Family Software Newsletter #17 - July 25, 2001

Topics

1. The Truth About Weather Stations and Weather Sensors
2. New! Professional Wireless Weather/Trailer Station
3. New! WeatherMate Plus Wireless Weather Center
4. New! Skymate Wind Speed Meter
5. New! High Temp 'Gun-Style' Digital Infrared Thermometer
6. REAL World Technical Support
7. Most Accurate Digital Altimeter

-- The Truth About Weather Stations and Weather Sensors --
There are a lot of weather stations and weather gauges on the market. And, the prices vary from low to utterly ridiculous. Is it really necessary to pay $800.00 to $1000.00 for a weather station? Why are they so expensive? Are they any better? The truth is, the more that you pay, you are merely paying for convenience and some features that are unnecessary. Now, there is nothing wrong with wanting convenience. Our new Wireless Weather Stations provide that. You can have the display unit in your air conditioned motor home or trailer, and still be able to monitor the actual ambient conditions outside. There are no wires to run. No 12-volt power leads to hook up and no generator to run. You don't have to run outside every couple minutes to check the air. Just sit there and watch TV if you like. That's pretty cool ... and very convenient. Necessary? Nope.

Actually, our inexpensive handheld CMM880 Digital Thermo-Hygrometer and 1008 Digital Altimeter will give you the best readings and the best range of any weather station or trailer station on the market. But, there is one catch. Regardless of how much money you spend on a weather station, temperature and humidity readings must be taken in the shade, completely isolated from solar radiation, wind, and radiated or reflected heat. And, you must do that all day long, rain or shine. The very expensive units have fan-aspirated sensors, in an attempt to simulate the shade. That is why you are paying so much for these 'exotic' units. However, shade is cheaper and more accurate. If you are using handheld gauges, you can place the Thermo-hygrometer in a box with the top cut out and put the box in the shade, under the motor home or trailer etc. Of course, if the ground is wet, you have to raise it up by putting it on a table or suitable stand of some type. I have been doing it that way for years. I've seen some racers using cheap Styrofoam ice chests with holes drilled in the sides. Don't laugh, it works! You just have to keep it in the shade. Convenient? Nope.

However, one place you don't want to put your Thermo-hygrometer is under your awning. An awning is not an effective radiation shield. In fact, an awning actually traps the rising hot air and will give you false readings of both temperature and humidity. Yes, it is out of the sun, but isolated? Not by a long shot. Any type of radiation shield that you use, must be capable of freely ventilating itself. An awning will not do this. Awnings do not reflect solar radiation either, they absorb it. The only color suitable for reflecting solar radiation is white and the material must be opaque. An awning is neither. So, you must find another spot. I have seen gauges placed inside of trailers. With all the doors and vents open, a trailer is still not an effective shield. When the sun goes down towards the end of the day, the temperature falls very rapidly and the humidity increases rapidly. The air inside of your trailer will not 'see' the change quick enough. You WILL break out! Also, during the day, your temperature readings will be higher than the actual ambient air. Later that night, when the sun is down, your temperature readings will be correct. But now, you are comparing apples to oranges. Result? You break out!

Another added and unnecessary feature on most expensive weather stations is the Wind Speed and Direction sensor. I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't be monitoring the wind. You absolutely HAVE to monitor the wind. But, you must do it properly. Your car doesn't care that your $800.00 weather station reports a 15 MPH wind speed in a NE direction! Your car only cares about HEADWIND and TAILWIND. Therefore, the only way to properly monitor the wind, is to measure the wind speed that is either directly up or down the track, and then apply the proper amount of effect to your ET Prediction. The rotary cup style sensor will measure the wind speed accurately enough, but it can't determine how much of that speed is a headwind or tailwind. It can only sense the TOTAL wind speed in one direction. Usually, not the direction you are looking for. You must do that yourself. Clearly, it doesn't work, except to show you roughly which way the wind is blowing and if there is any wind or not. We have made the Wind Speed/Direction Sensor an optional accessory with our Professional Wireless Weather Station for that reason.You have to decide if it is worth the additional cost. That is just one of the many ways we, at Family Software, help to save you money. A handheld wind speed meter, like our new Skymate, is the preferred device for precisely measuring headwind and tailwind.

-- New! Professional Wireless Weather Station --
New! Totally portable, wireless, professional weather station with a multitude of features, at a price you can afford. Solar-powered, wireless sensors allows you to have the display unit inside your home, motor home, or trailer while monitoring the weather conditions outside. No wires to run, no power leads to hook up. No generator to run. Basic system includes Display Unit and the Sensors for reading Barometric Pressure, Indoor Temperature and Humidity, and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity, Wind-Chill, and Dew Point.

-- New! WeatherMate Plus Weather Center --
Totally portable, wireless, weather station with radio controlled time and date, Indoor Temperature and Humidity, Barometric Pressure, and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity. Wireless transmission up to 80 feet. Battery operated. This new weather station allows you to have the display unit inside your home, motor home, or trailer while monitoring the weather conditions outside. No wires to run, no power leads to hook up. No generator to run. Includes sensor for reading Outdoor Temperature and Humidity.

-- New! Skymate Wind Speed Meter --
This new pocket size instrument is the ultimate gauge for measuring wind speed. Also reads current temperature and wind-chill. Reads current maximum wind speed or average wind speed over 5, 10, or 13 seconds.

-- New High Temp 'Gun-Style' Digital Infrared Thermometer --
We now offer another Digital Infrared Thermometer with Laser Sighting, Part # IRT4. The new Gun Style unit has a temperature range of 0 to 788 degrees F, has a backlight, an 8:1 Optical Resolution, and an Auto-Off feature. The introductory price is just $99.95! That is about what you would pay for a unit WITHOUT laser sighting and with a lower temperature range. Comparable prices for a unit with these specifications is at least fifty or sixty dollars more.

-- REAL World Technical Support --
With Family Software, you'll get better technical support than anywhere on the planet. Why? Because, we design and/or use all of the products that we sell. All of my 30+ years of racing experience and knowledge is available to you and our other customers. Try to find that kind of information at any one of our competitors. You won't be able to, I guarantee it! Family Software cares about the racer and his/her success as a racer. The other companies just want your money!

-- Most Accurate Digital Altimeter --
We have in stock, the best digital electronic altimeter that we have ever seen. You just can't beat that! Using this gauge and one of our CMM880 Digital Temperature/Humidity gauges, you'll get better air readings than ANY other weather station/trailer station on the market, guaranteed.

-- Secure Ordering --
You can safely order directly from our web site. All of your information is handled on our Secure Server. We have established a privacy policy and it is posted on the web site. Our company is registered with the Public Eye for safe, secure ordering.

If you have questions or topics that you would like to see covered in this newsletter, please Email them to me.

Bob Kodadek
SC 1596
Family Software - Drag Racing Computers and Software
http://www.iFamilySoftware.com - 610.497.5561(Voice/Fax)

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