Virtual Weather Station Reference Vantage Pro Plus
Davis Instruments Davis Instruments Davis Instruments Davis Instruments Davis Instruments Hyundai WS-05 La Crosse Technology La Crosse Technology La Crosse Technology La Crosse Technology La Crosse Technology La Crosse Technology Oregon Scientific Oregon Scientific Oregon Scientific Oregon Scientific Huger Huger Nielsen Kellerman Radio Shack

Vantage Pro Plus

Vantage Pro2

Vantage Pro2 Plus

Vantage Pro2 Plus WeatherLink

Weather Monitor II

Weather Wizard III

WeatherLink

WS2310 WS2300
Virtual Weather Station Editions
There are three editions of Virtual Weather Station, based on features: 1. Virtual Weather Station Base Version. This version provides real-time display of the weather parameters. Virtual Weather Station Pro Edition. This version adds detailed data analysis and reports. Virtual Weather Station Internet Edition. This version provides all of the features in the Base and Pro Edition and adds Internet features.

WS2308

WS2310

WS2315

WS3600

WS3610

This manual is separated into the three editions. WM-918 WM-918
Weather Station Part Numbers

WMR-918

The software operates with Davis Instruments, Oregon Scientific, Huger, Rainwise and Radio Shack weather stations. Table 1 - Station Part Numbers and Corresponding Reference in Virtual Weather Station provides a cross reference if your station's part number is different. Manufacturer Model Number Virtual Weather Station Reference WMR-968 Vantage Pro

WMR-968

WMR-100
WMR-918H WM-918H Kestrel 4000
WMR-918 WM-918 Kestrel 4000
Accuweather Davis Instruments

63-1016 Vantage Pro

WX-200

WM-918

Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Manufacturer Model Number Virtual Weather Station Reference Rainwise Rainwise Peet Bros Texas Weather Instruments Columbia Weather Systems

Getting Started

HINT: Menu Shortcuts are displayed in blue font. 5.1 Installing the Software
Rainwise Rainwise Peet Bros Texas Weather Instruments Columbia Weather Systems WeatherHawk
WS-2000 WT-/ 800 / 2000 1-Wire Weather Stations Capricorn II, Capricorn 2000
To install the software, run the following: setup.exe If transferring the files to your hard drive, copy all of the files to a common directory and run setup.exe. 5.2 Connecting Your Communication Port to the Weather Station Oregon Scientific, Radio Shack and Huger Weather Stations

Menu Shortcut: Settings Language (Langue, Lengua, Sprache, Lingua, Lingua) Virtual Weather Station partially supports different languages. Full support of foreign language has not been fully implemented.
Figure 3 - Unit Conversion Settings 6.4 Calibration Calibration
Figure 1 - Language (Langue Lengua Sprache Lingua Lingua) 6.2 The Assistant Assistant
Virtual Weather Station allows you to calibrate for improved accuracy. In addition, if your wind speed sensor is below the expected reading due to bearing life, or the anemometer is obstructed by trees, these errors can be adjusted to provide realistic values. The calibration takes the form of the following equation: Calibrated Value = Gain x Measured Value + Offset Reference Table 2 - Examples of Calibration. The table provides solutions for typical measurement problems. NOTE - changing the calibration settings in Virtual Weather Station will not adjust the parameters displayed from the console. Note setting the gain to 0 will cause the value to always read 0. Only set the gain to 0 if you do not have the sensor in your system. Problem The wind speed is reading 50% low because the sensor is obstructed by trees. In other words, when the wind speed reads 3 mph, it is actually 6 mph. One of my temperature Solution Set the wind speed gain to 2.00.

Menu Shortcut: Help

If you are a new user, it is advisable that you completely run through the assistant to understand all of the features of Virtual Weather Station. When launching Virtual Weather Station for the first time, the Assistant will automatically be displayed.

Set the temperature

Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Problem sensors is off by 3 degrees I installed my anemometer incorrectly, and when it points north, it should measure south Solution offset to 3.00 Set the wind direction offset to 180.00
Table 2 - Examples of Calibration
Figure 5 - Precision Figure 4 - Calibration 6.5 Precision Precision 6.6 Communication Communication
Menu Shortcut: Communication 6.6.1 Weather Station
Precision is the number of decimal places. For example a precision of two would be represented as 3.14, and a precision of three would be represented as 3.141. Virtual Weather Station allows you to customize the precision for each variable (unless otherwise noted on specific display panels). These precision values are represented in files, HTML tags and other various displays. The precision can be changed for the values (which include averages) and rates of change. Changing the precision for the temperature will change all of the temperatures (example, indoor and outdoor).

Menu Shortcut: Settings Font Settings

Display Colors

Virtual Weather Station generates a database for storing data for plotting and graphing. This data is stored in a comma separated file located in the following directory path: \VWS\data\dbase.csv where csv stands for "comma separated value". This database can be viewed, edited and deleted. 6.14.1 Database Timer

Language Preference

Scroll Display
A database timer allows you to customize how often data is written to the database. The database is limited to 20,000 records, so the recommended minimum database timer is 10 minutes. Once the database reaches 20,000 records, is automatically resized to 15,000 records. A backup record of the database is stored in the following file:

Snap to Grid Pixels

Specify the grid resolution for aligning the weather display
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide \VWS\data\yyyydbase.csv where yyyy is the current year. If the database is damaged or deleted, simply rename the backup database. 6.14.2 Database Format Column Number Date, with the following format: YyyyMonthDayHourMinute 18 Wind Direction Wind Speed Wind Gust Indoor Humidity Outdoor Humidity Indoor Temperature Outdoor Temperature Barometric Pressure Total Rain Channel 1 Temperature Channel 1 Humidity Channel 2 Temperature Channel 2 Humidity Channel 3 Temperature Channel 3 Humidity Evapotranspiration UV Index (Davis) or Battery Voltage (WeatherHawk) Solar Radiation Wind Chill Indoor Heat Index 46 Parameter
Outdoor Heat Index Dew Point Sea-level Barometric Pressure Pressure Altitude Cloud Base Air Density Virtual Temperature Vapor Pressure Wind Direction Rate (per hour) Wind Speed Rate Wind Gust Rate Indoor Humidity Rate Outdoor Humidity Rate Indoor Temperature Rate Outdoor Temperature Rate Barometric Pressure Rate Total Rain Rate Channel 1 Temperature Rate Channel 1 Humidity Rate Channel 2 Temperature Rate Channel 2 Humidity Rate Channel 3 Temperature Rate Channel 3 Humidity Rate Evapotranspiration Rate UV Index Rate (Davis) or Battery Voltage (WeatherHawk) Solar Radiation Rate Wind Chill Rate Indoor Heat Index Rate
The database format is outlined in Table 6 Database Format. Column Number

136 137

138 139
Reported by WM-918 and WX-200 weather stations only
Moonrise Moonset Windrose Verbose Channel 4 Temperature7 Channel 4 Humidity7 Channel 5 Temperature7 Channel 5 Humidity7 Channel 6 Temperature7 Channel 6 Humidity7

166 167

UV Channel 27 THW Index8 THWS Index8 Channel 4 Temperature Rate7 Channel 4 Humidity Rate7 Channel 5 Temperature Rate7 Channel 5 Humidity Rate7 Channel 6 Temperature Rate7 Channel 6 Humidity Rate7 Channel 7 Temperature Rate7 Channel 7 Humidity Rate7 Channel 8 Temperature Rate7 Channel 8 Humidity Rate7 Channel 9 Temperature Rate7 Channel 9 Humidity Rate7 Channel 10 Temperature Rate7
Channel 7 Temperature156 Channel 7 Humidity7 Channel 8 Temperature7 Channel 8 Humidity7 Channel 9 Temperature Channel 9 Humidity7 Channel 10 Temperature162 Channel 10 Humidity163 UV Channel 27 174
Reported by WMR-100 weather station only.

Not yet implemented

Channel 10 Humidity Rate7 UV Channel 2 Rate7 UV Channel 2 Rate7
Channel 9 Temperature Average7 Channel 9 Humidity Average7 Channel 10 Temperature Average7 Channel 10 Humidity Average7 UV Channel 2 Average7 UV Channel 2 Average7 THW Index Average8 THWS Index Average8 Channel 4 Temperature Daily High7 Channel 4 Humidity Daily High7 Channel 5 Temperature Daily High7 Channel 5 Humidity Daily High7 Channel 6 Temperature Daily High7 Channel 6 Humidity Daily High7 Channel 7 Temperature Daily High7
THW Index Rate8 THWS Index Rate8 Channel 4 Temperature Average7 Channel 4 Humidity Average7 Channel 5 Temperature Average7 Channel 5 Humidity Average7 Channel 6 Temperature Average7 Channel 6 Humidity Average7 Channel 7 Temperature Average7 Channel 7 Humidity Average7 Channel 8 Temperature Average7 Channel 8 Humidity Average7 198

201 187

Channel 7 Humidity Daily High7 Channel 8 Temperature Daily High7 Channel 8 Humidity Daily High7 Channel 9 Temperature Daily High7 Channel 9 Humidity Daily High7 Channel 10 Temperature Daily High7 Channel 10 Humidity Daily High7 UV Channel 2 Daily High7 UV Channel 2 Daily High7 THW Index Daily High8
Channel 6 Temperature Daily Low7 Channel 6 Humidity Daily Low7 Channel 7 Temperature Daily Low7 Channel 7 Humidity Daily Low7 Channel 8 Temperature Daily Low7 Channel 8 Humidity Daily Low7 Channel 9 Temperature Daily Low7 Channel 9 Humidity Daily Low7 Channel 10 Temperature Daily Low7 Channel 10 Humidity Daily Low7 UV Channel 2 Daily Low7 UV Channel 2 Daily Low7 THW Index Daily Low8 THWS Index Daily Low8 Table 11 - Complete Parameter List

Virtual Weather Station User's Guide calibration offsets, barometric pressure sea-level correction, and setting date and time.
Figure 32 Vantage / WeatherLink Alarms 6.30 Figure 30 Vantage/WeatherLink Settings 6.29.2 Vantage / WeatherLink Highs and Lows Vantage Highs and Lows WeatherHawk Settings WeatherHawk Settings
Menu Shortcut: Settings 6.30.1

Address Settings

Define the PC Address, Logger Address, Timeout period in seconds and number of retries. 6.30.2 Advanced Program
The highs and lows are stored in the Davis weather station console. You can automatically reset these highs and lows (Weather Monitor II and Weather Wizard III only) at a given time of day based on the schedule.
Launches WHawk executable, a firmware programming utility provided by WeatherHawk. 6.30.3 Variable Settings
Set and Get Longitude, Latitude, Altitude (in meters), Crop Coefficient and Barometric Pressure Sea-level calibration offset (kPa). 6.30.4 Time and Date Settings
Set and Get the WeatherLink logger date and time. Figure 31 Vantage / WeatherLink Recorded Highs and Lows 6.29.3 Vantage / WeatherLink Alarm Settings Vantage Alarm Settings 6.30.5 6.30.5.1 Download Settings Bypass Download at Start-up Select the Synchronize WeatherHawk to Computer Time option to synchronize the weather station time to the computer time.
Davis weather station console audible alarms can be set and cleared.
Virtual Weather Station automatically downloads all of the data stored in the logger at start-up. To bypass the download at start-up, select this option. 6.30.5.2 Clear Memory After Start-up
Clears the archived memory after each download at start-up of Virtual Weather Station.
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide 6.30.5.3 Cancel Download Data To determine these values: select the barometer display on your weather station monitor and toggle between REF and ABS and enter the values into Virtual Weather Station.
Cancels the current download 6.30.5.4 Last Download Record
Provides a marker for the last record downloaded from archive memory. The next time Virtual Weather Station is launched, the next record will be downloaded. 6.30.6 6.30.6.1 Reset Reset Total Rain
Resets the total rain stored in the WeatherHawk memory. 6.30.6.2 Clear All Memory
Clears all of the memory and settings in the WeatherHawk firmware. Figure 34 La Crosse Technology Weather Station Settings 6.32 6.32.1 Other Display Features Minimizing the Program and Display
When the display is minimized, the title bar displays the outdoor temperature, humidity, wind direction and windspeed on the taskbar.
Figure 35 Minimized Taskbar Display 6.32.2 Hiding Virtual Weather Station
Figure 33 WeatherHawk Settings 6.31 LaCrosse WS2300, Lacrosse WS2308, Lacrosse WS2310, LaCrosse 2315, La Crosse 3600 and La Crosse 3610 Settings La Crosse Technology

Figure 40 Example Daily Summary File 7.1.7 File Update Timer data2.csv this file uses the converted units as specified by the user (example, C for temperature) The data is formatted as follows: 1.00,2001,10,28,0,6,59,0,0,48,42,100,77,53,30,30.14,0.76,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0.00,0,0,53,77,53,53,0.000,52,0,0,0 Column 1 Identifier Csv File Version ID (XX.XX) Year (yyyy format) Month Day Hour (24-hour format) Minute Second Wind speed (mph) Wind Gust (mph) Wind Direction (degrees) Inside Humidity (%) Outside Humidity (%) Inside Temperature (F) Prototype Floating Point
Specify the update or record rate of the data to file. 7.1.8 Create / Modify File List
Virtual Weather Station allows you to record over 90 different parameters. Select the parameters for recording from this list.
Figure 41 - File Settings 7.2 CSV File Export 11 Real-time Data can be exported to a csv file for other programs to utilize. Two files are created: data.csv this file uses the native units as described in Figure 42 CSV Output File Format. 10
Integer Integer Integer Integer Integer Integer Floating Point Floating Point Floating Point
Floating Point Floating Point Floating Point
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Column 14 Identifier Outside Temperature (F) Barometer (in) Total Rain (in) Daily Rain (in) Hourly Rain (in) Weather Condition, where: 0 = clear 1 = few clouds 2 = scattered clouds 3 = broken clouds 4 = overcast 5 = drizzle 6 = rain 7 = frozen rain 8 = showers 9 = mist 10 = tornado 11= fog 12 = smoke 13 = hail 14 = haze 15 = ice crystals 16 = sand 17 = snow grains 18 = snow 19 = snow showers 20 = lightning 21 = thundershowers 20 Channel 1 Temperature (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 1 Humidity (WMR-968/WMR-918 only) Channel 2 Temperature (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 2 Humidity (WMR-968/WMR918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Floating Point 35 Prototype Floating Point Column Identifier Temperature (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) 25 Channel 3 Humidity (WMR-968/WMR918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Evapotranspiration (Vantage Pro2 Plus, WeatherHawk) Leaf Wetness (Columbia Weather Systems only) UV Index (Vantage Pro2 Plus) Battery Voltage (WeatherHawk) Solar Radiation (Vantage Pro2 Plus, WeatherHawk) Wind Chill (F) Indoor Heat Index (F) Outdoor Heat Index (F) Dew Point (F) Rain Rate (in/hour) Outdoor Temp Rate (F/hr) Indoor temp Rate (F/hr) Barometer Rate (in/hr) Channel 1 Temp Rate (F/hr) Channel 2 Temp Rate (F/hr) Channel 3 Temp Rate (F/hr) Monthly Rain (in) Yearly Rain (in) Floating Point Prototype
Floating Point Floating Point Floating Point Floating Point Integer

Floating Point

Floating Point Floating Point
Floating Point 38 Floating Point
Floating Point 24 Floating Point
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Figure 42 CSV Output File Format. 7.3 Climate Reports 7.4.1 day. At the bottom of the column, the dominant wind direction recorded during the month is displayed. Modifying the Monthly Climate Report Monthly Archive

If you specify Use Dial-up Networking, the following settings are available. 8.6.1 Number of Dial-up Attempts
Defines the number of unsuccessful dial-up attempts per session. 8.6.2 Number of Seconds to Wait Between Attempts Figure 46 - Networking Connection Setup Panel
The number of seconds between dial-up attempts. Allows some modems extended time to hang the phone line.
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide 8.7 General FTP Settings
The following general FTP Settings allow you to control each FTP session. 8.7.1 FTP Timeout
The timeout period for each FTP operation. 8.7.2 Successive Login Attempts
Number of successive attempts to login to the FTP server. 8.7.3 Maximum Connect Time
The maximum time period to remain connected to the server. This prevents extended connections due to slow internet connections or failed connections. 8.7.4 Time Delay Between Transfers
Some servers can not accept immediate FTP commands. If you commonly receive system socket errors, increase this timer. Figure 47 General FTP Settings 8.7.5 Display Connect Timer 8.8 Virtual Weather Station jpeg Images Displays the time in seconds that Virtual Weather Station will remain connected to the Internet before timeout. 8.7.6 Max CPU During FTP
To speed up the ftp transfers (which may be important for dial-up applications), VWS resources will automatically increase to the maximum allowable. This feature is particularly useful if FTP transfers timeout. 8.7.7 FTP Priority
When you start Virtual Weather Station for the first time and Virtual Weather Station negotiates communication with your Weather Station, jpeg files are automatically created. The files can be found in c:\vws\root (or the installation directory you specified). The filenames are structured as follows: vws#.jpg where # is a unique number designated for a specific gauge, graph or display panel. The files can be created or updated when you define a display panel. 8.9 Jpeg File Index
Sets the priority of the FTP program. Set this value to High Priority if you are having persistent problems with FTP timeouts. Menu Shortcut: Internet Network Connection
The following table provides a complete list of jpg files generated by Virtual Weather Station. Numbers shown are proceeded by vws and followed by.jpg. For example, the Wind Direction Color Spectrum file is vws001.jpg
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Color Spectrum High/Low Wind Direction Thermometer Gauge Graph Alpha Numeric Moon Phase Distribution Strip Chart Meter Tank Graph2 Parameter / Display
Wind Direction Wind Speed Gust Indoor Humidity Outdoor Humidity Indoor Temperature Outdoor Temperature Barometer Total Rain Channel 1 Temperature (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 1 Humidity (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 2 Temperature (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 2 Humidity (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Temperature (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Humidity (WMR968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Evapotranspiration (Davis, WeatherHawk)

946 ---
Channel 3 Temperature Average 065 (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Humidity Average (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Evapotranspiration Average (Davis, WeatherHawk) 066

947 ---

948 ---

949 ---

UV Index Average (Davis) 068 Battery Voltage (WeatherHawk) Solar Radiation Average (Davis, 069 WeatherHawk) Wind Chill Average Heat Index In Average Heat Index Out Average Dewpoint Average Sea-level Barometer Average Wind Direction High Wind Speed High Gust High Indoor Humidity High 074 ---------

950 ---

951 ---

221 ---------

-------------------

515 ---------

952 --953 --954 --955 --956 -----------------------------------
1838 -----------------------------------------
Outdoor Humidity High Indoor Temperature High Outdoor Temperature High Barometer High Total Rain High Channel 1 Temperature High (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 1 Humidity High (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 2 Temperature High (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 2 Humidity High (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Temperature High (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Humidity High (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2)

-------------

Evapotranspiration High (Davis, --WeatherHawk) UV Index High (Davis) --Battery Voltage (WeatherHawk) Solar Radiation High (Davis, WeatherHawk) Wind Chill High Heat Index In High Heat Index Out High Dewpoint High ---

---------

975 --976 --977 --978 ---
Sea-level Barometer High Wind Direction Low Wind Speed Low Gust Low Indoor Humidity Low Outdoor Humidity Low Indoor Temperature Low Outdoor Temperature Low Barometer Low Total Rain Low Channel 1 Temperature Low (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2)

-----------------------

979 --980 --981 --982 --983 --984 --985 --986 --987 --988 --989 ---
Channel 1 Humidity Low (WMR- --968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 2 Temperature Low (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) ---

990 ---

991 ---
Channel 2 Humidity Low (WMR- --968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Channel 3 Temperature Low (WMR-968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) ---

992 ---

993 ---
Channel 3 Humidity Low (WMR- --968/WMR-918, Davis Vantage Pro2) Evapotranspiration Low (Davis, WeatherHawk) ---

994 ---

995 ---
UV Index Low (Davis) --Battery Voltage (WeatherHawk)

996 ---

Solar Radiation Low (Davis, WeatherHawk) Wind Chill Low Heat Index In Low Heat Index Out Low Dewpoint Low Sea-level Barometer Low Daily Rain Hourly Rain Last 24 Hour Rain Rain Rate Wind Run Degree Days Heating Degree Days Cooling Moon Phase Monthly Rain Deg Days Heating Month Deg Days Cooling Month Wind Run Month Deg Days Heating Year Deg Days Cooling Year Wind Run Year Heat Stress Comfort Level Forecast Barom Trend

Create METAR File Schedule

Distance Units

Server
Figure 63 METAR Report Generator 8.17.8 METAR Text Reports
Three text reports are available from METAR generated data. The following section describes the METAR reports and locations.
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide 8.17.8.1 METAR Summary Text Report following file location: \data\metar.txt
Press in 29.91 29.90 29.92 Rain in ------Wind Dir ESE ESE WSW Wind Spd 6 Wind Visib Cloud Sky/Weather Gust miles kft --- Clear/ --- Clear/ --- Clear/
The METAR summary text reports are located in the
Location Last Update Date and Time Van Nuys 05/29/2001 09:51pm Burbank 05/29/2001 08:53pm Los Angeles 05/29/2001 09:50pm Temp F 63 Dew F 59 HtIx Chill %Rh F 68 F 60 % 88
Figure 64 METAR Summary Reports 8.17.8.2 METAR Historical Text Report \data\KABC.txt where KABC is the METAR identifier.
The METAR historical text reports are located in the following file location:

Date / Time

Temp F

Dew F 55 54

HtIx Chill %Rh Press F 68.3 68.3 68.3 67.2 67.2 67.2 66.1 65.4 64.3 64.3 63.4 63.4 63.4 63.4 63.4 63.4 63.4 62.5 F % in 29.99 29.97 29.97 29.95 29.94 29.94 29.94 29.93 29.93 29.93 29.94 29.94 29.94 29.94 29.95 29.95 29.96 29.95
Rain in -------------------------------------
Wind Dir --WSW --WSW WSW --WSW WSW WSW SW WSW --W --W --WSW WSW

Wind Spd 9 6

Wind Visib Cloud Sky/Weather Gust miles 0.50 0.3 kft ---/--2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 Overcast/ Haze Broken Clouds/ Broken Clouds/ Broken Clouds/ Broken Clouds/ Broken Clouds/ Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist Overcast/ Mist
03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001 03/31/2001
12:50pm 01:50pm 01:50pm 02:50pm 03:26pm 03:26pm 03:50pm 04:07pm 04:50pm 05:50pm 06:29pm 06:29pm 06:50pm 06:50pm 07:50pm 07:50pm 08:50pm 09:50pm
64.4 64.4 64.4 62.6 62.6 62.6 60.8 60.8 59.0 59.0 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2 57.2

Haze Haze Haze Haze Haze

Figure 65 METAR Historical Reports 8.17.8.3 METAR Raw Data \metar\KABC.txt where KABC is the METAR identifier.
The raw METAR data is located in the following file location:
2001/06/03 18:56 KPHX 031856Z 28010G15KT 10SM CLR 34/M01 A2967 RMK AO2 SLP025 T03391006 $ Figure 66 Raw METAR Data 8.17.9 Learning More About METAR 8.18 8.18.1 8.18.1.1 Weather Servers Weather Underground Weather Underground Settings Sign-up

Menu Shortcut: Wunderground
Virtual Weather Station will download climate data for each day of the year. This data includes record highs and low temperature and year they occurred, normal high and low temperature, and monthly and yearly rainfall to date. This information can be included on your webpage using tags. For information, reference Table 14 Index of HTML Tag Names. Text reports are generated for each location (numbered 1 through 15) in the following location: \vws\data\cliamte\#.txt where # is the location number
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Figure 70 Five Day Forecast 8.18.1.6 Mesonet
Mesonet is a combination of the words "mesoscale" and "network". In meteorology, "mesoscale" refers to weather events that range in size from a few miles to a few hundred miles. Mesoscale events last from several minutes to several hours. Thunderstorms and squall lines are two examples of mesoscale events. A "network" is an interconnected system. Thus, the Weather Underground Mesonet is a system designed to measure the environment at the size and duration of mesoscale weather events. Your weather station is an important tool for meteorologists and hobbyists to predict local weather conditions. It is important you maintain your weather station, including proper installation and calibration. Virtual Weather Station allows you perform an end-to-end calibration by applying a gain and offset to the measured parameter. Figure 71 Mesonet Settings
8.18.1.6.2 Mesonet Report
Menu Shortcut: Wunderground Mesonet
A color coded Mesonet report is generated. This report allows you to quickly determine where conditions are changing. You can sort the data by selecting the column header. Stations listed in Gray are official METAR stations.
8.18.1.6.1 Mesonet Settings
Menu Shortcut: Wunderground Mesonet Settings For more information about each station or location, select the links provided in the table.
8.18.1.6.1.1 Location and State
Enter a location (example, Seattle) and state (example, WA). If the location is invalid, please visit Wunderground.com and enter a city and state to check the validity of the location. You can also enter an airport code (example, KPHX). For a list of airport or weather station codes, select the KPHX example link to visit the FAA website.

8.18.1.6.1.2 METAR Only

Select this option to view a METAR station only. This is useful if the same two different locations yield the same MESONET personal weather stations. Figure 72 - Mesonet Report

Figure 77 Internet Status Messages and Error Log
Virtual Weather Station Add-ons
X10 Home Automation with Virtual Weather Station, HomeSeer (Base or Pro Version of Virtual Weather Station Required)
Menu Shortcut: Help 8.19.1
Turning Off the Internet Functions
To turn off all internet functions, select the Turn Off All Internet Features switch. 8.19.2 Error Messages and Log
9.1.1 General Description You can connect your home automation system to your personal weather station, and create a powerful environmental monitoring system. Ambient makes this possible with Virtual Weather Stations Home Automation System (http://www.AmbientWeather.com/x10). The combination of your weather station and automated controls improves the comfort and efficiency of your home at a fraction of the cost of other automated environmental systems. With Virtual Weather Stations home automation plug-in tools, you can: Control the thermostat based on feedback signals from handheld temperature sensors placed throughout your home, or a low cost zone control system. Monitor and control the thermostat based on Comfort Index or change thermostat set points based on rate of change of temperature. Turn on the ceiling fan when the bedroom comfort index is exceeded. Control whole house fans to draw in cool air from the outside when the outdoor temperature is lower than the inside temperature
Error messages for Internet and communication events can be viewed from the Error Messages panel. To view the error messages panel, select [Help][Internet Error Messages and Log] from the menubar. An Internet log captures events and errors during operation. To view this error log, select the open folder button. It is recommended you view this error log prior to contacting Ambient Software. Attaching this error log to an Email to Ambient Software is highly recommended to identifying problems. The error log is stored in \data\log.txt. You can configure the software to write to the file (1) when an Internet related event occurs or (2) an Internet related error occurs. NOTE: The Internet log file can get very large. It is recommended that the log file record fault data only unless advanced troubleshooting is required, and the size of this file is monitored. The log file is automatically deleted every month. 8.19.3 Operating States

The numerical markers on the ribbon and temperature displays are not evenly spaced
The software attempts to put a numerical marker at even increments, but this is not always possible. To improve your numerical marker increments, select a high and low range value that results in a difference of a multiple of 10. For example, a low of -40 and a high of 60 will provide a difference of 100. This will produce better marker increments then a low of -20 and a high of 100. The Oregon Scientific unit does not report dew points below 32F (0C) but Virtual Weather Station continues to report these values.
The Dew Point of the weather station is reporting "LL" or limited to 32F (0C) and Virtual Weather Station is reporting a value The sea-level barometer does not report what is entered in the Station Settings window. The software is reporting a cloud base when there are no clouds in sight. A Virtual Weather Station parameter displays a different number than the station console
Virtual Weather Station only reports the sea-level barometer from your station. Reference Section 6.8.6 for more details.
This is only an estimate based on relative humidity and temperature. Other weather parameters affect the cloud base, and should only be used as an estimate. Make sure that you have not entered a calibration (reference Chapter 6.4). Changing the calibration of a sensor will not change the value on the display.
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Problem The Daily Rain is not correct Solution The program must be running at midnight for today's daily rainfall to be correct. The Weather Station does not store daily rainfall. This is due to the station total rainfall reset by the user, or the values for minimum or maximum rain edited by the user. Reference 6.20.3 for more details to correct this. This is done in the Archive Settings window, and not the database. Reference Section 7.2 for more details. You must edit each of these data fields. For example, if the minimum temperature on January 9, 2000 is changed, and it is the minimum for the month and year, you must change this field in the monthly summary panel and the yearly summary panel.
The monthly rainfall reported in the NOAA report does not agree with the sum of the daily rainfall. How do I change my NOAA report data?
When I update one of the fields in the daily summary data, this change is not updated in the monthly or yearly summary data. The Alarm Sound will not play
This feature requires a sound card. This is not a problem with VWS, but with your sound card. Contact your sound card manufacturer

HEAT INDEX

HEATING DEGREE DAY

HUMIDITY

LATITUDE

LONGITUDE

MOON PHASE

RATE OF CHANGE

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

SEA LEVEL PRESSURE

SUNRISE
Virtual Weather Station User's Guide Term Definition of sunrise is calculated for mean sea level. See sunset for comparison. SUNSET The daily disappearance of the sun below the western horizon as a result of the earth's rotation. In the United States, it is considered as that instant when the upper edge of the sun just disappears below the sea level horizon. In Great Britain, the center of the sun's disk is used instead. Time of sunset is calculated for mean sea level. See sunrise for comparison. The pressure exerted by water vapor molecules in a given volume of air Virtual temperature is a fictitious temperature that takes into account moisture in the air. The formal definition of virtual temperature is the temperature that dry air would have if its pressure and specific volume were equal to those of a given sample of moist air. Virtual temperature allows meteorologists to use the equation of state for dry air even though moisture is present. The calculation of temperature that takes into consideration the effects of wind and temperature on the human body. Describes the average loss of body heat and how the temperature feels. This is not the actual air temperature. The direction from which the wind is blowing. For example, an easterly wind is blowing from the east, not toward the east. It is reported with reference to true north, or 360 degrees on the compass, and expressed to the nearest 10 degrees, or to one of the 16 points of the compass (N, NE, etc.). The distance or length of flow of the air past a point during a given interval of time. The rate of the motion of the air on a unit of time. It can be measured in a number of ways. In observing, it is measured in knots, or nautical miles per hour. The unit most often used in the United States is miles per hour. Table 19 - Glossary of Terms 11.1 Beaufort Scale
VAPOR PRESSURE VIRTUAL TEMPERATURE

WIND CHILL INDEX

WIND DIRECTION

WIND RUN WIND SPEED

The Beaufort scale is a system of recording wind velocity (speed) devised in 1806 by Francis Beaufort (17741857). It is a numerical scale ranging from 0 for calm to 12 for a hurricane. Number and description 0 calm 1 light air 2 light breeze Air speed Features kph smoke rises vertically; water smooth smoke shows wind direction; water ruffled leaves rustle; wind felt on face mph

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Quick Start Guide
Oregon Scientific WM-918, WMR-928N, WMR-918 and WMR-968 Radio Shack WX-200/ Radio Shack Wireless
For the best results follow all of the instructions on the following pages to quickly access real-time weather data via the Weather View 32 software. For additional information on Getting Started see the User Guide on pages 7 through 23.
Installing Weather View 32
1. Exit all programs. 2. Insert the Weather View 32 software compact disc into your CD-ROM drive. 3. The Weather View 32 InstallShield Wizard appears automatically. Click on Next to Continue. 4. The Weather View 32 license agreement appears. Read the licensing agreement, and if you accept the terms, select the I accept option. Select Next. (If you select I do no accept, you will exit the setup program when you click Next.) 5. The Destination Folder window appears. Select Next. Advanced Setup: change the installation folder. 6. The Installing window appears. Wait while the software installs on your computer. 7. Finally the InstallShield Wizard Completed window appears. Select Finish. Remove the Weather View 32 software compact disc from your CD-ROM drive.

Startup

1. Start the Weather View 32 program. 2. Enter the serial number from the User Guide cover, bottom of the page. All letters are CAPITALIZED. The remaining characters are numerals. Click on Continue. 3. The Import Weather Data From Previous window appears. New Setup: Click on the Do Not Import Data and Continue button Upgrade Setup: Click on the Import Data button. A Windows Explorer Browse button appears. Browse to C:/Program Files/Weather View folder or the old Weather View 32 Installation folder 4. The Current Station #01 Weather View window appears. Each time Weather View 32 starts, this window will appear. The startup window displays a sunset scene over Pacific ocean. Continue the Quick Start process on page 2.
Note: Call Weather View 32 tech support at 503-864-3217 for help with any questions or problems.

Page 2

SetupWeather View Properties, Station Information
1. Click on the Setup menu. An menu item list appears. 2. Select Weather View Properties. Enter the correct data for your location. If you do not have the latitude, longitude and elevation, complete the Climate window first (below). 3. Station ID: Enter a descriptive name for your weather station. 4. Station City: Enter your city. 5. Station State: Enter your state. 6. Station Latitude: Enter the latitude of your station in digits to the ten-thousandth decimal place. Indicate North or South by marking the appropriate button. 7. Station Longitude: Enter the longitude of your station to the ten-thousandth decimal place. Indicate East or West by marking the appropriate button. 8. Station Elevation in Feet: Enter the elevation from Sea Level of the weather station.
SetupWeather View Properties, Climate tab
1. From the Station Information tab, select the Climate tab. Under normal circumstances choose the site closest to the weather stations physical location. 2. State: Select the state of the Climate Database to use. (From the existing climate database within Weather View 32 of over 8000 reporting sites in the United States.) 3. City or other identifier: Select the city of the Climate Database to use. Note: By selecting the site closest to the weather stations physical location the latitude and longitude is provided. The selected sites elevation may be similar or different to the weather stations. When appropriate, use the information exactly as displayed to complete the Station Information window.

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SetupWeather View Properties, Sensors and Units of Measure tab
1. Go to the Setup menu item and select Weather View Properties. 2. Select the Sensors and Units tab. The window above appears. 3. Select Sensors Installed on Station: Mark all installed and functional sensors connected to the weather station. 4. Display Identifier: When an item in the Installed Sensors List is highlighted, the Display Identifier of that sensor displays in the text box labeled Display Identifier. This value can be changed by typing in a new ID in the text box. 5. Short Identifier: Enter an additional shorter identifier for reports. 6. Humidity Sensor for calculations: Select the humidity sensor to use for calculating dewpoint and heat index. 7. Temperature Sensor for calculations: Select the temperature sensor to use when calculating dewpoint, heat index, and wind chill. 8. Display Units of Measure: Choose the Units of Measure for Wind Speed, Temperature, Rainfall, and Pressure for Weather View 32 to use for sensor data output. These settings are independent of the units of measure the weather station displays or outputs. 9. Sensor Readings Display Resolution: Check the box to display sensor readings using the highest resolution supported by the weather station. If the box is not checked, readings display using the resolutions you would expect to see on the evening news. 10. Continue to the Connection Tab.

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SetupWeather Station Properties, Connection tab
1. Take a moment to physically connect the weather station to the computer via either a serial port or a USB Converter. Double check all connections to make sure they are tight. Modem Users, see note below. 2. Go to the Connection tab. 3. Click on the Detect Weather Station Baud Rate and Com Port Number bar. 4. Minimize Weather View 32. User the cursor to go to the Windows Start button. 5. Highlight My Computer 6. A menu appears, select Properties, then Hardware tab, and finally Device Manager. 7. Wait while the list is created. Find the PORTS list Item. 8. Click on the + to change it to a 9. You should see a COM Port listed. (A USB port will say something like USB to Serial Port Communications Port 4. If a serial port is available, it will say something like serial port COM1). 10. Maximize Weather View 32. Click on the COM Port list and select the COM port from Step #8. 11. Select Close. Go to Monitor Weather. You should be able to Monitor Weather now. 12. If unable to Monitor Weather now, review page 6. Modem users: Modem users see User Guide Page 18 and 19. Note: Call Weather View 32 tech support at 503-864-3217 for help with any questions or problems during this process.

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SetupWeather Station Properties, Top tab
If you need to adjust the reported inside/outside temperature or barometric pressure do so here.
If you need to adjust the reported outside temperature or barometric pressure, manipulate the sliders to enter the desired values. Select Close to exit and save changes.
Note: Backup your data regularly. See page 10 of the User Guide for additional information.