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Author Topic: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?  (Read 48277 times)

Offline n0xu

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Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« on: December 05, 2019, 2123 UTC »
Windy appears to be transmitting only an "H"  every 65 seconds or so.

Heard on the ND7M KiwiSDR in southern Nevada today at 2120Z.

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2019, 1604 UTC »
Here is what I think is going on -

Windy's solar panel is most effective at keeping the battery charged for normal operation in mostly sunny weather. Both the panel and battery appear to be a bit undersized to sustain operation after multiple days of heavy cloud cover and rain. The battery may also be getting a bit "old" and could need replacement.

When the battery runs down into the low eleven volt range the controller stops sending telemetry and sends four dits which I like to think is an "H" for "help".   ;)   As the battery runs down further the controller send three dits which could be an "S" for "SOS" before the controller shuts down completely.   :-\

Last night Windy was sending three dits and the desert areas still have high clouds so battery charging may or may not be sufficient for telemetry to be sent for a few hours until sunset cuts off charging. There is more rain coming for the next two days so Windy will not get enough sunshine until Monday.

Having said all that it appears that the owner of Windy planned for low battery situations and programmed the controller to minimize power consumption when required. Therefore this is not a malfunction but a normal response to insufficient sunshine.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2019, 1609 UTC by Teotwaki »
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
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Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2019, 1755 UTC »
I just checked Windy and it is operating normally but the battery is only at 12.5 volts
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline DYGradio

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2019, 2319 UTC »
Copying 12.0 volts right now at 23:16z. Cloudy here in central AZ pretty much all day today.
Ron
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Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2019, 0314 UTC »
03:12 Z 6 Dec2019

7:12 PM local

Signal strength has been good. I've been watching the voltage decline. Right now it is at 11.9 volts with the temp at 55 degrees

Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2019, 1456 UTC »
Battery is hanging in there at 11.5 volts. The weather is shifting and most of the heavy rain clouds are staying along the coast.  The high clouds over the desert areas may allow enough sunlight to get through for Windy to keep sending telemetry.
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2019, 1504 UTC »
Sometime after 10PM last night Windy's battery dropped lower and it is now sending three dits.
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline DYGradio

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2019, 2148 UTC »
Three dits as of 21:48z
Ron
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San Tan Valley, AZ  Grid square DM43ff
www.wb5dyg.com

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Vertical, longwire, and other antennas

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2019, 1523 UTC »
Still sending three dits but Windy should get a full day of sun today as well as 5 - 10 MPH winds. I hope to hear it transition from 3 dits, to four dits, to full telemetry this morning.   ;D
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2019, 1721 UTC »
Windy just transitioned to sending 4 dits after a good hour to hour and a half of sunlight!
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2019, 2331 UTC »
Still sending just 4 dits.
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2019, 0113 UTC »
Back to 3 dits. The deserts will continue to have high clouds with some sunshine getting through so Windy's battery could take a while to get back to a full charge.
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2019, 1600 UTC »
3 dits being sent this morning at 8 AM Pacific  ;D
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2019, 1640 UTC »
Now in the "help" mode sending four dits 65 sec apart. Am hoping the battery's state of charge improves today.
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half

Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy 4102.85 malfunction?
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2019, 1715 UTC »
Windy just woke up!
Jim
NRD-525, Elecraft KX3 and Elecraft PX3 Spectrum Display
76' end fed long wire & 66' off-center fed dipole for 10/20/40 meters
Orange County, SoCal, The better half