Another possible feature addition

[adam5]

Hi Steve,

Wondering if you were interested in adding solar data to the CWOP data submission. You already have it included in the WU data, so perhaps it might be a relatively "easy" addition (I'm sure you are chuckling now). Just so you don't have to look it up, from the APRS format spec: A capital L, "L", is used to report values between 0 and 999 w/m2. A lower case L, "l", used to report values from 1000 to 1999 w/m2.

Example, in the following CWOP string, solar radiation value is 167 W/m2

DW3024>APRS,TCPXX*,qAX,CWOP-3:@061914z4459.67N/08439.48W_337/002g005t022L167r000P000p000h85b10156VL1110

You could make it an optional check box in the CWOP portion of the Cumulus GUI.

Just a thought I had.

-Brian

[steve]

Yes, pretty easy to do. Adding the option to the form, saving and reloading it at start up etc is what takes up most of the (programming) time, adding it to the CWOP string is very quick!

I assume that the values of 1000 to 1999 with the lower case 'l' are reported without the leading '1', so they are three digits?

[adam5]

I assume that the values of 1000 to 1999 with the lower case 'l' are reported without the leading '1', so they are three digits?

I think so but I"ll look closer at the spec, or try to find a current example to be sure (I'll have to look at some locations much further south than I).

-Brian

[beteljuice]

Thought; What happens if you don't have a UV sensor ?

[steve]

Thought; What happens if you don't have a UV sensor ?

It's solar radiation, not UV, but anyway: as with the Wunderground option, if you don't tick the option, that bit of the string won't get sent. If you tick the option and you don't have a solar sensor, then it will send zero.

[adam5]

I assume that the values of 1000 to 1999 with the lower case 'l' are reported without the leading '1', so they are three digits?

Couldn't find a current example with values over 1000 W/m2. But I do believe values over 1000 are 3 digit...with the 1 omitted but with a leading lower case "l" (el).

So 1268 W/m2 would be l268.

Thanks!

-Brian

[steve]

You would imagine that's how it works, otherwise why have upper and lower case in the first place.

Anyway, I've written the code on that assumption, I'll upload it shortly and you can give it a spin. Is it sunny?

[adam5]

You would imagine that's how it works, otherwise why have upper and lower case in the first place.

Exactly.

Is it sunny?

Unfortunately...no

Northern Michigan/Great Lakes region is quite cloudy (and snowy) this time of year..although there are a few hundred Watts per square meter getting through the clouds during the day.

Thanks for the added option though!!

-Brian

[adam5]

Downloaded 1.8.9 build 895 with the CWOP solar feature, and thus far it appears to work great. Only thing I'm wondering...do you think the position of the solar data in the CWOP data string makes any difference in the way it's decoded down the line? I only ask this because WL as well as some other programs code the solar data right after the temp data as follows:

@062344z4459.67N/08439.48W_282/000g001t020L000r000P000p000h89b10166VL1110

Cumulus 1.8.9 build 895 codes the solar data after the barometer data, at the end of the string as follows:

@070139z4459.66N/08439.48W_297/000g002t020r000P000h91b10166L000eCumulusDsVP

Does that matter...I have no idea. But I would hate for the data to be dropped if downstream decoders were to ignore anything after the pressure data. Is it possible and/or worthwhile to insert the solar data after the temp data?

With all sincerity, thanks for adding that option to Cumulus.

-Brian

[steve]

Well, it seems the fields do have to go in a particular order - what a crazy protocol! Solar radiation isn't mentioned in the CWOP protocol document that I was pointed at (by you, maybe?) other than to say that it might be added one day. In the APRS document, it says that luminosity is sent instead of one of the rain fields. The APRS document also isn't clear on what is sent for values of >999. So I think I need some definitive clarification of all this before I do any more changes.

[steve]

I emailed Russ Chadwick, and he confirmed that the values above 999 should transmitted with the 1000 dropped, and that the string can go anywhere after the mandatory first 4 of direction, speed, gust, temperature.

[adam5]

Solar radiation isn't mentioned in the CWOP protocol document that I was pointed at (by you, maybe?) other than to say that it might be added one day.

Yea, that was me. I could not find solar radiation mentioned in that document either.

I emailed Russ Chadwick, and he confirmed that the values above 999 should transmitted with the 1000 dropped, and that the string can go anywhere after the mandatory first 4 of direction, speed, gust, temperature.

Sweet, I guess that answers that...right from the CWOP guru. Thanks for going above and beyond to check on that.

-Brian