Wendy Windblows Service Information
| It is not always possible to get a damaged or otherwise off-air Wendy back on-air immediately; especially in winter, when weather conditions for outdoor repair work are often impossible! Access problems or continued high winds often prevent me from fixing things immediately. Most of the stations are in extremely exposed locations, and I have to wait until winds die down before it is safe to climb the mast to repair/replace things... Sometimes, landowners limit access to the stations until the fields/tracks have dried out - and I have to abide by their wishes, as they mostly allow the Wendy stations on their land as a favour to me, and you. |
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I try to keep out-of-service, and anticipated return-of service data on this page up-to-date.
If you need more information, please contact me.
If the Website Data crashes.....
Remember, if the website data feed goes down for any reason, you can still gain access to the Wendy data by calling the stations direct, 24 hours a day. Each station runs independently, so if the central data feed to the website goes down, phone access is unaffected.
Station Telephone Numbers are at: Subscribers' Phone Page
Latest Service Information
Moel Accre
This station had all new sensors fitted on 3rd March 2010. It should be operating normally, but if you detect any problem, please email me on: office@wendywindblows.com.Devils Dyke
I suspect there is an occasional direction error, where SW winds read out as NW instead. This means a change of anemometer head, which is right up the radio mast on top of the Dyke Hotel. That will have to wait for better weather to enable me to climb the pole safely to carry out the repair. Should be done in the next 2-3 weeks, weather permitting.Firle Beacon
On Thursday 10th Dec 2009, the wind sensors were removed from the top of the tower where they were 150 feet up in the air, and were remounted much lower, in a new location, around 25 feet above ground level, at the request of the site owners. Therefore, be aware that the readings will be considerably lower than you are used to for the same conditions. I think the readings will reflect the situation at takeoff a bit more than in the past, being lower down.Mercury
This station is not answering the phone at the moment, so no data is available. It is a BT phone line fault, and has been reported to them. More news as we have it.Compton Abbas
This station is operating intermittently, as it is solar-powered, and the current low temperatures are causing battery low-voltage problems (just as your car is reluctant to start in this weather), along with snow on the solar panels causing the battery not to charge. It usually starts up part-way through each day when things warm up a bit, and the sun comes out to put some charge in the battery. See Winter Gloom notes at foot of this page, below.Westbury White Horse
This station was refurbished on Sunday 7th March, with all new sensors fitted to the mast. It should be functioning perfectly now - but if you notice any problem, please email me on office@wendywindblows.comCombe Hill
This station is operating normally, as far as we know. However, if you suspect a fault, please let us know on office@wendywindblows.com.Nympsfield
This station is operating normally, as far as we know. However, if you suspect a fault, please let us know on office@wendywindblows.com.Shining Tor
This station was repaired on 2nd March 2010 - all new sensors fitted, including anemometer, wind direction vane, rain and light gauges. Apologies for the delay in repair, due to snow and ice! This station is now operating normally, so far as we know. If you suspect a fault, please contact us at: office@wendywindblows.com.Bradwell
This station is operating normally, as far as we know. If you detect a problem, please contact us on: office@wendywindblows.comNont Sarahs
This station is operating normally, as far as we know! If you suspect a fault, please contact us on: office@wendywindblows.com.
Lobden
This station was returned top normal service on 28 th Jan 2010. It is operating normally, as far as we know. If you know of any problems, please email us at: office@wendywindblows.comParlick
This station is operating normally, as far as we know! If you suspect a fault, please contact us on: office@wendywindblows.comWether Fell
This station is operating normally, as far as we know! If you suspect a fault, please contact us on: office@wendywindblows.comCarlton Bank
This station is operating normally, as far as we know! If you suspect a fault, please contact us on: office@wendywindblows.com
The Blorenge
This station was refurbished on Sunday 7th March, with all new sensors fitted to the mast. It should be functioning perfectly now - but if you notice any problem, please email me on office@wendywindblows.comLong Mynd
This station is operating normally, so far as we know. If you suspect a fault, please contact us at: office@wendywindblows.com.Calshot
This station is operating normally, so far as we know. If you suspect a fault, please contact us at: office@wendywindblows.com.Marazion
This station is operating normally, so far as we know. If you suspect a fault, please contact us at: office@wendywindblows.com.Eyam Edge
This station is operating normally, so far as we know. If you suspect a fault, please contact us at: office@wendywindblows.com.
Hayling Island - Hants
This station was discontinued earlier this year, because the pub, (the Inn on the Beach), where it was sited had gone bankrupt and closed. (The electricity was cut off!) Not many of you seemed to be using it, either. However, while down south last month, I visited the site and learned that it should re-open under new management in July. If the interest is there, I can now think about re-instating the station, If you'd like it to be available, please contact the office and let me know.
No more faults that I am aware of.... if you know of any, please tell me!
Winter Gloom!
Several stations rely on Solar Panels to power their hilltop sensors.
- Westbury
- Compton
- Moel Accre
- Bradwell
- Eyam
- Wether Fell
- Carlton Bank
At this time of year, prolonged clag on the hills, gloomy weather, may not supply enough electrical power to keep these stations running, so they may intermittently show 'Head Link Failure' messages.
It is difficult at this time of year - there's 8 hours of (often weak) daylight, and 16 hours of darkness, so the solar panels really struggle to keep the batteries up.
However, a brief bit of sunshine is enough to power things up again - once charged, the battery can run the station for up to 2 weeks, but right now, they're not getting much sun! Not a lot I can do about this, other than wait for the weather to improve - and, bearing in mind that if the weather up there is that bad, you're not going to be flying anyway!
Contacting Me re Faults and Other Problems:
- For fastest response, Text Rod on 07971-846-153
- Next Fastest....... Freephone:0800-358-0405
- Or, if it is not urgent, then........... Click Here to Email
the way, if you want to know the sort of stuff I have
to do to keep all this running,
here
I am refurbishing the Dyke and Firle Wendy
stations....
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No other problems we are aware of. But if you know of any, please contact us