Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) Information

Updated:  November 14, 2012

• Who are Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) People?

-- Have an Internet connection (cable, DSL, dial-up, etc.) ***or***
have a wireless digital Ham setup (there are 10,000+ registered CWOP members, i.e., "CWxxxx", "DWxxxx", "APxxxx", "ARxxxx", and "ASXXX" stations, on FINDU/ MADIS)
-- Generally have a well sited weather station (O.K., trees block my winds too)
-- Want to share their data
-- Have weather data logging software that can format and send APRS messages (VWS, WeatherDisplay, WeatherLink, WeatherView32, etc.)
-- Think of watching weather as a serious hobby
-- Want to learn about how things fit together

• CWOP/APRSWXNET Background Information

*  Background Info Page:
http://www.findu.com/citizenweather/

* Main CWOP Page by CWOP Support:
http://wxqa.com/
Includes:
-- Latest CWOP News and System Status, check here often!
-- Weather station siting info
-- Posts CWOP station QC data from MADIS
-- Show "raw" packets of data
-- Post station list of CWOP sites

* CWOP National Hurricane Center Page by WX4NHC and Joe Schmidt:
http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw/CWOP-Main.html

• Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) Signup and Access Information:

* CWOP Signup Page: Get your CWOP ID here, ex. CWxxxx
http://www.findu.com/citizenweather/signup.html

* Within a week after signing up, please check CWOP search to confirm. Then, after verifying your findU.com location, send e-mail to cwop-support@noaa.gov and request registration.

• Weather Software Supporting CWOP/APRSWXNET Protocol (in alphabetical order):  Please contact me if your application is not represented or the info needs updating; thanks for supporting CWOP!!!

Company	Application Storefront	User's Forum	CWOP/   APRSWXNET Forum	Contact (fix "at" with @)	Operating System	Hardware Supported: Manufacturer (Model)
1.  1-Wire Weather Service for Java ("as is" code)	* OW4J Page * Download code *Documentation	TBD	TBD	Karl Uppiano	* Windows	AAG (Dallas 1 Wire weather station (and version 3))
2. AfterTen Software Supports the Mac!	*WeatherTracker Download online version	AfterTen Forum	TBD	Dean Davis	* Mac OS X  10.4.5 or later	Davis Instruments  (VP (1 or 2), WM II, Wizard) La Crosse (23XX) Oregon Scientific (WM918 and WMR968)
3. Ambient	*  VWS Software  Note:  Requires "Web and Internet" VWS Version to support APRS/CWOP Note:  Add on software required for APRS/CWOP: VWSAPRS		VWS CWOP Forum	Tim West	* Windows	AAG (Dallas 1 Wire weather station (and version 3)) Campbell Scientific Columbia Weather (Capricorn 2000) Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro/Plus, VP2, WM II, Wizard III, Perception) --- VP, VP2 requires Davis WeatherLink Console to PC package Huger (WM-918) Kestral 4000 LaCrosse (WS-2300, WS-2305, WS-2310, WS-2315) Oregon Scientific (WM-918, WMR-918, WMR-928N, WMR-968) Peet Bros (ULTIMETER 2100, 2000, 800, 100) ...Peet Bros CWOP Page Radio Shack (WX-200, AccuWx 63-1016) Rainwise (MKIII, WT-2000, MH-1) Texas Weather Inst. WeatherHawk
4. ControlByWeb X-320M Web-Enabled Weather Station Controller with direct data upload	*  X-320M Web-Enabled Weather Station Controller	TBD	TBD	ControlByWeb Support	X-320M can be configured through a web browser on any operating system. No PC is required for data upload.	The X-320M Weather Station Controller is compatible with many 3rd party meteorological sensors from manufacturers such as: Davis Instruments RM Young Met One NRG Systems WaterLog Comet Novalynx Setra Vaisala Stevens Apogee Instruments A detailed list of specific 3rd party sensors can be downloaded here.
5. Davis Setup Procedures:	*  WeatherLink Requires WxLink version 5.2 or later		TBD	Davis Support	* Windows, * Mac version Does NOT support CWOP, yet	Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro/Plus, VP2, WM II, Wizard III) --- VP, VP2 requires Davis WeatherLink  Console to PC package
6. FreeWX	* FreeWx	FreeWx Forum		Andy Keir	* Windows	Oregon Scientific (WM-918, WMR-918/928/968) Radio Shack (WX-200, AccuWx 63-1016)
7. GNU_Wx(Freeware- use code "as is")	* GNU Wx	TBD	TBD	Steven Bjork	* GNU Unix	Temperature Sensor Note:  This is a "home brew" weather station
8. Henriksen	* 1-Wire		TBD	Arne Henriksen	* Windows	AAG (Dallas 1-Wire)
9. Melhuish Projects (use code "as is")	* 1WW Linux Project * SourceForge	Source Forge	CWOP Info Page	Simon Melhuish	* Linux * BSD *RISC OS	AAG (Dallas 1 Wire weather station (and version 3))
10. Misterhouse	* Misterhouse weather_vw.pl   (PERL script by Clay Jackson)	MH Yahoo Forum	TBD	Bruce Winter	* Linux	"weather_vw" is a helper application for the Ambient VWS application; thus, supports the weather stations VWS supports.
11. Open2300 (use code "as is")	* Kenneth's Wx Page *  Open2300 Wiki	Open2300 Yahoo Forum	TBD	Kenneth Jahn Lavrsen	* Linux * FreeBSD * netBSD * Windows	La Crosse (2300, 2305, 2310, 2315)
12. PC-Wetterstation / WsWin	* Intro Page * Download Page Note: Add on software required for APRS/CWOP: WsWinAprs	WsWin Forum (German)	TBD	Werner Krenn	* Windows	ELV/ Conrad/ Huger (WS2000 (V2.x) and WS2500 (V3.x)) Oregon Scientific (WM918,  WMR-918/ WMR-968/ WMR-928N) Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro, Vantage Pro2)... with WeatherLink file Mebus, Irox, Honeywell, RSB (TE923)
13. Mach 10 Software	*	WxMatrix	TBD	Marcus Adams	* Windows	Peet Bros (ULTIMETER 2100, 2000, 800, 100)
14. OSCirrus Software	*	TBD	TBD	Landon Cox	* Linux (Ruby)	Fascinating Electronics Anemometer Olimex AVR MT 128 controller   -- Sold by SparkFun Electronics
15. Raindrop Labs "wiz3d" ("as is" code)	* Raindrop Labs Page *	WxMatrix	TBD	Alan Batie	* FreeBSD	Davis Instruments (Weather Wizard II/III)
16. Thunderhead Technologies	*  WxSolution		TBD	Dan Hanson	* Windows	Davis Instruments (Weather Monitor II, Weather Wizard II/III, Vantage Pro, VP2) --- VP, VP2 requires Davis WeatherLink Console to PC package Heathkit (ID-4001, ID-5001) Texas Weather Inst. (WR-25 and variations)
17. VanProd	* Vanprod Root * Home Page *	TBD	TBD	Stan Sander	* Linux, * Unix, * Mac OS X	Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro, Vantage Pro2)
18. Steve's Weather Tools/ VPLive (Freeware)	* Steve's Weather Tools Root * VPLive Home Page * Readme	TBD	TBD	Steve Hatchett	* Windows	Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro, Vantage Pro2)
19. Weather Display (WD)	* WD - Full Version * APRSLite - Supports CWOP only	WD Forum	WD CWOP Forum	Brian Hamilton	* Windows * Linux - RedHat7.2+, SuSe7.3+, or Mandrake8.2+) (limited hardware support for Linux)	AAG (Dallas 1 Wire weather station (and version 3)) Campbell Scientific Columbia Weather (Capricorn 2000) Climatronics Ultrasonic Davis Instruments (WMII, Wizard III, Grow, Vantage Pro/Plus, VP2) --- VP, VP2 requires Davis WeatherLink  Console to PC package Environdata (2000) ELV/ Conrad/ Huger (2010/ 2110/2210/2310/ 2315/2300/WS23XX/WS2500PC/2510/3600) Heathkit (ID -5001) La Crosse (2010, 2110, 2210, 2300, 2305, 2310, 2315, 2500, 2510, 3600) Maximum Inst. (Weathermax) Mebus, Irox Pro, Honeywell, RSB (TE923) Metron (UWS 3000-ws) Novalynx (WS-16 Weather Station) Oregon Scientific (WM918,  WMR-918/ WMR-968/ WMR-928N, WM-900H) Peet Bros (Ultimeter 100, 500, 800, 2000, 2100 and II)...Peet Bros CWOP Page Radio Shack (WM200/MK III) Rain Wise (WS2000) Texas Weather Inst. (WR-25 and variations) Weather Hawk
20. WeatherHawk-XP/X Supports the Mac!	* Download online version	TBD	TBD	John Johnston	* Windows 2000/XP * Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later	(Models 232, 240, 510, 511, 520, 521 916, 922)
21.WeatherView32	*  WV32 Download online version 6.0.0.156 for free from WV32.  CWOP supported in all versions except Home	WxMatrix Forum	TBD	Dave Heider	* Windows: NT, 2000, ME, and XP	Columbia Weather (Capricorn 2000) Davis Instruments  (WM II, III, VP 1, 2) --- VP, VP2 requires Davis WeatherLink Console to PC package Maximum Inst. (Weathermax) Oregon Scientific (WM-918/WRM-918) Peet Bros   (Ulitmeter 2000, 2100) Radio Shack (WM200) Rain Wise (WS2000) Texas Weather Inst. (1-Wire)
22. WUHU  (Freeware)	* WUHU Yahoo Forum	Yahoo Forum	TBD	H. Smith	* Windows (except Win98)	La Crosse (WS23XX, and WS3600) Oregon Scientific(WMR-968/918/928) Mebus, Irox Pro, Honeywell, RSB (TE923) Note:  WUHU replaces the LaCrosse "HeavyWeather" data logging application
	b.  Ambient VWS - Base and Internet Versions	Yahoo Forum	TBD	H. Smith	* Windows (except Win98)	All weather stations supported by Ambient VWS application (#1 above).  Note:  WUHU is a helper application for the Ambient VWS.  You need to install and configure this application before loading WUHU.
	c.  WV32 - Supports all versions of WV32	Yahoo Forum	TBD	H. Smith	* Windows (except Win98)	All weather stations supported by WeatherView32 application (#15 above).  Note:  WUHU is a helper application for WeatherView32.  You need to install and configure this application before loading WUHU.
23.  WView Supports the Mac!	*  WView		TBD	Mark Teel	* Linux * FreeBSD * Unix * Mac OSX	Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro and VP 2) --- Requires Davis WeatherLink Console to PC package Vaisala WXT-510 La Crosse (WS-2300, 2305, 2310, 2315)
24.  weewx Written in Python!	*  weewx	weewx User's Group	TBD	Tom Keffer	* Linux * FreeBSD * Unix * Mac OSX	Davis Instruments (Vantage Pro and VP 2) --- Requires Davis WeatherLink
25. WX200D	*  wx200d *		TBD	Tyler Allison	* Linux	Oregon Scientific (WM-918, WMR-918, WMR-968) Radio Shack (WX-200)

* APRS Protocol:  CWOP uses the APRS protocol to format its messages.  Here's a couple places to learn more about APRS formatted weather messages:
        -  Philip Gladstones APRSWXNET Page (learn by example):   http://pond1.gladstonefamily.net:8080/aprswxnet.html
        -  Raw data stream example:  http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/rawwx.cgi?call=CW0351
        -  TAPR Full APRS© Specification (pdf file):   ftp://ftp.tapr.org/aprssig/aprsspec/spec/aprs101/APRS101.pdf

• How does CWOP Data get to NOAA?

1. CWOP data are sent in real-time from your Personal Weather Station (PWS) via the Internet or through a Ham Radio wireless RF broadcast to a site with an Internet connection (Digipeater)
2. Data are forwarded to the CWOP servers, using the round-robin domain "cwop.aprs.net" port 14580.  
3. Data are sent to the FINDU server where html time series web pages are created for CWOP members and files are queued for pickup by the NOAA Global Systems Division.
4. Finally, NOAA Global Systems Division fetches the data from FINDU every 15 minutes and ingest the data into the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) database (as "APRSWXNET" data type) where data are quality controlled, merged with over 25,000 other surface observations and forwarded to other NOAA workcenters, including some Weather Forecast Offices (WFO)... more info about MADIS.

CWOP servers supporting CWOP connections:  APRS nodes and ports (blue columns below) are used in data logging software to send data to CWOP/APRSWXNET

SYSOP/Email	Web Page	Server Status	APRS Node	Port
Gerry Creager	http://cwop.aprs.net:14501/	Note:  "cwop" is not an actual server, pseudo 'round-robin' load sharing.  We recommend "cwop.aprs.net" be your primary server.	cwop.aprs.net	14580

Notes: 

• Software connecting to CWOP/APRSWXNET should only use the cwop.aprs.net server, port 14580 as the primary server and automatically "roll-over" to servers listed above if the primary server is unreachable.
• Suggest CWOP/APRSWXNET members send their data every 15 minutes, optimally every 10 minutes (but not more frequently than every 10 minutes as this could stress server bandwidth)
• If your data logging applications does not have auto-rollover (those programs other than VWSAPRS and WeatherDisplay) and should a server stop accepting your weather messages, you will have to manually reconfigure your CWOP setup to point to an alternative APRS-IS server (see APRS Nodes and ports in blue shaded columns in above table).  Check the cwop.net "News" page to verify that it is the server and not your Internet connection or computer problem.

• CWOP/APRSWXNET System Status Pages:
  • CWOP/APRSWXNET News and Overall System Status at the CWOP News Page
  • FINDU News and Status Page
  • Global Systems Division MADIS Status - TBD
  • University of Utah:
    • CWOP/APRSWXNET Observations Received at Mesowest

• Viewing Your CWOP Data:

* FINDU Station Time Series Page:
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?call=cw0351&last=36&radar=***
Note: add your "CW" ID in place of "K4HG" in above link

* FINDU Station Table Page:
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wx.cgi?call=CW0351&last=36
Note: add your "CW" ID in place of "cw0351" in above link

* Other CWOP/APRSWXNET Stations in your vicinity:
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxnear.cgi?call=cw0351
Note: add your "CW" ID in place of "cw0351" in above link

* CWOP data plotted in real-time: Select your "Region" your state or NWS CWA, change "Network" to "All Networks", and then click on the "Map It" button to display your station
http://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/mesomap.cgi?state=MD&rawsflag=1

* NOAA MADIS: select "APRSWXNET" from the "Select Data" menus
http://www-frd.fsl.noaa.gov/mesonet/
Notes:
-- Data displayed with over 18,000 surface observations
-- Must first register with valid latitude/longitude and successfully send data through FINDU/APRS before appearing on MADIS
-- Will take about 1 week to get the new "CW"s onto NOAA MADIS (after confirmation with Russ); database updated every Wednesday afternoon (~23:00GMT)

 

*  MesoWest, University of Utah - Station Data: https://mesowest.utah.edu/droman/

*  View your data on NOAA's National Weather Service web pages using the following links:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=lox&sid=c3247&num=48
-- View graphs for your station by replacing "C3247" station ID in the above links with your 5 character CWOP ID (drop the "W" in this case).

* Steve Dimse FINDU CGI Page: Very interesting and useful set of tools
http://www.findu.com/cgi.htm

* CWOP Logo... Please post logo on your site and link back to signup page:
http://wxqa.com/archive/cwp_logo.gif

• Sources of Quality Assessment for your Weather Station's Data

*  NOAA's MADIS Quality Control and Monitoring System (QCMS) was developed to assist NWS meteorologists use mesonet data on their AWIPS workstations.  QCMS uses automated validity, internal consistency, temporal, and spatial checks to evaluate data quality (read more about QCMS).  Your station's performance statistics are available at these locations:        
- NOAA's QCMS Statistics for APRS Wx Net Citizen Weather ("flagged" stations only)  Hourly |  Daily   |  Weekly |  Monthly
- CWOP QCMS Interactive Retrieval Page
- Get feedback of your weather station's performance by registering with Phillip Gladstone Quality Reporter Suite which includes a Quality Assurance Listserver and Graphs Email Service (strongly recommended for CWOP members):   
        o Sign up for daily weather station QCMS performance statistics to be emailed to you:
         http://pond1.gladstonefamily.net:8080/weather-qc
        o Participate in a discussion of weather station operations list server:
        http://pond1.gladstonefamily.net:8080/mailman/listinfo/wxqc
        o Add pictures of your weather station siting using FLICKR^TM, which will appear on your Station Info Page:
         http://my.xfinity.com/brookevilleweather/flickr_setup.html
- Phillip also plots graphs (below) of QCMS and Observed CWOP station data (replace "C0351" with your ID):
    https://weather.gladstonefamily.net/cgi-bin/wxqchart.pl?site=C0351

Observed Station Pressure (Reading) verses QCMS "Guess" (Analysis) in millibars (altimeter pressure reduction)

Observed Station Temperature (Reading) verses QCMS "Guess" (Analysis) in degrees Fahrenheit (F)

Observed Station Dew Point (Reading) verses QCMS "Guess" (Analysis) in degrees Fahrenheit (F)

*  MesoWest Quality Assessment, using regression analysis   (more about Mesowest quality assessment), replace "C0351" with your CWOP ID, https://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/regress_database.cgi?stn=C0351

• On-line Weather Servers Sharing Data with NOAA through MADIS outside of APRSWXNET (see above):

*  Weather for You and Ham Weather Signup Page: Thanks to the efforts of Joe Torsitano!

*  Anything Weather:
http://www.anythingweather.com/

*  Citizen Observing Networks Supporting CWOP:

• Atlantic Coast Observer Network ACON - Southeast Atlantic Coast (VA, NC, SC)
• Atlantic Coast Observer Network ACON - Mid Atlantic Coast (DC, DE, MD) - Kevin Shaw
• Atlantic Coast Observer Network ACON - New England (MA, RI) and this link too - Ed Capone
• Ohio Weather Observer Network (OWON) - Scott Sheridan

* Weather Blogs to Visit and Interact with:

• WeatherNation, http://www.wxnation.com/blog/, national commentary
  • Lead Blogger: Bill Young Jr. , email:   webmaster(@)wxnation.com
• CapitalWeather,  http://www.capitalweather.com/, active commentary for the D.C. Metro area
  • Lead Bloggers:  Jason Samenow, email:     Andrew Freedman, email:   , Josh Larson, email: 
• Gothamist Weather:  http://www.gothamist.com/archives/weather/index.php, active NYC area commentary
  • Lead Bloggers:  Joe Shumacher, email:   joe(@)gothamist.com and Kevin Porterfield, email:  kevin(@)gothamist.com
• Fresh Bilge:  , hurricane commentary (seasonal)
  • Lead Blogger:  Alan Sullivan, email: disabled, correspond through commentary on the blog
• MyWeatherGuide:  http://blog.myweatherguide.com/,   hurricane commentary (seasonal)
  • Lead Blogger:  Ed Oswald, email:  eoswald(@)myweatherguide.com
• more???

*  "Old School"  Weather ListServers:

• Google Meteorology, http://groups-beta.google.com/group/sci.geo.meteorology, good current events posts and commentary
• Google Regional Weather Commentary for the Northeast U.S., http://groups-beta.google.com/group/ne.weather.moderated, pretty tame narrative for Yankees
• Wisconsin Weather Discussion, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WISCONSINWX/, just as it sounds
• more???

• NOAA and CWOP/APRSWXNET
  • WFO Bismarck, North Dakota
  • WFO Melbourne, Florida
    • Skywarn and CWOP at Melbourne WFO
  • WFO Jackson, KY, Tech Tips on page 5
  • WFO Seattle, WA, Skywarn Spotter Notes, lower quarter of page
  • WFO Hanford, CA, Emergency Preparedness Committee
  • WFO Monterey, CA:  Fall 2005 Office Newsletter, p.11
  • WFO Tampa, FL:  Fall 2003 Quarterly
  • NOAA National Hurricane Center
  • NWS Marine and Coastal Services Branch - Volunteer Observing Opportunities
  • UCAR Joint Office for Scientific Support (JOSS) - National Hydrological Networks
  • MesoWest, University of Utah

CWOP and Internet Security:  Participating in the CWOP does not by itself increase risk from Internet attacks.  CWOP communications protocol does not allow other computers to connect to your computer, rather CWOP members connect to a trusted CWOP server, upload your weather data, and immediately disconnect.  No data is sent from the CWOP server to your computer. 

However, increased exposure to the risks of computer software damage, denial of service, and identity theft is possible if you don't take steps to educate and protect yourself when using the Internet.   

While you should patch computer insecurities using software and hardware, you also must resist responding to emails requesting personal information.  This fraudulent activity by criminals is called "phishing."

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