10. DCF and METEOTIME reception
The weather station can receive and evaluate the so-called DCF signal.
This is a radio signal which is sent by a transmitter in Mainflingen (near
Frankfurt/Main). Its range is up to 1500km and if transmission conditions
are ideal even up to 2000km.
Among other things, the DCF signal includes the precise time (theoretical
deviation of 1 second in a million years!) and the date.
This means you do not have to switch manually between daylight savings
time and normal time.
The DCF time is synchronized automatically at 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 14 and 18
hrs each day.
The weather station also detects the Swiss "HBG" signal, which is
compatible to the DCF signal.
As a special feature, the weather station analyses the so-called "METEOTIME" signal, which is contained
in the DCF-/HBG signal.
The "METEOTIME" signal contains the weather forecast data for 90 different regions in Europe.
The data for the current day and the following three days is transmitted for 60 regions, for 30 regions
the data for the current day and the following day.
The METEOTIME data is sent along with the DCF signal.
Due to the applied technology, the transmission of the data for the weather forecast via the radio signal of
the DCF or HBG transmitter is relatively slow, which is why it may take up to 24 hours until the weather station
has received all weather data.
The symbol " " in the respective display field means that the "METEOTIME" data was received. The symbol " "
indicates that data is still missing.
The right selection of the installation site is decisive for the reception of the radio data, because weather
data is received around the clock.
Do not place the weather station next to electric/electronic devices; do not place it near cables, wall
outlets or metal parts. Keep a sufficient distance, at least 1 m!
A bad reception can also be caused by, e.g. metallised insulated glass windows, reinforced concrete
constructions, coated special wallpaper or installation in basements.
For the 30 regions, for which only today's and tomorrow's weather data is transmitted, only two lines appear for the
two consecutive days on the display for the day temperature ("--").
After commissioning (chapter 9), you can perform a reception test for the "METEOTIME" signal via the
button "TEST" (see chapter 11. b).
Transmission times/information of the "METEOTIME" signal:
22.00 hrs - 03.59 hrs: Forecast for the current day
04.00 hrs - 09.59 hrs: Forecast for the next day
10.00 hrs - 15.59 hrs: Forecast for the day after the next
16.00 hrs - 18.59 hrs: Forecast for the last (third) day
74
1500 km
2000 km