meteohub.de

I just want to give you some information about the progress of porting to a new platform.

As I told you in another thread I have had selected a new Meteohub platform and did a port. This port is running very stable and I was about to announce this new platform when I got notice from the manufacturer that this unit is going EOL. As I don't think it is a smart move to replace one EOL product by another and because the manufacturer announced a successor product at the same price point and features but with factor 3 processing power for Q4, I decided to go with the successor. This will give us a platform that is available for the next couple of years and will have a performance that will give a bit headroom for future Meteohub feature expansions.

This is the list of additional features you can expect from the new platform to be available in Q4 :
- about 3 times the punch of the NSLU2
- optional RS232 interface
- optional WLAN
- no more firmware flashing, it is not a hacked product like the NSLU2 but designed for universal use
- no more troublesome usb sticks, unit will depend on industrial CF cards with true ATA interface
- can be connected to monitor and keyboard for more easy trouble shooting when unit does not respond via LAN
- much more RAM than a NSLU2, better performance under load
- about the same form factor like NSLU2
- < 10 watts power demand (add 2 watts for WLAN)
- noiseless
- rigid metal body
- auto restart after power failure
- will be able to support up to 2 usb web cams

According to the information I have the price will be at about $200, which is more than a NSLU2 but when you subtract the money you get for the NSLU2 when you sell it, the additional invest won't be too high.

Meteohub licenses for a NSLU2 can be transfered to the new platform. So you don't loose this invest.

The new platform is for users who want the new features and/or are looking for top reliability. Nevertheless the NSLU2 will be ongoing supported. So you can migrate, but you don't have to.

I hope this information makes your wating time a bit more comfortable. I think it is worth waiting.

P.S.: All information given here is preliminary, changes might occur.

GRRRRR....third time I type this (it doesn't post)...and I am not too happy by this descision already.

Oke, time to cool down a bit.

I think that the price is way too high. Suppose people were complaining about the current solution, than those extra's you mention would may be be worth the price. But many people are very happy with the current solution if I look at the various fora where Meteohub is discussed! Software and hardware are fine and things are stable.

This is what costumers want, in my opinion: lowest possible price while fullfilling their wishes. That seems to be what we currently can get.

I think you may be emphasize too much on tech extra's that are handy indeed, but not when the price is trippled for the unit! 270 euro's (Unit+softwar+CF card) is not a cheap datalogger for a WMR-100 or another OS station like the 928/968. Nor is it a cheap, appealing internet solution for almost every other station, IMO.

It is just like Davis stations: the best specs, probably better data and quality but at a price that leads many hobbyists to look for Nexus and Oregon Products, which they are satisfied with (in general).

I could be wrong, but may be you could start a poll to see what we want. Or try to look for another solution at a much lower price that is not soon to be EOL (well, you never know)....

If you did that already, my comments are premature and pretty useless I guess

I still have hope that prices may be lower. But even when the unit costs $100 in the far east until having it in EU or US there comes tax and shipping and warranty handling on top and therefore I expect it in the price range indicated.

From the feedback I get the #1 complaint is, that some NSLU2 and/or usb sticks don't work rock stable. This is very frustrating for these users and as I feel the obligation to help in these situations to get thing working again, it also binds quite some time that I don't have for further development. So when going to a new platform my primary focus is to get a rock stable solution.

Problem #2 is lack of performance of the NSLU2, especially RAM. The 32 MB RAM of the NSLU2 do make a lot of problems and to go ahead with more features, I need bit a more powerful platform.

Putting #1 and #2 together ruled out a solution to hijack another device like the NSLU2 and to make a patched router or so the new Meteohub platform. This wouldn't solve the potential issue with the USB Sticks and these units do not provide the power I need. The NSLU2 is still a very good performer in its class (not as a NAS, but as an embedded computer).

Bottom line:
1) prices for the new platform might be a bit lower than projected
2) NSLU2 will be ongoing supported for users who are fine with this (and have a stable situation)
3) New platform is an option. I am sure that NSLU2 will still be available for a long time. There is an enormous amount of systems out there in the market.

(befor sendind this I copied the text to handle the login time out - same problem that you had with writing this)

Yes, I realised that was the problem (login time). Once I copied it, I happened to be in time..It happens.

From the feedback I get the #1 complaint is, that some NSLU2 and/or usb sticks don't work rock stable.

I understand the problem. You are not in a position to try ten sticks AND ten new "NSLU2's" and then find a stable platform I guess. But may be a topic (in the main menu) would be nice to, where problems with hardware could be discussed.

So when going to a new platform my primary focus is to get a rock stable solution.

Why do you feel obliged? I understand that the best thing is the most stable platform. But you made software for hardware. It is like people being irritated by Windows, while the harware they use turns out to be defective.
Everything comes at a price. Yu want the best stability, the lngest range and the most accurate readings: buy a Davis. Many just settel for less and accept the occasional loss of signalevery once in a while.
Again: my impression is that most Meteohub users are happy users.

If I where you and I knew USB stick or NSLU2 can cause problems, I would just say that and tell them to try to use another NSLU2 or USB stick. You do not make the hardware!

If you compare the copies you've sold and the problems you get, what is the ratio of complainers. (For instance :1 complaint with every 10 copies sold etc).

Problem #2 is lack of performance of the NSLU2, especially RAM. The 32 MB RAM of the NSLU2 do make a lot of problems and to go ahead with more features, I need bit a more powerful platform.

Oke, that sounds very valid I have to admit.

Putting #1 and #2 together ruled out a solution to hijack another device like the NSLU2 and to make a patched router or so the new Meteohub platform. This wouldn't solve the potential issue with the USB Sticks and these units do not provide the power I need. The NSLU2 is still a very good performer in its class (not as a NAS, but as an embedded computer).

Are you sure the new platform will not have the same problem? Aren't there units with 64 Mb for instance etc..
Or can the problems be solved because of more room for you as a programmer on the new unit?

The support for the old platform is great!

Thanks for the informative and quick repsonse!

Mfg,

Jacinto

The biggest problem that I see with the current Meteohub is that the NSLU2 is now EOL. It's no longer manufactured. I will continue to run it, but eventually I know it will fail. It's been around for a lot longer than I thought it would be.

I'm happy to see that we will have the option to move to a product that is going to be actively supported and will be more stable and not hacked, even though the hack obviously works well. The better specs surely won't hurt, either :-)

I trust that my investment in the platform won't go to waste, and that the software will ultimately reach a stable state and continue to get at least bug fixes, and that NSLU2 owners won't be left high and dry.

Hi
I have no doubt that Boris in his daily routine, will continue as long as possible to support the present hardware and when the new one arrives he will continue after.

In the present climate, everyone is not going to be able to invest in the new equipment at first.

I myself am interested in this new venture, but am aware that I cannot go headlong into another $100/$200 outlay.
So rest assured that your investment will continue for a lot longer yet, plus updates.

regards:woohoo:

Is this the new Meteohub?

http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080721/0417497.html

AenG wrote:This is maby the new Meteohub?

http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080721/0417497.html

What OS is running on that Cherry gadget?
Linux? Can you install WINXP on it?

I see, it´s a Debian embedded clone.

german explanation:
http://www.zdnet.de/news/green-it/0,390 ... 542,00.htm

I GUESS it is the new meteoheb. The specifications boris discribed fit to this device.

AenG wrote:I GUESS it is the new meteoheb. The specifications boris discribed fit to this device.

no, that´s a complete different piece of hardware

As soon as I saw the CherryPal, that was my thought as well. I hope it is, as I am thinking about getting one anyway! Only the CherryPal is around $250, not $200 as was previously mentioned.

Actually, it doesn't seem like it would be, simply because the CherryPal only draws 2 watts, not 10-12. But, it does have built-in WiFi.

Hello.

Now I am cofused :S

I just ordered (still can cancel - but have to know) the NSLU2. So u are thinking about something totaly different? What will this be? Maybe should i wait and not buy the nslu2??? I have now running a pc-wetterstation on a intel Liitle walley2 (server 2008, 1 gb ram, 1 tb disk - has some other functions also) and as i don't use all the time i wanted a easyer sollution - like this one. So if I could get some more infos about this. What is the new platform - maybe i will buy it and can be a tester for u? I don't want to buy the nslu2 and then again in 6 months - 1 year another box...

So mr. Admin if you can give me/us here some infos about what is the new box, where could i get it, or should i just wait untill the end of the year to get it all then? I have a OS wmr928nx and will stay on it :D

Cheers!

When you buy a considerable cheap NSLU2 from a discounter or e**y and use it with Meteohub you can decide later on whether to sell the NSLU2 and switch to the new platform or not without loosing significant money.

If you purchase a Meteohub license, this will be convertable to the new platform. So you don't loose anything there. Data logged on a NSLU2 will be also easily to transfer to the new platform.

As the new platform is not yet public available today, you cannot buy it now. I have given the major elements of the specs in the starting post of this thread.

There are no plans to stop or freeze Meteohub's support for the NSLU2 anytime soon. As long as there is a reasonable Meteohub NSLU2 customer base further development will cover the new platform and NSLU2. Features which can only be handled by the new platform might be an exception.

Your WMR-968 is well supported by Meteohub, regardless the platform. From a functional point of view the new platform will provide all the NSLU2 delivers plus extras.