All Weather Inc AWOS 3000 User manual

User’s
Manual
3000-001
Rev.G
Automated Weather Observing System
All Weather Inc. • 1165 National Drive • Sacramento, CA 95834 • USA • 800.824.5873 • www.allweatherinc.com
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FAA APPROVED
ECP236 — 2018 Feb 6
NOT FAA APPROVED

Copyright © 2011–2017, All Weather, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein is proprietary and is provided solely for the
purpose of allowing customers to operate and/or service All Weather, Inc. manufactured equipment
and is not to be released, reproduced, or used for any other purpose without written permission of All
Weather, Inc.
Throughout this manual, trademarked names might be used. Rather than put a trademark (™) symbol
in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state herein that we are using the names only in an
editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner, and with no intention of infringement. All
Weather, Inc. and the All Weather, Inc. logo are trademarks of All Weather, Inc.
Disclaimer
The information and specifications described in this manual are subject to change without notice.
Latest Manual Version
For the latest version of this manual, see the Product Manuals page under Reference on our web site at
www.allweatherinc.com/.
All Weather, Inc.
1165 National Drive
Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact Customer Service
Phone support is available from 8:00am - 4:30pm PT, Monday through Friday. Call 916-928-1000
and ask for “Service.”
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E-mail your support request to [email protected]

Revision History
Revision
Date
Summary of Changes
D
2011 May 31
Added 7150 BP sensor.
E
2016 August 22
Updated for 1793 VHF Transmitter
F
2017 October 5
Updated for new motherboard
G
2017 December 18
Removed AWOS Net details

CONTENTS AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
Table of Contents
1.SYSTEM OVERVIEW..........................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 General...........................................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Sensor Station................................................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Data Collection Platform (DCP)......................................................................................................................................2
1.3.1 DCP Display Screens..........................................................................................................................................3
1.4 Central Data Processor (CDP)....................................................................................................................................... 3
1.4.1 Voice Output........................................................................................................................................................3
1.4.1.1 VHF Radio..................................................................................................................................................3
1.4.2 Data Reduction....................................................................................................................................................4
1.4.3 Data Archiving.....................................................................................................................................................4
1.5 Remote Display Options.................................................................................................................................................4
1.5.1 Web Displays ......................................................................................................................................................5
1.6 AWOS Configurations....................................................................................................................................................6
1.6.1 AWOS I ...............................................................................................................................................................6
1.6.2 AWOS II ..............................................................................................................................................................6
1.6.3 AWOS A..............................................................................................................................................................6
1.6.4 AWOS A-V ..........................................................................................................................................................7
1.6.5 AWOS III .............................................................................................................................................................7
1.6.6 AWOS III-P..........................................................................................................................................................8
1.6.7 AWOS III-T..........................................................................................................................................................8
1.6.8 AWOS III-PT........................................................................................................................................................9
1.6.9 AWOS III-PTZ .....................................................................................................................................................9
1.7 Sensor Reporting Table...............................................................................................................................................10
1.8 AWOS Output Modes...................................................................................................................................................12
1.8.1 Mode 1—Full-Time Automated Operation.........................................................................................................12
1.8.2 Mode 2—Full-Time Automated Operation with Local Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)............................................12
1.8.3 Mode 3—Full-Time Automated Operation with Manual Weather Augmentation and Local NOTAM Option ....12
1.8.4 Mode 4—Part-Time Manual Operation.............................................................................................................12
2.CENTRAL DATA PROCESSOR....................................................................................................................................... 14
2.1 CDP Rack Layout.........................................................................................................................................................15
2.2 Back Panel Connections..............................................................................................................................................15
2.3 CDP Top-Shelf Components........................................................................................................................................15
2.3.1 CPU Board........................................................................................................................................................17
2.3.2 SATADOM......................................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3.3 Interface Board..................................................................................................................................................17
2.3.4 Power Supply....................................................................................................................................................17
2.3.5 Communications................................................................................................................................................17
2.3.6 VHF Ground-to-Air Radio..................................................................................................................................17
2.3.7 Voice Modem ....................................................................................................................................................17
2.3.8 Monitor Volume Controls...................................................................................................................................17
2.4 CDP Bottom-Shelf Components...................................................................................................................................18
2.5 UPS.............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
2.6 GPS Receiver...............................................................................................................................................................19
2.7 NADIN Connection.......................................................................................................................................................19

CONTENTS AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
2.8 Optional KVM Extender for Remote Operation............................................................................................................19
2.8.1 KVM Extender Operation ..................................................................................................................................22
2.9 Optional AWOS/ATIS Interface....................................................................................................................................23
2.9.1 Remote Switch..................................................................................................................................................25
2.9.2 ATIS Interface Cable.........................................................................................................................................25
2.10 CDP Block Diagram................................................................................................................................................... 25
3.AWOS 3000 SOFTWARE VIEWS.....................................................................................................................................27
4.ALARMS............................................................................................................................................................................ 28
4.1 Alarms List....................................................................................................................................................................29
4.1.1 Acknowledging and Deleting Alarms.................................................................................................................29
4.2 Blink Alarm...................................................................................................................................................................30
5.TOWER VIEW.................................................................................................................................................................... 31
5.1 Special Characters.......................................................................................................................................................32
5.2 Winds...........................................................................................................................................................................33
5.2.1 Wind Speed.......................................................................................................................................................34
5.2.2 Wind Direction...................................................................................................................................................34
5.2.3 Wind Direction Range .......................................................................................................................................34
5.2.4 Wind Gust..........................................................................................................................................................34
5.2.5 Variable Wind Direction.....................................................................................................................................34
5.3 Visibility........................................................................................................................................................................35
5.4 Present Weather..........................................................................................................................................................36
5.5 Sky Condition...............................................................................................................................................................38
5.6 Temperature.................................................................................................................................................................39
5.6.1 Air Temperature ................................................................................................................................................39
5.6.2 Dew Point..........................................................................................................................................................39
5.6.3 Relative Humidity ..............................................................................................................................................39
5.7 Air Pressure..................................................................................................................................................................40
5.7.1 Altimeter Setting................................................................................................................................................40
5.7.2 Density Altitude .................................................................................................................................................40
5.8 Precipitation..................................................................................................................................................................41
5.9 Variable Visibility..........................................................................................................................................................42
5.10 Lightning.....................................................................................................................................................................43
5.11 Remark.......................................................................................................................................................................45
6.NAVIGATING THE MENUS............................................................................................................................................... 46
7.RESTRICTED FUNCTIONS..............................................................................................................................................47
7.1 Edit Menu.....................................................................................................................................................................47
7.1.1 Configuration > Airport > General Tab..............................................................................................................47
7.1.1.1 Barometric Pressure Offsets....................................................................................................................48
7.1.2 Configuration > Sensors Tab.............................................................................................................................49
7.1.3 Alarm Configuration Menu.................................................................................................................................50
7.1.3.1 Setting Range Alarm Values....................................................................................................................51
7.1.3.2 Setting Static Alarm Values......................................................................................................................51
7.1.4 Configuration > Voice Tab.................................................................................................................................52
7.1.5 Voice Remark....................................................................................................................................................53
7.1.5.1 Recording the Airport Name.....................................................................................................................53

C O N T E N T S AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
8. FILE MENU........................................................................................................................................................................ 54
8.1 Login............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
8.2 Logout .......................................................................................................................................................................... 54
8.3 Historical Data.............................................................................................................................................................. 55
8.4 Printer Setup ................................................................................................................................................................ 57
8.4.1 Automatic Printing ............................................................................................................................................. 57
8.4.2 Printer Status..................................................................................................................................................... 57
8.4.3 Print Test Page.................................................................................................................................................. 58
8.4.4 Set Top of Form ................................................................................................................................................ 58
8.5 Minimize ....................................................................................................................................................................... 58
8.6 Exit ............................................................................................................................................................................... 58
9. EDIT MENU........................................................................................................................................................................ 59
9.1 Group and User Authorizations.................................................................................................................................... 60
9.2 Group Authorizations.................................................................................................................................................... 61
9.2.1 Adding a Group ................................................................................................................................................. 62
9.2.2 Editing a Group ................................................................................................................................................. 63
9.2.3 Deleting a Group ............................................................................................................................................... 63
9.3 User Authorizations...................................................................................................................................................... 64
9.3.1 Adding a User.................................................................................................................................................... 65
9.3.2 Editing a User.................................................................................................................................................... 66
9.3.3 Deleting a User.................................................................................................................................................. 66
9.4 Configuration................................................................................................................................................................ 67
9.4.1 Airport Tab......................................................................................................................................................... 68
9.4.1.1 General .................................................................................................................................................... 68
9.4.1.2 Runways .................................................................................................................................................. 69
9.4.2 Reports Tab....................................................................................................................................................... 70
9.4.2.1 METAR Tab ............................................................................................................................................. 70
9.4.2.2 NADIN Tab............................................................................................................................................... 71
9.4.3 Sensors Tab ...................................................................................................................................................... 71
9.4.4 Voice Tab .......................................................................................................................................................... 72
9.4.4.1 Status....................................................................................................................................................... 72
9.4.4.2 Playback Mode......................................................................................................................................... 72
9.4.4.3 Enabling Phone Output............................................................................................................................ 73
9.4.4.4 Enabling VHF Radio Output..................................................................................................................... 73
9.4.4.5 Voice Test Mode ...................................................................................................................................... 73
9.4.5 Misc Tab............................................................................................................................................................ 74
9.4.5.1 General Tab ............................................................................................................................................. 74
9.4.5.2 Time Tab.................................................................................................................................................. 75
9.5 Alarm Configuration...................................................................................................................................................... 76
9.6 Turn On/Off Sensors .................................................................................................................................................... 76
9.7 Handling Archive Data.................................................................................................................................................. 77
9.8 Voice Remark............................................................................................................................................................... 77
9.8.1 Recording a Voice Remark ............................................................................................................................... 77
9.8.2 Playback Mode.................................................................................................................................................. 78
9.8.3 Enabling Voice Output....................................................................................................................................... 78
9.8.4 Voice Remark Expiration................................................................................................................................... 78
9.8.5 Telephone Access to Voice Remarks ............................................................................................................... 78

C O N T E N T S AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
10. VIEW MENU....................................................................................................................................................................... 80
10.1 Selecting the Data View ............................................................................................................................................. 80
10.2 Tower View................................................................................................................................................................. 81
10.3 Diagnostics View........................................................................................................................................................ 82
10.3.1 System Diagnostics......................................................................................................................................... 82
10.3.2 DCP Diagnostics ............................................................................................................................................. 84
10.3.2.1 Statistics................................................................................................................................................. 85
10.3.2.2 Status..................................................................................................................................................... 87
10.3.2.3 Sensor Data ........................................................................................................................................... 88
10.3.2.4 Recent Reponses................................................................................................................................... 88
10.3.3 Cloud Height Indicator Diagnostics ................................................................................................................. 89
10.3.4 Freezing Rain Diagnostics .............................................................................................................................. 91
10.3.5 Lightning Diagnostics ...................................................................................................................................... 93
10.3.6 Precipitation Identification/Intensity Diagnostics ............................................................................................. 95
10.3.7 Visibility Diagnostics........................................................................................................................................ 97
10.3.7.1 Configuration.......................................................................................................................................... 98
10.3.7.2 Mode ...................................................................................................................................................... 98
10.3.7.3 Emitter/Detector ..................................................................................................................................... 99
10.3.7.4 Other .................................................................................................................................................... 100
10.3.8 GPS Diagnostics ........................................................................................................................................... 101
10.4 Archives View........................................................................................................................................................... 103
10.4.1 Navigation and Data Panes........................................................................................................................... 104
10.4.2 Snap Shot Archive......................................................................................................................................... 104
10.4.3 Delete Archive ............................................................................................................................................... 104
10.4.4 Save Archive ................................................................................................................................................. 105
11. MANUAL OBSERVATIONS MENU ................................................................................................................................ 106
11.1 Manual Observations and Automatic Data............................................................................................................... 106
11.2 Manual Observation Text Colors.............................................................................................................................. 107
11.3 Air Pressure Manual Observation ............................................................................................................................ 108
11.4 Air Temperature Manual Observation ...................................................................................................................... 109
11.5 Clouds Manual Observation ..................................................................................................................................... 110
11.6 Lightning Manual Observation.................................................................................................................................. 111
11.7 Precipitation Manual Observation ............................................................................................................................ 112
11.8 Present Weather Manual Observation ..................................................................................................................... 113
11.9 Visibility Manual Observation ................................................................................................................................... 114
12. REPORTS MENU ............................................................................................................................................................ 115
12.1 Entering a METAR Remark...................................................................................................................................... 115
13. SYSTEM STATUS MENU................................................................................................................................................ 117
13.1 Alarms... ................................................................................................................................................................... 117
13.1.1 Acknowledging and Deleting Alarms............................................................................................................. 118
13.2 Blink Alarm ............................................................................................................................................................... 118
14. HELP MENU .................................................................................................................................................................... 119
14.1 About........................................................................................................................................................................ 119

C O N T E N T S AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
15. MAINTENANCE............................................................................................................................................................... 120
16. REMOTE MAINTENANCE MONITORING (RMM) .......................................................................................................... 121
16.1 Hardware Requirements .......................................................................................................................................... 122
16.2 Establishing Communication with the AWOS........................................................................................................... 122
16.3 AWOS RMM Commands ......................................................................................................................................... 123
16.4 Password Processing............................................................................................................................................... 125
16.5 $OPENFIL: Entering Filenames............................................................................................................................... 125
16.5.1 Retrieving Data Files..................................................................................................................................... 125
16.6 $ONLINE and $OFFLINE: Specifying Sensor Names ............................................................................................. 126
16.7 RMM Command Processing and Command Responses......................................................................................... 126
16.8 Terminating the RMM Session................................................................................................................................. 127
16.8.1 Automatic Termination .................................................................................................................................. 127
APPENDIX A. DCP MESSAGE FORMAT ............................................................................................................................... 128
APPENDIX B. DRAWINGS ...................................................................................................................................................... 131

S Y S T E M O V E R V I E W AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
1
1. System Overview
The AWOS 3000 is a modular weather monitoring system that continuously measures an array
of weather parameters at an airfield or helipad. The AWOS outputs the data to display terminals
and broadcasts current conditions over VHF radio to pilots in the vicinity.
1.1 General
Figure 1 shows the main AWOS components.
Sensor
Station
Data Collection
Platform
(DCP)
AWOS Net Remote
Displays
Console
(Operator Interface
Device)
AWOS Web Web Displays
Optional Remote Display
Outputs
Internet
Internet
KVM Extender
Local
Operator Interface
Device
Central Data
Processor
(CDP)
Data Output
& Archiving
Figure 1. AWOS Components
A sensor station measures meteorological parameters, which are collected by a Data Collection
Platform (DCP). Data processing, communications, and overall system operation is controlled by
the Central Data Processor (CDP), which also archives and outputs the weather observations.
Chapter
1

S Y S T E M O V E R V I E W AWOS 3000 USER’S MANUAL
2
Optional remote display interfaces are also possible.
The KVM Extender can be used for a remote operator terminal to interface to the CDP
using a patch cord between the KVM Extender units.
AWOS Net can be used to broadcast data via an Ethernet connection to all active remote
displays or via the Internet to allow remote users to view the AWOS data on any
compatible computer using a standard Web browser.
A NADIN connection is possible via a direct connection to the CDP or via a Virtual Private
Network using the AWOS Net and AWOS Web interface.
1.2 Sensor Station
The sensor station measures a full array of meteorological parameters using a configurable suite
of sensors. Available sensors include wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, air tem-
perature, dew point temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, cloud height and sky condition,
visibility, present weather, thunderstorm detection, and freezing rain. The standard configura-
tions are listed later in this chapter.
A self-supporting tower is used as the mounting platform for the basic sensor suite. Tilt-over
towers can be provided as required. When included, the ceilometer, visibility sensor, thunder-
storm/lightning detector, and freezing rain sensor are mounted on separate foundations. All
outdoor enclosures meet IP65 (NEMA 4X) specifications.
The AWOS is protected by a comprehensive network of lightning and transient surge protection
components. Tranzorbs, MOVs, and resistors protect all sensor lines, power lines, telephone
lines, and communication lines against lightning-induced surges and power line transients and
surges.
1.3 Data Collection Platform (DCP)
The sensor station is paired with a Data Collection Platform (DCP). Located on the sensor tower,
the DCP collects data from the sensors, performs error detection on the received information,
converts the sensor data into engineering units, and transmits message packets containing sensor
data and status information to the Central Data Processor (CDP) every 5 seconds.
Communications between the DCP and CDP can be accomplished via RS-485 landline or UHF
radio link. The DCP data packets contain a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) that allows the CDP
to determine if any transmission errors have occurred. The CDP ignores data that is not received
correctly.
The dual barometric pressure sensor is housed within the DCP. A keypad and display built into
the DCP allow for on-site viewing of data and sensor maintenance.