The SayWeather system is designed for low maintenance. SayWeather has built-in capability to monitor weather “sensor health”. This capability continuously monitors raw sensor data from the weather station and if a sensor failure occurs, the relevant weather variable is removed from the advisory and reported as “missing”.

Although sensor health is monitored by SayWeather, sensor accuracy is not. It is recommended that the weather station is checked for sensor accuracy three times per year. Included in the SayWeather instruction manual is a procedure for checking the accuracy of wind, temperature, dew point and barometric pressure sensors.

Alternatively, the barometric pressure sensor can be NIST calibrated. The barometric sensor NIST calibration service is provided by Connectsix (makers of SayWeather). Please see the barometric sensor page for barometric sensor calibration options.

Using SayWeather is like asking an airport attendant to provide a landing advisory over the UNICOM. The difference is that SayWeather provides an AWOS-like advisory and operates, on-demand by the pilot, 24 hours a day… not just when the airport is attended. The Code of Federal Regulations, 47 CFR 87.219, addresses the use of automated systems at airports not having an operational ASOS/AWOS. Relevant frequencies are addressed under 47 CFR 87.187(y)(3), and multicom frequencies, 122.850MHz and 122.900MHz, are addressed under 47 CFR 87.237 thru 241.

_{The use of automated UNICOM systems is also noted in the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual 4-1-9.a.3: Many airports are now providing completely automated weather, radio check capability and airport advisory information on an automated UNICOM system. These systems offer a variety of features, typically selectable by microphone clicks, on the UNICOM frequency. Availability of the automated UNICOM will be published in the Airport/Facility Directory and approach charts.}

SayWeather retrieves weather from the weather station every 5 seconds and reports current information on the console’s LCD display, and to the pilot over the VHF radio when queried. Wind speed and direction are reported as 2-minute averages. Gusts are reported as 10-minute peak wind speed.

An AWOS is an Automated Weather Observation System.  Weather observations made by an AWOS are derived through use of weather sensors that must meet certain specifications and must undergo regular calibration. SayWeather is a weather advisory system. An advisory system differs from an observation system in that its sensors are not required to meet the same specifications, or undergo the same calibration, that observation systems do.

SayWeather uses AWOS algorithms to process raw weather data and report an advisory. However, SayWeather has the benefit of allowing users to adjust certain parameters related to the processing of weather data. For example, the AWOS algorithm for reporting wind gusts indicates that gusts are only reported if they are over 14 knots, which could be too restrictive for light sport pilots. SayWeather can be user-adjusted to report gusts at any selectable threshold.

The user’s mounting requirements are unique, so mounting poles or towers are not included in your kit. Please refer to the weather station documentation for guidance on mounting your weather station. Please contact us to discuss special mounting requirements.

SayWeather is only compatible with the Yaesu FTA series transceivers (included with each system). We’ve found Yaesu FTA transceivers to be reliable, responsive, and a great value.

Yes, any SayWeather system can be upgraded with several options for airport lighting. The PAL options use UL recognized relays to provide 120VAC to 277VAC control of loads 10 amps to 20 amps, depending on lighting type.  The relays include integrated override switches for manual activation of airport lighting. Mic keys activate the lighting controller and the number of mic keys can be user-selected for almost any combination of control options. SayWeather also provides a unique feature – the pilot’s mic keys to activate lighting is acknowledged over the VHF transceiver with an audio announcement “airport lights acknowledged”. This lets the pilot know that additional keying is not required if by chance the airport is obscured or otherwise not seen by the pilot.

• The PAL-1 (one lighting relay) and PAL-3 (three lighting relays) series lighting controllers are connected to SayWeather via a low-voltage, flat 6-conductor telephone cable, up to 1000 feet from the SayWeather system.

• The< PAL-1W and PAL-3W series lighting controllers use a wireless link between the SayWeather location and the PAL-W enclosure. These wireless versions can be simpler to install if the PAL-W lighting power switch and SayWeather are far from each other. These wireless versions include an additional console that includes a manual on/off switch to control the lights from the SayWeather console location.

The PAL series controller are housed in electrical cabinets that are approved for indoor use only.

Contact  SayWeather for other options.

When you purchase your SayWeather system, we’ll contact you to customize your unit for your airport. If later (within the two-year warranty period), you need to make changes you can simply email support@sayweather.com with your request, and we’ll send you your customized sound files. You can also make your own using a variety of software tools. SayWeather uses “.wav” audio files to produce speech.

• Florida: Sales tax will be collected for purchases made in Florida or to Florida customers.
• Utah: Sales tax will be collected for purchases made in Utah or to Utah customers.
• Washington: Sales or use tax is due on certain purchases delivered or sourced to Washington. Washington requires you to file a use tax return when sales tax is not paid at the time of purchase. This message is required under the Revised Code of Washington 82.13.020(2)(a)(i). Connectsix LLC is not required to, and does not, collect Washington sales or use tax. Under Washington law, purchases are not tax-exempt merely because a seller is not required to collect Washington’s tax. Washington law requires Washington purchasers to review untaxed purchases and, if any tax is owed, file a Washington use tax return and pay any tax due. Visit dor.wa.gov/consumerusetax for more information.
• Tax-exempt/Not-for profit entities: Please contact SayWeather for more information.