteostick Vantage via USB serial).
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:24): connect station 9 (System Data via Plug-in).
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): transmitter 1 registered as ISS
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): transmitter 5 registered as Soil
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): Meteostick Version 2.4
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): debug off
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): verbose off
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): output raw (8 bytes)
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): output raw (10 bytes)
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): filter on
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): rx threshold set to -90db
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): listening to transmitter 1 5
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): bandwidth narrow
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): chip authentication ok: 14
logger (14.01.2017 08:38:26): frequency band 915MHz (US)
database (14.01.2017 08:39:36): database sync done (62 tables, 876/11432 writes)
logger (14.01.2017 08:43:27): restart meteostick (305 secs no valid rf signal)
logger (14.01.2017 08:48:30): restart meteostick (301 secs no valid rf signal)
logger (14.01.2017 08:53:31): restart meteostick (302 secs no valid rf signal)
logger (14.01.2017 09:13:54): wind0 data incomplete (missing outdoor temp for windchill)
logger (14.01.2017 09:14:04): wind0 data incomplete (missing outdoor temp for windchill)
logger (14.01.2017 09:14:07): wind0 data incomplete (missing outdoor temp for windchill)
logger (14.01.2017 09:14:09): wind0 data incomplete (missing outdoor temp for windchill)
logger (14.01.2017 09:14:14): wind0 data incomplete (missing outdoor temp for windchill)
logger (14.01.2017 09:14:22): wind0 data incomplete (missing outdoor temp for windchill)



All of this is in spite of the MBP being less than 10 meters from the ISS and with nothing more than a single pane of glass in between the two. My Davis console is another 15 meters away and never has had a reception problem. I understand the MBP receiver is not as sensitive as the one Davis uses, but I can't imagine why with such close proximity and with so few signal barriers the signal loss is so prevalent.

Any ideas on what may be going on?

Thanks.

[wwmiller3]

Additional info: the RF environment does not seem to be a problem. Attached is the output from a spectrum analyzer placed next to the MB Pro (you can see the ISS in the background) centered on 915 Mhz. Signal strength consistently is in the -50's and -60's dBm range from the ISS and S/N looks reasonable.

[admin]

Can you please move the MB PRO to a better, not much IT crowded position and reduce sensitivty to -85db?

[wwmiller3]

Thanks for the suggestion. I reduced the sensitivity, but cannot do much about the environment. I personally do not use any devices other than the weather station that operate in the 900 MHz band (e.g., cordless phone, Zigbee); I do suspect our local electric utility uses this band for our smart meters.

[wwmiller3]

By way of update: reducing the sensitivity appears to have made a significant improvement. I have not seen a drop out for over a day now.