Setting up a Weather Station

Overview

For Pass-by Noise Testing, weather data is important in particular, the criteria for a successful test pass requires wind speed and temperature to be within a certain threshold. To automate the test checking as well as for logging purposes, a Mini Input Module, Road side Telemetry radio and Davis Vantage Pro 2 Station (shown below) with Serial Weatherlink data logger allows wind speed, direction, air temperature, humidity and barometric pressure to be sent to the VBOX 3i data logger in the vehicle.

Equipment

• 1 x RLACS112L; 5 Ah Li Ion battery pack
• 1 x RLRTM24MBC; Road side Telemetry Radio
• 1 x RLCAB005 radio modem Cable to Mini Input Module
• 1 x RLVBMIM01; Mini Input Module
• 1 x RLCAB143; B&K 2250 SLM DC output Cable to Mini Input Module
• 1 x Davis Vantage Pro 2 Station with Serial Weatherlink data logger
   

Weather Station setup for Pass-by Noise Testing (Left) and Davis Vantage Pro 2 Weather Station (Right)
 

Weather Station Setup

The Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) can send data either wired or wirelessly to the Vantage Pro 2 console depending on the version you have. Check that the Serial Weatherlink Logger is installed in the console and use a RLCAB032 cable to connect the D9 connector of the Weather Link Logger and the Mini Input Module Data 2 port.

1. Assemble the ISS as per the manual.
2. Power the console if it does not already have power. Refer to the Vantage Pro 2 Console User Manual.
3. If the console is not in Setup Mode, press and hold ‘DONE’ then press the down arrow. The message ‘RECEIVING FROM... and STATION NO.’ followed by the Transmitter IDs that the console detects displays on the console screen.
4. Look for the ISS Transmitter ID. The number 1 displays unless the Transmitter ID has been changed. If the ISS Transmitter ID is displayed, the ISS is detected.
5. Press and hold ‘DONE’ to view ISS data once the ISS Transmitter ID displays.
6. If the console is in Setup Mode, press and hold ‘DONE’ until the Current Weather screen displays. A flashing 'X' in the lower right hand corner indicates that the console is receiving data packets. This may take a few minutes.
7. Sensor readings from the ISS should display on the screen.
8. Near the centre of the screen, look for the outside temperature (TEMP OUT).
9. Spin the wind cups to check wind speed, pressing ‘WIND’ if necessary to alternate between speed and direction in the compass rose.
10. Turn the wind vane, and allow 5 seconds for the wind direction display to stabilise before moving it again.
11. Approximately one minute after power-up, the outside relative humidity (HUM OUT) reading should be displayed on the console.