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WeatherStation Instrument ® Owner’s Guide Models: PB100, PB150 Record the serial number found on the WeatherStation instrument. ® Serial No._________________________ Date of Purchase___________________ 17-426-02 r02 04/07/08...
Table of Contents Introduction..................4 Safety Instructions................5 Adding External Sensors..............6 Choosing the Mounting Location........... 7 Tools & Materials................8 Installing..................9 Cable Routing & Connecting............12 Connecting to a Converter............12 Connecting to a Combiner............14 Connecting to an NMEA 0183 Display........24 Maintenance &...
IMPORTANT: Please read the Owner’s Guide completely before proceeding with the installation. Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Airmar’s ultrasonic WeatherStation instrument. ® This exciting product is actually six different sensors in a single unit—without any moving parts. The compact housing is waterproof with a single removable cable.
WARNING Do not use the WeatherStation instrument for your primary navigational device. The two-axis compass can give inaccurate readings when the vessel is pitching and rolling. Safety Instructions WARNING: Navigation Aid Only The WeatherStation instrument is only an aid to navigation and should never be solely relied upon.
WeatherStation compass. • Speed-through-water sensor—An external speed sensor with NMEA 0183 output can be installed, such as an Airmar Smart™ Sensor. Airmar recommends installing the DST800V to receive water depth, boat speed, and water temperature data.
Min. 1m Figure 1. Antennas Courtesy of Northstar BNT, Acton, MA Choosing the Mounting Location For accurate readings and a reliable GPS signal, selecting the best location for the WeatherStation instrument is very important. Easy access and appearance should be secondary considerations. Since each installation is unique, the best separation distances from other equipment on the boat will vary depending on the particular equipment and how it is configured.
CAUTION: Do not remove the waterproof connector(s) to ease cable routing. If the cable must be cut and spliced, use Airmar’s splash-proof Junction Box No. 33-035 and follow the instructions provided. Cutting the cable or removing the waterproof connector(s), except when using Airmar’s junction box, will void the...
WARNING: The power panel must have a 1 amp fast-blow fuse or circuit breaker. CAUTION: Do not remove the waterproof connector(s) to ease cable routing. If the cable must be cut and spliced, use Airmar’s splash-proof Junction Box No. 33-035 and follow the instructions provided. Cutting the cable or removing the waterproof connector, except when using Airmar’s junction box, will void the...
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Mounting Location of the Converter 1. Select a convenient, dry, mounting location for the water-resistant Converter, a minimum of 1m (3') from the PC (see Figure 6). 2. Hold the Converter at the selected location and mark the position of the screw holes.
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Auxiliary NMEA IN Grommet Use the AUX NMEA IN grommet to connect an external NMEA 0183 sensor such as: an Airmar Smart™ Sensor, an external GPS, an external compass, or other sensor. An “IN” device will supply additional data to the WeatherStation instrument.
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1. Route the cable coming from the external sensor to the Combiner. Do not fasten the cable in place at this time. 2. Allowing an extra 25 cm (10") for wiring ease, cut the cable to length. 3. Remove the cover of the Combiner to expose the terminals inside (see Figure 11).
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Power Cable 1. Route the power cable from the Combiner to the power supply (see Figure 13). Do not fasten the cable in place at this time. 2. Allowing an extra 25cm (10") for wiring ease, cut the cable to length. 3.
Connecting to an NMEA 0183 Display 1. Route the WeatherStation cable to the display. Do not fasten the cable in place at this time. 2. Connect the WeatherStation instrument to the display. • Connector—If your WeatherStation instrument came with a connector, and it can be plugged into the port on your NMEA 0183 display, do so now.
Maintenance & Updates Software Updates Periodically, Airmar will release updated versions of both the WeatherStation firmware and the WeatherCaster software. Updates can be downloaded from Airmar’s web site, www.airmar.com, or contact Airmar’s technical support personnel for a CD. Calibration The WeatherStation instrument is calibrated at the factory and does not require any calibration after purchase.
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2. Select the System option. 3. Select the Hardware tab. 4. Select Device Manager. 5. Select Ports. 6. Select Airmar NMEA 0183 – USB Converter. The Converter is powered when it is connected to the USB port on the PC.
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About the Electronic Compass The WeatherStation instrument includes a pair of magnetoinductive sensors that measure magnetic field strength in two axes on the horizontal plane of the WeatherStation instrument. From these measurements, it calculates the resultant magnetic heading angle, thereby providing a built-in electronic compass. Like all magnetic compasses, the WeatherStation compass will be affected by any ferrous or magnetic materials in the vicinity, such as metal structures, motors, speakers, etc.
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About the Air Temperature Sensor The WeatherStation instrument includes a built-in negative-temperature- coefficient thermistor that measures the ambient air temperature. This NTC thermistor is located in a thermally isolated region of the WeatherStation housing that is open to the outside air. About Wind Chill Temperature Wind Chill is a term that describes the heat loss on the human body resulting from the combined effects of low temperature and wind.
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About the Global Positioning System Some WeatherStation instruments have a built-in GPS with their own antenna, receiver, and position determining electronics. The GPS receiver receives radio signals from a constellation of orbiting satellites maintained by the U.S. government. By accurately measuring the time it takes for a transmission to travel from each satellite to the receiver, the unit is able to determine the distance between the satellite and the receiver.
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In this case, it is necessary that a water-speed sensor with an NMEA output (such as an Airmar Smart™ Sensor) be connected to the NMEA input on the WeatherStation instrument (or to the optional Combiner).
Appendix B—Technical Information Baud Rates WeatherCaster needs to be set as follows: • If you have a USB Converter, set the baud rate to 4800. • If you have a Combiner, set the baud rate to 38400. NMEA 0183 Sentence Commands Datum Reference $GPDTM GPS Fix Data...
WeatherCaster™ software The PC application program Trademarks Airmar® is a registered trademark of Airmar Technology Corporation. Smart™ Sensor is a trademark of Airmar Technology Corporation. WeatherCaster™ is a trademark of Airmar Technology Corporation. WeatherStation® is a trademark of Airmar Technology Corporation.
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