FAQ
Receiver
How do I install the WxWorx receiver?
Does the WxWorx receiver and WxWorx software come with a manual?
Yes. A manual is included with both WxWorx hardware and software.
Will the WxWorx receiver also give me XM Satellite Radio's audio programming?
No. However, you can use the one XM antenna that is provided with your receiver kit to provide a signal to your XM radio receiver. WxWorx does not provide a software or hardware option for radio tuning.
How does the WR10BT or WR10U get power?
For USB connections: the USB cable itself supplies power to the receiver, so no external power source is necessary.
What kind of connections does the receiver offer?
What is the range of the receiver’s Bluetooth signal?
What kind of GPS receiver is built into the new receiver?
What is the operating voltage range of the WxWorx receiver?
The Weather Data Receiver accepts 9-32V DC power input.
I am only receiving and displaying some data products. Some data buttons in the WxWorx software are red and will not turn blue/green.
Another possibility is that the receiver may not be fully activated. Bring up XmLink and select Tools->Activation Mode. Let the XmLink window stay up until the XM WX Level window indicates the package that you requested from XM Listener Care. If it does not appear or the XM WX Level is shown as "None defined" , contact XM Listener Care at 1-800-985-9200 and request a refresh. When the refresh is being sent, leave the receiver in activation mode until the XM WX Level matches your request, then click the Done button. The receiver should begin ingesting all the data products that are part of your selected package.
The XmLink program doesn't show my radio serial number.
This is caused by a communication problem between XmLink and the receiver. To troubleshoot this, start by checking your computer’s operating system. Close every WxWorx application, including XmLink. Make sure XmLink is not active in the task bar tray (bottom right corner of most desktops). If it is, right- click on the icon (double arrows facing up and down) and select Exit. Then confirm you want to exit.
Open your operating system’s Device Manger to confirm the port is installed correctly. There are two ways you can do this:
- Click Start->Control Panel->System. Select the Hardware tab, then Device Manager.
- If there is a My Computer icon on your desktop, you can right-click on it. Select Properties. This will bring up the System window. As above, select the Hardware tab, then Device Manager.
Once at the Device Manager, click the + sign beside the COM and LPT Ports. With a USB-connected receiver, USB Serial Port (COM X) should be listed as one of the devices. If not, follow these steps:
(a) With the USB cable disconnected from the PC, check that the LED on the receiver is alternating between bright red and green.
(b) Plug the USB cable back into the laptop and ensure the LED becomes solid green.
(c) Check the Device Manager for the "USB Serial Port".
If the computer asks you to load a driver or a question mark appears on a "USB to High Speed Serial Device" when the install wizard comes up (either automatically or by right clicking on the device and choosing update driver), choose the advanced option. In the next window, select “ Browse to a location” and point the system at the C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCP_Drivers directory. The wizard should then load the correct drivers.
If the LED does not turn solid green or the computer does not recognize the receiver at all, please try only steps (a) and (b) above on another computer to confirm there is a problem with the receiver.
If the "USB Serial Port" is present in the Device Manager, try unplugging power to the receiver. The port should disappear. Wait 30 seconds and then plug the power back into the receiver. The port should reappear. If it does, take note of the COM port number. Launch XmLink from Start->Programs->WxWorx on Water (or WxWorx on Wings or Mobile Threat Net (depending on install)->XmLink. Select “Communications Settings” from the Tools menu, and ensure the Com port matches the port number seen in the Device Manager, and that the baud rate is set to 38,400.
Another possibility is that sufficient power is not being delivered to the receiver. Make sure that the power supply in use is either one provided by us or if not check that it meets the minimum power requirements, available here. (link to Power requirements question)
Other, less common, possibilities for this issue include a virus on your computer. Versions of Hot Sync software used with PDAs have also been known to COM and USB port conflicts. If the problem persists, contact WxWorx Customer Support at 256-319-9679.
My XmLink antenna signal indicates > 999 on Sat 1, Sat 2 and Ground.
If the version number is current, make sure the main XmLink window is not indicating that no antenna has been detected in the Signal Quality section. If you do see that no antenna has been detected, check the antenna connection with the WxWorx receiver. If an antenna has been detected, try moving the antenna to a location where it has a clear view of the southern sky.
Another possibility is having the XM antenna and a GPS antenna located too close to each other. If the two antennas are beside each other, move them apart until the XM signal lock becomes solid. If no antenna is detected or the problem persists, contact WxWorx technical support at 256-319-9679.
Software
How do I fix a "NIP Connect Failed" error in my WxWorx software?
Can I install the WxWorx software on several different computers?
Satellite-delivered weather data from XM WX requires that the WxWorx receiver is connected to your computer.
Does the WxWorx receiver system and WxWorx software come with a manual?
Data & Reception
What is the XM WX Satellite Weather coverage area?
How far outside the continental US is the XM WX weather data available?
Will the WxWorx receiver also give me XM Satellite Radio's music and news programming?
How long does it take for the WxWorx receiver to become activated for the XM WX service?
Do I need to have the WxWorx software open to view weather data?
The receiver’s LED is green, but there is no COM port showing in the Device Manager.
My WxWorx software comes up in activation mode when I bring the system back up after not being used for a month or so.
First of all, make sure you have the latest software downloaded from our website. Any version of XmLink greater than 1.23 has addressed this problem. If the receiver has been inactive for several months, you may need to get a refresh from XM Listener Care at 1-800-985-9200. or www.xmradio.com/refresh entering your Radio ID. Enter Activation mode in the XmLink application to fully activate your receiver.
Can I purchase from WxWorx an XM portable antenna for the WxWorx Gen 1 receiver?
No, this product is no longer available from WxWorx.
GPS
What GPS devices are compatible with WxWorx software? How do I configure the software?
Once the GPS is properly configured and connected to the computer, launch the WxWorx application and go to the Setup->GPS Settings window. Enter the COM port number and baud rate for the GPS. Close the application and then re-launch it for the settings to take effect.
If you are unsure of the baud rate, launch HyperTerminal from Start->Programs->Accessories->Communications->HyperTerminal. Select the COM port that the GPS is connected to and choose the baud rate you expect the GPS to be transmitting. If no data appears or you cannot read the data, check the cables and settings on the GPS.
My Holux GM210 GPS device doesn’t seem to refresh correctly, or doesn’t lock onto the GPS satellites.
When working correctly, USB-based GPS devices will correctly lock onto satellites within 45 seconds from a cold start. There is one known issue with the Holux GPS. To test for it:
1) Open GPS Viewer, find the GPS and open the port.
2) Click on Cold Start.
3) Immediately close the connection to the GPS and then Reopen. This forces the cold start.
4) Cold Start is verified by the window on the right showing an incorrect date and all satellites disappearing.
5) The GPS will start looking for a satellite. Within about 15 seconds it should find a satellite and populate the window on the right with numbers running vertically from top to bottom.
6) At this point the problem noted above will start happening, and it won't update the information correctly. Use the procedure above to verify it locks onto satellites, this should happen within 45 seconds with good sky view.
7) If it never locks on ONE satellite and continues cycling through satellite numbers in step 5 there may be a hardware problem with your GPS unit.
My DeLorme Earthmate GPS does not work with WxWorx software.
NOTE: Since DeLorme has updated this driver, we have encountered an issue where the Earthmate GPS may go back to being an HID device once it has been disconnected and re-connected. In this event, you will need to repeat the steps above to reconfigure it as a COM port.
I get a "GPS error com X" message when I start my WxWorx software.
A) No GPS unit is attached to the display device.
Ignore the statement and continue to load the WxWorx software. The message will disappear once a GPS device is connected. If you have no plans to attach a GPS device in the future, go to Settings->GPS settings and change the port to "0". This will stop the application from looking for a GPS device when initializing.
B) The GPS unit is not appearing as a COM port.
Check your Device Manager to ensure the GPS device is associated with a COM port. Go to Start->Control Panel, and double-click the System icon. The System Properties menu will appear. Click the Hardware tab, then Device Manager. Look for the COM and LPT ports, and click on the + symbol next to them. The GPS device should be on one of the listed COM ports. To verify its operation, launch HyperTerminal from Start->Programs->Accessories->Communications->HyperTerminal. Select the COM port that the GPS is connected to, and choose the baud rate you expect the GPS to be transmitting. If no data appears or you cannot read the data, check the cables and settings on the GPS device.
C) The GPS unit is not configured correctly in the Settings->GPS settings menu.
Go to the Settings->GPS settings menu and enter the COM port number and baud rate in the locations displayed in the pop-up window. Most handheld or USB-powered GPS units run at 4800 baud while most aviation panel-mounted GPS units output at 9600 baud. Bluetooth GPS units can be configured for several different settings, check the GPS device manufacturer documentation. Once you have set this correctly, exit the window. A window will pop up telling you to restart the WxWorx application. Close the application and re-launch it. The error should not happen again and your GPS button should be blue.
D) A second GPS-enabled application is running.
A second application (e.g., GPS Viewer, HyperTerminal) is running and has control of the port that the GPS is connected to. Close the second application and restart the display software. If you are running two applications that both need GPS input, you will need a second GPS device. At present, only one application can access a GPS data source at any one time; however, there are some third-party software packages that allow a GPS to be shared between two applications.
Mobile Integration
How does Mobile Link Work?
The Mobile Link device allows users to view XM WX Satellite Weather data on tablets and smart phones utilizing operating systems such as iOS, Android and more. Data can be viewed directly on the user’s preferred browser, or through a compatible app. Produced by Baron, the Mobile Link device is small and unobtrusive, connecting to the WxWorx receiver through a single USB connection.
Can I use Bluetooth from the WxWorx Bluetooth receiver to connect to my iPad?
No, the only way to connect wirelessly to an iPad or phone with the WxWorx receiver is to use the Baron Mobile link device. The mobile link generates a Wifi hotspot and allows for 4 simultanous connections.
How can I learn more about Mobile Link?
There is a wealth of information about Mobile Link available on www.baronweather.com. Visit http://www.baronweather.com/mobilelink/ to learn more.
What equipment do I need to use the Mobile Link?
What kind of data and power connections are used between the XM WX data receiver and my Mobile Link?
How do I update my Mobile Link’s firmware?
What apps work with Mobile Link?