VWS and VWSAPRS Setup
for CWOP/APRS
Updated:  March 4, 2008

VWS Application Setup for CWOP/APRS:  Many thanks to Tim West at Ambient for his excellent support to the Citizen Weather Observer Program.  He developed the VWSAPRS "helper" application which uses a scant amount of  system resources while it goes about its job of application which sends the APRS message to CWOP servers. Configurating VWS and VWSAPRS to send to CWOP: A. "wxreport.txt" creation - The VWS software (not the helper  application VWSAPRS) has to create the CWOP/APRS report "wxreport.txt" before VWSAPRS can send the file to CWOP/APRS. To make VWS create the "wxreport.txt" file, you must go to the main menu of VWS and select from the "Servers" sub-menu (see menu right), the "APRS" button (see menu right). Once you do this, the APRS menu sub-menu will appear. Under the "APRS File Settings" section of the APRS Menu, click on the check-box labeled "Create APRS File every minute". Notes:  1.  Only the "Web and Internet" version of VWS contains the functionality that allows the software to generate the APRS (CWOP) "wxreport.txt" file.   The "Base" and "Pro" versions do not have the "wxreport.txt" file generation capability and cannot support APRSWXNET/CWOP. VWS Functionality Comparison: http://store.shopambient.com/featurescomp.html 2.  If you can't find the location of the wxreport.txt on your PC, use the Windows Explorer "Search" tool to locate the file.    Typically, the "wxreport.txt" file will be stored in the ..\VWS\data\ subdirectory.
VWSAPRS Application Setup for CWOP/APRS: B. When you setup VWSAPRS software, there are three sections on this setup menu (see right menu): 1.  Download the VWSAPRS.exe from the Ambient Web Site: a.  Direct Link to VWSAPRS Application: http://www.meteorologica.co.uk/APRS/VWSaprs.zip b.  Unzip the file into your VWS subdirectory (ex. C:\PROGRAM FILES\VWS\ ), unzipping the file VWSaprsXXXX.zip will create two new files, VWSaprs.exe and VWSaprs_help.txt 2. VWSaprs.exe Configuration Description:  Double Click in the VWSaprs.exe file to launch the application a. "wxreport.txt location" - path to APRS formatted message created by VWS (see above) b. "Send every" - upload frequency, suggest 5, 10, or 15 minute interval c. "Call Sign" - Your "CW" ID, note the "CW" should be upper case followed by 4 (four) numbers (no characters); for licensed Ham Radio operators, they can use their call sign d. "Validation" - If you are a licensed Ham Radio operator and you want your data broadcast over RF, enter the validation code (see Russ Chadwick) in this block; otherwise, enter "-1" e. "Weather Station" - Use the pull-down menu to identify your weather station hardware f. "Latitude" and "Longitude" - Enter your position in degrees:minutes:seconds format using the toggle tools (not decimal). People on Europe and North America will have "Northern" latitude; Aussies and Kiwis "Southern" latitude. People in North America will be "Western" longitude, Europe will be Eastern or Western depending on which side of Greenwich, England ("Zulu" or zero longitude) and Aussies and Kiwis "Eastern" longitude. Web sites that help determine or validation station position: Googlemap: http://maps.google.com/ Topozone: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4337167&e=321386&s=25&size=l g.  Recommend you check both the "Minimize on Startup" and "Autostart on PC Logon" boxes so VWSAPRS need not be started manually and also to have minimal data loss sending your data to CWOP. h. "Save Configuration" Button - Save the data you have entered into the "Configuration" section.  2. VWS data - Use this section to view your APRS/CWOP message and test upload to APRS. 3. APRS a. "Server:" and "Port:" - These are boxes where you can enter the server, and associated server port numbers, that receive your CWOP data and relay them on to NOAA. While these servers generally don't change much, they occasionally do. This is why you can enter an explicit server name and port. However, its best to simply check the "Automatic" box and allow VWSAPRS to use the servers in its database to find and send APRS/CWOP data to this servers. Current Servers that support CWOP data traffic are (you need not manually enter these; this is FYI, suggest you check "automatic"): APRS IS servers supporting CWOP connections:  Change server name from the default "automatic" mode when you know the primary server is unavailable| Server Name:   cwop.aprs.net                        Port: 14580   b. "Sending" - When the "sending" light blinks to flashing green color, you are uploading your data to CWOP Check your data by looking at these web links: Time Series Graph:  Change "CW1234" in links below to your call sign http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?call=CW1234&last=120&radar=*** Raw APRS/CWOP Messages: http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/rawwx.cgi?call=CW1234&start=48&length=24

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