[PBARC] Update: on Weather data interface

[WOLF, EARNEST G]

All -

It appears that most of the issues with the weather controller have been worked out.

To access weather information on the 70 repeater, you MUST use the # key wait about 2 seconds and then enter the information you want (see bottom of this email). On the 24 machine, the
# key is not necessary.  The reason for the # key on 70 - DTMF muting is enabled on the 70 repeater, and the # key temporarily turns the muting off.

For example, to get the barometric pressure, the steps are as follows:

* Key up and ID and state your intentions of accessing weather data
* unkey
* key up, press the # key (while still keyed up) wait about 2 seconds (one thousand one, one thousand two), and enter the code for the information you want, in this case 20008.
* unkey
* the information should come back over the repeater
* if it doesn't, try the whole process again and wait a little longer between the # and the entering of the code.

I will be looking into whether this "wait time" can be reduced.  If it can, I will let the group know.


Items remaining:

1) Decide on a location - the location will require the following:
* electricity (120v) for power supply - we need 12V for the radio, 
* antenna of sufficient height to hear and get into what ever repeater we put the weather data on (the consensus so far has been the 70 machine).  Be advised that this unit can also be
used on simplex.
* a radio that can receive and transmit on the frequency that we put the weather system on (a dual bander - 2m and 440 would cover everything we are likely to need).
* the radio should have the following available to tap into (on a Kenwood 733 this is all conveniently in the microphone jack on the radio): receive audio, transmit audio, PTT and
ground.  The Kenwood jack can also supply the power necessary to power the cat200 controller but I opted not to use it.
* UPS power would be nice but not necessary unless having this information is viewed as critical.
2) anemometer needs to be setup and calibrated

If the location selected is in White Hall (or west of White Hall), I offer my QTH as a site for it.  Obviously, it works from here.  Should we ever have to go simplex, I can put a 160W
2M amplifier with a 18db gain preamp on it so that it could be used by most anyone in the area, even the QRP stations like the one at wb5hil ( hi hi )

Honestly, I think this remote access is the best way make this data available because the cat200 controller doesn't support many of the features that we've come accustomed to on the
cat300 controller - most notable in my opinion, is that the cat200 doesn't support schedules. We use schedules to make announcements and the CAT200 just doesn't support it.  It may be
possible to program the cat300 to send out the codes to get the some of the weather data on a schedule, again, I will look into it.  It also offers the flexibility of easily (less than
30 seconds) of moving from one frequency to another and offers us the flexibility of moving the unit to other locations with a minimal amount of effort (1/2 to 1 full day would be my
guess as you have to spend most of your time setting up the weather instruments and setting up the antenna and power supply for the radio)

Thanks for your input and patience. 

73,
glenn

Update -

As you may have noticed, we are currently having a couple of problems with the weather system:

1) The weather station information can't be accessed through the 70 repeater (though, if you can reach my house on 146.70 simplex, it will work).  My present thoughts are that the tones
aren't making it through 70.  This most likely is a 70 configuration issue.  My next step (easy to test) is to change it over to the 24 repeater and test it there.  If it works on 24
(and I expect that it will), it will certainly point to a 70 configuration problem.

2) The audio of the voice of the weather unit is almost on the verge of being distorted.  I will play with the audio levels this evening.  Some feedback during this adjusting process
would be appreciated.

Thanks for your feedback during this "tweaking" phase.

Glenn.


Folks,

To the extent that the Ultimeter is connected and setup (temperature sensor and barometric pressure), you can get the following weather values by simply doing the following.

Key up on the 146.700 repeater

Key in one of the following

200 00 - This will give you a complete weather report (so the instructions say, I don't see it that way) 

200 01 - gives you current inside temperature, in the ham shack 

200 02 - gives you outside temperature (will sort of, the probe in in the ham shack) 

200 03 - Wind speed and direction (awaiting anemometer setup) 

200 04 - Rain fall report (not available) 

200 05 - Five minute peak wind speed Report (awaiting setup of
anemometer) 

200 06 - Today's high and low temps 

200 07 - Wind chill (awaiting setup of anemometer) 

200 08 - barometric pressure


Then unkey.

I will be moving the probes outside and hopefully soon putting up the anemometer.

The beauty of this setup is that it can be set so that any repeater (or simplex frequency) that we want it to can announce it.  It is setup to use my Kenwood 733 transceiver but I bet
that it can be adapted to any radio we choose.  Given the Kenwood is a dual bender, once the 440 repeater is up, we can move this service to the 440 repeater with less than 30 seconds
worth of effort.


Enjoy 

glenn