WeatherBug Weather Station User manual

Weather Station
Installation, Operation, and
Maintenance Manual
November 2004
AWS-WXN-60003.001 Version 1.0, Release 5
AWS Part # (7001)

Weather Station Manual
AWS-WXN-60003.001 Version 1.0, Release 5 November 2004
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Copyright
Copyright 2003, by AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc.
WeatherBug is a trademark of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. The software described in
this document is furnished under a license or non-disclosure agreement. The software may
be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of this agreement. It is against the law
to copy AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc., software onto magnetic tape, disk or any
other medium for any purpose other than for the purchaser's personal use.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy. If not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications.
For Technical Support relating to this WeatherBug product, call 800-624-
4205 or email [email protected].

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DISCLAIMER
The procedures, methods and hardware outlined in this manual are intended to provide
general guidelines for installing a WeatherBug Weather Station. Individual sites often have
unique requirements that require materials and specifications that are beyond the scope of
this manual.
All procedures, methods and hardware used to install a WeatherBug Weather Station must
conform to all applicable building codes (local, state and national). Installation
subcontractors are responsible for complying with all applicable codes. Buyer- and/or
installer-provided hardware must be equivalent or better (according to industry standards)
than that specified in the WeatherBug installation manual.
The buyer/installer is responsible for any damage caused by installation of the WeatherBug
weather station. Furthermore, the buyer/installer is responsible for damage caused as a
result of improper or faulty installation.
THINK SAFETY FIRST! READ THE GETTING STARTED
SECTION OF THIS MANUAL FOR HELPFUL SAFETY TIPS.
Special Note to Buyer/Installer:
Contact WeatherBugTM Technical Support as soon as your WeatherBugTM weather station
installation is complete. WeatherBugTM must remotely access your weather station's data to
verify proper operation. Call WeatherBugTM Technical Support even if remote
communications are not available at the time of installation.
WeatherBugTM Weather Station Technical Support:
800-624-4205
[email protected]
Monday - Thursday -- 8:00am-7:00pm EST
Friday -- 8:00am-5:00pm EST

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Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT....................................................................................................2
DISCLAIMER ...................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................6
Weather Sensors Specifications........................................................ 6
TYPICAL WEATHER STATION INSTALLATION ............................................... 8
GETTING STARTED ........................................................................................9
SAFETY!.........................................................................................................9
FIRST THINGS...............................................................................................10
WEATHER STATION COMPONENTS.............................................................11
OUTDOOR COMPONENTS ............................................................................... 11
STANDARD OUTDOOR COMPONENTS ..................................................... 12
INDOOR COMPONENTS .................................................................................. 13
INDOOR COMPONENTS ........................................................................ 13
The Master Control Unit (MCU).............................................................................14
FRONT OF MASTER CONTROL UNIT (MCU) ............................................ 14
Digital Display (Optional) ......................................................................................15
THE DIGITAL DISPLAY .......................................................................... 15
COMPUTER CONNECTIONS..............................................................................15
INSTALLATION............................................................................................. 16
HARDWARE AND TOOL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................. 16
TOOLS REQUIRED..........................................................................................17
SITE EVALUATION.......................................................................................... 18
Finding the Best Location ......................................................................................18
SITE SELECTION OPTIONS..................................................................... 19
INSTALLING OUTDOOR COMPONENTS............................................................... 19
Installation of the Mast..........................................................................................20
TYPICAL BUILDING MOUNT................................................................... 21
TYPICAL WALL MOUNT BRACKET ........................................................... 22
Securing the Sensors to the Mast ...........................................................................23
Connecting the Weather Sensor Cables..................................................................24
CONNECTING CABLES TO THE TRH........................................................ 25
WIND SENSOR ORIENTATION ................................................................ 26
INSTALLING INDOOR COMPONENTS.................................................................. 28
Connecting the Indoor Weather Station Components..............................................28
FRONT AND REAR OF MASTER CONTROL UNIT (MCU).............................. 29

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POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS CONNECTIONS ....................................... 30
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION..........................................................................31
COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................31
OBTAINING THE SOFTWARE............................................................................. 31
SYSTEM START-UP AND OPERATION ..........................................................32
NETWORK AND SOFTWARE CONFIGURATIONS ....................................................33
IP Ranges ............................................................................................................33
MacMET Server ...................................................................................................33
WeatherStreamer ................................................................................................33
WeatherBug Camera (Optional)...........................................................................33
HOMELAND SECURITY SITE DATA COLLECTION ........................................35
SAMPLE PACKING LIST ......................................................................... 35
CALIBRATION............................................................................................... 36
TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................................................37
Troubleshooting Chart................................................................... 37
WEATHERBUG ACHIEVE (FOR SCHOOLS ONLY).......................................... 38
MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................39

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Introduction
Congratulations on choosing a WeatherBug Weather Station, the premier automated weather
system for educational and commercial applications.
The WeatherBug Weather Station operates 24 hours daily, providing real-time, up-to-the-
second weather observations for 27 real-time parameters, including:
•Temperature
•Relative humidity (dew point calculated)
•Barometric pressure
•Wind speed and direction
•Precipitation
Weather Sensors Specifications
Parameter Range Accuracy Resolution
Wind Speed 0 to 200 mph +/- 2 mph 0.2 mph
Wind Direction *0 to 352 deg. †+/- 3 deg. 0.1 deg.
Temperature -30F to +140F +/- 1F 0.1F
-40F to –30F +/- 2F 0.1F
-65F to –40F +/- 3F 0.1F
Barometric Pressure ‡17.5”Hg to 32.0”Hg +/- 0.05”Hg 0.0035”Hg
Relative Humidity (RH)
Dew point calculation from
Temp. and RH
0 to 100% +/- 2% 0.1%
Rainfall Unlimited +/- 2% @ 1”/hour .01”
*8-degree sector not covered
†Wind average covers 0 to 360 degrees
‡Barometric pressure is measured in inches of mercury (Hg). Metric equivalents are available
through the included software

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Your WeatherBug Weather Station is not difficult to install when all directions are followed
carefully and the installation is well planned prior to assembly. Installation is similar to that
of an outdoor TV antenna (the weather station's outdoor mast and weather sensors) that you
connect to an indoor VCR (the weather station's master control unit) and a TV set (the
weather station's Digital Display and computer). A typical weather station set-up is shown in
“Typical Weather Station Installation,” page 8.
For Educational Institutions Only
Through the purchase of a WeatherBug Weather Station, your school has joined the
WeatherBug Achieve educational technology program, an integrated network of more than
6,000 school-based WeatherBug Weather Stations. Through the Web-based application,
WeatherBug Achieve (page 38), you can access real-time and historical data from any
participating WeatherBug Achieve school.
Introduction (Continued)

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TYPICAL WEATHER STATION INSTALLATION

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Getting Started
Safety!
•While installation of the weather station is not particularly difficult, it does usually
require installation on or near the rooftop, which presents some amount of risk.
•Installation must conform to national, state and local building code requirements;
adhering to the most stringent guidelines.
•The weather station should only be installed qualified individuals who are
comfortable with being on a high ladder or rooftop and who are authorized by the
site administration to perform the installation.
•To limit risk to self and property, this manual should be thoroughly read and
understood before beginning installation.
•Stay as far away from other electrical wiring as possible. Never allow the mast, or any
other item, to contact electrical wires or conduit. Injury or death could result.
If desired, WeatherBug can contract the installation of your weather station. For an
installation cost estimate please contact WeatherBug Technical Support at [phone]
or email [email protected].

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First Things
1. READ THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY
It is very important that you read this entire manual prior to installation. If all
instructions are followed carefully, installation of the weather station should be
straightforward and problem free!
2. SELECT WEATHER STATION COMPUTER
Your WeatherBug Weather Station supports either a PC or Macintosh computer.
The preferred computer is a dedicated PC, used only for the weather station, that is a
Pentium 2, 3, or 4 computer with 128 MB RAM, and Windows 2000 or greater.
Dedicating a computer for use solely by the weather station will significantly reduce
the number of problems you have with the station. For more information on
computer specifications see page 31.
3. UNPACK AND INVENTORY WEATHER STATION COMPONENTS
Carefully unpack and check all weather station components using the packing list on
the outside of your shipping container. Report any damaged or missing components
to WeatherBug immediately.
4. BEGIN INSTALLATION
5. COMPLETE AND RETURN THE HOMELAND SECURITY SITE DATA
PACKET TO WEATHERNETTM
After completing installation, please complete and return the enclosed Homeland
Security Site Data Packet as soon as possible.
Getting Started (Continued)