Weather Display Software Hints & Tips

TIP: Data logger

For weather stations that have a data logger, make sure the time and date match the computer system clock (and there are options to have that updated auto from the PC time and date too), especially after daylight saving changes, etc.

TIP: Quick hide/show

(Applies to later Weather Display versions)

When minimized to the Windows system tray (next to the clock), right-click the Weather Display icon. You can click Show or Hide. This allows you to easily display or hide the main Weather Display window.

TIP: Upgrade to a new version of Weather Display

Sometimes you need to download the full install to get updated programs, like the ftpupd.exe program (to upload files to your web site). Refer to the history http://www.weather-display.com/history.php link for changes to those support programs. Make sure you exit Weather Display before running the installer, and then simply install to the same location. Some separate programs that are started by WeatherDisplay (such as clientrawrealtimeftp.exe and wdmysqlmml.exe) need to be shut down separately. If you get an error about a file in use, and you have shut down all such separate programs, then check that WeatherD.exe is not still running with task manager (right mouse click on the windows task bar to bring that up, then go to the processes tab, and if needed, kill the process). When downloading the zip version, make sure to extract the zipped WeatherD.exe program to where you have Weather Display installed already (e.g. c:\wdisplay), or for some windows setups with WinZip, it means copying the WeatherD.exe file out of that zip folder after it has downloaded.

You may also need to set your firewall to allow any changed program, like WeatherD.exe, ftpupd.exe or clientrawrealtimeftp.exe, to access the internet.

TIP: Rain over time period on real time graph

To see the amount of rain fallen and the time period that it fell in do the following: while viewing the real time graph, double click on the windspeed scale on the main screen graph (or see under view), next hold down the left mouse button at the start of the rain, move the mouse to the right and then release the mouse when the rain has stopped.

TIP: Web cam image at time of cursor on graph

If you have a web cam in use with Weather Display (or via the 3rd party web cam setup), and you have selected the file to use for the animation in the web cam setup, and you have turned on the switch in the time stamped setup TAB, and ticked, produce every minute, then hold down the left mouse button as you move the mouse over the main screen graph, to see the web cam image in a pop up window at that time that corresponds to the time on the graph...and so you get a movie created...and you can even go backwards, etc.

FAQ: How do I correct bad data?

There are a few ways

• Directly edit the log file

This file is found in the logfiles folder. For example, the October 2005 log file is named 102005.txt. Double-click the file to open it in Windows Notepad (or you can choose your own text editing application) It is best to view the folder in list option (Under View in the Windows folder). Edit the data, close the file, and then in Weather Display, do the following:

1. On the Weather Display main window, on the Action menu, click Convert Weather Display log file(s) graphs /Reset WD graphs.
2. Select the log file, and then click Convert.

• Edit/fix all time records

1. On the Weather Display main window, on the Action menu, click Reset selected all time record values or Enter your own all time extreme records.
2. Select the log file to edit -- all time, year to date, or month to date.
3. Click Set when you have entered the correct reading. Do not enter any units.
4. Click Yes to save your changes.

• Use the graph correct function

1. On the Weather Display main window, on the Setup menu, click Graph setup.
2. Click and hold then release while over the area of the graph to correct. Select which readings to correct (it sets to the previous good reading), then click on Correct, and then click Save.

• Data more than 12 hours old

1. Use the > than 12 hour old correction, use the retrieve button first, and click its own save button when done (after repeating the above steps).

• Rain data corrections

You can set the correct totals under control panel, barometer offset, other offset and initial rain totals. You can also set other months rain totals under view, rain in detail, but that does not change the rain totals in the log file (the log file also affects the totals under view, averages/extremes/noaa reports), it just sets the totals for the monthly rain graphs in the rain in detail screen (and same applies for rain for each day of the last 7 days. When setting/resetting there, the changes only apply to that data on that screen. To correct rain totals under view, averages/extremes you need to change the last rain total for the day (i.e. the last entry just before the daily rain total is reset) in the log file for the appropriate month.

If you have lost your rain totals, then you should be able to find the last good rain total in the log file.

Note that you can restore the log file for a month if it is bad, but the graph data is still available for that month (under Graph history), by using the action Convert log files to graphs, but select convert graph files to log files, and then make sure the correct graph data file is selected (for example month102005.inf for October 2005), and then click Convert. Wait for the Finished alert.

FAQ: Graphs show spikes and when the mouse rolls over the spikes, abnormal readings appear

This appears most often with the dew point or windchill graph lines. The problem is display-only issue due to an out of range graphing error. The actual data is not affected.

The solution is to extend the graphing range. Either use the lift/lower buttons in the Setup, Graph Setup, or in the Graph Setup, change the graph ranges to prevent the spikes.

FAQ: COM port error

This often results because another software application is using the same COM port. Possible conflicting devices include PDA synchronization applications or Bluetooth cell phone synchronization programs, etc.

Make sure no other software is accessing the COM port, especially other weather station software applications (for example, Heavy Weather with La Crosse weather stations). Also note that Microsoft Windows can swap COM port numbers.

If you are unable to resolve the COM port failure, you might be able to use a USB to serial adaptor, or a serial port PCI card. Windows Device Manager will identify the assigned COM ports. To access Windows Device Manager, do the following:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.

FAQ: La Crosse 2010/7000/2200/2500 type station

If no data is coming from the separate WS2010-15 data logger.

After inserting the batteries, you need to wait 20 minutes before any software should access the data logger. Also it's a good idea to place the data logger away from the PC, and put RF baluns clamps around the serial cable. Note that Weather Display gets the data every 3 minutes or 5 minutes, depending on the station type.

Note, you can now use the newer La Crosse 3600 with Weather Display without the need to run Heavy Weather, thanks to 3rd party software developed by Sandere of Denmark.

FAQ: Manual upload works, but Auto does not.

I have set times to upload the web pages in the FTP/internet setup, but it does not work at that times, but If I click on action, update internet now, it uploads the files. Answer: Check you have the main internet switch turned ON in the connection setup in the FTP/internet setup, or, if you are using the customise internet setup (i.e. you have the switch ON there), then make sure you set the times to create AND upload the files their (using the customise internet and file creation I recommend (ignore the not in use yet parts), because then you have control!.

FAQ: Where can I purchase a Weather Station?

For New Zealand or Australia, then try: http://www.weatherdownunder.net or http://www.metinstruments.co.nz or http://www.scientificsales.co.nz

For the UK, try http://www.ukweathershop.co.uk

For Europe, try http://www.weatherdisplay.de/inframe.php?text=Online-Shop&inframe=http://www.ffs.net/weather-display/shop/index.htm

For the USA try http://www.provantage.com or http://www.scientificsales.com or http://www.ambientweather.com

FAQ: Which weather station type do you recommend?

If you can afford it then a Davis VP. A Rain wise MKII is a good station, as its also wireless and has 1 second update rate. Next I would recommend a Oregon Scientific (or clone) WMR968 type station. Next would be a La Crosse (or clone) 2310 type station, or a 3600 type station (only every 1 minute update rate). You could add a 1 wire weather station (gives windspeed and direction for every 1 second update rate) to the weather stations with slower update rates, cost only 90$ (US), with Weather Display ability to do that.

FAQ: FTP upload stalls when uploading a file (it just sits there)

A common cause of this issue is the need to use Passive mode with the FTP connection. to turn on Passive mode, do the following:

1. On the Weather Display main window, click Control Panel.
2. On the Control panel, under Web site configurations, click FTP/internet/metar/e-mail/report/connections Setup Client/Server Setup.
3. On the Connections tab, select the Use Passive mode check box.

Also, not all FTP servers support the file rename option (mainly Windows-based servers), so you might turn off the rename feature. To turn off the rename feature, do the following:

1. On the Weather Display main window, click Control Panel.
2. On the Control panel, under Web site configurations, click FTP/internet/metar/e-mail/report/connections Setup Client/Server Setup.
3. On the Connections tab, clear the Rename the file on the server after uploading check box.

The FTP log should provide you with error messages and allow you to see exactly where the FTP failure is occurring. To review the FTP log, do the following:

1. On the Weather Display main window, click View.
2. On the View panel window, under Logs, click FTP log.

FAQ: The rainfall totals do not match my weather station

Weather Display keeps its rain totals separate from the weather station , which makes it more flexible for rain reset times, rain reset month, etc.

To set the starting values, use control panel, barometer offset, other offsets, initial rainfall totals. Once you set the amount in the manual input (e.g. enter 55.5 for mm, or 2.5 for inches (if inches is ticked), then click on set then click on yes to save the values. An alternative is to select the value from the slider (click and it will show the equivalent in inches).