Apex Firmware Update - 4.01 Beta

[clp]

If you want to help test the latest firmware for the Apex, then read on. Don't expect this release to be perfect - that is why it is a beta release. I recommend that you wait for the final release if for any reason you are not comfortable putting beta firmware in your controller.

The new features/fixes in the release are:

- xml fix for illegal probe name characters
- multi-day graphing and datalogging on web pages.
- support for multi-day xml datalogs and output logs
i.e.: http://apex/cgi-bin/outlog.xml?sdate=091011&days=30
http://apex/cgi-bin/datalog.xml?sdate=091011&days=30&interval=60
sdate = start date, MMYYDDHHMM
days = number of days to download
interval = specifies the number of minutes between samples to output (only valid for datalogs)
- made all probe names consistent between all xml and status pages.
- support Apex Lite
- support PM1
- added defer command to filter/remove short lived changes in probe values.
i.e. Defer 010 Then On

You can download it from:

http://www.neptunesys.com/apex_4_01.zip

Curt

 

[rbnice1]

How does the defer work?

Lets say I want my alarm to wait till pH is below 7.9 for 3 minutes before alarming.

Right now alarm is PH < 7.9 Then ON


That and I still cant really update the firm ware on this thing. When I run it it says setting unit to receiving mode then my apex starts flashing yellow and restarts then my alarms go off then its running normal again, while this flash utility just counts up tiring to connect the whole time.

 

[tamu]

I would like to see how the defer command is implemented.

Is it just sampling the probe value every X minutes? Or is it that it is possible to say when my MHs turn on hold value steady for X minutes?

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Defer causes the program to wait (the specified number of seconds) before changing the state of the outlet. If during the defer time the outlet state would change then it is changed after defer expires.

Since my explaination might be as clear as mud consider this example:

An outlet has the following code:

Set OFF
If PH < 7.9 Then ON
Defer 60 Then ON

When the PH drops below 7.9 the defer starts counting down 60 seconds; but it doesn't allow the outlet to turn on. If during the entire 60 seconds the PH remains < 7.9 then the outlet will turn on.

The current firmware limits to 120 seconds.

Does that make sense?

 

[Deleted member 143833]

I've come to learn that many anti-virus programs block the uploader; it appears to work best when Windows is run in "Safe Mode with Networking"; you might want to try this.

Norton doesn't appear to cause issues but Zone Alarm and Mcafee seam to cause issues (even if they are disabled they appear to keep 'some' stuff active).

 

[tamu]

Thanks

 

[rbnice1]

Ken thanks for the explination on defer. will really use this new feature.

As far as anti-virus programs...... None... notta... I also have no firewalls up and running. I have 2 PCs running. XP and 2k. Neither work updating the Apex across my network, through a hardwired router. Doesnt work at all on my xp machine plugged directly in. Plugged directly into my 2k machine it worked fine.

So I was able to get it updated, but I dont know why it doesnt work through my router or plugged into my xp box. Last time I updated I used a work laptop and it was XP and worked fine.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

+1 on safe mode

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Wrt "Defer"; I should have mentioned that you can have a Defer ON AND Defer OFF; you can can defer an outlet turning on or off until it has been in the state for 'n' seconds.

 

[sjwinick]

so far so good

so far so good

some feedback first. updated my apex with beta code. update went smoothly. so far, it's running fine.

i have retrieved multi-day data on the web. noticed that if i try to graph multi-day and the data doesn't exist yet, (eg, i select starting day as 5 days ago and graph a week) that i see a graph for the days that don't exist. looks like a repeat of the last days data

i like the new DEFER command. seems to operate like switch or hardware de-bouncing

is configuration backup/restore still planned for the next version release? still pretty high priority to me. hate to think about having to reprogram the apex over again if something happened.

is there an pinned-up open thread for wish list items for future versions?

i'd love to see a summary status web page that was icon/text based like the home screen of the apex controller itself. too many lines of text to look through on the main status page of the web interface. it has everything and it's both status and manual control. hard to read. control is different and needs all the detail. status doesn't and ideally is configurable, just like the display for the controller.

thx

sjw

 

[Cathy8424]

Any idea as to when there may be a "save program or code" feature?

I would like to do beta testing if I could easily reinstall my codes if something goes wrong.

Thanks,
Cathy

 

[tamu]

i'd love to see a summary status web page that was icon/text based like the home screen of the apex controller itself. too many lines of text to look through on the main status page of the web interface. it has everything and it's both status and manual control. hard to read. control is different and needs all the detail. status doesn't and ideally is configurable, just like the display for the controller.

Great Idea!

 

[aentrop]

Curt,

Simple fix needed.

Under XML->RSS Feed

The text currently reads AquaController 3 RSS Feed
It should read: AquaController APEX Feed.

Heres the screenshot:

Also: I dont know how it works but, maybe you could adjust the firmware to make it work with the iPhone app... Previously the graphs would load forever and never show up. With this updated firmware the graphs now appear, but no data is plotted on them. I know this is something that the iphone app writer should fix, but doesnt look like they are going to update it any time soon...

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 143833]

With this updated firmware the graphs now appear, but no data is plotted on them

This is a function of the iPhone; the graphs are flash based and iPhone doesn't support flash. I think there was another thread on this same issue last week or 2. In order to get graphs and control on the iPhone you should use either the iPhone app or TankManage (www.kenargo.com\tankManager)

 

[aentrop]

Also another note:
The multiday graphs are not posting the proper data.

It is getting days 1 and 2 correct, but day 2 data is being repeated for days 2-7.
APEX Temp

Heres the correct temp graph:

APEX pH:

Heres the correct pH data:

I have double checked this, and the data is from 10/20/2009 - 7 days.

Day 1 and 2 are correct, you can see the temp varying at the end of the day when the chiller comes on several times at the end of the day. However days 4 and 5, my chiller never came on, and the temp is a very different curve, with out the rapid temp swings toward the end of the day.

 

[aentrop]

This is a function of the iPhone; the graphs are flash based and iPhone doesn't support flash. I think there was another thread on this same issue last week or 2. In order to get graphs and control on the iPhone you should use either the iPhone app or TankManage (www.kenargo.com\tankManager)

This was regarding me using the iPhone app named aquanotes. Not safari. So its not a flash issue. It is related to how the iPhone app retrieves data from the apex. Previously aquanotes would load forever, now it actually displays a graph.

Heres the screenshot:

With the previous firmware I couldnt even get this part to appear. Note the lack of data points.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

This was regarding me using the iPhone app named aquanotes. Not safari. So its not a flash issue. It is related to how the iPhone app retrieves data from the apex. Previously aquanotes would load forever, now it actually displays a graph.

<images removed for space>

With the previous firmware I couldnt even get this part to appear. Note the lack of data points.

You might want to start a new thread with iPhone in the title so the person who created the iPhone app sees it. It's not a question for Neptune and is specific to the iPhone app.

 

[aentrop]

maybe you could adjust the firmware to make it work with the iPhone app.

I know this is something that the iphone app writer should fix, but doesnt look like they are going to update it any time soon...

Thanks!

 

[ThurlowR]

Is Neptune still releasing a new iPhone app ? If not they really should stop advertising it works with the iPhone app.

 

[aentrop]

No Neptune has never released one at all. It is an independent application, made by someone. I just thought if they advertise it, they could adjust the hardware to allow it to work. It is not a must, but would make many current and potential customers more satisfied, even though it is not an obligation.