Some common FAQ and some useful tips (that I put together on the new WIKI site)

FAQ: Com port error

This often happens because some other software is using the com port, which might be something as obscure as a PDA hot sync program, or even a bluetooth cell phone sync program, etc. Make sure no other software is accessing the com port, especially like other weather station software (e.g Heavy Weather if a La Crosse station). Also sometimes Windows can swap the com port numbers. If all fails you could use a USB to serial adaptor (use windows device manager to see what port was assigned to it after loading the software), or even a serial port PCI card (will give you 2 more com ports,and again use windows device manager to see what port numbers windows assigned to it). 

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

if no data is coming from the separate WS2010-15 data loggerl. Tip: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, the newer La Crosse 3600 you can now use with Weather Display without the need to run Heavy Weather, thanks to a 3rd party software developed by Sandere of Denmark.

TIP: Data logger

For weather stations that have a data logger, make sure the time and date match the PC (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 more recent version). When hidden in the system tray (next to the clock), right mouse click the icon, and there you will see show or hide, to easily and quickly bring the main screen visible or not

TIP: Upgrading 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. Also you may need to set your firewall to allow any changed program, like WeatherD,exe, ftpupd.exe or clientrawrealtimeftp.exe, to access the internet.

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 from?

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 Oregan 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: The FTP upload stalls on uploading a file, just sits there

Its most likely that you need to tick to use passive mode, in the ftp/internet setup, connections setup. Also, not all FTP/ISP servers allow the file rename option (namely Windows based servers don’t), so you might have to turn that off. For details of what is happening to a FTP session, see under view, ftp log then click on view full 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 flexiable for rain reset times, rain reset month, etc. To set the starting values, do that under control panel, barometer offset, other offsets, intital 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 those values (or select the value from the slider (click and it will show the equivalent in inches)

TIP: Rain over time period on real time graph

When you view the real time graph (double click on the windspeed scale on the main screen graph or see under view, then hold down the left mouse button at the start of the rain,then move the mouse to the right and then release the mouse when the rain has stopped, to see the amount of rain fallen and the time period that it fell in

TIP: Web cam image at time of cursor on graph

If you have a web cam in use with WD (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 :slight_smile:

FAQ: How do I correct bad data?

There are a few ways, one way is to directly edit the log file, found in the logfiles folder. E.g for october 2005, its called 102005.txt, and just double click that file to have it opne in windows notepad.exe (best to view the folder in list option (see under view in the windows folder). Then edit out the bad data. Then in Weather Display, go , action, convert logfiles to graphs, and then the current logfile will be shown, and then click on convert. That will update the graphs as well. To edit/fix all time records, either use action, reset selected all time records, or, action, enter my own all time records (and then select which one to edit (all time, year to date or month to date), then click on set once you have entered the correct reading (do not enter any units), and then yes to save changes. You can also use the graph correct function, under setup, graph setup. Click then hold the left mouse button then release for over the area of the graph to correct, and then tick which readings to correct/fix (it sets to the previous good reading),then click on correct, then click on save. For data that is more than 12 hours old, use the > than 12 hour old correction, and use the retrieve button first , and its own save button when done (after repeating the above steps). For 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, it only applies to that data on that screen (to correct rain totals for say under view, averages/extreme, then 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 resurrect the log file for a month if it is very bad but the graph data is OK for that month (under graph history), by using that action, convert log files to graphs, but tick, convert graph files to log files (and then make sure the correct graph data file is selected (e.g month102005.inf for october 2005), then click on convert, then wait for it to be finished (it will say finished)

FAQ: The graphs shows spikes which when moused over give wacky readings!

This happens most often with the dew point or windchill graph lines. The solution is to extend the graphing range (i.e. it is just a out of range graphing error (the actual data is still OK). Do that by either using the lift/lower buttons in the setup, graph setup, or set the graph ranges needed to stop those spikes, there in the graph setup

FAQ: The font is large on the web site, and the image sizes seem large and out of proportion
Please see this web FAQ
http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/8658

[Edited to fix typos in title - carterlake]