CT25K messages

MESSAGE 113, CT25K Data Message No. 1

Example message line outputs

CT02010

20 01333 01523 ///// 00000F00

LINE 1

SOH CT ID 20 10 STX CR LF

where

SOH = Start-of-Heading character

CT = Always CT

ID (1 character) = Unit number 0 to 9, A to Z (capitals only) Default ID = 0

20 = Always 20
10 = Always 10

STX = Start-of-Text Character

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed

LINE 2

S WAVh1Vh2Vh3Vflags CR LF

NOTE:

Notice the spaces which are indicated by 'V'.

where

S (1 character) = detection status:

0 = No significant backscatter
1 = One cloud base detected
2 = Two cloud bases detected
3 = Three cloud bases detected
4 = Full obscuration determined but no cloud base detected
5 = Some obscuration detected but determined to be transparent
/ = Raw data input to algorithm missing or suspect

WA (1 character) = Warning or alarm status:

0 = No alarm or warning
W = Warning
A = Alarm

h1 (5 characters) = 1st Height

If detection status is 1, 2, or 3 h1 = Lowest cloud base reported
If detection status is 4 h1 = Vertical visibility as calculated
If detection status is 0 or 5 h1 = /////

h2 (5 characters) = 2nd Height

If detection status is 2 or 3, h2 = Second cloud base reported
If detection status is 4, h2 = Height of highest signal detected
If detection status is 0, 1, or 5, h2 = /////

h3 (5 characters) = 3rd Height

If detection status is 3, h3 = Third cloud base reported
If detection status is 0, 1, 2, 4, or 5, h3 = /////

flags (8 characters) = Alarm or warning information 4-byte hex coded

Most significant alarm word for CT25K messages

Bit1

Description
8000 XXXX Transmitter shut-off
4000 XXXX Transmitter failure
2000 XXXX Receiver failure
1000 XXXX DSP, voltage or memory failure
0800 XXXX Reserved for future use
0400 XXXX Reserved for future use
0200 XXXX Reserved for future use
0100 XXXX Reserved for future use
0080 XXXX Window contaminated
0040 XXXX Battery low
0020 XXXX Transmitter expire warning
0010 XXXX Heater or humidity sensor failure
0008 XXXX High radiance warning, also XXXX 0004
0004 XXXX DSP, receiver, or laser monitor failure warning
0002 XXXX Relative humidity > 85 %
0001 XXXX Light path obstruction, receiver saturation or receiver failure

1 Alarm words are sum of error bits.

 

Second alarm word for CT25K messages

Bit1

Description
XXXX 8000 Blower failure
XXXX 4000 Reserved for future use
XXXX 2000 Reserved for future use
XXXX 1000 Reserved for future use
XXXX 0800 Blower on
XXXX 0400 Blower heater on
XXXX 0200 Internal heater on
XXXX 0100 Units meters if on, feet if off
XXXX 0080 Polling mode on
XXXX 0040 Working from battery
XXXX 0020 Always 0
XXXX 0010 Always 0
XXXX 0008 Tilt beyond limit set by user, default 45 degrees
XXXX 0004 High radiance warning, also 0008 XXXX
XXXX 0002 Reserved for future use
XXXX 0001 Reserved for future use

1 Alarm words are sum of error bits.

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed

LINE 3

ETX CR LF

ETX = End-of-Text Character

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed

MESSAGE 114, CT25K Data Message No. 6

Example message line outputs

CT02060

10 01767 ///// ///// 00000F00

99 /// 0 /// 0 /// 0 ///

LINE 1

SOH CT ID 20 60 STX CR LF

where

SOH = Start-of-Heading character

CT = Always CT

ID (1 character) = Unit number 0 to 9, A to Z (capitals only) Default ID = 0

20 = always 20

60 = always 60

STX = Start-of-Text Character

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed

LINE 2

S WAVh1Vh2Vh3Vflags CR LF

NOTE:

Notice the spaces which are indicated by 'V'.

where

S (1 character) = detection status:

0 = No significant backscatter
1 = One cloud base detected
2 = Two cloud bases detected
3 = Three cloud bases detected
4 = Full obscuration determined but no cloud base detected
5 = Some obscuration detected but determined to be transparent
/ = Raw data input to algorithm missing or suspect

WA (1 character) = Warning or alarm status:

0 = No alarm or warning
W = Warning
A = Alarm

h1 (5 characters) = 1st Height

If detection status is 1, 2, or 3, h1 = Lowest cloud base reported
If detection status is 4, h1 = Vertical visibility as calculated
If detection status is 0 or 5, h1 = /////

V = a space

h2 (5 characters) = 2nd Height

If detection status is 2 or 3, h2 = Second cloud base reported
If detection status is 4, h2 = Height of highest signal detected
If detection status is 0, 1, or 5, h2 = /////

h3 (5 characters) = 3rd Height

If detection status is 3, h3 = Third cloud base reported
If detection status is 0, 1, 2, 4, or 5, h3 = /////

flags (8 characters) = Alarm or warning information 4-byte hex coded

As for CT25K message 1.

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed

LINE 3 (Sky CONDITION)

VVd_h1h1h1VVd2Vh2h2h2VVd3Vh3h3h3VVd4Vh4h4h4 CR LF

NOTE:

Notice the spaces which are indicated by 'V'.

where

d (1 or 2 characters) = Data available:

0 to 8 = Amount of lowest layer in oktas
9 = Vertical visibility only available
–1 = No sky condition data available
99 = Insufficient data

NOTE:

Two spaces are at the beginning of the line if data is available. One space is at the beginning of the line if –1 (no sky condition data available) or 99 (insufficient data) are output.

Examples:

“V–1_h1h1h1...” (single space) no sky condition data available

“V99_h1h1h1...” (single space) insufficient data available

“VV9_h1h1h1...” (two spaces) vertical visibility only available

“VV5_h1h1h1...” (two spaces) 5/8ths of sky covered in lowest layer

h1h1h1 (3 characters) = Height of the lowest cloud layer in 10 s of meters or 100 s of feet

d2 (1 character) = Cloud amount of the 2nd layer in oktas

h2h2h2 (3 characters) = Height of the 2nd cloud layer in 10 s of meters or 100 s of feet (h2h2h2 = /// if no 2nd layer is reported).

d3 (1 character) = Cloud amount of the 3rd layer in oktas

h3h3h3 (3 characters) = Height of the 3rd cloud layer in 10 s of meters or 100 s of feet (h3h3h3 = /// if no 3rd layer is reported).

d4 (1 character) = Cloud amount of the 4th layer in oktas

h4h4h4 (3 characters) = Height of the 4th cloud layer in 10 s of meters or 100 s of feet (h4h4h4 = /// if no 4th layer is reported).

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed

NOTE:

Cloud amount and height cannot be reported until the SkyVue PRO has been operating for 30 minutes.

LINE 4

ETX CR LF

ETX = End-of-Text Character

CR LF = Carriage Return + Line Feed