Frequently Asked Questions

Our weather stations base forecast on rate of change of pressure. This does not display what is happening right now, but rather, if the weather will change in the next 24 to 48 hours due to changes in barometric pressure.

In general, if the rate of change of pressure increases, the weather is improving (sunny). If the rate of change of pressure decreases, the weather is degrading (cloudy or rainy). If the rate of change is relatively steady, it will read partly cloudy or partly sunny (depending on the type of weather station).

The reason the current conditions do not match the forecast icon is because it is a prediction 24-48 hours in advance. In most locations, this prediction is only 70% accurate and it is a good idea to consult the National Weather Service for more accurate weather forecasts. In some locations, this prediction may be less or more accurate.

The National Weather Service (and other weather services such as Accuweather and The Weather Channel) have many tools at their disposal to predict weather conditions, including weather radar, weather models, and detailed mapping of ground conditions.  Thus, these forecasts are significantly more accurate then forecasts based on rate of change of pressure.

You will need to give the weather station enough time to predict changes in weather. This can take up to 30 days, depending on where you live.

FAQs:

1. The icons on my weather station have not changed in the short time I have owned it. You will need to give the weather station enough time to predict changes in weather. This can take up to 30 days, depending on where you live.
2.  Can I change the set points that trigger changes in the forecast icon?  With some Ambient Weather Stations (not most), there is the option “Pressure Threshold Setting”. The pressure threshold (the negative or positive rate of change of pressure signifying a change in the weather) can be adjusted by the user from level 2 to level 4 (default level 2 mbar/hour). Check your User’s Manual for this feature.  The lower the level pressure threshold setting, the higher sensitivity for weather forecast changes. Locations that experience frequent changes in air pressure require a higher setting compared to locations where the air pressure is typically stagnant.

1. Download the most recent version from the Downloads page here:https://cumuluswiki.wxforum.net/a/Main_Page
2. Install and run the software. To communicate to this weather station, select Configuration | Station menu in Cumulus and select the Fine Offset station type option under Station Type.

To reset the total rain, press the MENU button until the rain field flashes.

Press the up key until the total rain is showing in the display field (the display alternates between 1 hour, 24 hour, week, month and total rain increments).

Press the enter key four times until the total rain reset function is flashing.

The rain and CLEAR will begin flashing. To reset, press enter key for 3 seconds and the 1 hour, 24 hour, week, month and total rain will reset to 0.

Note that the total rain is the accumulated amount since the last reset, and it not yearly rain, so if you wish total rain to display the yearly rain, you will need to reset the total rain to 0.00 on January 1.

A factory reset will restore the memory to default conditions.

1. Press and Hold the UP arrow key for 30 seconds to restore the display console to factory default. The console will beep and reset after 30 seconds.
2. Let go of the UP arrow key.
3. Wait several minutes for the outdoor sensor to resync with the console. Do not touch any buttons while waiting.
4. You will need to set up the console again per the User Manual.

Some consoles allow for calibration of the following parameters:

• Indoor Temperature
• Outdoor Temperature
• Indoor Humidity
• Outdoor Humidity
• Wind Speed

To determine of your console as calibration, refer to the User Manual here:

https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@site.ambientweatherstore.com/ssl/Manuals/ws2080a.pdf

Section 6.13.

To clear Min and Max values, select Record -> History from the menu, and select Clear Data. This will clear all stored data from the application.

To clear data from the console, select Clear Memory.

If the console temperature reads 140 degF or -40 degF, a factory reset may resolve this issue.

To restore to factory default settings,

1. Press and Hold the UP arrow key for 30 seconds to restore the display console to factory default. The console will beep and reset after 30 seconds.
2. Let go of the UP arrow key.
3. Wait several minutes for the outdoor sensor to resync with the console. Do not touch any buttons while waiting.
4. You will need to set up the console again per the User Manual.
5. If the problem persists, the console needs replacing. We have a one year warranty. To replace under warranty, please visit:
   www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
6. To replace out of warranty, visit: https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewswihowe1.html

To set DST to on, you must be in the Time Set Mode.

Press the menu key to enter the TIME Set Mode. You can skip over any setting by selecting the enter key.

1. Display (LCD) Contrast Level. The display contrast value will begin flashing (example, lcd0 thru lcd8). The lowest LCD contrast level 0 and the highest LCD contrast level is 8.

   Press the up key or down key to adjust the contrast level from 0 to 8 (the default is 5).

2. Time Zone. Press the enter key to display the time zone. The time zone value will begin flashing.

   Press the up key or down key to adjust the time zone from -12 to 12, based on the number of hours from Coordinated Universal Time, or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

3. 12/24 Hour Format. Press the enter key to change the 12/24 hour format.  Press the up key or down key to alternate the display unit between 12 hour format and 24 hour format.
4. Daylight Saving Time. Press the enter key to turn ON and OFF daylight savings time (DST) observance (example, Arizona and parts of Indiana do not observe daylight savings time).  Press the on/off key to alternate the display unit between ON and OFF.

   Note – the on/off key is on the bottom and doubles are the alarm key .

5. Wait 24-72 hours for the time to correct itself for DST.

This is generally caused by a corruption in memory, sometimes by third party software. A factory reset will restore the memory to default conditions.

1. Press and Hold the UP arrow key for 30 seconds to restore the display console to factory default.  The console will beep and reset after 30 seconds.
2. Let go of the UP arrow key.
3. Wait several minutes for the outdoor sensor to resync with the console. Do not touch any buttons while waiting.

If the software stops updating, the console may require a factory reset.

To restore to factory default settings,

1. Press and Hold the UP arrow key for 30 seconds to restore the display console to factory default. The console will beep and reset after 30 seconds.
2. Let go of the UP arrow key.
3. Wait several minutes for the outdoor sensor to resync with the console. Do not touch any buttons while waiting.
4. You will need to set up the console again per the User Manual.

If the console updates once and then stops updating outside weather conditions, the console must be replaced.

We do have a one year warranty. Please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

If out of warranty, console replacements are available here:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewswihowe1.html

1. The issue may be with the wind cups or the therm0-hygrometer-transmitter.

   To isolate the wind  cups or thermo-hygrometer-transmitter (THT), connect the wind cups directly to the rain gauge THT connector and rotate the cups very slowly, and verify the rain gauge counts up. If it does, the problem is with the THT. If it does not count up, the problem is with the wind cups.

2. The wind cup magnetic pickup or circuit may have failed.

Replace either the wind cups, thermo-hygrometer-transmitter, or both.

We have a one year warranty.  If under warranty,

visit:www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

If out of warranty, replace the wind cups and thermo-hygrometer-transmitter here:

http://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsthtrre.html

and

http://www.ambientweather.com/amws1180wc.html

Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/553/

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2080.html

If the WS-2080 transmitter is not communicating to the sensor array:

1. Change the batteries to fresh alkaline or lithium batteries.
2. The LED under the plastic will flash about once every 14 seconds. Power down and up the display console by removing the batteries and USB power (if connected to your computer).
3. If it is not flashing, the sensor may need replacing.
4. If the light is on all of the time, the sensor will need replacing.
5. We have a one year warranty. To replace under warranty, please visit:
   www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
6. For out of warranty replacements. visit:
   https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsthtrre.html

The console is not booting up and cannot be repaired.

We have a one year warranty. To replace under warranty, visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

Out of warranty replacement is available here:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewswihowe1.html

If the console never completely boots up with fresh batteries, the console must be replaced.

We have a one year warranty. For details, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

Out of warranty replacement consoles are available here:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewswihowe1.html

Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/553/

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2080.html

If the wind speed reads 0.0 even when the cups are spinning, the sensor array will need replacing.

We have a one year warranty. For details, please visit:

www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

For out of warranty replacement, visit:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amws5300array.html

The sensor array also works with the Model WS-2080.

The AC adapter port is not implemented and cannot be used to power the console.

You can use the USB port combined with a USB to AC adapter, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TXGM4I/

to power the console.

1. Replace the batteries. We recommend Energizer Lithium Ultimate.
2. If the problem persists, the thermo-hygrometer sensor must be replaced:https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsthtrre.html

Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/553/

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2080.html

1. Replace the batteries. We recommend Energizer Lithium Ultimate.
2. If the problem persists, the thermo-hygrometer sensor must be replaced:https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsthtrre.html

Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/553/

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2080.html

1. If the temperature error is drifting, please replace the batteries. We recommend Energizer Lithium Ultimate.
2. If the problem persists, the thermo-hygrometer sensor must be replaced:

   https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsthtrre.html

Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/553/

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2080.html

1. Press the history key to review and clear the historical data.
2. Press the enter key to clear memory. The memory fill icon will be flashing.
3. Press and hold enter key for 3 seconds to clear memory.

Note:

The console stores up to 4080 complete sets of weather data with associated time and date stamp. The base station will lose all of the weather data if there a power interruption. In the event the memory is full, the old data is overwritten by the new data.

If the relative barometric pressure never changes and the absolute pressure reads 0.00, the console requires replacing.

We have a one year warranty. For details, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

The product has been discontinued and no longer available.

1. If the display is on rain rate, and it has not updated in the last 10 minutes, the rain will read 0.00 in. Change the display to read daily, weekly, monthly or yearly rain by pressing the rain key. Does the rain stay at 0.00?
2. Check the funnel for any debris. Clean the funnel.
3. Remove the funnel by pressing the two compression tabs on the side of the rain gauge,

   
   and check for any debris that may be affecting the tipping mechanism. Tip the mechanism back and forth. Does the rain update on the console? Check for any bugs or dirt. Clean with a damp, soft cloth.

4. To determine if the problem is with the rain gauge or the thermo-hygrometer, unplug the rain gauge from the thermo-hygrometer and connect the wind cups in the rain gauge port. The wind gauge can send a signal to the thermo-hygrometer by rotating the cups slowly. If the rain increments on the console, the problem is with the rain gauge. If the rain continues to read zero, the problem is with the thermo-hygrometer sensor.
5. If the problem persists, we have a one year warranty. Please visit www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
6. If out of warranty, the sensor array can be replaced here:

   https://www.ambientweather.com/wswestrepaan1.html