Vantage Pro2™ Weather Envoy Manual For Vantage Pro2™ & Vantage Pro2 Plus™ Weather Stations Davis Instruments, 3465 Diablo Avenue, Hayward, CA 94545 • 510-732-9229 • www.davisnet.
FCC Part 15 Class B Registration Warning This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Welcome to the Weather Envoy! Welcome to Davis Instruments’ Weather Envoy®. The Weather Envoy provides a new and exciting way of getting weather data from your Vantage Pro2™ weather station and into your Windows (95 or later) or Macintosh (OS X) computer. The Weather Envoy® includes the data collection and logging functions of the Vantage Pro2™ console, but in a smaller package that can be discreetly placed next to your computer. Both cabled and wireless versions of the Weather Envoy are available.
Hardware Installation • Standard 4-Conductor 40' Extension Cable (#7876-040) (For Serial connections only) - For more flexibility in the placement of your Weather Envoy, add one 40' (12 m) extension cable to extend the distance between your station and the computer. (48' (14.
Install the Data Logger CAUTION: Plugging or unplugging the data logger while power is applied to the Envoy can lock up or damage the logger. The WeatherLink data logger must be installed before you install the batteries. 1. Remove the three screws from the back of the Envoy case 2. Separate the case halves to expose the data logger connector.
Install the Batteries 3. Carefully insert the data logger (Serial or USB) into the connector slot, making sure to push data logger firmly in place. USB Data Logger Serial Data Logger Data Logger Cable Channel Data Logger Cable Channel 4. Rejoin the case halves, making sure the data logger cable passes through the cable channel. 5. Fasten using the three screws you previously removed. Install the Batteries 1. Find the battery cover on the back side of the Envoy case. 2.
Mount Your Weather Envoy Optional: Connecting AC Power The operating battery power for a cabled Weather Envoy is approximately 10 days. For a wireless Weather Envoy, the battery power is approximately 5 months. The Weather Envoy is supplied with an option AC power adapter that can be installed as an optional power source. Note: If installing the optional AC power supply, make sure the WeatherLink Data Logger is already installed and that the backup batteries are installed 1.
Mount Your Weather Envoy Envoy Location You should place the Envoy in a location where it easily accessible and can be easily connected to a computer. For more accurate readings, follow these suggestions: • • • Avoid placing the Envoy in direct sunlight. This may cause erroneous inside temperature and humidity readings and may damage the unit. Avoid placing the Envoy near radiators or heating/air conditioning ducts. If you are mounting the Envoy on a wall, choose an interior wall.
Local Computer Installation The screws should be 3.25'' (82.5 mm) apart and lined up vertically. 3. Drill the marked locations with a 3/32'' or 7/64'' (2.2 to 2.7 mm) drill bit. 4. Drive the two #6 x 1'' (3.5 mm x 25 mm) pan head self-threading screws into the wall. 5. Leave at least a 1/8'' (3 mm) space between the wall and the heads of the screws. Drill 3/32" or 7/64" (~2.2 to 2.7mm) Holes 3.25" (82.55mm) Template to Scale 6. Slide the keyholes on the back of the case over the two screw heads.
Local Computer Installation Vantage Pro and Vantage Pro2 consoles. See the WeatherLink Getting Started Guide for complete instructions on connecting the data logger to your computer. Also, see WeatherLink Online Help for additional setup instructions. USB Connection Complete the local USB connection by using the instructions below: 1. Locate the Envoy receiving the WeatherLink USB connection. 2. Locate a free USB port on your computer and connect the USB connector to the port. 3.
Remote Computer Installation attempt to use more than 40' of extension cable, or the data logger may have difficulty communicating with the computer. 9-Pin Connector (DB-9) Optional 40' (12 m) 4-Conductor Extension Cable and Coupler Weather Envoy Data Logger 8' (2.5 m) Cable AC Power Adapter Note: The data logger does not require a constant connection with a computer to continue logging and storing data.
Remote Modem Connection Notes Note: Before installing the Envoy and modem at a remote location, test the data logger and connection first using a direct connection like that shown in the section above. Remote Modem Connection Hardware Requirements The following additional hardware is required for a phone modem connection. • • • • One internal or external modem connected to your computer. The modem must be Hayes®–compatible and run at 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400 or 19200 baud.
Installing the Software By default, WeatherLink hangs up the connection to the modem after one minute without any communication with the station. Use the Communications Port dialog box in the Setup menu of WeatherLink to change this default value. (See the WeatherLink help files for more information.) Note: WeatherLink will not hang up the phone line if the Bulletin or Summary windows are active.
Running the Software Macintosh Computer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Place the Install Disk in your CD ROM drive. Copy “install.sit” from the CD to your desktop and open it. The installation software will automatically extract itself. Run “install”. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. Running the Software To run the software, double-click the WeatherLink icon. If no stations have been assigned in the program directory, the software prompts you to add a station (see below for details).
Running the Software Communication Port Settings WeatherLink contains a dialog box for locating the communications port (either USB or serial) that the data logger and Weather Envoy are connected to. Use the Communications Port dialog box to select the communications port that is used to communicate with the Envoy. 1. Select Communications Port from the Setup menu or use the Walkthrough to display the dialog box. The Communications Port dialog box displays. 2. Click Auto Detect.
Running the Software Note: The only way to clear an alarm in the Weather Envoy is to modify the threshold in the Alarm Setup screen to a value that would not cause an alarm, or to delete the value altogether. 1. Select Set Alarms from the Setup menu or press Ctrl-A. The Set Station Alarms dialog box displays. Enter the following information: • • • High/Low Alarm - For all standard high/low alarms, enter the desired alarm threshold into the text box.
Running the Software Low alarms work the same way. For example, if the wind chill threshold is set for 30 ºF, the alarm begins sounding when the temperature drops to 30.0 º and will continue until the temperature again rises above 30.0º. If you’re on battery power, the alarm will sound for two minutes only. If you’re using the AC adapter, the alarm will continue as long as the condition exists. The alarm will also sound again for each new alarm.
Running the Software The Auto Download dialog box appears. The stations which appear in the Auto Download List will be downloaded automatically. 2. To add a station to the Auto Download List, double-click on the station name or select the station from the Station Names list and click Add. The station name moves to the Auto Download List. You may select more than one station before clicking Add to add several stations at once. You may quickly add all stations in the Station Names list by clicking Add All.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated The Download At dialog box appears. 5. Enter the following information: • • Download Times - Select the hour(s) at which the software should automatically download information from this station by clicking on the desired hour in the list. You may select as many download hours as you want; the software will download data from your station during each of the specified hours. To de-select a previously selected hour, click on it again.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated Wind The anemometer measures wind speed and wind direction. Temperature The Weather Envoy uses the ISS temperature sensor to measure the outside air temperature. A second temperature sensor in the Weather Envoy measures the inside air temperature. Additional temperature sensors (available only with wireless Vantage Pro and Weather Envoy systems) can be used to measure temperature in other locations.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated on our perception of the temperature.The THSW Index requires a solar radiation sensor. Humidity Humidity itself simply refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. However, the amount of water vapor that the air can contain varies with air temperature and pressure. Relative humidity takes into account these factors and offers a humidity reading which reflects the amount of water vapor in the air as a percentage of the amount the air is capable of holding.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated units (inches or millimeters) at the time it is displayed. Converting at display time reduces possible compounded rounding errors over time. Four separate variables track rain totals: “rain storm”, “daily rain”, “monthly rain”, and “yearly rain”. Rain rate calculations are based on the interval of time between each bucket tip, which is each 0.01'' rainfall increment or 0.2 mm.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated UV (Ultra Violet) Radiation Note: Requires optional UV sensor (#6490), included on Vantage Pro Plus weather stations. Energy from the sun reaches the earth as visible, infrared, and ultraviolet (UV) rays. Exposure to UV rays can cause numerous health problems, such as sunburn, skin cancer, skin aging, and cataracts, and can suppress the immune system.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated Table A1: EPA Skin Phototypes Skin Phototype 4 - Always tans; rarely burns Skin color Brown, dark brown, or black Tanning & Sunburn history Rarely burns; shows very rapid tanning response T. B. Fitzpatrick of the Harvard Medical School developed a categorization of skin types 1 through 6 which were adopted by Environment Canada. These skin types are detailed in Table 3b below.
Weather Data Measured & Calculated I 1 Skin Phototype (EPA) II 2 All Burn III Some Burn IV 3 V Skin Type (Environment Canada) UV Dose that Causes Sunburn 4 VI 20 40 1 2 60 80 3 UV Dose (MEDs) 120 mJ/cm 100 4 5 2 6 Weather Envoy can also display UV Index, an intensity measurement first defined by Environment Canada and since been adopted by the World Meteorological Organization. UV Index assigns a number between 0 and 16 to the current UV intensity.
General returned through evaporation (from wet vegetation surfaces and the stoma of leaves) with the amount of water vapor returned through transpiration (exhaling of moisture through plant skin) to arrive at a total. Effectively, ET is the opposite of rainfall, and it is expressed in the same units of measure (Inches, millimeters). The Weather Envoy uses air temperature, relative humidity, average wind speed, and solar radiation data to estimate ET. (ET is calculated once an hour on the hour.
Communications (Wireless Models Only) Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery Life, Wireless . . . . . . . . . Battery Life, Cabled . . . . . . . . . . Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cable Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Housing Material. . . . . . . . . . . . . Dimensions Wireless (includes antenna) Cabled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weight (with batteries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 AA-cells .up to 4 months .up to 1 month .
Troubleshooting Guide Sea-Level Reduction Equation . .United States Method employed prior to use of current "R Factor" method Equation Source . . . . . . . . . . . . .Smithsonian Meteorological Tables Equation Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . .±0.01" Hg (±0.3 mm Hg, ±0.3 hPa/mb) Elevation Accuracy Required. . . .±10’ (3m) to meet equation accuracy specification Overall Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . .±0.04" Hg (±1.0 mm Hg, ±1.4 hPa/mb) Trend (change in 3 hours) . . . . . .Change ±0.6" (2 hPa/mb, 1.
Troubleshooting Guide Communications Problems ? Why can't the WeatherLink software communicate with the data logger and station? If you are having trouble establishing communication between WeatherLink and the Weather Envoy, start by checking the weather station's own diagnostics. Remove all power to the Weather Envoy and then restart it by restoring power with the data logger still attached. Note: The data logger uses non-volatile memory, so you won’t lose any data you’ve already recorded.
Finding the Correct Serial Port Finding the Correct Serial Port The software includes a procedure for locating the serial port to which your station is connected or determining whether that serial port is working. Using the Loopback command (as opposed to Test) will help you find the correct port and determine whether the serial port or the data logger is causing a communication problem. The loopback function will also detect and report the presence of any modems.
Program Problems The software automatically selects the correct COM port for you in the Communications Port dialog box. If it cannot find the loopback connector at any COM port, your serial port may not be working. Consult your computer documentation for help. Modem Initialization String The software automatically enters the following modem initialization string in the serial port settings dialog box, which should work with most modems: AT &F S7=60 E Q V X4.
Contacting Davis Technical Support ? WeatherLink says “No new data to download” but I know there’s data there. What can I do? Weather Envoy is smart enough to send only data it hasn’t already sent to the computer. So, when you initiate a new download, the program will retrieve the first record after the last record shown in the WeatherLink’s Browse Window. Older data is stored in the logger as a backup.
