TACMET Weather Station MAWS201MP USER'S GUIDE M210455EN-B October 2003
PUBLISHED BY Vaisala Oyj P.O. Box 26 FIN-00421 Helsinki Finland Phone (int.): +358 9 8949 1 Fax: +358 9 8949 2227 Visit our Internet pages at http://www.vaisala.com/ © Vaisala 2003 No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical (including photocopying), nor may its contents be communicated to a third party without prior written permission of the copyright holder. The contents are subject to change without prior notice.
________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION............................................................................ 7 About This Manual ................................................................... 7 Contents of This Manual ....................................................... 7 Feedback............................................................................... 8 Safety.....................................
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Communication Accessory Enclosure QCA101..................32 Handheld Terminal QMD101M...............................................32 Radio Modem ..........................................................................33 VHF Antennas .....................................................................34 UHF Antennas .....................................................................
________________________________________________________________________________ Event Monitor ...................................................................... 77 Menu Options................................................................. 78 Toolbar ........................................................................... 79 Display Modes................................................................ 80 Viewing Events...............................................................
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ PWD11A.................................................................................112 SA20M....................................................................................113 Handheld Terminal ...............................................................114 Technical Support ................................................................114 Return Instructions ....................................................
________________________________________________________________________________ Figure 23 Figure 24 Figure 25 Figure 26 Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29 Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32 Figure 33 Figure 34 Figure 35 Figure 36 Figure 37 Figure 38 Figure 39 Figure 40 Figure 41 Figure 42 Figure 43 Figure 44 Figure 45 Figure 46 Figure 47 Figure 48 Figure 49 Figure 50 Figure 51 Figure 52 Figure 53 Figure 54 TM32 Radio Modem.................................................................
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 19 Table 20 Table 21 Table 22 Table 23 Table 24 Table 25 Table 26 Table 27 Table 28 Table 29 Table 30 Table 31 Table 32 Table 33 Table 34 Table 35 Table 36 Table 37 Table 38 Table 39 Table 40 Table 41 Table 42 Table 43 Table 44 Table 45 Table 46 Table 47 Table 48 Table 49 Table 50 Table 51 Table 52 Table 53 Table 54 Table 55 Table 56 Table 57 Table 58 Table 59 Table 60 Parameters in Graphic Display...................
Chapter 1 ________________________________________________________ General Information CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION This chapter provides important safety, revision history, and warranty information on the product. About This Manual This manual provides operation and maintenance information on MAWS201MP Automatic Weather Station for Pole Mast installations (also referred to as TACMET MAWS).
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Feedback Vaisala Customer Documentation Team welcomes your comments and suggestions on the quality and usefulness of this publication. If you find errors or have other suggestions for improvement, please indicate the chapter, section, and page number. You can send comments to us by e-mail: manuals@vaisala.
Chapter 1 ________________________________________________________ General Information Product Related Safety Precautions The following are general safety precautions that are not related to any specific procedures and therefore do not appear elsewhere in this publication. They are recommended precautions that personnel must understand and apply during many phases of installations, operations and maintenance. WARNING For safety reasons, do not install the mast alone.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ WARNING To minimize shock hazard, the instrument chassis and cabinet must be properly grounded. The power cable must either be plugged into an approved electrical outlet or the instrument must be carefully grounded to a low-resistance safety ground. WARNING Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere. Do not operate the equipment in the presence of flammable gases or fumes.
Chapter 1 ________________________________________________________ General Information CAUTION Be careful not to damage the sensors when tilting the mast. NOTE Send old batteries to secondary lead smelter for recycling. Place neutralized slurry into sealed containers and handle in accordance to local, state, and federal regulations. Large water-diluted spills, after neutralization and testing, should be managed in accordance with approved local, state, and federal requirements.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ License Agreement All rights to any software are held by Vaisala or third parties. The customer is allowed to use the software only to the extent that is provided by the applicable supply contract or Software License Agreement. Warranty For certain products Vaisala normally gives a limited one-year warranty.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview CHAPTER 2 PRODUCT OVERVIEW This chapter introduces TACMET MAWS features, advantages, and the product nomenclature. Introduction to TACMET MAWS TACMET MAWS is an automatic weather station designed for permanent installation. TACMET MAWS accesses and processes data from its sensors, performs data quality control, as well as formats data for output in application specific formats.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Figure 1 TACMET MAWS System The following numbers refer to Figure 1 above: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 = = = = = = = = = = = = = Heated Ultrasonic Wind Sensor Tiltable 6 m (20 ft) or 10 m (33 ft) mast Lightning Detector Power Supply and Connection Unit Ceilometer Obstruction Light Present Weather Detector Air Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor Rain Gauge AWS Logger with Pressure Sensor Handheld Terminal MIDAS IV
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview MAWS Operating Software The embedded operating software runs in the AWS logger QML102T. Access to the limited set of commands can be gained using the Handheld Terminal QMD101M or using MIDAS IV PC. Radiation Shield 0306-009 Figure 2 Radiation Shield The radiation shield protects the QME101M logger tube, which is the same as with the mobile TACMET system, and the Power Supply and Connection Unit QMP202MP.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ AWS Logger QML102T 0306-010 Figure 3 Logger QML102T QML102T is a complete AWS logger designed on just one printed board. This board contains a 32 bit Motorola CPU for data processing and 10 differential (20 single ended) analog sensor inputs, that can also be used as digital inputs. Moreover, there are two frequency sensor interfaces, a 16 bit A/D converter, 1.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Power Supply and Connection Unit QMP202MP MAWS201MP (see Figure 2 on page 15) is a low-power system. When AC (mains) power (230 or 115 VAC) is available on the installation site, an AC (mains) power supply is used to charge the battery. QMP202MP includes the following modules: the backup battery, the battery regulator, AC (mains) power supply units, and the communication device.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Power Supply Unit BWT36SXZ The AC (Mains) power supply unit BWT36SXZ is a switching power supply, which operates from the universal AC input of 85 to 264 VAC and 47 to 440 Hz. The output voltage is 36 VDC, which is used for supplying heating power to Vaisala Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS425. BWT36SXZ is installed inside QMP202MP on a standard DIN-rail enabling easy maintenance of the unit.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Transmitter WT501 0306-012 Figure 5 Transmitter WT501 The WT501 composes the digital transmitter PCB with connectors enclosed into an anodized aluminum profile with DIN-rail mounting. The unit is installed as such in an equipment enclosure designed to withstand the environmental conditions in question. The data is provided via the onboard opto-isolated serial interface of the transmitter unit.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Through this module, MAWS201MP sends reports and data or the MIDAS IV PC sends new settings to the logger. The modem module DMX501 is configured at the factory to use the communication standard V.22, 1200 bps DPSK Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS425 0306-018 Figure 7 Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS425 Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS425 uses ultrasound to determine wind speed and wind direction.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview 0306-018 Figure 8 Installation Adapter for Ultrasonic Wind Sensors Air Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor QMH101M 0105-015 Figure 9 QMH101M with Radiation Shield Air Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor QMH101 is based on Vaisala's field-proven HMP45D probe and comes with a special cable and connector.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ installed and the measurement continues. Meanwhile the other probe head can be calibrated. The probe is installed in a naturally aspirated shield made of injection molded UV stabilized plastic. The shield has a multiplate design providing the necessary shielding from solar radiation and precipitation.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Rain Gauge QMR101M 0306-019 Figure 11 Rain Gauge QMR101M Rain Gauge QMR101M is an economical and accurate rain gauge made of plastic, which is frostproof and highly resistant to UVradiation. QMR101M has a self-emptying tipping spoon of 0.2 millimeters capacity. QMR101M comes with a ready-made cable and connector.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ CT25KAM employs pulsed diode laser LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology for cloud detection, precipitation, and other obstructions to vision, and accurate cloud heights and vertical visibility determination. The standard measurement range of CT25KAM extends up to 25 000 feet (7.5 km) covering most heights where dense clouds appear. The instrument is capable of reporting up to three cloud layers simultaneously.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview weather sensor. In addition, PWD11A can measure the intensity and amount of both liquid and solid precipitation. The versatility of PWD11A is achieved with a unique operating principle. PWD11A measures an estimate of the precipitation water content with a capacitive device and combines this information with optical scatter and temperature measurements.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ the building stages of a thunderstorm, before sufficient charge buildup has occurred that would generate a ground strike. Consequently, SA20M provides early warnings of potentially fatal single-event ground strikes.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Foundation Set The foundation set includes all the necessary installation accessories both for a new and an existing concrete pad.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Guy Wires The DKP206AV-T mast is delivered with one set of guy wires, whereas DKP210AV-T is delivered with two sets. Figure 17 below shows the contents of one set of guy wires and the accessories. The top fastener of the guy wires is mounted to the uppermost tube of the mast during installation. Figure 17 Guy Wires Set The following numbers refer to Figure 17 above.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Lightning Rod The mast is delivered with a passive lightning rod made from copper. The lightning rod holders are made of non-conductive material to protect the mast devices from overvoltage when lightning occurs. Refer to Figure 18 below. An active type of lightning rod is available as an option for areas where heavy lightning activity occurs frequently.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Obstruction Light An obstruction light is included in the mast delivery. Obelux Obstruction Light is a very low power obstruction light utilizing LED technology with a typical intensity of 17 cd. The obstruction light is supplied with 12 VDC nominal supply voltage. The stabilized output of the light makes it possible that the variations of the supply voltage do not affect to the light output.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Workstation with MIDAS IV Software The workstation software MIDAS IV is installed onto a laptop PC. The MIDAS IV software operates in the Microsoft® Windows 2000® operating system, providing multi-tasking operation and connectivity. The workstation displays numerical and graphical data, codes METAR/SPECI aviation weather reports, as well as archives and transmits data for further processing.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Communication Accessory Enclosure QCA101 Communication Accessory Enclosure QCA101 houses Transmitter WT501 equipped with Modem Module DMX501. Additionally, AC (mains) power supply, lightning protection device, and surge arresters are located in the enclosure. In Figure 21 on page 31 the QCA101 enclosure is shown beside the MIDAS IV PC. The maximum communication range with Modem Module DMX501 is up to 20 km (12 mi.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Radio Modem 0310-065 Figure 23 TM32 Radio Modem Radio modems provide wireless data communication between MAWS201MP and MIDAS IV PC. TM32 Radio modem features a watertight design for operation in unprotected environments common in field applications. TM32 features a fully synthesized multi-channel radio that allows operation on all frequencies in the supported VHF or UHF bands.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ VHF Antennas The VHF antenna can be installed on the tripod (see Figure 24 below) or on the pole mast (see Figure 25 below). The frequency range is from 150 to 174 MHz.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview UHF Antennas The UHF antenna can be installed on the tripod (see Figure 26 below) or on the pole mast (see Figure 27 below). The frequency range is from 410 to 470 MHz.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Mains Power Supply Module QMP211 The AC (mains) power supply module QMP211 is a switching power supply, which operates from the universal AC input of 100 to 240 VAC and 50/60 Hz. The output voltage is 12 VDC (2500 mA), which is used for powering the radio modem when it is connected to the MIDAS IV PC for configuring.
Chapter 2 __________________________________________________________ Product Overview Product Nomenclature Table 1 TACMET MAWS201MP Nomenclature Code QML102T PMT16A QME101M QMA102M WS425 QMH101M QMR101M DKP206AV-T DKP210AV-T DKW200 QMD101M TM32 QMX102SET-2 QMX101MSET-1 QMX101MSET-2 QMX101MSET-3 QMP211 QPS101 Laptop PC MIDAS IV CT25KAM PWD11A SA20M OBL10-12 QMP202MP QCA101 WT501+DMX501 Common Name Logger Pressure sensor Logger tube Sensor arm and radiation shield Heated wind direction and speed sensor Ai
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 2 Cables Provided Code ZZ45202 ZZ212024 ZZ212915 ZZ45214 CT45300 CT45298 ZZ45215 ZZ45123 ZZ212026 ZZ212025 ZZ45114 212019 ZZ213068SPEC ZZ212027 Common Name PC/Handheld connection cable with DC connector, 5 m (15 ft) WS425 Data/power cable for DKP206AV-T WS425 Data/power cable for DKP210AV-T AC cable, 5 m (15 ft) AC supply cable for CT25KAM DC/data cable for CT25KAM SA20M connection cable Data cable from QMP202MP to
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation CHAPTER 3 OPERATION This chapter contains information that is needed to operate TACMET MAWS with the handheld terminal and MIDAS IV software. Communication Connections There are four options for communication connections: 1. Hardwire connection between TACMET MAWS and the handheld terminal.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Handheld Terminal This chapter contains information that is needed for using the Handheld Terminal QMD101M. The handheld terminal provides the following main functions: - Paged screens for measurement and calculation results produced by the TACMET MAWS logger. - Alarm screen, that shows active alarms. - Setup screen for setting environmental variables such as time and altitude.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Keypad Shift Key The alphabetic/numeric Shift mode key is used to shift the QMD101M keypad between the alphabetic and numeric modes. Pressing and releasing the Shift key before pressing any other key, places the keypad in either numeric mode (the shift mode indicator displays a) or alphabetic mode (the shift mode indicator displays a or a). Use numeric mode for numbers and symbols (- and .
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Cursor Keys The down and up cursor keys ( ) are used to move through the various menu screens. The left and right cursor keys ( ) are used to move the cursor to the left and to the right. Backspace Key The Backspace key deletes the character to the left of the cursor and moves the cursor one step to the left.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Sequence of the Screens The display has eight different screens in the following order: 1. Main 2. Wind 3. Stat 4. Enh/1 5. Enh/2 6. Alarms 7. Status 8. Setup Accessing the Screens The screens are organized in a sequential manner, in the order explained in section Sequence of the Screens on page 43.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Main MAWS1 WD WS T RH DT P a p QFE QFF QNH PA DA ↓a : : : : : : : : : : : : : Main 259 12 28.0 89 25.0 29.2 0.0 0.0 29.3 1 0.2 0.0 0.0 13:10* Deg m/s °C % °C hPa hPa hPa hPa hPa m m ↓=Next The Main screen shows the key values of the standard measurements and calculations.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Wind Press ↓ on the Main screen to get to the Wind screen: MAWS1 Wind WD : WS : 259 12 Min WD2 : 255 WS2 : 9 Avg 270 11 Max 275 12 Deg m/s WD10: 250 WS10: 8 270 11 280 12 Deg m/s Gust: SQ : 0 0 ↓a 13:10 Deg m/s m/s m/s ↓↑=Next/Prev The Wind screen shows instant and statistical wind information.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ MAWS1 Rain 1h: 3h: 6h: 24h: Stat 0 0 0 0 13:10 mm mm mm mm Prec 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm 1h: 3h: 6h: 24h: Snow 1h: 3h: 6h: 24h: ↓a ↓↑=Next/Prev The Statistics screen shows statistic values of liquid and solid precipitation.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation NOTE If precipitation is snow, Prec 1h to 24h values show the liquid equivalent and Snow 1h to 24h values show the snow thickness. The values are updated once per hour. Enh/1 Press ↓ on the Statistics screen to get to the first Enhancement screen (Enh/1): MAWS1 Enh/1 Condition: Mist 13:10 METAR PW : BR Prec. Int: 0.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 8 PW Code 00 04 05 10 20 21 23 24 25 30 31 32 33 34 40 41 42 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 90 SYNOP Codes Used by PWD11A (Number Codes Not Seen on QMD101M) Textual Representation Clear Haze or smoke (vis ≥ 1 km) Haze or smoke (vis < 1 km) Mist Fog 1) Precipitation 1) Rain (not freezing) 1) Snow 1) Freezing rain or freezing drizzle Fog 2) Fog or ice fog, i
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation PW Code 91 92 94 95 Textual Representation Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, no precipitation Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, rain/snow Thunderstorm, heavy, no precipitation Thunderstorm, heavy, rain/snow 1) Codes are used if precipitation or fog was observed during the preceding hour but not at the time of observation. 2) Codes are used if precipitation or fog is observed at the time of observation.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Alarms Press ↓ on the Enh/2 screen to get to the Alarms screen: MAWS1 Alarms 13:10 PVD11A: Comm. failure ↓a ↓↑=Next/Prev The Alarms screen shows active alarms. If an alarm is triggered, the Alarms screen will appear automatically. Press ESC key to return to the previous screen, or press Enter to acknowledge the alarm message.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Table 10 List of Possible Alarms Alarm CT25KAM: Comm. failure Explanation and Possible Remedy Communication failure. Verify correct cable connections or replace sensor. CT25KAM: HW alarm/warning Hardware error on CT25KAM. CT25KAM: Optics contamin. CT25KAM optics contaminated. Clean the optics. QMP202MP: Battery low QMP202MP battery low. Connect QMP202MP to an AC outlet.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Status Press ↓ on Alarms screen to get to the Status screen: MAWS1 Status Int. Batt : Int. Temp : QMP202MP : AC (mains): Al. Limit : 6.8 25 11.3 On 10.8 CTRL 1 CTRL 2 CTRL 3 Reset Sleep Restart ↓a 13:10 V °C V V ↓↑=Next/Prev The Status screen shows voltage information and internal temperature of the TACMET MAWS logger. Table 11 Status Screen Information Screen label Int. Batt Int.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Setup Press ↓ on the Status screen to get to the Setup screen. Setup Name Time Timez Alt Pslev WindC Rf-HT Rf-PC Sys.T Enh. Units ↓a . : MAWS1 : hh mm ss YY MM DD 13 10 00 03 10 29 : 2.0 : 21.7 m : 1.1 m : 0.0 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 0 ↑=Prev NOTE When taking TACMET MAWS into use for the first time or upon connecting the battery, the station dependent settings must be checked.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ NOTE If you are not able to get the input field, it means that there is a communication problem between TACMET MAWS and the handheld terminal. See section troubleshooting the Handheld Terminal on page 114. Table 12 Screen label Name Time Timez Alt Pslev WindC Rf-HT Rf-PC Sys.T Enh Units Station Dependent Settings Setting Select a desired station name (max. 8 characters).
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation 9908-001 Figure 30 Time Zones Terminal Connection NOTE The terminal mode is for maintenance purposes only. When you are on the Setup screen, press F1 to start a terminal connection. To close the terminal connection, turn the power off and on again.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ MIDAS IV Software This section contains detailed information on operating TACMET MAWS with the MIDAS IV software. The MIDAS IV software collects measured and calculated data from the TACMET MAWS systems. In addition, it automatically generates METAR reports, archives data for 30 days on the hard disk or any other selected storage media, and distributes data further to other systems.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Figure 31 Configuration Wizard The Configuration Wizard includes two menus: File and Settings. From the File menu, you can browse log files, exit Configuration Wizard, or read the version information. The Settings menu has two menu items: Radio modem and Dial-up. The Radio modem sub-menu has three items: Use radio modem, Radio modem channel, and Configuration software.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 13 Explanation of Configuration Wizard Buttons Button Radio Modem Dial-up Silence MAWS/ Enable MAWS Sensor Terminal M4 Services M4 Diagnostics Start M4 Stop M4 Apply Cancel Locations...
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Weather View Tab 0310-033 Figure 32 Weather View Tab With the Weather View tab, you can configure the amount and the order of the displays in the Weather View application. NOTE Normally there is no need to modify the display settings. Weather View Weather View is an application for graphical and numerical presentation of TACMET MAWS values.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ NOTE The number and content of the screens depends on the configuration of your system and may differ from the ones presented in this manual. Screen 1 The Weather View application is composed of several screens. When one TACMET MAWS is connected to MIDAS IV PC, the screen 1 shows basic system data. NOTE The order of the screens depends on the settings made with the configuration wizard program.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Table 15 Parameters in Basic System Data Screen Field TACMET MAST Mains ON/OFF MAWS Btry DC Voltage DATE TIME Runway direction Instant Wind direction 2-minute variation 10-minute variation WD 10Max WS 10Max Rectangle in the middle of the wind rose WD 10Mnm WS 10Mnm T RH Td Rain 1h Rain 24h Max Avg Mnm WD WS QNH QFE QFF PA DA 3h App Type Gusts Squall Description Weather station identification AC power to MAWS (ON [1] / O
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Screen 2 Screen 2 shows Enhancement data from TACMET MAWS. Figure 34 NOTE Weather View Screen 2: Enhancement Data If lightning values show slashes (/////), check the cable connections of the SA20M Lightning Detector.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Table 16 Parameters in Enhancement Data Screens Field TACMET MAST DATE TIME Cloud Cover and Base CL1 ... CL5 CB1 ... CB5 RAIN 1h ... 24h Rate In/Hr SNOW 1h ... 24 h PW Lightning (15 min) Distance SM Direction º Count RfNoise Visibility 1A (SM) Visibility 10A (SM) Table 17 Description Weather station identification Current date Current time Cloud covers CL1 to CL5 and cloud bases CB1 to CB5.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ If present weather information for a specific group does not exist, this group is omitted. Example: -RA: "Light rain" Follow the instructions in section Changing Graphic Scales on page 65 to change the scales of the visibility diagram. Screen 3 Screen 3 is a graphic display, which shows pressure, cloud base, and wind speed data.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Changing Graphic Scales To change the scale of a diagram (for example temperature diagram in screen 1), do the following: 1. Move the cursor over the temperature diagram. 2. Click the right mouse button. 3. Change the scales as desired (see Figure 36 below) and click OK. Figure 36 Changing the Scales Menu Options The Weather View application contains five menus: Display, Edit, View, Window, and Help.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Display The Display menu contains the following options: - Screen 1 to 3 displays a Weather View screen - Refresh updates all display items - Open displays the screen description files - Close shuts the active window - Print prints the data shown on the active display - Print Setup displays printer and connection options Edit The Edit menu contains the following command: - Copy As Bitmap copies the current display to the
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Window The Window menu contains the following commands: - Arrange Icons arranges icons of minimized windows - Close All closes all open windows - Screen 1 to 3 displays a Weather View screen Help The Help menu includes the following command: - About Weather View shows version and copyright information.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ METAR/SPECI Template The METAR/SPECI template (referred to as US METAR template) generates a METAR observation report at the intervals specified in the system configuration. Sensor data is automatically updated onto the template. The observation follows the format specified by WMO. The observations can be edited or augmented by the operator and are not distributed until approved by the operator.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Table 20 Thresholds That Initiate Automatic SPECI Report Measured Parameter Wind direction Wind speed Gust Air pressure Cloud layer Vertical visibility Threshold 60 deg 5 m/s (9.7 kt) 5 m/s (9.7 kt) Changes by 0.3 hPa (0.01 inches Hg) from the previous METAR When a cloud layer with an octa of 5 ... 8 (BKN/OVC) goes below 100 ft (30.48m), 200 ft (60.96m), 300 ft (91.44m), 500 ft (152.40m), 700 ft (213.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 22 US METAR: Report Menu Command BUILD TREND SEND Description Builds and validates the report Sends a TREND request to forecaster Saves the report to hard disk, or sends the report to the external interface Displays a template for a corrected METAR with the data from the previously sent METAR report filled in.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Table 26 Command About METAR/MET REPORT Template US METAR: Help Menu Description Displays software version and copyright information The METAR/MET REPORT toolbar typically contains the buttons described in Table 27 below. Depending on the system configuration, some options may not be available.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ 0310-035 Figure 38 METAR/MET REPORT Manager METAR/SPECI Editing Procedure The steps of producing a METAR/SPECI report are: - Checking and editing data fields - Adding remarks - Building the report - Sending the report. Checking and Editing Data Fields When the US METAR template window appears on your screen, several fields are already filled with sensor data.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation To be able to notice a problem situation in the system, it is important to understand which fields are automatic and which are manual. Table 28 below lists automatic and manual fields and the special conditions related to them.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ NOTE Slashes in manual fields are normal. When you see slashes in manual fields, enter data in the field. Adding Remarks You can add remarks to the METAR report whenever necessary. A remark is any comment you consider important; it could be related, for instance, to runway conditions. Building the Report Build the report by clicking the BUILD button. The system validates the report.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Sending the Report When you have built the report and made sure that the text in the Code field is OK, you can send the report by clicking the SEND button. The system adds the abbreviated header lines automatically in the beginning of the report and sends it. If the Minimize after send option is selected from the Settings menu, the system automatically minimizes the template window.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 29 Stored data Weather parameters Events METAR/SPECI reports File name x_SENSOR_date x_THUNDER_date EVENTS_1.HIS REPORTS_1.HIS Table 30 Column BASE1 ... BASE5 CH1INS COUNT15, COUNT60 CREATEDATE DA DIRNEAREST DP OCTA1 ...
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Column WATER_SUM6H WATER_SUM24H WD2A WD10M WD10A WD10X WIND_SQUALL WS2A WS10A WS10M WS10X WSGUST Explanation [unit] 6-hour water sum [mm] by PWD11A 24-hour water sum [mm] by PWD11A 2-minute wind direction average [Deg] 10-minute wind direction minimum [Deg] 10-minute wind direction average [Deg] 10-minute wind direction maximum [Deg] Wind squall 2-minute wind speed average [m/s] 10-minute wind speed average [m/s] 10-minut
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Menu Options The Event Monitor application contains three menus: Event, View, and Help. Event The Event menu contains the following options: - Save As saves the Event Monitor screen to a file with a name specified by the user. - Acknowledge marks the active event as noticed. - Voice activates the optional Midas IV voice alarm function. This application is not available with the TACMET system.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation - All Events displays active events, that is, events that have not yet been acknowledged. - Internal Events displays internal events. - Technical Events displays technical events. - Operational Events displays operational events. - Ice Detection Events. This application is not available with the TACMET system. - Message Notifications displays information related to weather reports. - Toolbar shows/hides the toolbar.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ NOTE It is recommended to leave Event Monitor running whenever you use the system. This is indicated by the Event Monitor icon ( ) on the Windows status area. Display Modes Normally the Event Monitor application opens in a full-size window. You can also display the application as a single event line on the bottom of the screen by selecting Bottom Line from the View menu.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Viewing Events In the View menu, you can select different event categories for viewing. For each message, the following information is displayed: - Time stamp (Time). The time stamp is updated when the message is acknowledged. The time stamp column also includes an alarm status icon. The color of the icon changes from red to yellow when the event is acknowledged.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Checking New Events To check new events, do the following: 1. In the Windows status area, double-click the Event Monitor icon ( ). The Event Monitor window opens. 2. In the View menu, select the event types you want to see. 3. Check the latest unacknowledged event in the list (the topmost with red icon). 4. When you have checked the latest unacknowledged event, click the 5. icon. The event is now acknowledged.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Event Messages The event messages are explained in Table 31 below. Table 31 Event Messages Event Message 1_MAWS_SENSOR_MISSING_DATA Explanation The system has received no PTU data (Pressure Sensor PMT16A or Air Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor QMH101M) within a specified time. 1_RAIN_SENSOR_MISSING_DATA The system has received no data from Rain Gauge QMR101M within a specified time.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Diagnostics Monitor The Diagnostic Monitor (ROA Diagnostics) application is a tool for monitoring the status of the MIDAS IV system. In Diagnostic Monitor, you can view the status of a CDU (Central Data Unit), ROA (Remote Object Architecture) objects and ROA users. You can also check the location of a sensor. When you get an Internal Event message in Event Monitor, there may be a problem with the CDU.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Statuses Tab Figure 42 below shows the Diagnostic Monitor main window/Statuses tab for a duplicated system. Figure 42 Diagnostic Monitor Statuses Tab The Statuses tab is the most important tab for troubleshooting tasks. NOTE The System, Servers, and Database tabs are mainly intended for Vaisala internal use. In single-CDU systems, the Cluster B column in the Statuses tab is not used.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ ROA Object A ROA object is a runtime data container used by the remote object architecture. The data set it contains can be one of the following: - Measured weather parameter values produced by a sensor - Calculated values produced by meteorological services - Alarm messages produced by the Alarm Service - Weather report data.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation The columns in Figure 43 on page 86 are explained below: Name = The Name column shows the ROA object name. By double-clicking the name (of objects having Access type Application), you can open a data item window for this object and view data items belonging to it. Existence = In the Existence column, the system shows the status of the ROA object in question. In single-CDU systems, the normal status is Obligatory.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Red and yellow colors indicate missing objects, license violations, or other irregularities related to ROA objects. When the Objects icon is red or yellow, you need to view further object details in the data item window related to each object. Table 33 below explains the meaning of the status icon colors in the Objects window and gives troubleshooting instructions.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Figure 44 Data Item Window for PWD11A The columns in Figure 44 above are explained below: Name = The Name column shows the data item name. One ROA object includes several data items. The data item named Location shows the location code of the object. Type = The Type column contains programming information intended for Vaisala internal use.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ ROA User A ROA user is a program running in the MIDAS IV system. The term "user" should be understood from the system’s point of view: ROA users are applications and programs that are using the CDU’s services. NOTE In this context, the word user does not refer to the end user of MIDAS IV workstation. A ROA user is one of the following: - Workstation application (for example Weather View, METAR/SPECI) - System program.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation The columns in Figure 45 on page 90 are explained below: Software = The Software column shows the name of the ROA user. Address = The Address column shows the IP address of the computer running the software in question. Port = The Port column shows the TCP/IP port of the computer running the software in question. Host = The Host column contains information intended for Vaisala internal use.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ CAUTION SensorIO Monitor is also an installation tool used by Vaisala personnel. For this reason, it contains some functions you must not use. Incorrect use of these functions can result in serious system problems. This manual includes instructions only for the functions that you can safely use in your troubleshooting tasks. Do not use functions that are not covered in this manual.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation 0310-040 Figure 46 Sensor Status Monitor Window The columns in Figure 46 above are explained below: Icon Port Status = The connection status icon is the leftmost column on the window. The LED icons in the column display the status of each field device configured in the system. The status information is updated several times a minute. See Table 34 below for details.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 35 Explanation of Status Column Status OK Error Command Mode Explanation Communication between sensors and CDU is running correctly. Problems in communication between sensors and CDU. Sensor is in maintenance mode. When you right-click a sensor name, you can view more information on the sensor by selecting Sensor Details from the context menu. The Field Device Status window appears, see Figure 47 below.
Chapter 3 ________________________________________________________________ Operation Event Log Window The Event Log window contains detailed information on sensor communications. It displays the latest sensor events received from the system. 0310-041 Figure 48 Event Log Window The Event Log window shows the time of the event, the name of the sensor, the event number, and the sensor message text (for example "message missing!").
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Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance CHAPTER 4 MAINTENANCE This chapter provides information that is needed in the basic maintenance of the product. Under normal conditions, MAWS201MP Weather Station needs only a minimum amount of maintenance. In general, it is not advisable to repair sensors in the field. Tilting the Mast The MAWS201MP mast is easy to tilt for maintenance purposes.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ WARNING For safety reasons, do not tilt the mast when wind speed is over 7 m/s (14 kt). WARNING See that there are no power lines or other obstacles near the mast. WARNING Be sure that there are no persons under the mast when the mast is tilted. WARNING Avoid touching the wire with bare hands. Do not try to guide the wire. CAUTION Be careful not to damage the sensors when tilting the mast.
Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance 0303-046 Figure 50 2. CAUTION Mast Orientation Open the 4 securing bolts in the hinge (see Figure 51 on page 100). Do not open the horizontal hinge bolt. After erecting the mast, secure the hinge with the provided accessories as illustrated in Figure 51 on page 100. NOTE Always assemble the washers under the spring washers to prevent the paint from being damaged.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ 0303-045 Figure 51 Bolts and Washers for Securing the Hinge The following numbers refer to Figure 51 above: 1 2 3 3. CAUTION = = = Allen bolt Spring washer Washer Lower the mast slowly by turning the winch counter-clockwise. You should always have a good grip on the handle. 4. Install the tilting support to the end of the mast (see Figure 52 on page 101). 5.
Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance 0303-052 Figure 52 Tilted Mast with Tilting Support Follow the procedure below to erect the mast: 1. CAUTION Turn the winch handle clockwise so that the mast does not rest on the tilting support. Be careful not to damage sensors or accessories with the tilting support. 2. Remove the tilting support. 3. Fully erect the mast with the winch. 4.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS425 Ultrasonic Wind Sensor requires a minimum amount of maintenance. If the sensor fails, replace it with a known good unit. Present Weather Detector PWD11A PWD11A is designed to operate continuously for several years without maintenance other than cleaning of the lenses and the DRD sensing surface (see Figure 53 below).
Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance 1. Clean the lenses with a lens-cleaning wipe. Be careful not to scratch the lens surfaces. Lenses should dry up indicating that the lens heating is functioning. 2. Check that the hoods and lenses are free of condensed water or ice and snow deposits. 3. Wipe the dust from the inner and outer surfaces of the hoods.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Obstruction Light If the obstruction light gets dirty, clean it with water and mild soap only. If the obstruction light fails, replace the whole unit. Antenna Antennas require a minimum amount of maintenance. Field repairs are accomplished by changing the complete antenna.
Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance 0201-001 Figure 54 QMH101 Probe Maintenance The following numbers refer to Figure 54 above. 1 2 = = Handle with cable Probe head 4. Attach the calibrated probe into the handle. 5. Push the sensor carefully back into the radiation shield. 6. Reconnect the cable. Rain Gauge QMR101M To ensure reliable and accurate measurements, we recommend that the following checks be carried out at each visit to the rain gauge.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ small ground movements, vandalism, or just an inquisitive finger. 3. Clean the spoon from dust and dirt once or twice a year to ensure precise measuring. Pressure Sensor PMT16A PMT16A requires no maintenance. Calibration The TACMET MAWS software provides a means for one-point calibration of Pressure Sensor PMT16A.
Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance 5. When data messages appear in the terminal software, type open and press ENTER. 6. Read the reference barometer reading. 7. Give the reference reading to TACMET MAWS. Type PMT16CAL 1003.7 (where 1003.7 hPa is the reference reading) and press ENTER. 8. Check the readings given by TACMET MAWS: - Value = reference reading - Measured value = measured by TACMET MAWS - Offset = measured value - reference reading 9.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ In case of the "Optics Contamin" alarm (see Table 10 on page 51) the window has to be cleaned. To clean the window: CAUTION 1. Flush the window with water to remove coarse grains. 2. Clean the window with a lens-cleaning wipe. Particles between the towel and the window may damage the antireflection coating. Therefore, instead of circular rubbing, the window should be wiped once across the window.
Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________ Maintenance Communication Accessory Enclosure QCA101 QCA101 requires a minimal amount of maintenance. Repairs are accomplished by replacing the complete module. Handheld Terminal QMD101M Under normal conditions, QMD101M needs only a minimal amount of maintenance. In general, it is not advisable to repair QMD101M in the field. Field preventive maintenance is limited to cleaning the display periodically, if necessary.
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Chapter 5 ___________________________________________________________ Troubleshooting CHAPTER 5 TROUBLESHOOTING This chapter consists of some common problems, their probable causes, and remedies. Software Operation Table 36 Some Common Problems and Their Remedies. Problem TACMET MAWS will not open for commands. Probable Cause The terminal connection is not open. MAWS is not receiving power. MAWS is not sending anything (nothing is seen on the handheld terminal or PC screen).
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ CT25KAM Warnings Table 37 Troubleshooting Ceilometer Status Message Info Optics contaminated warning (on handheld terminal). Probable Cause Bird droppings, leaves, dust, or the like has contaminated the window. Remedy Clean the window. Failure Diagnosis In case of malfunction, do the following: 1. Check the cable connections. 2. Check the presence and correctness of line voltage. 3.
Chapter 5 ___________________________________________________________ Troubleshooting - Tree branches, loose cables, or any other moving objects in the sample volume may cause sudden changes in the scatter signal. 4. Check the power supply voltage and cable connections. 5. Check that all the connectors are properly inserted. 6. Check that there are no flashing lights close to PWD11A. - Flashing lights may cause PWD11A to detect peaks in the optical signal.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Handheld Terminal Table 39 Troubleshooting the Handheld Terminal Problem The handheld terminal does not power up normally. Probable Cause The handheld terminal is not connected to a power outlet. The backlight is not on. After a certain time, the lights will go off to maintain low power consumption. The "Not Available" text Your system does not appears on the screen. have the Enhancement sensors connected.
Chapter 5 ___________________________________________________________ Troubleshooting Return Instructions If the product needs repair, please follow the instructions below to speed up the process and avoid extra costs. 1. Read the warranty information. 2. Write a Problem Report with the name and contact information of a technically competent person who can provide further information on the problem. 3.
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Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data CHAPTER 6 TECHNICAL DATA This chapter provides the technical data of the TACMET Weather Station for Pole Mast Installations.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Specifications Weather Station MAWS201MP Table 41 MAWS201MP Specifications Property AC power consumption Description/Value 260 VA, max. 2.3 A @ 115 VAC 1.15 A @ 230 VAC Battery backup time 4 h, at minimum (excluding PC equipment; optional UPS for PC equipment) Communication range with the 20 km (12 mi.) with AWG 22 cable QCA101 unit equipped with WT501+DMX501 Temperature -40 ... +55 °C (-40 ... 131 °F) Humidity 5 ...
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Logger QML102T Table 42 QML102T Specifications Property Processor A/D conversion Data logging memory Sensor inputs Typical accuracy across measured temperature range -50 °C ... +80 °C Maximum error across measured temperature range -35 °C ... +50 °C Maximum error at 0 °C Voltage measurement ±2.5V range ±250 mV range ±25 mV range ±6.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Power Supply and Connection Unit QMP202MP Table 43 Battery Regulator QBR101 Specifications (Inside QMP202MP) Property Maximum input voltage (SMPS and Solar Panel inputs) Maximum input current (SMPS) Solar panel input Recommended input voltage from SMPS input Max. load current (backup output) Recommended battery capacity range Battery charge current for 4 Ah battery (selections 0.5 / 1.0 / 2.0 / 2.5 A) Max.
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Table 44 Power Supply Unit BWT36SXZ Specifications (Inside QMP202MP) Property Output power Operating principle Input voltage range Frequency range Input current on full load: 100 VAC 230 VAC Output voltage Output current Efficiency Noise and ripple Input regulation Load regulation Temperature coefficient Output voltage rise time Hold-up time Over current protection Switching frequency (110VAC/230VAC) Electrical strength
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 45 Power Supply Unit BWC15SXZ Specifications (Inside QMP202MP) Property Output power Operating principle Input voltage range Frequency range Input current on full load: 100 VAC 230 VAC Output voltage Output current Efficiency Noise and ripple Input regulation Load regulation Temperature coefficient Output voltage rise time Hold-up time Over current protection Switching frequency (110VAC/230VAC) Electrical strength/
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Digital Transmitter WT501 Table 47 WT501 Specifications Property Type Features Plug-in connectors Start-up voltage Power consumption Modem module Power isolation RS-485 isolation On board Optional Modem and power Mounting Weight Operating temperature Storage temperature Humidity operating and storage EMC Vibration Description/Value Low Power Digital Transmitter running 16-bit CPU and ADC IP30/Nema 1 housing with scre
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Modem Module DMX501 Table 48 DMX501 Specifications Property Modem chip Modem chip crystal frequency USART clock frequency Register access Connection Modem protocols Line interface TxControl signal Supply voltage Current consumption Reset / power-down Operation Transmit level Maximum distance between modules Operating and storage temperature Humidity Description/Value 73K324L 11.0592 MHz 11.
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Handheld Terminal QMD101M Table 49 QMD101M Specifications Property CPU Power management Clock speed System integration System RAM FLASH storage Display Physical size Pixels Character cell size CG set LCD type Option for display Keyboard Size Type Feedback Real time clock Interface Data transfer rate Handshaking External power Current Size Weight Operating temperature Operating humidity Description/Value MC68EC000 24-
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Heated Ultrasonic Wind Sensor WS425 Table 50 WS425 Specifications Property Sensor type Description/Value Ultrasonic 100 kHz Fully compensated for temperature, humidity, and altitude. Measuring range 0 ... 56 m/s (0 ... 125 mph, 0 ... 107 knots) 0 … 130 m/s (survival) Delay distance Virtually zero Starting threshold Virtually zero Response Maximum reading rate: 1 per second characteristics Sonic measurement time: 0.
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Pressure Sensor PMT16A Table 51 PMT16A Specifications Property Accuracy Pressure range Operating temperature Description/Value ± 0.3 hPa incl. one year drift (with factory calibration) 600 ... 1100 hPa -40 ... +60 °C (-40 ...
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Ceilometer CT25KAM Table 54 CT25KAM Specifications Property Measurement range 25 000 ft acquisition time Accuracy (against hard target) Resolution Number of layers Range gates Laser Wavelength Eye safety Measurement cycle Microprocessor DC power consumption total measurement unit window blower AC power Interfaces Data messages Dimensions w × d × h Weight Tilt correction sensor Window conditioner Temperature range Humidity
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Present Weather Detector PWD11A Table 55 PWD11A Present Weather Detector Specifications Property Measurement range of MOR Accuracy Description/Value 10 ... 20 000 m (32 ... 65 600 feet) ±10 %, range 10 ... 10 000 m (<32800 ft) ±15 %, range 10 ... 20 km (32800 ... 65600 ft) 15 W without heating, max 20 W 10 ... 50 VDC 60 seconds 15 seconds 0.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Lightning Detector SA20M Table 56 SA20M Specifications Parameter Types of strikes detected Maximum processing rate Operational Limits Range Bearing Resolution: Range Bearing Ranging accuracy Directional accuracy Power Transient voltage surge protection Weight Dimensions w × d × h Temperature Humidity Standards Description/Value Cloud-to-cloud Cloud-to-ground 5 000 strikes per minute 0 ... 90 km (0 ... 50 nmi.) 0º ...
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data Tiltable Pole Mast Table 58 DKP210AV-T Specifications Property Height Maximum wind speed with two sets of guy wires Diameter Lowest section (0 ... 1.9 m) Second section (1.9 ... 4.9 m) Third section Highest section Top of the mast Mast tubes and lifting rod Pedestal tube and hinge Other parts, e.g.
User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________ Table 59 DKP206AV-T Specifications Property Height Maximum wind speed With one set of guy wires Diameter Lowest section (0 ... 1.9 m) Second section (1.9 ... 4.9 m) Highest section Top of the mast Mast tubes and lifting rod Pedestal tube and hinge Other parts, e.g.
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________ Technical Data TM32 Radio Modem Table 60 TM32 Radio Modem Specifications Property Interface Power Link rate Transmission protocols Modulation FEC protocol General radio specifications Transmitter Receiver RF connector Type acceptance Operating temperature Storage temperature Vibration/Shock Enclosure Dimensions w × d × h Weight Description/Value RS-232 compatible interface.
