EXTRA

[blackbob]

quick question here.on the main page i have a box called EXTRA with temps,dewpoint and humid.also a box with CURRENT displayed.what is this all about thanks bob.

[Synewave]

Ermm, I don't think it can be a quick answer. Are you referring to a screen in Cumulus? You've got quite a broad question there, can you be more specific about what you want to know?

[blackbob]

Ermm, I don't think it can be a quick answer. Are you referring to a screen in Cumulus? You've got quite a broad question there, can you be more specific about what you want to know?

sorry,it displays on the MY WEATHER main page when i open cumulus.under the RECENT EXTREMES box.the narrow box with current: is flashing as if it needs text typing into it.

[wd40]

Check in the Configuration menu Station and make sure you have selected the right station model.

[Ned]

Never seen an Extra box, but the Current box is toggled on/off in the Display Settings menu, and is documented in the help. In fact I've just started using it - thanks!

[steve]

Either box can be turned on and off from the display settings screen. From the help for that screen:

Display solar/extra data - Selecting this causes Vantage Pro solar data (ET, UV and Solar radiation) to be displayed on the main screen (if supported by the station), or extra sensor data in the case of Oregon WMR-928 stations.

Show current conditions box - Selecting this causes the 'Current conditions' box on the main screen to be displayed. The contents of the box are entered manually, and the web tag <#currcond> corresponds to those contents, for inclusion on a web page. Note that the web tag always takes the contents of the box, regardless of whether it is currently visible or not.

[blackbob]

right i have it turned off now.steve what are wind rose points?bob

[steve]

what are wind rose points?

It's described in the help, but basically they're the compass positions on the wind rose on the Cumulus main screen and the gauges.htm page:

windrose.png

The design of the Fine Offset anemometer means that it tends to not give 'intermediate' positions (NNE, ENE etc) very often, and this makes the wind rose look a bit odd (e.g. when the wind is coming from the NNE, you tend to get a spike at N and a spike at NE and very little in between). The option to select 8 wind rose points means that Cumulus won't attempt to use those positions on the wind rose, so will only use N/NE/E/SE/S/SW/W/NW, and this can make the wind rose look better and be more useful.

Here's an example from my Fine Offset station right now. First, with 16 points:

windrose16.png

And now, with 8 points:

windrose8.png

I suppose it ought to remove the labels for the intermediate positions when the 8 point option is selected. I'm currently working on a new wind rose anyway...

[Gina]

My wind vane has a preference for some of the "in-between" points over the 8 main points. That produces some very weird results Now I have spares I think I'll see if the new wind vane is any better. I imagine the magnet is too near the read switches and tends to switch two on at a time. I might be able to improve it.

This system of magnet and reed switches is very cheap and robust but reed switches are not known for their accuracy of switching on at a certain magnetic flux - they're simple magnet detectors. The only way to make this system work properly would be to take a large batch of reed switches and calibrate their sensitivity. Then use 8 for each sensor that are similar. If Fine Offset were to do this it would put the price up enormously. These are cheap and cheerful home units, not designed for too much accuracy.

[blackbob]

thanks for the kind help folks.iv'e been a member of NETWEATHER for a good few years now,and only used the desktop type of stations to keep an eye on the temps in my greenhouses and polytunnel.
when i noticed the offer at Maplins i thought i'd be mad not to give it a go at that price.
so all in all it's mainly a bit of fun for me whilst i gain more knowledge on these devices.bob

[blackbob]

another question if you dont mind.why do i need to put the weather station on my roof?
is it not ok to have it in the garden 14ft high and as far away from structures as possible.i know it's windier up on the apex. but my main concern would be down at human level (6-12 ft).
why do i need to know how windy it is on my roof? iv'e never been up there.

[Synewave]

On your roof, you would probably get the most accurate wind readings. On the ground, the wind force may be decreased or even accelerated by buildings, trees etc.

Not knowing your property, it's a bit difficult to suggest where's the best place for your wind sensors.

Ok, so you may not be interested in the wind speed or wind direction on your roof, but if you are possibly interested in the forecast that Cumulus can produce, then the wind direction accuracy is quite important.

[jim-easterbrook]

My wind vane has a preference for some of the "in-between" points over the 8 main points. That produces some very weird results Now I have spares I think I'll see if the new wind vane is any better. I imagine the magnet is too near the read switches and tends to switch two on at a time.

My wind vane has the opposite behaviour, preferring the 8 main points. A wind rose is very good at showing this. Here's a recent one which shows the effect.

rose_12hrs.png

(Edit - uploaded a later wind rose with greater unevenness.)

[Gina]

This is my wind rose for the last 24hrs showing it favouring WSW and ENE.