Radio Shack Weather Radio User Manual
Wireless Weather Station
with Software
Owner’s Manual
Please read before using this equipment.
Contents
The FCC Wants You to Know ................................. ..................................................... ... ....... 3
FCC Declaration of Conformity ......................................................... ................................ 3
Features .................................................................................................................................. 3
Preparation ............................................................................................................................. 5
A Quick Look at the Weather Station ................................................................................ 5
Understanding the Monitor and Its Display ....................................................................... 7
Installation .............................................................................................................................. 8
Installation Tips ............................................................. ... ... .............................................. 8
Calibrating the Anemometer ............................................... ... .. ......................................... 9
Installing the Anemometer .............................................................................................. 11
Installing the Rain Gauge ................................................................................................ 12
Installing the Outdoor Thermo/Hygro Sensor .................................................................. 13
Installing the Indoor Thermo/Hygro/Baro Sensor ............................................................ 14
Installing the Monitor ....................................................................................................... 15
Using AC Power ............................................................ ... ............................................... 15
Operation .............................................................................................................................. 16
Setting the Time Zone, Time, Date, and Language ........................................................ 16
Viewing the Time/Date/Day of the Week ......................................................................... 17
Using the Daily Alarm ...................................... ... ............................................................. 17
Reading the Weather Forecast Display ..................................................................... ... .. 18
Using the Barometric Pressure Window ......................................................................... 18
Using the Indoor Temperature Window ........................................................................... 20
Using the Outdoor Temperature Window ........................................................................ 21
Viewing and Resetting Max/Min Relative Humidity Records .......................................... 23
Using the Rain Gauge ..................................................................................................... 24
Using the Rain Window ................................................................................................... 24
Using the Wind Window ................................................ ... ... ............................................ 25
Special Features ................................................................................................................... 27
Disconnected Signals ...................................................................................................... 27
Connecting the Monitor to a PC ...................................................................................... 27
Scanning the Monitor’s Channels ................................................................................... 27
Weather References ....................................................................................................... 27
Care ..................................................................................................................................... .. 33
Resetting the Monitor .............................................................................................. ... ... .. 33
Specifications ....................................................................................................................... 33
©
RadioShack and RadioShack.com are trademarks used by RadioShack Corporation.
Accu-Data and AccuWeather are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc.
2
2001 RadioShack Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
AccuWeather for Windows is a trademark of AccuWeather, Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
The FCC Wants You to Know
FCC DECLARATION OF
CONFORMITY
This device complies with Part 15 of the
Rules
. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) this device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Product: Wireless Weather
Model: 63-1016
Responsible Party: RadioShack
Phone: 817-415-3200
Station
100 Throckmorton
Fort Worth, TX 76102
FCC
This equipment complies with the limits for a
Class B digital device as specified in Part 15
FCC Rules
of
able protection against radio and TV interference in a residential area.
However, your equipment might cause TV or
radio interference even when it is operating
properly. To eliminate interference, you can
try one or more of the following corrective
measures:
• reorient or relocate the receiving
antenna
• increase the distance between the
equipment and the radio or TV
• use outlets on different electrical circuits
for the equipment and the radio or TV
Consult your local RadioShack store if the
problem still exists.
You must use shielded interface cables with
this equipment.
. These limits provide reason-
Features
An attractive and useful addition to your
home or business, your RadioShack Wireless Weather Station uses 433 MHz radio
signals to send and receive weather data
between its component parts, so you do not
need to run wires between them. Your
weather station lets you monitor the air temperature, relative humidity, and dew point
temperature (indoors and outdoors), as well
as the barometric pressure, wind speed/
direction, wind chill, and rainfall rate (outdoors only). The weather station’s monitor’s
memory lets you recall the maximum and
minimum readings, set an alarm to sound at
The FCC Wants You to Know
a set time or when a set condition is exceeded, and more.
RS-232
The monitor’s
to a PC using a serial cable (not supplied).
The monitor sends data to a connected PC,
so you can use the supplied AccuWeather
for Windows® Weather Station software to
monitor data as it is recorded (real-time), or
recall it later.
The monitor also has an easy-to-read display
that forecasts (12–24 hours in advance) the
weather most likely to occur where the
weather station is located. The weather sta-
jack lets you connect it
®
3
tion is ideal for anyone who relies on knowing local weather conditions, such as
gardeners, farmers, or anyone who works
outdoors. It can also help you successfully
plan outdoor activities — from a picnic to
simply knowing when to carry your umbrella!
The supplied software also includes AccuWeather for Windows, which lets you access
AccuWeather’s Accu-Data
®
on-line service
and view or download current and past
weather information — color weather maps
(including radar and satellite images), weather data, forecasts/warnings, and more from
all over the world.
Weather Forecast
— the weather station
provides you with a forecast of the weather
conditions most likely to occur where the
weather station is located.
Weather Symbols
— appear on the monitor,
showing you weather conditions at a glance
with sunny, partly cloudy, cloudy, and rainy
symbols.
Measurement Unit Selection
— lets you
select the measurement unit (such as 12- or
24-hour time format, Fahrenheit or Celsius,
and so on) that the monitor displays in all
modes that use that unit.
The weather station’s other features include:
Display Touch Monitor
— clearly shows
current conditions and various options. The
monitor alerts you when programmed conditions are met.
Weather Measurements
— the weather station measures the air temperature, relative
humidity, and dew point temperature
(indoors and outdoors), as well as the barometric pressure, wind speed/direction, wind
chill, and rainfall rate (outdoors only).
Built-In Memory
— the weather station
records the highest and lowest readings for
temperature, relative humidity, dew point
temperature, maximum wind speed, daily
and accumulated rainfall, and minimum wind
chill. You can reset the memory separately
for each weather type.
Weather Alarms
— let you set the monitor
to sound an alarm for each weather parameter (temperature, wind speed, rainfall rate,
dew-point temperature, and so on) and alert
you when a set weather condition is reached.
Optional PC Connection
— lets you connect the monitor to a personal computer
(using an optional serial cable), so you can
record and store weather data on your PC
using the supplied AccuWeather for Windows software.
Clock Display with Alarm
— shows the
time and date, and lets you set an alarm to
sound at the same time every day.
Mounting Hardware
— lets you easily
mount the weather station’s components in
the locations that best suit your needs.
Liquid Crystal Display
— clearly displays
the monitor’s digital readings and functional
indicators.
Backlight
— makes the monitor’s display
easy to read in low light situations when
using AC power.
Low Battery Indicator
— lets you know
when to change the batteries in the weather
station’s components.
Weather References
— the Owner’s Manual includes a glossary of frequently used
weather terms and a cloud classification
chart.
AccuWeather for Windows
Software Features
Real-Time Display of Weather Conditions
— lets you view the weather station’s data
output as it is received by your PC.
Helps Organize and Store Weather Data
— a variety of features let you organize and
4
Features
store some or all of the weather data recorded by your weather station.
Easy Data Access
stored data at any time, print it out in tables
or graphs, and even compare it to normal
and historical conditions for your area.
Accu-Data
lets you view and download current and past
weather information — color weather maps
(including radar and satellite images), weather data, forecasts, warnings, and more — for
your location or from around the world.
Software Registration Benefits
AccuWeather) include some free on-line
time, an on-line subscription discount, free
software upgrades, and other free merchandise.
— AccuWeather’s on-line service
Preparation
— lets you recall the
— (from
Notes:
• The weather station and the information
available in the Accu-Data database are
for educational and hobby use only. Neither RadioShack nor AccuWeather shall
have any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any inconsistency, inaccuracy, or omissions for weather recorded,
reported, or forecasted by the software,
the weather station or the Accu-Data
database or for reliance on such
records, reports, data, or forecasts.
• The modular connection cords supplied
with your weather station are carefully
calibrated and specially designed for it.
Please do not lengthen or shorten these
cables. To avoid inaccurate readings
from the weather instruments, we recommend you do not use extension
cords.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE
WEATHER STATION
Your weather station includes these components and mounting supplies. Be sure to
locate all of these items before you dispose
of the packing material and box.
Note:
Because the indoor thermo/hygro/baro
sensor and outdoor thermo/hygro sensor are
calibrated to different specifications, they
might measure slightly different temperatures even if they are located in the same
area (if for example they are located side by
side before you install them). This is not a
malfunction.
Preparation
Components
Monitor
5
Rain Gauge
Anemometer Base, Arm, and Vane Set
Wind Vane
Outdoor Thermo/Hygro Sensor
Indoor Thermo/Hygro/Baro Sensor
Solar Transmitter for Anemometer
Solar Transmitter for Rain Gauge/
Outdoor Thermo/Hygro Sensor (2)
Wind Cup
AC Adapter
Mounting Hardware
Number
Provided
4M3
2M3
8
16
16
2 Rubber screw covers
Description
×
17 Self-Tapping Screws
×
12 Self-Tapping Screws
1
/4 inch U-Bolts
1
/4 inch Plain Washers
1
/4 inch Hex Nuts
Tools/Additional Supplies Needed
for Installation
In addition to the supplied mounting hardware, you need the following tools and supplies to install your weather station:
• small flat screwdriver
• small Phillips screwdriver
• electric drill
• pencil
• compass
6
Preparation
•level
• two screws (if you plan to mount the
monitor on a wall)
1
•mast, 1–1
/4 inches (2.54–3.18 cm) in
diameter (to mount the anemometer)
• batteries (not supplied):
monitor
: 4 AA
Indoor thermo/hygro/baro sensor
: 4 AAA
Notes:
• For the best performance and longest
life, we recommend RadioShack alkaline batteries.
• We recommend that you use lithium batteries in any component that could be
exposed to temperatures between –4°
and –58°F (–20° and –50°C) or colder.
backup power for
solar transmitters
(3): 2 AA (each)
UNDERSTANDING THE MONITOR AND ITS DISPLAY
The weather station’s monitor is divided into various windows: barometric pressure and current
outdoor general condition, barometric bar chart, indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, rainfall, clock, and wind speed and wind direction. Each window disp lays related information for
that item.
The monitor lights for about 12 seconds and a tone sounds each time you press the screen.
The following chart describes each icon or control.
Icon/
Control
CHANNEL
Description Function
barometric pressure
(absolute/
sea level)
indoor temperature Repeatedly press to toggle among the indoor temperature and the
outdoor
temperature/channel
rain Press to view the rainfall measurement. (See “Using the Rain Win-
relative
humidity
clock Repeatedly press to toggle between the time and date. (See “View-
wind Repeatedly press to toggle between the average wind speed and the
control Repeatedly press to toggle among the outside channels.
Repeatedly press to toggle between the absolute and sea level barometric pressure readings. (See “Using the Barometric Pressure Window” on Page 18.)
indoor dew point temperature. (See “Using the Indoor Temperature
Window” on Page 20.)
Repeatedly press to toggle between the outdoor temperature, dew
point temperature, and windchill. The channel number appears inside
the icon. (See “Using the Outdoor Temperature Window” on
Page 21.)
dow” on Page 24.)
Press to view the relative humidity . (See “Viewing and Resetting Max/
Min Relative Humidity Records” on Page 23.)
ing the Time/Date/Day of the Week” on Page 17.)
gust wind speed. (See “Using the Wind Window” on Page 25.)
Preparation
7
Icon/
Control
MEMORY
ALARM
SET
Description Function
control Press the desired mode (such as outdoor temperature), then press
control Press the desired mode (such as outdoor temperature), then press
control Press to store a setting in memory.
MEMORY
ALARM
to view the saved high/low value.
to see the desired alarm condition(s).
UNIT
control Press to toggle among various units of measurement.
alarm on/off Repeatedly press to turn the desired alarm condition on or off.
up Press to increase a value.
down Press to decrease a value.
Installation
INSTALLATION TIPS
Although the solar transmitters for the anemometer, outdoor thermo/hygro sensor, and
rain gauge contain a built-in Ni-MH battery,
they also require a backup battery. See the
assembly sections in this manual for instructions on installing a backup battery in those
components. Replace the backup battery for
these components once a year or
when appears under the corresponding
sensor’s window.
The weather station operates at 433 MHz
and does not require wire installation among
the component parts. To ensure successful
installation and the best performance, we
recommend you follow the preparation,
installation, and connection instructions in
the order they appear in this manual.
1. Select the best location for each
weather station component and carefully
measure the approximate mounting distances.
Typical Installation
Anemometer
Weather
Station
Monitor
Thermo/Hygro
Sensor
2. Make sure you have all the tools/supplies necessary to install each component.
3. Assemble and calibrate the anemometer. See “Calibrating the Anemometer”
on Page 9.
Anemometer
Solar Transmitter
Rain Gauge
Solar Transmitter
Rain Gauge
Thermo/
Sensor Solar
Transmitter
Hygro
8
Installation
4. Install all components, then connect all
related components.
5. Connect the anemometer, outdoor
thermo/hygro sensor and rain gauge to
their individual solar transmitters to
receive the weather element data. Each
solar transmitter needs two AA batteries
(not supplied) for backup power.
from the monitor. Obstacles between the
solar transmitters and the monitor might
reduce the effective range.
The maximum length of serial cable (not supplied) required to connect the monitor’s
232
jack to a PC is 10 feet, so the monitor
must be located indoors within 10 feet of
your PC.
RS-
Notes:
• Install the anemometer, outdoor thermo/
hygro sensor, and rain gauge outdoors
in a location that provides the best measurement for the weather elements the
instruments are designed for.
• To reduce interference, do not install
individual solar transmitters closer than
3.28 feet (1 meter) to each other.
• We recommend that you use lithium batteries in any component that could be
exposed to temperatures between –4°F
(–20° C) and –58°F (–50° C) or colder.
• If you are installing more than one
weather station in the same area, wait at
least 30 minutes between the installations.
Estimating the Mounting
Distances
To help you find the right location for each
weather station component, follow the tips
listed in “Selecting a Location” on Page 11
that precede the mounting instructions for
that component.
Before you mount any of the components,
we recommend you select a general mounting location for each component first, then
measure the distance between the locations
for components that you will be connecting to
each other to be sure the selected locations
are close enough together.
For the best reception, mount the solar transmitters no more than about 328 ft (100 m)
CALIBRATING THE
ANEMOMETER
Before you mount the anemometer at the
selected mounting location, follow these
steps to calibrate it with the monitor, so the
monitor properly measures wind speed and
direction.
Important:
monitor while you assemble and calibrate the
anemometer. You must temporarily install
the monitor and connect AC power to it. Be
sure to follow these steps before you install
the anemometer at its mounting location.
Assembling the Anemometer
1. Place the wind cup over the thin shaft on
2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the
You must be able to view the
Anemometer
the anemometer’s bar, use a small Phillips screwdriver to tighten the screw on
the base of the wind cup, then insert one
of the supplied rubber screw covers into
the screw’s hole to protect the screw
from corrosion.
screws on the cover of the anemometer’s solar transmitter, then remove the
cover. The anemometer’s cable and
Anemometer
Solar Transmitter
Bar
Installation
9
anemometer solar transmitter are both
labeled with a red tag.
3. Install two AA batteries in the compartment according to the polarity symbols
(+ and –) marked inside.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the re-
quired size and recommended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, dif-
ferent types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
4. Insert the anemometer’s modular plug
into the modular jack inside the anemometer’s solar transmitter’s battery
compartment.
• If you are unable to view the monitor
while calibrating the wind vane, you
can use the alignment marks on the
T-bar and wind vane. When the red
mark on the wind vane’s shaft is
aligned with the mark on the outer
edge of the shaft’s base,
%($5,1*
appear next to
tor.
9. Align the wind vane’s tail with the bar as
shown here, then carefully press the
wind vane down onto the shaft. Do not
allow the shaft to turn as you press the
wind vane down onto it.
%($5,1*
%($5,1*%($5,1*
Wind Vane
should
on the moni-
5. Align the rubber gasket on the anemometer’s cord with the groove in the solar
transmitter.
6. Replace the cover and secure it with its
screws. The indicator on the solar transmitter flashes while it is transmitting
data.
7. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s barrel
plug into the monitor’s
plug the other end of the AC adapter into
a standard AC outlet.
All display elements appear. Then the
default time appears.
8. To calibrate the position of the wind
vane’s shaft with the monitor, turn the
shaft until
on the monitor. This shows the wind
direction.
Notes:
• The current position of the shaft
appears on the monitor about 14 seconds after you turn the shaft.
appears next to
DC 12V
jack, then
%($5,1*
%($5,1*
%($5,1*%($5,1*
Bar
10. Use a small Phillips screwdriver to
tighten the screw on the base of the
wind vane. Then insert one of the supplied rubber screw covers into the
screw’s hole to protect the screw from
corrosion.
Important:
monitor’s reading changes (or alignment
marks are no longer aligned), repeat
Steps 8 and 9 before you tighten the
wind vane’s screw. Otherwise, the
weather station will not provide accurate
wind direction data.
11. When you finish calibrating the anemometer, disconnect the AC adapter
from the monitor.
If the shaft turns and the
10
Installation
INSTALLING THE
ANEMOMETER
Selecting a Location
Select a mounting location for the anemometer that is:
• outdoors, within 10 feet of its solar transmitter
• not blocked on the top or sides, so wind
can freely reach the anemometer
The best location for the anemometer is usually above roof level on the building where
the monitor is located.
Caution:
er station by lightning, we recommend you
ground the anemometer to the mast, and
ground the mast as directed in the installation instructions provided with the mast.
Note:
a mast (not supplied) about 1–1
(2.54–3.18 cm) in diameter, and the hardware necessary to fasten it to the mounting
location. If you previously installed such a
mast (for mounting an antenna, for example),
you can mount the anemometer and its solar
transmitter on that mast.
Mounting the Anemometer/
Solar Transmitter
Important:
ed in “Assembling the Anemometer” on
Page 9 before you mount the anemometer.
1. If necessary, mount and ground a mast
To prevent damage to your weath-
To mount the anemometer, you need
Be sure you follow the steps list-
as directed in the installation instructions
provided with the mast.
1
/4 inches
ter and wind cup point due south. Then
hold the mounting bracket on the end of
the bar against the place where you plan
to attach it to the mast. Make sure the
wind vane is above the wind cup.
3. Place the supplied U-bolts around the
mast and through the holes on the anemometer’s mounting bracket.
4. Place a washer over both ends of each
U-bolt, then place the ring terminal of
the anemometer’s grounding wire over
the end of one of the bolts.
5. Tighten a nut onto both ends of each
bolt (be sure the nuts are snug but not
too tight).
6. Check the bar’s position on the mast
against the compass to be sure it is still
facing due south. Adjust it if necessary,
then tighten the nuts on the U-bolts.
7. Place the supplied U-bolts around the
mast and through the holes on the anemometer’s solar transmitter’s mounting
bracket.
8. Place a washer over both ends of each
U-bolt.
9. Tighten a nut onto both ends of each
bolt (be sure the nuts are snug but not
too tight), then tighten the nuts on the Ubolts.
10. Loosen the knurled ring on the anemometer’s solar transmitter, adjust the solar
transmitter so it faces the sun, then
tighten the ring to secure the solar transmitter.
Warning:
instructions provided with the mast.
2. Using a compass for reference, point the
bar on which the anemometer is
mounted so the end with the anemome-
Be sure to follow all safety
Installation
11
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