Digital Aquatics Archon Owners Thread

Crickets in here. Since the Archon is Open source and allows you to customize the interface, what does yours look like??? Here is my home page. not much but the background changed, but I have more in the works.]


I just figured out how to do. This could be "dangerous"! :artist:
 
OK. to change the background image,

1. Just choose one of your liking. (id keep it under 1mb for speed of loading)
2. and then rename it "background_water.jpg" .
3. Then rename the file with the same name inside the www folder on your jump drive "background_water_bak.jpg" (so you save it).
4. and then place the file from step 2 here.
5. pop the drive in and boot your system back up.

OR::::


1. Place the file of your choice on the jump drive in the WWW folder
2. edit the style.css file. in line 41, just change where it says background_water.jpg to whatever your new image name is.
3. save and boot your system.

for this step, i use notepad++ to edit the file.
 
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new updates should hit you guys here soon if not already. Big fix I see is ability to edit standby names. also i believe the timer trigger is now working. I am testing that part today. Plus some other under the hood stuff.
 
I have been laying low in the forum reading as much as I could about the Archon, and hoping that indeed the unit would turn out to be a very useful device for my setup. BUT, now that I have had it for close to 2 weeks, I am feeling the frustration that so many have expressed. I remember last Thanksgiving waiting for the Archon to go on sale, and then nothing happening for weeks. I then decided to wait for a while and let the bugs get worked out, but as I am now witnessing, the thing wont even keep correct time for my time zone. Is there any way to set this thing back to zero without sending it back? I did an immediate backup of the USB stick, so I have the original files, but every time I have tried to set things back to the image I had when I received it, I can never get it quite like it was.

My opinion is, unless someone at DA gets on this forum, or the support forum from their website, and starts opening up about whats going on, and give some insights and time frames on future releases, I am going to have to write this thing off as junk!
 
Cardinalfish. One thing about its design. If you have updates the software it will need to have the corresponding files on the usb to work properly. There are enhancements in the software and hardware that pull from the usb.

Da has been active on the support forum.


Now all thst said, the latest set has been rocking for me with just a small exception that will be addressed soon with triggering timers
 
Cardinal fish, Sorry to hear you're having trouble. My time stays solid. I am in Central zone. Not sure if that plays a part in it. I have done updates. Software 1.09.9 and hardware 1.08.5. Good luck. Don't give up. It keeps getting better and DA support does seem to be listening and fixing any glitches in a timely fashion. I am by no means a guru with this stuff but running my alk/ca/kalk dosing w/ no issues as well as all other functions.
 
I am also in the central time zone and it is still right on time. It has an uptime of 182 hours at the moment. Did you do a reset on the unit after the update to the latest firmware and files. You will have to go back to the Archon wifi server like when you first got the unit after the reset. It will ask for your UTC code which is -6 I believe for the central time zone. It also has a check box if it is currently daylight savings time. You will have to fill out the information for your wifi and you password and name if you changed them. I did this after the update. Make sure DST is checked on the system page and set the correct time if it is not correct. I have not setup the time since the updates. Hope this helps.
 
This may be insignificant to most but since it is a forum and for sharing info I will point out that I discovered the clock does not change time during the time you are in the System screen. So if you set it and then monitor there it does not move. I am not sure if it is ticking away behind the screen while still there but I set time about 20 seconds ahead of real time, hit save and exit back to Home screen to get it as accurate as I can.
 
This morning I set everything back to original, and then applied the latest update (5/26/15) and restarted. The clock is currently set to the correct time. (I did this before and after about 36 hours it lost an hour) I will leave it alone for a day or 2 before I attempt any changes just to see what the time does.
One thing I noticed that I really don't like is, even though the alarms are sending emails to me, why doesn't the alarm page show the correct information in the 4 boxes? The only way I know for sure that it is working is to send a test.
Now, for the things I can not get working. I added an additional name and credentials to the "accesslist" file in the "db" folder, but It does nothing. Has anyone gotten this to work?
My server has a name, but I can not access it through a browser with anything other than its IP address. Is this working or not?
Can someone give me an example of how to access the Archon from outside of my home network? I have the port forwarded on the router for the Archon.

I know that many on this forum are way smarter with Linux and computers in general, but I think that there should be clear instructions on exactly how to run this thing. I have noticed remarks in this thread about certain actions require you to hit the "save" button twice in order for the changes to take place. I find that a little ridiculous. I have also noticed some users stating that they had problems and received answers via emails from DA. The problem with that is, they never pass on the information to the group that helped them fix their problem. We need to share those little tidbits so that we don't have to read 15 pages of information to find an answer. That is why I think it is so important for DA to be proactive with their "Support" pages.

by the way, Pickupman66 is a great example of sharing his knowledge with the group. He spells things out exactly how they need to be done. I do however have one question for you, could you define "soon" from your post about getting triggering timers resolved?
 
I tried to address below.


One thing I noticed that I really don't like is, even though the alarms are sending emails to me, why doesn't the alarm page show the correct information in the 4 boxes? The only way I know for sure that it is working is to send a test.

----- It does this as a security measure. IIRC the Net module didnt show your password. this just removes everything.

Now, for the things I can not get working. I added an additional name and credentials to the "accesslist" file in the "db" folder, but It does nothing. Has anyone gotten this to work?

---I haven't done this for a few updates but Ill see what I can do to test it.


My server has a name, but I can not access it through a browser with anything other than its IP address. Is this working or not?
Can someone give me an example of how to access the Archon from outside of my home network? I have the port forwarded on the router for the Archon.

---I use Dyndns to make mine work. you need to have a dynamic dns service to access it from the outside world. This works in conjunciton with your router or a client installed on a local PC that reports your current IP address to the DYN service. from there they translate it for you so that when you enter "youraddress.dyndns.org" it redirects it per their DNS service to your router. that said, once the cloud service is up and running, this will be a mute point. Fwiw, they are working on amazon backbone I believe.



I know that many on this forum are way smarter with Linux and computers in general,

---i dont know hardly anyting about computers, just an analytical mind

but I think that there should be clear instructions on exactly how to run this thing. I have noticed remarks in this thread about certain actions require you to hit the "save" button twice in order for the changes to take place. I find that a little ridiculous.
---I dont remember having to save twice...?....

I have also noticed some users stating that they had problems and received answers via emails from DA. The problem with that is, they never pass on the information to the group that helped them fix their problem. We need to share those little tidbits so that we don't have to read 15 pages of information to find an answer. That is why I think it is so important for DA to be proactive with their "Support" pages.

by the way, Pickupman66 is a great example of sharing his knowledge with the group. He spells things out exactly how they need to be done. I do however have one question for you, could you define "soon" from your post about getting triggering timers resolved?

--- Soon as in US BETA testers have an update coming this week that is supposed to resolve it. I wont get to play with it until next week as i am going to Bonnaroo.
 
So I just ordered my Archon system. Used a reef keeper elite and net module for many years. How seamless will the transition be? Im sure I will have to program everything again but is it as simple as plug it in in place of the head unit and go to town? I can get rid of the head unit, the net module, and the sl1 right? Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!!
 
I am sure others who are more tech savvy will chime in but at a bare minimum go to DA support forum check Archon hints and tips. One for sure is about your older power bars needing to be refreshed first.
 
So I just ordered my Archon system. Used a reef keeper elite and net module for many years. How seamless will the transition be? Im sure I will have to program everything again but is it as simple as plug it in in place of the head unit and go to town? I can get rid of the head unit, the net module, and the sl1 right? Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!!

Prior to disconnecting your RKE head unit, do a factory reset on everything. I would also do a fresh firmware update on the PC4s. There is some information that is stored in the PC4 and it needs to be cleared out. Also, go to the Digital Aquatics website and download the user manual. There are a few features on the Archon that haven't been updated in the manual, but it will help a lot in initial programming. You can find the manual under the Archon tab under downloads.
 
I am sure others who are more tech savvy will chime in but at a bare minimum go to DA support forum check Archon hints and tips. One for sure is about your older power bars needing to be refreshed first.

I just recently used the myreef thing and everything is up to date, do I still need to update something on them?

Prior to disconnecting your RKE head unit, do a factory reset on everything. I would also do a fresh firmware update on the PC4s. There is some information that is stored in the PC4 and it needs to be cleared out. Also, go to the Digital Aquatics website and download the user manual. There are a few features on the Archon that haven't been updated in the manual, but it will help a lot in initial programming. You can find the manual under the Archon tab under downloads.

So even though they are up to date do it again just so its fresh right before I plug them in? Those have to be done individually right? Ill download that manual.
 
I just recently used the myreef thing and everything is up to date, do I still need to update something on them?



So even though they are up to date do it again just so its fresh right before I plug them in? Those have to be done individually right? Ill download that manual.

Gablet A factory reset is different than updating the modules!!!!
 
From my experience on using old modules with my Archon, I did the interrupted reset as described below:

Interrupted Update Process (from Archon UserGroup)

To perform an "Interrupted Update,” go through the Update steps below until step 7. Once the green progress bar in your MyReef screen starts to move, unplug the module from the SID (not the SID from the computer). After MyReef completes the update, it will display an error message, "Update Failed."

Unplug the SID, close MyReef, then restart MyReef. Once MyReef is restarted, reconnect the SID. When the SID appears in the MyReef software, reconnect your Module to the SID. MyReef will show it as "?????", and you can select the appropriate Module from the list and it will reassign a new serial number. You can then re-update the unit by following the Update steps again, without the interruption.

The order in which things occur can be very important, so please be sure to follow the steps closely.

How to Update the Module

Do not attempt to update any of the modules while they are connected together, even if the software indicates that they need updating. Each module must be updated individually.

Here are the steps you should take to update the Module:

From a fresh restart of the computer, please make sure the SID is not connected to the computer and is not connected to the ReefKeeper system. The module should be unplugged from the power outlet or powered off.

1. Open the MyReef software application
2. Connect your SID to your computer via USB.
3. In myReef, verify that the SID shows up under “Systems” in the left hand tree view.
4. Plug in ONLY your Module. It should appear under the SID in the “Systems” on the left hand tree view.
5. Click on the ‘Update” button to the right of the Module. MyReef will display the firmware update screen and automatically select the most recent firmware version to update.
6. Click the “Program” button. The progress bar at the top of the screen will begin to move.
7. Once the Module has been updated successfully, verify that MyReef correctly reports the current firmware.
8. Close MyReef and disconnect the SID from the computer as well as the module.

Once that is complete, plug the module back into the ReefKeeper system.
 
Yes. So your saying do a factory reset, then do the interrupted update thing described above, then connect the archon?

Just follow the directions for the interrupted update up to number 7 as laid out above before connecting to Archon. Same info can be found on DA support site under Hints and Tips.
 
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