Cumulus Support

Hello all..I am totally new to this forum and to weather instruments in general. I just got a WS-1080 FO unit, and have a couple of questions.

Below is a screenshot of the Cumulus console. I thought it might be easier to show you what I what I am talking about than try to explain.


First, in the bottom right corner, is the Wind Rose. How do you read it? Also, there is nothing more than one thin blue line, pointing East. Shouldn't there be more to it? Or is the lack of data due to the fact that my system has only been set up a couple of days? As you can see, the wind has been quite calm since I set everything up.

Next, At the bottom, there is a box titled "Current". What is this, and what (if anything) should be in there?

Next, in the heading, the forecast shows "Stormy, Much Precipitation". And on the desk display, there is a "sun", indicating that it is going to be sunny. According to local weather reports, they are calling for very nice weather and no rain for the next several days. Is this reading erroneous due to the fact that the unit has not had enough time to track conditions, and give an accurate forecast?
The next couple of questions deal with graphs. The first one is wind direction/average. Is this what the graph should look like? And the last question concerns Min/Max/Ave Temps. Why is there no data on this graph? I do have one more question concerning the desktop console. If I want the backlight to come on, is there some place I should touch so that it doesn't put the unit into a mode that wants me to edit the information?

Sorry for such a long post, but you know how some people are

Jsears wrote: First, in the bottom right corner, is the Wind Rose. How do you read it?

Go to Configuration/Display and select "8" Wind Rose Points. Our 1080's don't diplay 16 points well (as now you've noticed).

Next, At the bottom, there is a box titled "Current". What is this, and what (if anything) should be in there?

You can type the "Current" weather (or a message), and it will output it as a tag which then you can put anywhere in your own website. See your Cumulus Help file for Webtags (or the Wiki).

Next, in the heading, the forecast shows "Stormy, Much Precipitation". And on the desk display, there is a "sun", indicating that it is going to be sunny. According to local weather reports, they are calling for very nice weather and no rain for the next several days. Is this reading erroneous due to the fact that the unit has not had enough time to track conditions, and give an accurate forecast?

The forecasts are independant. The Cumulus one is based of the initial settings you put in Configuration/Station/Forecast. I feel you may have the base pressure reading too high? Again, check the Wiki.

The next couple of questions deal with graphs. The first one is wind direction/average. Is this what the graph should look like?

Yes, it is a bit dull though isn't it? My guess is either your town doesn't get much wind or, more probable, that your wind sensor is buffeted. Get it as high as you can (7 - 10 meters) and away from higher obstacles (5 meters +). And the last question concerns Min/Max/Ave Temps. Why is there no data on this graph? You will need two full days of data to plot 2 points for each of the Min/Max/Av to make a line. The data is only taken at the end of the day (12am or 9am)

I do have one more question concerning the desktop console. If I want the backlight to come on, is there some place I should touch so that it doesn't put the unit into a mode that wants me to edit the information?

I touch mine in the box (oooooh, right on!) next to the Tendancy. But then again, mines broke and that's the only place that works now. I thought you could touch it once anywhere to light it up without it in edit mode. Check your manual.

Thanks, Steve..

These suggestions have helped a lot. I guess I'm just a little too anxious to see results.

Sorry to be a pest with the questions, but sometimes I need someone to tell me what step 1, step 2 and step 3 are

Jim

Jsears wrote:First, in the bottom right corner, is the Wind Rose. How do you read it? Also, there is nothing more than one thin blue line, pointing East. Shouldn't there be more to it? Or is the lack of data due to the fact that my system has only been set up a couple of days? As you can see, the wind has been quite calm since I set everything up.

Hi Jim,

The Wind Rose accumulates the product of the wind speed and direction so it will only "grow" whilst there is wind. Furthermore, it uses the previous 3600 time samples, but (whilst Cumulus is connected) these are 10 seconds apart, so it only reports the previous 10 hours. However, whilst downloading data from the logger the samples are at the logging interval (5 - 30 mins) so the rose can cover a much longer period.

Yes, the basic FO wind vane hardly reports the "intermediate" directions (NNE, etc.) at all, but it can be improved. Here are my test comparison roses for the original and a modified vane, when rotated for exactly one revolution at a constant speed by a very slow turntable (and with a simulated constant wind speed).

Cheers, Alan.

Jsears wrote:Thanks, Steve..

These suggestions have helped a lot. I guess I'm just a little too anxious to see results.

Sorry to be a pest with the questions, but sometimes I need someone to tell me what step 1, step 2 and step 3 are

Jim

Steve has commented on this post yet. Do you mean me?

The only thing I have to add to Michael's excellent reply is that if you don't want to use the 'current conditions' box you can turn it off again from the display settings screen. Presumably you turned it on hoping to see something useful, but didn't look in the help to see what the setting actually did

MickinMoulden wrote:

Jsears wrote:Thanks, Steve..

These suggestions have helped a lot. I guess I'm just a little too anxious to see results.

Sorry to be a pest with the questions, but sometimes I need someone to tell me what step 1, step 2 and step 3 are

Jim

Steve has commented on this post yet. Do you mean me?

Michael..Yes..I meant to reply to you. I am very sorry. Steve has answered so many of my questions that I inadvertently typed his name. I apologize.

Jim

Jsears wrote: Michael..Yes..I meant to reply to you. I am very sorry. Steve has answered so many of my questions that I inadvertently typed his name. I apologize.

Jim

That's OK. Steve's the the MAN and an absolute legend