{"id":1554,"date":"2019-09-16T17:48:10","date_gmt":"2019-09-17T00:48:10","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-21T08:18:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T15:18:10","slug":"1554","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/1554","title":{"rendered":"Wireless Dynamics Sensor System (WDSS) Troubleshooting and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-kb-palette-12-background-color has-background\"><strong>This sensor is no longer available. Information is presented for reference only.<\/strong><br \/><strong>Note:<\/strong> The WDSS is <strong>not compatible with macOS 11<\/strong> and newer.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/product\/wireless-dynamics-sensor-system\/\">Wireless Dynamics Sensor System<\/a> (<nobr>WDSS<\/nobr>)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"\/manuals\/WDSS\">Specifications and User Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/product.wdss._hero.001.1280.720.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Primary Test:<\/b> There is extensive information on installing Bluetooth radios and establishing radio communications with WDSS, see <a href=\"\/til\/4429\/\">Bluetooth Help and Troubleshooting Tips related to the Wireless Dynamics Sensor System (WDSS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Secondary Test:<\/b> Once communication is established, do the following:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose Set Up Sensors &#8211;&gt; WDSS:(name) from the Experiment menu.<\/li>\n<li>Click Identify; Run light will blink on WDSS.<\/li>\n<li>Click Manage Memory; you will see any stored runs existing on the device.<br \/>Check the Delete boxes and click OK if you want to clear the memory; otherwise just click OK.<\/li>\n<li>Enable all five sensors by placing a check in each checkbox, then click Close. You should see five meters on screen.<br \/>\u26ac Push and pull force sensor; does reading change?<br \/>\u26ac Hold WDSS so each of x, y and z axes are up; does meter read about 9.8 m\/s<sup>2<\/sup> in each case?<br \/>\u26ac Altimeter will read near zero, but cannot be easily tested indoors.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> if you last used a particular WDSS with only some of the channels active, the next time that computer detects that WDSS, only those channels will be active.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sensor Compatibility<\/h3>\n<section id=\"requirements\" class=\"vst-harmony\">\n<p>Choose a platform below to see its compatibility requirements.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>LabQuest<\/summary>\n<div class=\"compatible-details\">\n<table class=\"table-base table-bordered compatibility-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Interface<\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\">LabQuest App<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq3\/\">LabQuest 3<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq2\/\">LabQuest 2<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq\/\">LabQuest<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#labquest-1\" title=\"Requires a Bluetooth USB Adapter (discontinued)\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Compatibility Notes<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"footnotes\">\n<li id=\"labquest-1\">Requires a <a href=\"\/products\/accessories\/blue-usb\/\">Bluetooth USB Adapter<\/a> (discontinued)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Computers<\/summary>\n<div class=\"compatible-details\">\n<table class=\"table-base table-bordered compatibility-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"empty-cell\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"text-center\" colspan=\"2\">Software<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Interface<\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/product\/graphical-analysis\/\">Graphical Analysis<\/a><\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/product\/logger-pro-3\/\">Logger <i>Pro<\/i> (discontinued)<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\">No interface required<\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Incompatible<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Partial support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#computers-1\" title=\"Requires a Bluetooth USB Adapter (discontinued) when used with some computers\">1<\/a> <a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#computers-2\" title=\"Bluetooth connection not compatible with macOS 11 and newer.\">2<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq3\/\">LabQuest 3<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#computers-3\" title=\"Full support of this sensor is only available when LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 is connected via Wireless Data Sharing. The software does not support this sensor when connected via Bluetooth.\">3<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Incompatible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq2\/\">LabQuest 2<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#computers-3\" title=\"Full support of this sensor is only available when LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 is connected via Wireless Data Sharing. The software does not support this sensor when connected via Bluetooth.\">3<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Incompatible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Compatibility Notes<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"footnotes\">\n<li id=\"computers-1\">Requires a <a href=\"\/products\/accessories\/blue-usb\/\">Bluetooth USB Adapter<\/a> (discontinued) when used with some computers<\/li>\n<li id=\"computers-2\">Bluetooth connection not compatible with macOS 11 and newer.<\/li>\n<li id=\"computers-3\">Full support of this sensor is only available when LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 is connected via <a href=\"\/products\/wireless-solutions\/data-sharing\/\">Wireless Data Sharing<\/a>. The software does not support this sensor when connected via Bluetooth.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>iOS<\/summary>\n<div class=\"compatible-details\">\n<table class=\"table-base table-bordered compatibility-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"empty-cell\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"text-center\" colspan=\"2\">Software<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Interface<\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/product\/graphical-analysis\/\">Graphical Analysis<\/a><\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/til\/2670\/\">Graphical Analysis GW<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq3\/\">LabQuest 3<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#ios-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#ios-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq2\/\">LabQuest 2<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#ios-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#ios-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Compatibility Notes<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"footnotes\">\n<li id=\"ios-1\">iOS and Android<sup>\u2122<\/sup> devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via <a href=\"\/data-sharing\/\">Wireless Data Sharing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Android<\/summary>\n<div class=\"compatible-details\">\n<table class=\"table-base table-bordered compatibility-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"empty-cell\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"text-center\" colspan=\"2\">Software<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Interface<\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/product\/graphical-analysis\/\">Graphical Analysis<\/a><\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/til\/3476\/\">Graphical Analysis GW<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq3\/\">LabQuest 3<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#android-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#android-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\"><a class=\"one-line\" href=\"\/labq2\/\">LabQuest 2<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#android-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support <sup><a class=\"footnote-link\" href=\"#android-1\" title=\"iOS and Android\u2122 devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Compatibility Notes<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"footnotes\">\n<li id=\"android-1\">iOS and Android<sup>\u2122<\/sup> devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via <a href=\"\/data-sharing\/\">Wireless Data Sharing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>LabVIEW<\/summary>\n<div class=\"compatible-details\">\n<table class=\"table-base table-bordered compatibility-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"empty-cell\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"text-center\" colspan=\"1\">Software<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Interface<\/th>\n<th class=\"dimension text-center\"><a href=\"\/engineering\/ni-labview\/\">NI LabVIEW<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"dimension\">No interface required<\/th>\n<td class=\"text-center\">Full support<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/2128\/\">Logger <i>Pro<\/i> sees my WDSS by name, but then fails to collect data.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1611\/\">Bluetooth Wireless FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1576\/\">How good is the time sync between WDSS and other interfaces?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1771\/\">Will LabQuest work with the Wireless Dynamics Sensor System?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/2410\/\">Why is the WDSS run LED red?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/2729\/\">Is there a way to force my bluetooth radio to load the Microsoft driver?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/2145\/\">How good is synchronization between two WDSS? Good enough for impulse experiments?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3037\/\">Where is the accelerometer located inside the WDSS?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3047\/\">Can a Wireless Dynamic Sensor System (WDSS) communicate with mobile devices running Graphical Analysis app?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/2149\/\">Problems with force sensor giving bad readings because hex barrel has been removed and improperly reinstalled.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3290\/\">How do I connect a Wireless Dynamics Sensor System (WDSS) to a PASCO cart?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3536\/\">Can I use an accelerometer to measure velocity or position? <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3706\/\">What does an accelerometer actually measure?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3815\/\">My force sensor fell into the floor, and now the hex bolt sheared off inside the load cell.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/16395\/\">Is there a replacement for BLUE-USB that can be used with WDSS or LabQuest Stream?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h3>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Device<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dimensions: 121 mm x 53 mm x 39 mm<\/li>\n<li>Mass: about 200 g, depending on battery type used and attachments<\/li>\n<li>Batteries: 3.7 volts, 1600-1800 mAh, Li-Ion rechargeable with safety circuit<\/li>\n<li>Operating Current: 35-50 mA @ DC minimum 3.2V<\/li>\n<li>Nominal Charging Current: ~350 mA<\/li>\n<li>DC input, Rating: DC 6V 500mA maximum (Max. with battery charging and unit operating)<\/li>\n<li>Bluetooth radio frequency: approximately 2.45 GHz (2450 MHz), with frequency hopping, so the frequency is not fixed<\/li>\n<li>Wireless Range: Up to 10 meters (30 ft) with no obstruction.<\/li>\n<li>Number of WDSS devices that can be connected to one computer: 7<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>Lithium ion batteries self-discharge about 5 to 10% of its stored charge each month until approximately half depleted. This is normal. Disconnecting the battery will not change this.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Force Sensor<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Range: \u00b150 N<\/li>\n<li>Frequency Response: 0-100 Hz<\/li>\n<li>Resolution: 0.006 N(&lt;10 N), 0.03 N(>10 N)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Accelerometers<\/strong> (for each of the three accelerometers):<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Range: -60 to +60 m\/s^2<\/li>\n<li>Accuracy: \u00b10.4 m\/s^2 (\u00b10.05 g)<\/li>\n<li>Frequency Response (maximum): 100 Hz<\/li>\n<li>Temperature Range: -40 to +85\u00b0C<\/li>\n<li>Accelerometer location: 54 mm from the force sensor end of the base, 24 mm above the bottom, and on the midline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Altimeter<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Altitude change range: \u00b1200 m (1000 ft)<\/li>\n<li>Sensitivity: 1 meter<\/li>\n<li>Combined linearity and hysteresis: typical \u00b10.1% full scale, maximum \u00b10.5% full scale<\/li>\n<li>Response time: 0.5 second<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calibration<\/h3>\n<p>Calibrate this sensor? No, calibration of this sensor is not normally needed or advised. The sensor is set to the stored calibration before shipping. See <a href=\"\/manuals\/WDSS\">Specifications and User Guide<\/a> for detailed calibration information.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Products<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/3-axis-accelerometer\/\">3-Axis Accelerometer<\/a> (<nobr>3D-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/dual-range-force-sensor\/\">Dual-Range Force Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>DFS-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-force-and-acceleration-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Force and Acceleration Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-FOR<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-acceleration-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Acceleration Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-ACC<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement Parts<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/wdss-rechargeable-battery\/\">WDSS Rechargeable Battery<\/a> (<nobr>WDSS-BAT<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/vernier-ac-adapter\/\">Power Supply for LabPro, WDSS, and Stir Station<\/a> (<nobr>IPS<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This sensor is no longer available. Information is presented for reference only.Note: The WDSS is not compatible with macOS 11 and newer. Specifications and User&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[2122,720,2169,2167,1392,2168],"class_list":["post-1554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-bluetooth","tag-maintil","tag-wdss-wdss","tag-wdssmain","tag-wireless","tag-wireless-dynamics-sensor-system"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}