Cumulus Support

I suspect this may be a hardware issue, so apologies if I am hijacking a software forum with irrelevant issues - but... I would welcome any ideas on "stuck" wind readings.
The VP2 anemo and wind vane are set on a 5m pole on the school roof. All worked fine since installation (summer 2012) but wind speed and direction readings "froze" yesterday just 20 minutes after the UK snow started- coincidence? I have yet to go and check at school (a walk though snow) but wondered if you had any hunches as to the cause. I guess it must be a wireless transmitter issue because BOTH wind speed and direction have stopped. Maybe the snow has caused problems with wireless transmission (it was never a strong signal) - does snow reduce wireless transmission from these units? The batteries were OK last time I checked. Oddly, the readings are now stuck constantly at SE and 4mph: they didn't zero.
any help much appreciated - I'll go in later this morning and do some checks but would appreciate some helpful tips from anyone who might have experienced similar problems.
many thanks!
http://www.rgsweather.wordpress.com

I doubt it's down to the temperature. My anemometer and transmitter have survived -11C. You should check for snow ingress into the transmitter box when able.

You can also use the diagnostics screen on the console to check reception quality. If it's borderline then falling snow may have affected the signal. The VP2 manual maintenance and troubleshooting section will help you interpret the info.

Many thanks for your help. I managed to get in and check it, which obviously would have been sensible before posting for help ! Anyhow, for the record: it appears that the fresh snow on the roof of the awning attached to the building where the console is located (big school classroom "hut") was causing a complete loss of signal from the anemo transmitter to the VP2 console unit. It worked previously for months, until the snow arrived. The roof in question is a slanted awning outside the office where the console is located: it is covered in 8 cm of snow. This snow appears to have stopped the signal. When I reposition the console unit to have a clearer line of sight "below" the roof angle it picks up a good signal again and works. Thanks for replying, I am glad it is nothing more technical.

Glad it was such a simple problem to resolve.

Nice to see schools taking an active interest in the weather. Your school may be nurturing the next Michael Fish!

RayProudfoot wrote:Nice to see schools taking an active interest in the weather. Your school may be nurturing the next Michael Fish!

Ray, have a look at this canadian product: School-Based Weather Station Network and their About page - discover that the school-based weather network has been in operation for some years and groups a fairly large number of schools.

The nice thing about the network is that it (mainly) consists of Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus weather stations...

For the past 3-4 years, I have had regular contacts/presentations with the teachers and students of the Quamichan Middle School, one of the local school part of the School-Based Weather Station Network.

Thanks Ray. I think it's great so many schools have a weather station. Clearly it's something that the pupils find interesting.

Of course in these days of automated stations none of the pupils have to go out in all weathers to measure the rainfall. That might dampen their enthusiasm!

Well done to you too for promoting the hobby!

RayProudfoot wrote:Of course in these days of automated stations none of the pupils have to go out in all weathers to measure the rainfall. That might dampen their enthusiasm!

Well, this 'modern generation' of students certainly do not have to go outside to see if it is raining or to take the rain measurements ... what is interesting thought it that all student at the Quamichan Middle School (local school) can view (although not touch) the Vantage Pro2 console (placed in a public area) - during my last visit, I was really surprised the number of students consulting that console on a regular basis during the school hours...

Just had to free mine up, liberal dose of WD40 and its away again.

gemini06720 wrote:what is interesting thought it that all student at the Quamichan Middle School (local school) can view (although not touch) the Vantage Pro2 console (placed in a public area) - during my last visit, I was really surprised the number of students consulting that console on a regular basis during the school hours...

I can understand why there wouldn't be allowed to touch the console but I hope the teachers display the appropriate data for the time of year. For example I've just enabled wind chill during this cold spell but will switch it off when it warms up.

Thanks for the interesting extended discussion. Most impressed with all your weather sites: Vancouver network - awesome videos and links. I love the temperature maps. A weather network sounds like an impossible dream - would be good for SE England, though.
May I ask how you generate your rectangular weather site graphics which accompany each post here?

sacmac wrote:May I ask how you generate your rectangular weather site graphics which accompany each post here?

Kevin at TNET Weather in the US has kindly provided the code and instructions. You can find everything here. http://cumulus.tnetweather.com/projects/phpggbanner

thank you for your help!

Fortunately I have not experienced any communication issue as a result of snow, or anything else.

Very good site you have there. I presume student involvement has much to do by the interest of their teacher?

Please note: we do not have a sunshine recorder yet so our sunshine hours will always appear as 0W/m²!

You may need to talk to Ole at http://www.sunrecorder.net/

Paul

Many thanks for the tip on sun recorders Paul.
Simon