Sharper Image Weather Station EC-WS115 not updating

Anonymous
2020-12-07T00:50:36+00:00

Thanks to this community, I have found the software for the Sharper Image EC-WS115, and I've learned how to deal with its USB issues under Windows 10. 

But, it stopped updating the forecast on November 30th, 2020.

The 5-day forecast software gives me an error saying "Cannot connect to server. Please try again later" whenever I try to update the forecast.

Is anyone else having this issue, or just me? Has Foreca shut down the server used to feed information to these devices?

I don't want to send this device to a landfill.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2020-12-20T19:05:29+00:00

I finally had some success this morning utilizing a workaround that was developed with a lot input from a number of people.  I've created a step-by-step guide as to what I did to get my Sharper Image EC-WS115 5-Day weather forecast station up and running again after the server quit working back on November 30th.  If you use Windows, then this solution should work.  I just got it working this morning, so I haven't fully tested it yet to see if it automatically updates like it used to or if there are any bugs in the code.  If you're interested in taking a peak at the process (5 steps), then download the zip file containing all the files you will need to make it work.  The step-by-step guide is a filed titled 'Read Me.pdf'.  Thanks to all those who did the hard work by decompiling and writing new code in order to make it work.  The zip file can be downloaded here (just click on 'download' in the upper-left-hand corner):  

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yin1t3oqjnyxwe1/5-Day%20Weather%20Forecast%20Workaround.zip?dl=0

Best of luck and Merry Christmas!

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Anonymous
2021-01-01T14:40:14+00:00

Can anyone put a detailed process on how to get the weather station up and running.  I have downloaded the zip files, gone to Weatherbit and got my personal number.  But , I cannot find the file folders that I have to copy other files to.. please help me.  I want  to get my weather station back on line.  Thanks!

Good morning Michael, as Eric mentioned in another post, check the ReadMe.pdf file that has step-by-step instructions on where everything goes.  Here's also a link to a 27-minute video tutorial that steps through each step in detail.  Hope this helps.  Happy New Year!

https://vimeo.com/495872313/ca3d3d378e

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-12T00:28:30+00:00

    Thank you, I followed the video step by step and i was able to resolve the issue.  I wish I had known earlier about the Nov. 30 satellite disconnect.  I kept trying to make it work.  Now, just follow the video step by step.  I resolved the issue in 5 hours because I do not know alot about computers.  However, my weather station is back up and running.  I owe you a huge thank you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-01-11T22:45:47+00:00

    Hi Casper. Thanks for all the work you did to help everyone out. I'm getting stuck at the point where you say to paste the new httpd.conf file onto the old one. I can't find any httpd.conf file anywhere. Only a httpd file. Did I do something wrong?

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-01-09T05:20:30+00:00

    The easiest solution for me (right now) is Greener than leaving the PC powered up but less Green than shutting it down and doing the USB plug dance each time. 

    The semi-retired PC used for this weather display goes to Sleep after 30 minutes. A tap of its keyboard spacebar or click of its mouse awakens it but it does NOT initiate the USB problem. It is only a issue under Win10 from a full restart or a startup that forces a boot. 

    I'll tap or click it every day or two to transit a WX update and avoid the plug dance but for some Win10 updates or other boot events.

    Yeah, me too, after screwing with the software, with the Wamp webserver, and being tired of re-plugging the USB at every reboot I gave up. I had an old retired PC. Slapped a Win 7 on it and "repurposed" it for this only purpose.

    Heck I even named the PC Weather. It turns on with a smart plug, stays on for an hour, enough to get the data and to send it to the station. Getting data is instant. Transmitting to the receiver takes a while, not sure how long.

    After an hour the PC shuts down with a script (.bat file in startup with a 3600s delay). After that hour the smart plug turns off too. Just to be able to power on the PC the next day on a schedule.

    So far it works perfect. With Windows 7 there is no need for re-plugging the USB.

    After everything was alright I even removed monitor, keyboard, mouse and it is only a box somewhere in the basement. If I need to access it I do it over remote desktop. Signal from the USB transmitter reaches the station just fine.

    So here's another box that would have gone to landfill being put to good use.

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